Va. Beach supplier expands its reach with acquisition

VIRGINIA BEACH

ADS Inc., a supplier of gear and equipment to the military and emergency responders, announced Monday that it has acquired a company to expand its business with state and local law enforcement agencies.

Mar-Vel International, based in Pennsauken, N.J., and San Diego, "has the people, the infrastructure, the vendor relationships and the contacts in place to allow us to tackle the state and local market quickly," said Luke Hillier, president and chief executive officer of ADS.

ADS this year won a federal contract worth up to $4 billion to supply equipment and support to fire and emergency responders with the military and federal, state and local agencies.

As a wholly owned subsidiary, Mar-Vel will retain its name and locations and manage the sales and operations of ADS' law enforcement division. With Mar-Vel's 50 employees, ADS' work force will grow to 290, Hillier said. He expects to hire an additional 100 people in the next year.

ADS has an office on Viking Drive, a warehouse off London Bridge Road and a packaging facility on Aviator Drive.

ADS began in 1979 as a division of Lynnhaven Dive Center, run by Hillier's father, Michael. It was spun off in 1996.

Initially called Atlantic Diving Supply, the business has branched out to provide items such as body armor and night-vision aids.

Hillier said annual revenue is "several hundred million dollars," with double-digit percentage increases for many years.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Philip Walzer, (757) 222-3864, phil.walzer@pilotonline.com