United Sports Brands has acquired Nathan Sports, the maker of hydration, visibility and performance gear for runners and other athletes. United Sports Brands will utilize its expertise and experience to create new market opportunities for Nathan, enabling the brand’s continued focus on ground-breaking product innovation.
“We're excited to add Nathan to the growing United Sports Brands’ portfolio of authentic brands,” said Tony Armand, chief executive officer of United Sports Brands, which is based in Minnetonka, MN. “Nathan has a passionate commitment to athletes at all levels and across multiple sports. Nathan is an ideal complement to the current portfolio of United Sports Brands products, and we look forward to working with the Nathan team, further fueling this powerful brand's growth
“In United Sports Brands, Nathan has a partner with similar values and strong operational resources to help us provide the best service to our retailers and athletes,” said Bridgit Lombard, chief executive officer of Nathan. “This acquisition means Nathan can focus on doing what we do best: building programs to drive retail sales and providing innovative products that help athletes run stronger and longer.”
Nathan will comprise the fifth brand in United Sports Brands’ portfolio, which already includes Shock Doctor, the #1 global leader in mouthguards; McDavid, a brand at the top of the recommended lists of pro athletes, sports medicine professionals and athletic trainers for more than 30 years; Cutters, the innovative leader in the athletic glove market and high performance glove grip technology; and, XO Athletic, a premium, game-changing developer of athletic cups and sports protection.
Nathan’s principal owner and chairman, Jon Reichlin, will be an investor in United Sports Brands and remain a contributor to the Nathan brand, while Lombard and Tricia Papile, chief financial officer, will continue in a consulting capacity to support the transition to United Sports Brands. Nathan, which is headquartered in Philadelphia with its distribution center, is anticipated to relocate operations to United Sports Brands’ headquarters in Minnesota and California in phases beginning in 2016.
Nathan designs performance-driven gear that helps athletes run stronger and longer, including hydration vests, belts, handhelds, bottles, running packs, active visibility and reflective vests, and other outdoor gear essentials. The company's products are distributed in 45 countries.
United Sports Brands a portfolio company of Bregal Partners, a private equity investment firm.
D.A. Davidson & Co. served as exclusive financial advisor to Nathan Sports.
“This will enable Nathan to continue the relentless pursuit of innovation while better serving its athletes and customers around the globe,” said Jon Reichlin, principal owner and chairman of Nathan Sports. “Mike Smith and the team at D.A. Davidson did a great job supporting and bringing this transaction to fruition.”
“We are privileged to have served as the exclusive financial advisor to Nathan Sports in its sale to United Sports Brands” said Mike Smith, managing director at D.A. Davidson. “This transaction enables new market opportunities for NATHAN products, a bright future for the brand, and is an exciting development in the performance running industry.”
