Columbia Sportswear Company closed its previously announced acquisition of Prana Living LLC at midnight May 30 for a purchase price of $190 million in cash, subject to customary post-close working capital adjustments.
Prana will join Columbia’s portfolio of authentic, active outdoor brands, which include Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, Sorel and Montrail. Prana will remain headquartered in Carlsbad, California as a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Company and will continue to be led by current CEO Scott Kerslake, who will report directly to Columbia president and CEO Tim Boyle.
“We are very excited to officially welcome Prana to Columbia’s brand portfolio,” said Tim Boyle, Columbia’s president and chief executive officer. “Prana will be a great complement to our existing brands. Prana fits Columbia’s strategic priorities to expand into categories that appeal to complementary consumer segments, reduce our dependence on cold-weather products, and leverage Columbia’s global operational platforms to expand across key geographic markets.
“With this important transaction now complete, we look forward to providing growth-driving resources to CEO Scott Kerslake and the entire Prana team as they pursue Prana’s significant global brand potential.”
“We are thrilled to officially join Columbia’s family of distinct active and outdoor brands,” said Prana’s chief executive officer, Scott Kerslake. “Since Prana’s founding in 1993, our team has been committed to inspiring healthy, active, free-spirited lifestyles rooted in yoga, rock-climbing and fitness, by designing stylish, functional, active apparel made in an environmentally sustainable way. With Columbia’s financial strength, operational expertise, and global market platform, we will now be able to reach a much broader audience of socially conscious consumers worldwide.”
Prana sales grew at a compound annual growth rate of more than 30 percent between 2010 and 2013, and are on pace to surpass $100 million in 2014 and generate low double-digit operating margin. Prana’s products are currently sold through approximately 1,400 select specialty and online retailers across North America, as well as company-owned direct-to-consumer channels that include 5 U.S. retail stores, a U.S. ecommerce site and direct-mail catalogs. North America currently accounts for approximately 95 percent of Prana’s annual sales, suggesting a substantial opportunity to expand by leveraging Columbia’s existing distribution platforms in over 90 countries outside of North America.
Columbia funded the purchase from available cash. In 2014, Columbia expects to recognize incremental Prana net sales of approximately $55 million, which is expected to contribute low double-digit operating margin to Columbia’s consolidated 2014 results, excluding the effect of approximately $4 million in one-time transaction fees, and approximately $9 million in amortization of certain acquired assets and other integration costs. In 2015, Columbia expects Prana’s annual sales to increase at a double-digit rate over 2014 and operating margin to be in the low-teens, excluding anticipated purchase accounting amortization and other integration costs of approximately $5 million, resulting in accretion to Columbia’s consolidated earnings in 2015.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Columbia Sportswear Company in the transaction and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as the company’s legal advisor.
