Bauer Performance Sports Ltd. entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Cascade Helmets Holdings, Inc., a leading manufacturer and distributor of men’s and youth lacrosse helmets in North America, for a purchase price of US$64 million, payable in cash and subject to adjustment. The acquisition is expected to close on or about June 29, 2012, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Strategic Rationale:
Cascade is the leading designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of lacrosse helmets and eyewear in North America, and is a leading and well-recognized brand in the broader lacrosse equipment industry. In addition to Cascade’s lacrosse business, the acquisition also includes Cascade’s recently-established hockey helmet business, which has experienced success in the industry with its M11 helmet, which was co-developed with hockey icon Mark Messier. Cascade designs and manufactures all of its products at its operations in Liverpool, NY, which allows it to provide 48-hour turnaround time for custom helmet orders and over 750,000 different color combinations.
One of BAUER’s key growth strategies is to pursue acquisitions of complementary sports equipment companies that require innovative performance products, feature authentic brands, and are or have the potential to become leaders in their categories. The Acquisition of Cascade by BAUER expands BAUER’s presence in the lacrosse equipment industry, adding the industry’s premier line of helmets to the Maverik family of sticks, heads, shafts and protective gear. The transaction also provides an attractive opportunity to leverage BAUER’s commitment to product development and safety, realize attractive cross-selling opportunities, and achieve cost synergies. BAUER intends to leverage Cascade’s patented head-protection technologies and extend and build upon its partnership with Mark Messier to improve player safety through product developments, education and awareness initiatives. BAUER also plans to continue Cascade’s custom manufacturing capabilities for lacrosse and hockey helmets and expects to expand manufacturing at its facility to include BAUER-branded hockey helmets.
“The acquisition of Cascade increases our presence in North America’s fastest growing team sport, and allows us to expand our product offering in our core hockey business through the use of Cascade’s proprietary helmet technology and manufacturing capabilities,” said Kevin Davis, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bauer Performance Sports. “We are very pleased with the similarities in corporate culture and will continue our focus on delivering innovative products which increase player safety and performance. I would like to welcome the Cascade team to the BAUER family.”
ABOUT BAUER PERFORMANCE SPORTS LTD.
Bauer Performance Sports Ltd. is a leading developer and manufacturer of ice hockey, roller hockey, and lacrosse equipment as well as related apparel. The company has the most recognized and strongest brand in the ice hockey equipment industry, and holds the top market share position in both ice and roller hockey. Its products are marketed under the Bauer Hockey, Mission Roller Hockey and Maverik Lacrosse brand names and are distributed by sales representatives and independent distributors throughout the world.
Cascade is the leading helmet brand in lacrosse. Cascade was founded in 1986 with a niche focus on designing and manufacturing innovative lacrosse headgear and has expanded into adjacent market segments including women’s lacrosse and field hockey eyewear, and whitewater and rescue helmets. In 2009, Cascade partnered with former NHL player Mark Messier to introduce a new branded line of hockey helmets which shared much of the product technology utilized in Cascade’s lacrosse helmets.
