Segway, Inc. has announced a merger with a UK based business backed by prominent businessman Jimi Heselden. Segway, Inc. has also received additional funding to support growth of the PT range, expand market reach, and to continue development of future products. The company will continue to be based in Bedford, New Hampshire, USA. Segway, Inc. has always been a privately held company, and continues to be so (now with different private ownership of its shares). Segway inventor Dean Kamen and his company DEKA Research continue to have significant and ongoing links with Segway, Inc. A media release can be found here and this article has more about the new owner - who is also part-owner of the UK Segway Distributorship. This merger heralds no significant changes to either the US Dealer or the international Distributor networks, and it is "business as usual" at a retail level for resellers and for customers. Segway New Zealand Limited is excited to be in our 7th year of importing, selling and supporting the incredible Segway Personal Transporter range. We're a 100% locally owned business, and have Agents in Wellington and Christchurch. Also, we are the longest-operating Segway Distributor in the world (equal with Segway France), importing the first units in 2003. Kiwis have been enthusiastic early adopters of PTs putting them to work and benefit across a wide spectrum of applications. We have almost the highest per-capita ownership outside North America (see an earlier News post). Even during 2009's recessionary conditions, last-quarter sales in particular into security, police, commercial productivity, tourism and personal mobility market sectors were excellent. As more New Zealaners grasp the full benefits that Segway PTs deliver, we predict 2010 will be our most successful year yet.