Easton Helmet on the way?

[G.M. 0]

Easton Sports/Riddell Bell Merge

FEBRUARY 07, 2006 -- Easton Sports, Inc and Riddell Bell Holdings announced today an agreement to combine Easton Sports and Riddell Bell Holdings.

The combined entity, to be named Easton-Bell Sports, Inc., will be a preeminent branded sports equipment company dedicated to enhancing athletic performance and protection with innovative equipment. The combined company will generate more than $600 million in annual revenue, hold leading market positions in baseball, softball, football, hockey, cycling, auto racing, and snow and motorcycle sports, and will maintain its state-of-the-art R&D efforts.

Easton’s Chairman, Jim Easton, will be the Chairman of the Board of the combined company. The combination is expected to close during the first quarter of this year.

“Easton-Bell Sports will remain committed to energizing our brands through great products, strengthening all our current channels of distribution and customer relationships, and driving athletic performance through product innovation,†said Easton.

“Easton Sports has an 84-year tradition of leadership in technological equipment innovation,†said Easton. “This tradition includes many innovations in baseball, softball, hockey and cycling that have helped athletes perform to their best potential. The brands of Riddell Bell Holdings – Riddell, Bell and Giro – are all brands that are built on the same foundational values of innovation and quality that we have at Easton Sports. We will both strengthen our authentic brands and retain existing brand names on current products. It’s an ideal fit and provides exciting organic growth opportunities.â€

“The combination of our two companies will create a best-in-class sporting goods company with leading market positions in several unique sports,†said Tony Palma, Easton Sports’ President and CEO. “We look forward to working with the Riddell Bell Holdings team to develop a cohesive company powered by innovation that will continue to provide new technologies in each sport in the sporting goods market.â€

Bill Fry, the President and CEO of Riddell Bell Holdings, added, “This combination will create a powerful industry leader. We will gain valuable experience through combining Riddell Bell and Easton. The many complementary skills will create opportunities to excite our customers with game-changing new products.â€

“The combined R&D efforts of both businesses will be unsurpassed in the sporting goods industry,†added Bill Sherman, President and CEO of Riddell.

[Chadd 916]

That's interesting. The local rep told me Easton will have a helmet for next year.

[pldhockey4 0]

that is very exciting. i just wonder how it will look.

[mgchockey 0]

hah i hope it looks awesome id like a stealth helmet

[ambro 0]

Is Riddell Bell Holdings the same Riddell company that makes football helmets?

[pldhockey4 0]

Is Riddell Bell Holdings the same Riddell company that makes football helmets?

and bike helmets i do believe

[the iceman 132]

If there is a helmet, I hope it is more durable than the SL.

[Project_2501 0]

Synergy SL helmet, LOL...

Edit: Chrome fading into deep grey. That would look sick. Wonder who'd buy...

[ChrisGass9909 0]

maybe composite helmet?

[Keith 0]

Riddell made some decent skates back in the day.

[jrhky36 1]

i just hope it doesn't look like htat new helmet peyton manning is wearing. hope they put a good warrenty on it.

[nate 0]

I wonder if the helmets will have carbon nanotube technology?

[notorious#29 0]

If there is a helmet, I hope it is more durable than the SL.

And hopefully the paint won't chip off after you wear it twice.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Riddell made some decent skates back in the day.

No, you are thinking of RIEDELL.

Riddell is the helmet company.

[Edge 0]

haha yeah ^ i didn't recall them making skates. This is definitely an interesting merge. Didn't hear anything about it. This helmet could turn out very good with Riddell's help.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

When you can't make it yourself, just buy someone who can.

[Hooah4 12]

All I can say is that if they make a hockey helmet anything like their bike helmets, It'll be worth the money. Saved my grey matter on more than one occasion. Of course the helmets disintegrated upon impact though.