Vista Outdoor Inc. has acquired privately owned Jimmy Styks LLC, a leading designer and marketer of stand up paddle (SUP) boards and related accessories. Jimmy Styks' SUP portfolio provides easy-to-use platforms for water sport enthusiasts engaging in activities ranging from personal fitness to fishing. The company offers nearly 30 SKUs in epoxy, inflatable, soft and thermoform boards, as well as accessories.
The completed transaction provides Vista Outdoor with access to the water sports market through the fast-growing SUP board segment, which experienced 35 percent growth in 2013 and 40 percent growth in 2014.
“The acquisition of Jimmy Styks is a direct result of our strategy to be a leading provider of outdoor recreation products, to expand into complementary and adjacent markets and to deliver long-term shareholder value,” said Chairman and CEO Mark DeYoung. “Jimmy Styks is the market leader in stand up paddle boards and strengthens our overall leadership position as an outdoor sports and recreation company. Jimmy Styks expands our portfolio into water sports with products that support activities many of our consumers enjoy, such as fishing, camping and spending their recreational time outdoors. This company and its products clearly support our mission to bring the world outside.”
Vista Outdoor paid approximately $40 million in an all-cash transaction, with additional contingent consideration payable if incremental profitability growth milestones are achieved over the next three years. The purchase price represents an approximate 5.5x multiple on expected calendar year 2015 EBITDA. Vista Outdoor expects the acquisition to be accretive to FY16 earnings per share (EPS), including impacts associated with transaction expenses.
Additional information related to Jimmy Styks will be presented during Vista Outdoor's first quarter FY16 earnings call and webcast.
“Vista Outdoor's established customer channels and our strengths in sales, marketing, distribution and consumer insights will support our ability to grow the Jimmy Styks brand. We will also focus on promoting and developing new products and expanding applications for this emerging platform,” said DeYoung.
Jimmy Styks was founded in 2009 in Huntington Beach, CA by Kyle Reeves and Jeremy Wilkens, who will remain with Vista Outdoor. The company will be integrated into the Outdoor Products segment of Vista Outdoor.
“We believe stand up paddle boards remain in their infancy with only 10-15 percent of the number of kayak participants, which has between 15-20 million participants,” said Jeremy Wilkens, Jimmy Styks co-founder. “Like kayakers, participants can SUP anywhere there is water. However, SUP supports a broad range of water activities and wider demographic appeal.”
“By leveraging its market leading position and focus on innovation, Jimmy Styks is well positioned to capture significant growth opportunities,” said Kyle Reeves, Jimmy Styks co-founder. “We are very proud of what Jimmy Styks has accomplished. The opportunity to join Vista Outdoor allows us to accelerate growth through channel expansion in the U.S. and internationally, as well as invest in additional product innovation.”
Reed Smith LLP acted as legal advisor to Vista Outdoor in connection with the transaction.
Vista Outdoor is a leading global designer, manufacturer and marketer in the growing outdoor sports and recreation markets. The company operates in two segments, Shooting Sports and Outdoor Products, and has more than 30 well-recognized brands that provide consumers with a range of performance-driven, high-quality and innovative products in the ammunition, firearms and outdoor accessories categories. Vista Outdoor products are sold at leading retailers and distributors across North America and worldwide. Vista Outdoor is headquartered in UT and has manufacturing operations and facilities in 10 U.S. States, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Canada, along with international sales and sourcing operations in Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
