Automotive Supplier Hella Acquires Aglaia

LIPPSTADT, Germany, March 9 -- Automotive lighting and electronics supplier Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. has acquired Aglaia, a developer of visual sensor systems for the auto industry.

Based in Berlin, Aglaia has 30 employees and reported annual sales of 2.5-million euros last year. Financial details of the acquisition were not released.

Founded in 1998, Aglaia has developed ready-to-configure application modules for lane, object, traffic sign, headlamp and combination rear-lamp recognition.

Hella develops and manufactures lighting and electronic components and systems for the automotive industry. Its joint-venture companies also produce complete vehicle modules, air conditioning systems and vehicle electric systems.

In addition, Hella has one of the world's largest aftermarket organizations for automotive parts and accessories with its own sales companies and partners in more than 100 countries.

Consolidated sales of the Hella Group are 3.1-billion euros. Hella is one of Germany's 100 largest industrial companies with 24,000 people at 65 plants, production subsidiaries and joint ventures around the world.