CZG Completes Colt Acquisition

by
posted on May 27, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
czg-completes-colt-acquisition.jpg

Česká Zbrojovka Group (CZG) announced on May 24 that it has secured all necessary regulatory approval from the U.S. and Canadian authorities, and successfully closed acquisition of 100 percent of the equity interest in Colt Holding Company (Colt)—the parent firm of Colt’s Manufacturing Company and Colt Canada Corporation. News of the purchase surfaced in February.

The merger brings significant operational, commercial and research and development synergies for the combined business, which generated pro-forma aggregated annual sales in excess of $570 million in 2020. CZG ‘s total employee count comes to 2,000 after the acquisition, with staff distributed across the Czech Republic, United States, Canada and Germany.

“With this acquisition, we have created a strategic relationship between CZG and Colt, which will bring significant opportunities for the group,” said Lubomir Kovarik, chairman and president of CZG. “We will focus on continuing to provide high-quality products to our customers in a seamless manner as we harness the many synergies generated by this acquisition. We are confident that this combination will create value for our customers and shareholders alike and strengthen these iconic brands. This merger also confirms our commitment to the North American market, which is an integral part of our growth strategy.”

The acquisition improves CZG’s production capacity and positions itself to become a leading firearm manufacturer and a key global supplier for military, law enforcement and commercial customers. The holding company is headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, and its stable of gun manufacturing firms also includes CZ, CZ-USA and Dan Wesson Firearms. 

“Colt is pleased to join forces with CZG,” said Dennis Veilleux, president and CEO of Colt. “We are proud of our heritage and believe that the strength of the combined businesses and the many synergies created by the merger will enable us to honor our roots while also securing the future of the Colt brand. We look forward to continuing to deliver our high-quality products while also investing in innovation and new product offerings in the near future. We believe in the successful connection of our corporate cultures, the proven track record of our teams and the complementary nature of the CZ and Colt brands.”

Latest

.308 Win.
.308 Win.

Handloads: A Quiet .308 Win. For Large-Format Pistols

Of the many commercial .308 Winchester loads, few, if any, are designed for barrels shorter than 16". The one that follows helps address this gap while remaining simple to suppress and light on the wrists.

Court Approves Watchtower Firearms DIP Financing

Watchtower Firearms was granted final approval for debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas in late June.

Review: Ruger LC Carbine In 10 mm Auto

Following the success of its .45 ACP-chambered LC Carbine, Ruger realized that this platform would go a long way toward making the 10 mm Auto more controllable and fun to shoot, and a new 10 mm version was released in 2024.

The Armed Citizen® July 14, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Favorite Firearms: A Little Stevens From Chicago

"Over the next five or six years, and before I went off to college, I fired hundreds and hundreds of rounds of .22 BB Caps, CB Caps, Shorts and Longs through this rifle."

Preview: Strike Industries T-Bone Charging Handle

The T-Bone from Strike Industries is an ideal fit for suppressed applications, as it can be configured by the user to redirect gas blowback entirely to either side ...

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.