Johnson Outdoors has purchased Lendal Paddles from its owners and founders, Alistair and Marianne Wilson. Details on the size of the company and on the transaction were not released, but Johnson says the acquisition will boost its earnings in the 2007-08 fiscal year, after one-time integration costs in the current financial year. Johnson’s management will soon have a meeting on how to best utilize Lendal’s distribution network, which covers all of Europe as well as the USA and a few countries in the Middle East.
The Scotland-based paddle company, which also has a subsidiary in the USA, will be integrated into Johnson’s existing paddle sports operations, which include the Old Town, Ocean Kayak, Necky, Carlisle and Extra Sport brands. Product-wise, the acquisition gives Johnson a premium paddle brand to complement its high-tier line of Necky Kayaks. Johnson now views itself as a leading player in the paddle sports market, which it estimates to be worth $400 billion globally.
Alistair Wilson will remain in contact with Johnson Outdoors on an exclusive basis. He and his wife Marianne, who are both former Olympic paddling champions, founded Lendal Paddles in 1964. Alistair invented the patented Lendal Padlock System, which is a light-weight, four-piece paddle.
