Lastolite is a manufacturer and supplier of lighting control accessories and backgrounds for the photo, video and cinema industry. It was established in 1986, and will now become a separate entity of the Vitc Group, which owns Manfrotto.

The company's management will also remain, say the two firms, with managing director Sean Henry staying on board and now reporting to divisional chief executive, Francesco Bernardi.

According to Manfrotto's owners, the acquisition will allow the firm to complement its range of lighting accessories as well as LED lights.

Stephen Bird, Vitec's group chief executive, says: "We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Lastolite, which is in line with our strategy of broadening our lighting offering within the photographic market. The Lastolite business and its management are well known to us and we look forward to the Lastolite and Manfrotto teams working together, sharing distribution and sales opportunities."

Lastolite had sales of £8m in 2010 with an adjusted profit before tax of £1.4m.