Wow, who would of thunk it?
SALT LAKE CITY, June 7, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Black Diamond, Inc. (Nasdaq:BDE) (the “Company” or “Black Diamond”) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire POC Sweden AB (”POC”), a Stockholm-based designer and manufacturer of protective gear for action sports athletes.
Founded in 2004, POC produces and distributes to 27 countries advanced-design helmets, body armor, goggles, eyewear, gloves and apparel for action or “gravity sports,” like skiing, snowboarding and cycling, with a particular emphasis on safety and protection...
... POC, renowned for its research and innovation, is the recipient of numerous industry awards, including the Grand Prize for Active Safety in the prestigious Volvo ISPO Sports Design Award competition. POC’s patented technology continues to set new standards for construction, material combinations and engineering for personal protection...
... “POC and Black Diamond were both founded as solutions-based companies, focused on providing unmatched personal protection for active outdoor athletes,” said Peter Metcalf, President and CEO of Black Diamond. “We believe POC is one of the most innovative, fastest-growing and hottest brands in action sports protective gear today and a strong strategic addition to the Black Diamond platform.”
“We expect POC to benefit significantly from Black Diamond’s robust operational infrastructure which is tailored to highly engineered, life-dependent products, including our rigorous level of QA/QC testing and compliance, manufacturing and engineering acumen, and global distribution platform,” continued Metcalf. “POC’s product line developed for the alpine and free-ride ski, mountain and road bike markets-including their paradigm-changing innovations in helmet design-provides us an array of products that expand the breadth of our multi-seasonal offerings. Along with their innovative POC Lab and valuable intellectual property, POC fits our ultimate vision of bringing together the best and brightest companies in terms of product design, aesthetics, culture and commitment to the customers we serve.”
POC founder and CEO, Stefan Ytterborn, commented: “Given POC’s mission to save lives and reduce the consequences of accidents for gravity sports athletes, partnering with a highly capable and energetic company like Black Diamond greatly enhances our ability to better serve our worldwide community of users. In Black Diamond we have truly found our match in terms of ‘hearts and brains.’ We are excited to join forces as one company, bringing together extraordinary talent and commitment to excellence, along with our deeply shared values and purpose.”
Full article here:
http://skiingbusiness.com/13576/newswire/black-diamond-buys-poc-for-43-5-million/