People have been throwing links to this video statement from PRIME Ammunition at us for a couple of days. PRIME has apparently been in a protracted dispute with their primary supplier, RUAG Ammotec, for some time now. A dispute that has broken out into public view and, according to CEO Jim O’Shaughnessy, has put PRIME “temporarily out of business.”
Here’s PRIME’s statement:
The video has resulted in some people taking up pitchforks and lighting torches on social media and the gun forums.
We reached out to RUAG for a their side of the matter and they provided us with this statement:
RUAG Takes Legal Action Against PRIME Ammunition for Outstanding Debt on More than 1.2 Million Rounds
Tampa, USA, April 17, 2019. RUAG Ammotec has taken contractually-defined recourse on Citizens Ammunition, LLC. RUAG has been loading the PRIME brand ammunition for several years. Well over a year ago Citizens stopped paying RUAG for the ammunition it sold and has refused to make any additional payments on the debt owed. This has forced RUAG to exercise its contractual rights through litigation and product sales.
PRIME Ammunition is delinquent on payments for more than 1.2 million rounds of ammunition sold and received. PRIME’s practice of selling and receiving product but refusing to pay caused RUAG to act to protect its interests. Any statements, claims or representations to the contrary are simply false.
RUAG’s dedication to quality, manufacturing excellence and deep product knowledge has supplied PRIME Ammunition and its fans and supporters with ammunition that stands out from the competition. Similarly, RUAG Ammotec supplies world class components, manufacturing resources and loaded ammunition to leading brands and companies around the world. RUAG Ammotec factory loads the most calibers of ammunition in the world and has production capabilities in five countries. The US market receives top ammunition options for anyone who hunts, shoots, competes, trains, protects, serves or defends from RUAG’s family of brands and products.
RUAG is confident that this matter will be resolved in its favour. RUAG looks forward to continuing to deliver exciting new products and high-quality ammunition to hunters and shooters across the country and throughout the world.
Media Contact: Tim Brandt, tim.brandt@murrayroadagency.com
RUAG develops and markets internationally sought-after technology applications in the fields of aerospace, security and defence for use on land, in the air and in space. 57% of RUAG’s products and services are destined for the civil market and 43% for the military market. The Group is headquartered in Bern (Switzerland). It has production sites in Switzerland and in 13 other countries in Europe, the USA and Asia-Pacific. Around 8700 employees – of whom 430 are trainees – represent 48 nationalities and generate sales of some CHF 1.86 billion.
Based in Tampa, Florida, RUAG Ammotec USA, Inc. is a division of Europe’s leading manufacturer of small arms ammunition and OEM components, RUAG Ammotec GmbH. RUAG Ammotec USA, Inc. not only introduces Swiss, German, Swedish and Hungarian hi-tech offerings to the U.S. marketplace, but also leverages European offerings known for precision, reliability and innovation and combines them with disruptive U.S. components, know-how and partnerships to manufacture and deliver world-class small arms ammunition solutions for use by sports shooters, law enforcers and warfighters in the United States and abroad. RUAG Ammotec markets commercial product offerings under the Norma, Geco, Swiss P and Inceptor brands.
Now you’ve heard both sides. We’ve seen enough of these situations to know they’re rarely as straightforward as they appear. The truth usually lies somewhere in between the two parties’ positions. We’ll leave it to you to make your own judgements.