A well-established Gloucestershire firm which was founded by a former TV production sound recordist has been taken over.

Stroud-based Rycote Microphone Holdings has been acquired by the Vitec Group for around £8.5 million.

Rycote produces microphone windshields and suspension systems which allow camera operators to capture high-quality audio even in the most challenging of conditions.

The company was founded in 1969 by the late John Gozzard, a former BBC and ITV sound recordist who went on to invent the now familiar zeppelin-shaped windshield for microphones, often seen on television and film sets. It prevents wind and other extraneous noises interfering with sound recordings.

Rycote's unaudited results for the year to 30 April 2018 recorded £3.1 million revenue, with adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization of £0.8 million.

The Vitec Group is an international provider of products to the broadcast and photographic markets, with 2017 revenue of £378 million and employing 1,700 people across the world in 11 countries.

Rycote will become part of Vitec's Creative Solutions Division, led by Nicol Verheem. Simon Davies, Rycote's managing director, will remain with the company post acquisition. The acquisition is in line with Vitec's strategy to enter adjacent markets.

Under the terms of the acquisition, the initial cash consideration is £6 million on a debt/cash free basis, including deal costs. Up to a further £2.5 million cash consideration will be payable dependent on post-acquisition performance.

Stephen Bird, group chief executive of Vitec, commented: "I am delighted to welcome the Rycote team to the group.

"Vitec operates primarily in the video production market and this acquisition opens up the opportunity for us to enter the growing audio capture market, adding innovative and complementary products for our customers, and creating additional value for our shareholders.

"Rycote has exciting product development plans that will add real value to Vitec and our customers, and we look forward to developing the business."