California Firm Purchases Pike County Company

A California company that manufacturers communication headsets has purchased a Pike County firm that makes portable audio equipment.

Plantronics Inc., Santa Cruz, Calif., acquired Altec Lansing Technologies for approximately $166 million. Altec is best known for its award-winning portable speaker systems. Based in Milford, the company also has offices in Oklahoma City, Luxemburg and Hong Kong. Altec Lansing will remain in Milford as a division of Plantronics.

Plantronics is a publicly held company that is the world's leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of lightweight communications headsets. Plantronics headsets are widely used by many Fortune 500 companies and have been featured in numerous high-profile events, including the historic "One small step for man" transmission from the moon in 1969. THe company employs approximately 4,500 people.

"The combination of our expertise in voice communication and Altec Lansing's expertise in music entertainment enables us to meet the full audio needs of consumers in both their personal and professional lives," said Ken Kannappan, Plantronics president and CEO.