AquaLung

A new dawn for the battered Aqualung brand? (Photo: Rosemary E. Lunn / The Underwater Marketing Company)

HEAD Group Acquires Aqualung in Major Diving Industry Shake-Up

The announcement follows a ruling by the Commercial Court of Nice on 26 June, granting HEAD ownership of the embattled company through a formal receivership process.

HEAD’s offer includes an EU€50 million rescue package to stabilise Aqualung’s operations and secure the company’s long-term future. The plan will see a restructuring of Aqualung’s business platform, retaining and expanding production facilities in France, the United Kingdom and Mexico and safeguarding hundreds of jobs.

Aqualung, Apeks sold to Barings

The Aqualung business was established in 1943 after Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Émile Gagnan created the "Aqua-Lung." The business also owns the brands Apeks, Omer, Aquasphere, Stohlquist, and US Divers.

One of the top investment management firms in the world, Barings, is in exclusive talks to purchase 100 percent of the Aqualung Group. Barings is most known to the general public for the 1995 collapse of Barings Bank.