Implus, a provider of athletic, fitness and outdoor accessories, acquired Global Leisure Concepts (GLC). Based in Australia, GLC previously operated as a distributor of Implus and other branded sporting goods products in the region. GLC’s key shareholders, David Jackson and Stephen Brown, will remain in management roles with the newly formed Implus Australia.
With the acquisition, Implus gains a vertical operation in Australia, a region it had historically serviced through a variety of distributors. Implus plans to expand the current operation over the next 12 months to include more brands within its portfolio.
“Our historical success in Australia has largely been tied to that of our distributors,” said Seth Richards, CEO of Implus. “When the chance arose to join forces with one of our strongest partners, we saw this as a win-win for us and our retailer customers.”
“We are truly excited to join the Implus family,” said Jackson. “By selling directly to our customers, we feel this is a game changer that will create growth for all Implus brands for many years to come.”
Implus Australia will operate as a subsidiary of Implus, which is majority owned by Berkshire Partners, a Boston-based investment firm. GLC represents the sixth acquisition for Implus since Berkshire’s investment in Implus in April 2015.
Photo courtesy Yaktrax
