W.R. Cobb Acquires B.A. Ballou

By JCK Online Staff -- JCK Online, 5/12/2009 2:52:00 PM

W.R. Cobb has acquired B.A Ballou, one America’s oldest jewelry manufacturers.

140-year-old B.A. Ballou had been closed after being put into receivership. It later reopened, and its assets were sold to Cobb.

As part of the acquisition, W.R. Cobb has secured all of Ballou’s intellectual property, equipment, tooling, and their management team.

"The acquisition of B. A. Ballou is a major strategic opportunity for our company," said Roderick Lichtenfels, chief executive officer of W.R. Cobb. "For the past 130 years, W.R. Cobb has competed with the 140-year-old B.A. Ballou. The two companies have been the leaders in manufacturing high quality jewelry findings and the combined company creates a powerful global manufacturer."

Cobb/Ballou Findings will focus its manufacturing in the United States at its facilities in Rhode Island. In addition to the Rhode Island headquarters and manufacturing operations, Cobb/Ballou Findings will operate offices in Ireland, England, Vietnam, Thailand, India, and Hong Kong.

Combined, Cobb/Ballou Findings will operate sales offices in more than 20 countries around the world. Additionally, immediate steps are being made to add all of Ballou’s products onto the www.WRCobb.com.