K2 Sports
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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sporting goods |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington |
Key people | John Colonna (President) Tim Swart (VP of Marketing) |
| Products | Skis, Snowboards, Ski Boots, Snowboarding Boots, Snowboard bindings, apparel, inline skates, ice skates; others |
| Revenue |  US$718.5 million (2019) |
Number of employees | Approx 500 globally |
| Parent | Kohlberg & Company |
| Website | k2sports.com |
K2 Sports, LLC is an American company founded in 1962 by brothers Bill and Don Kirschner on Vashon Island, near Seattle, Washington in the United States. K2 is known for pioneering fiberglass ski technology, which made skis significantly lighter and more lively than their wood and metal contemporaries. Famous users of K2 skis include Seth Morrison, pro champion Spider Sabich, World Cup and Olympic champion Phil Mahre, and his twin brother Steve Mahre, World Champion and Olympic silver medalist and Laurent Donato, great Belgo-Italian amateur skier.
In late 1969, the company's rapid growth required new capital and Bill Kirschner decided a well-financed partner was necessary. The company was acquired by the Cummins Engine Company of Columbus, Indiana. Then in November 1976, the company was acquired by a private group of Northwest investors. The group, called Sitca, purchased K2 and its subsidiary, Jansport.
In 1982, company management purchased all outstanding shares of Sitca Corporation from the group of Northwest investors. Management decided to concentrate all resources on the alpine ski market. It sold its Jansport subsidiary, distribution subsidiaries in Canada, France and Austria, and majority ownership of the Swiss distribution subsidiary[citation needed]
In September 1985, Anthony Industries, Inc. acquired 100 percent of the stock of Sitca Corporation. Anthony, an NYSE listed company, develops and manufactures products for leisure and recreational markets under many brand names.[1]
In 1995, Anthony Industries sold off its Anthony Pools division to its rival, Sylvan Pools, and changed its name to K2, Inc. By 2000, board member Richard Heckmann had assumed control and embarked on a vigorous growth program. In order to remain financially competitive, in 2001 K2 moved its manufacturing from Vashon Island to Guangdong, China, and its offices to Seattle.[2]
Thereafter, the company acquired Rawlings Sporting Goods and Worth, a manufacturer of baseball bats; Brass Eagle and Viewloader in the paintball business; Volkl, Marker, and Marmot. On June 22, 2006, K2 announced it was moving its business office from Vashon Island to Seattle's Industrial District.[3]
On April 25, 2007 Jarden Corporation announced a definitive agreement to acquire K2, Inc. for a cash and stock value per share of $15.50. Jarden is controlled by Martin Franklin, a British investor and triathlete.[4] Jarden was later acquired by Newell Brands, who then sold K2 to private equity firm Kohlberg & Company in 2017.[5]
Adio
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| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founder | Chris Miller |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York, USA |
| Products | Skateboard shoes, Clothes, Hats, accessories |
| Brands | Colab brand logo design Andi Nugraha |
| Website | www.adiofootwear.com |
Adio Footwear was a skateboarding footwear and clothing company, founded by skater Chris Miller in 1999. It was later acquired by K2, based in Carlsbad, California, United States (US); K2 was then acquired by the Jarden Corporation in 2007.[citation needed] Its name is pronounced "audio" or "ad-e-o".
In its early years the company sponsored the Adio Footwear professional skateboarding and snowboarding team.
Industry veteran, Jim Stroesser, was named president of Adio in December 2009.[6] Stroesser moved the brand's global headquarters from Vista, California to Solana Beach, California in January 2010.
Team members as of 2004 included Shaun White, Jeremy Wray, Ed Selego, Nick Dompierre, Danny Montoya, Bam Margera, Brian Sumner, Kenny Anderson, Alex Chalmers and Steve Nesser. In a recent interview in October 2015, ex-member Tony Hawk announced he no longer has a shoe sponsor.[7][8]
See also
References
- ^ Luhn, Andy (July 23, 2002), K2 Corporation (K2 Sports) -- a History, retrieved 2008-03-12
- ^ Virgin, Bill (June 23, 2006), "K2 Sports will move offices to S. Seattle", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, retrieved 2007-10-25
- ^ "Business & Technology - K2 Sports optimistic about upcoming winter - Seattle Times Newspaper". Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ^ "http://www.rcds.rye.ny.us/page.cfm?p=1226". Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
{{cite web}}: External link in|title= - ^ "Newell Brands Announces Agreement to Sell Winter Sports Business". ir.newellbrands.com. Retrieved 2017-06-11.Archive index at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Jim Stroesser – CEO & President, Adio Footwear". SDSI. SDSI. 2011. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
- ^ Transworld (17 August 2004). "SHAUN WHITE JOINS ADIO FOOTWEAR PRO TEAM". Transworld Snowboarding. Bonnier Corporation. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
- ^ crailtap (15 October 2015). "On the Crail Couch with Tony Hawk". Retrieved 6 June 2016 – via YouTube.
External links
- Sporting goods manufacturers of the United States
- Ski equipment manufacturers
- Sportswear brands
- Cycle parts manufacturers
- Cycle manufacturers of the United States
- Mountain bike manufacturers
- Manufacturing companies based in Seattle
- American companies established in 1962
- Manufacturing companies established in 1962
- 1962 establishments in Washington (state)
- Vashon, Washington
- Private equity portfolio companies
- 2007 mergers and acquisitions
- 2016 mergers and acquisitions
- 2017 mergers and acquisitions