Yakima, the manufacturer of vehicle cargo management solutions, has been merged with Kemflo International Co. Ltd., a long-term strategic supply chain partner with headquarters in Taiwan. Yakima, formerly owned by the Arcapita investment firm, will become a subsidiary of Kemflo.
Terms were not disclosed.
Yakima will operate as an independent subsidiary with existing operations, product, marketing, sales, customer management and administrative functions remaining in Beaverton, Ore. Harris Williams & Co. acted as the exclusive advisor to Yakima.
Kemflo, based in Pingtung, Taiwan, is a manufacturer of consumer durables, water filtration, and metal and electronic products.
“Yakima, the leading cargo management equipment brand in the United States, is an iconic brand with a loyal consumer following,” said C.S. Lin, CEO of Kemflo. “We have had the pleasure of serving as a strategic supply chain partner with Yakima for the last nine years and have first hand knowledge of the opportunity for growing the brand both in the U.S. and internationally. We look forward to working closely with its experienced management team to grow the brand, expand its capabilities and bring more consumers into the Yakima family.”
“Kemflo will bring new resources to Yakima, resulting in optimized sourcing, an enhanced supply chain, and more efficiency in operations and business systems, overall,” said Jerry Heinlen, CEO, Yakima. “The merger enables us to increase speed to market globally through expanded product development and market expansion initiatives. As a long-term partner, Kemflo is familiar with our brand and products and currently manufactures several products for Yakima.”
The company plans to maintain its current workforce and operational footprint, including its headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, manufacturing facilities in Mexico, and its network of sales agencies across North America and in other countries.
Yakima’s products include: vehicle racks for bikes, boats, ski equipment and gear, a line of cargo boxes and bags for a variety of needs, as well as high performance multi-sport trailers.
