The Hockey Company has acquired a 33 1/3% ownership stake in t-blade. The remaining shares are owned by Graf Canada Ltd. (33 1/3%) and t-blade GmbH (33 1/3%). Separately, the Company also announced the formation of a European joint venture with t-blade GmbH that will be the exclusive marketer and distributor of t-blade products and technology throughout Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.
“Our extensive testing has proven to us that the t-blade system is the next generation in skating technology”, said Matt OToole, President and CEO of The Hockey Company Holdings Inc. “The performance, technology and easy replacement system are unsurpassed and will be the future for elite hockey players”.
“We have gone to great lengths over the past three years to refine and perfect our holder and runner”, said Mathias Kunz, Managing Director of t-blade GmbH. “Attracting partners like CCM® and Graf Canada validates the t-blade technology and the improvements we have made”.
“The decision by THC, the largest and certainly one of the best ice skate manufacturers in the world, to join the North American t-blade distribution joint venture, confirms that the t-blade technology will be the next standard of ice skate blade technology”, said Mike Hill, President of Graf Canada. “Sales by the joint venture of t-blade products have been increasing exponentially over the last 18 months and THCs purchase of a 1/3 interest in the joint venture will no doubt increase the sales of t-blade products at an even greater rate”, added Mr. Hill.
