"We have provided professional rental services to the entertainment industry for 21 years and we will continue to build on this well established foundation," commented Rusty Brutsche, CEO of Vari-Lite International, Inc. (to be renamed VLPS Lighting Services International, Inc.). "The sale of our manufacturing division enables us to focus all of our attention and resources on pursuing and developing growth opportunities in the rental market." VLPS will continue its strategy of providing equipment for rental along with commitment to customer service and support. The company will also continue to stock and support its extensive rental inventory as well as expand the selection of automated and conventional equipment available for customers.
In addition to new inventory and services, VLPS will remain the primary source for the Virtuoso control console. "VLPS will continue to develop the Virtuoso as a rental product to meet the demand for the control system," notes Brutsche, "and with a veteran engineering department, including Jim Bornhorst, continue to develop and support automated technology for VLPS."
Under the terms of the sale agreement with Genlyte, VLPS Lighting Services has been appointed the master distributor of Vari*Lite products in Europe and Japan, as well as a dealer in North America. VLPS will also be a service centre for the product line in all VLPS locations.
The company remains publicly traded with corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas, to support wholly owned operations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, Nashville, London and Tokyo. In addition to the Rolling Stones world tour, VLPS Lighting Services was recently awarded the contract to provide fully integrated lighting services for the major Dodge exhibit at the North American Auto Show in Detroit, January 2003.
(Ruth Rossington)
