Aqua-Leisure Recreation, LLC announced the acquisition of Denver, CO-based mostly Airhead Sports Team. With the acquisition, the organization mentioned it turns into the marketplace chief in the aquatics purchaser merchandise marketplace.
Aqua-Leisure can make aquatic products and solutions and pool accessories below brand name names such as Aqua Pro, Aqua, Aqua Physical fitness, Dolfino, and SwimSchool and producers pool hammocks and lounges.
Launched in 1991, Airhead Sports Group manufactures outside, marine, watersports, and winter leisure goods beneath the model names Airhead, Sportsstuff and Yukon Charlie’s.
Aqua-Leisure reported the new company’s enhanced world wide footprint, merged with expanded sourcing and distribution capabilities and amplified production, as nicely as product or service progress and R&D expertise, will greatly enhance its growth trajectory to offer new chances to serve its retail customers and position the business for growth in more to omnichannel suppliers and wholesale distributors.
“The Airhead household of makes is a normal fit for the Aqua Leisure portfolio,” reported Steve Berenson, CEO, Aqua-Leisure. “Our combined merchandise offerings will be capable to satisfy higher shopper demand for a wider variety of outside leisure things to do. We are major believers in empowering shoppers to knowledge all the enjoyable that can be had outside, and we’re enthusiastic to move ahead below my way with this future phase of progress and innovation with the Airhead team.”
This is the 1st include-on acquisition for Aqua-Leisure given that Blackford Money acquired the corporation in January 2021.
“This acquisition is a considerable move in Blackford’s growth system for Aqua-Leisure,” mentioned Martin Stein, founder and managing director of Blackford Capital. “Bringing these two corporations alongside one another produces an really powerful portfolio throughout watersports, maritime, and pool and float groups, allowing for us to generate new growth and long-time period profitability.”
The addition of Airhead’s portfolio of merchandise for the calendar year-round and seasonal outdoor recreation fans will presen cross-advertising prospects, and the amplified quantity established by this acquisition will outcome in prospects in sourcing and paying for. Airhead items are dispersed throughout 60-additionally nations as a result of 6 core channels.
“For more than 30 a long time, Airhead Athletics Group has built and dispersed the very best watersports and wintertime leisure merchandise available,” reported Leland Nichols, President and CEO of Airhead Sporting activities Group. “As section of the Aqua-Leisure portfolio, we will notice each progress and scale synergies. And by optimizing these complementary capabilities, we will carry on to exceed consumer and shopper expectations for product excellent, innovation, and effective on-time supply as we actively boost our competitive positioning in the watersports and wintertime leisure groups for years to occur.”
The existing management at Airhead will continue being subsequent the transaction near. Leland Nichols will come to be COO of the merged team reporting to Steve Berenson, CEO, with tasks for functions of the consolidated organization and company integration.
Houlihan Lokey served as exceptional financial advisor and White & Situation LLP served as lawful advisor to Airhead. Varnum LLP served as legal advisor and Grant Thornton served as the monetary and tax advisor to Blackford. Key Lender provided personal debt funding and Muzinich & Co., and Capital Dynamics furnished credit card debt and equity funding in help of the transaction.
Picture courtesy Airhead Sporting activities Group
