retail sporting goods

Norwest Equity Partners has made an investment in Christy Sports, a retailer of ski and snowboard equipment and during the its off-season operates an outdoor furniture retail business.

Christy Sports is a specialty retailer of ski and snowboard equipment, apparel, and accessories and also provides custom fitting, mounting, tuning and repair services. The company has 40 retail stores located in resorts and ski areas across Colorado and Utah and operates multiple e-commerce sites.  In addition to the retail merchandise available in its stores, Christy provides ski and snowboard rental services. During the off-season, Christy operates an outdoor furniture retail business that allows it to use its operational infrastructure, employees and distribution facilities. Christy Sports was founded in 1958 and currently employs about 650 people. The company is headquartered in the Denver suburb of Lakewood (www.christysports.com).

“We are excited to work with CEO Patrick O’Winter and his management team to grow the business through geographic expansion and add-on acquisitions and feel confident that the combination of our capital and industry expertise will help Christy Sports to continue gaining market share,” said Todd Solow, a NEP partner.

Norwest Equity Partners (NEP) makes equity investments of $30 million to $150 million in companies operating in the agriculture, applied technology, business services, consumer products and services, distribution, diversified industrials, and healthcare sectors. In April 2015, NEP closed Norwest Equity Partners X, LP, a new $1.6 billion fund and Norwest Mezzanine Partners IV, LP, a new $800 million fund formed by NEP’s affiliated mezzanine investment firm, Norwest Mezzanine Partners (NMP). Norwest Equity Partners is headquartered in Minneapolis (www.nep.com).

ICR Partners (www.icrinc.com) was the financial advisor to Christy Sports and Goldberg Kohn (www.goldbergkohn.com) provided legal services.  Winston & Strawn (www.winston.com) provided legal services to NEP.

© 2015 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 10-29-15

St. Cloud Capital has made an investment in Bravo Sports, a seller of branded sporting goods.  St. Cloud’s investment backs the acquisition and combination of Bravo Sports and ONE Industries, a motocross and mountain bike products company that was acquired by Transom Capital in July 2013.

Bravo Sports products include scooters, skateboards, skates, sun shades and canopies that are sold through the mass merchant, sporting goods and big box retail channels.  The company has over 100 employees and offices in the US, Europe and Asia. Bravo was founded in 1965 and is headquartered near Los Angeles in Santa Fe Springs, CA (www.bravosportscorp.com).

ONE Industries produces protective gear, helmets, gloves, graphics, and racewear for motocross and mountain bike riders. The company’s products are sold under the ONE and SixSixOne brands. ONE Industries sells its products worldwide through dealers, stores and online. The company was founded in 1997 and is based in San Diego (www.oneindustries.com).

“Bravo is a solid consumer products platform.  We believe its leadership positions in the sporting goods and outdoor segments, matched with strong brands and great products, will create significant growth opportunities for the platform,” said St. Cloud Capital Managing Partner Ben Hom.

St. Cloud Capital makes both control and non-control investments in lower middle-market companies that have annual revenues between $10 million and $150 million.  The firm typically invests from $5 million to $15 million per transaction in senior secured debt, subordinated debt, and preferred and common stock. St. Cloud Capital is based in Los Angeles (www.stcloudcapital.com).  This transaction represents the second investment made by St. Cloud’s third investment fund.

Transom Capital Group invests in buyouts and turnarounds of companies with EBITDAs from $0 (turnaround situations) to $10 million. Sectors of interest include consumer products, media & entertainment, and industrial. The firm is based in Los Angeles (www.transomcapital.com).

“We look forward to building the Bravo Sports platform with St. Cloud as our partners,” said Transom Managing Director Russ Roenick.  “They’ve shown us their ability to structure a creative financing solution.”

© 2015 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 6-12-15