Nike looking to sell Bauer

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

Will you buy it?

hehe i had to put a silly question in!

Haha I did tell Steve I'm gonna go get me one of them small business loans :)

[Rustpot 1]

You will still see ONE95 and 9500 helmets and all of that stuff next year.

Never heard mention of a 9500 bucket.

At least they're showing dedication. It's not dumping dead weight, it's looking to pass everything to new hands that will continue taking Bauer products and innovation to the edge.

Kinda weird if someone like Kor, Easton or someone else in the industry buys it and the Nike moniker is still on the front of it. Bauer I can understand, but the Nike is just going to be weird.

I find this stuff very interesting. Knowing who owns who and how things are run can completely blow your mind.

How autonomous are companies like CCM falling under the same product lines as RBK? At least with Mission/Itech the two brands produce different products.

I'm still upset RBK changed the look of their protective equipment. I liked Jofa stuff, and I only got RBK shoulders since the fit was different than the Jofa sets available. I need to find some Jofa or white RBK shins in 15 or 16" on the cheap...

I won't be surprised if Warrior goes after a skate or protective manuf. soon.

So who are real contenders to the NBH company? I doubt someone like Kor, Cascade, Montreal, Salming, Ballistik, or Tackla have the capital to dump upwards of $800mil into an investment with little immediate return. Oakley has made a small foray into the hockey world with visors and gloves, UnderArmour has a visor... Maybe someone who hasn't yet touched hockey like Wilson, Titleist, another laX company.. Or maybe someone who isn't even in sports like Coca-Cola or Gatorade.

edit: I missed a big one, TIM HORTONS!

yes this post was ver erratic, I'm sorry.

[Chadd 916]

I think Easton-Bell Sports is busy in trying to take their own company public, although, one never can prepare for this type of bomb to be dropped on you. I heard from my rep that they (Easton) have been looking towards purchasing Eagle as a way to get into the goalie side of things. Who knows how that would go, but, it makes a little sense; not much though. Eagle is hardly a player in the goalie business, let alone a company that has ever been able to consistently deliver product to retail.

As far as how deep Warrior's pockets are, well, being that they are owned by the 2nd largest shoe manufacturer in the world, I'd say deep.

The Eagle thing makes sense in as much as Eagle actually makes goal pads. Easton seems to prefer having production in house and having the ability to produce goal pads themselves would seem to be more important than Eagle's goal market share. The Easton logo will increase the market share of whatever manufacturer they buy.

So who are real contenders to the NBH company? I doubt someone like Kor, Cascade, Montreal, Salming, Ballistik, or Tackla have the capital to dump upwards of $800mil into an investment with little immediate return. Oakley has made a small foray into the hockey world with visors and gloves, UnderArmour has a visor... Maybe someone who hasn't yet touched hockey like Wilson, Titleist, another laX company.. Or maybe someone who isn't even in sports like Coca-Cola or Gatorade.

I can't see someone who is not involved in sports jumping into hockey by buying Bauer. If New Balance wants to get involved in hockey big-time buying Bauer would get them there. I believe it will be a group of hockey people backed by investors, similar to TPS.

[Law Goalie 147]

Easton buying Eagle... interesting. I gotta say, Easton's goalie pants are the only ones that can hold a candle to the pro-stock CCM's and Vaughns. Investing in Eagle and a mask maker (maybe Sportmask or someone smaller like Hackva) would give them the ability to produce goalie gear from head to toe, assuming they took the time to build a skate themselves. Eagle has a rep for being a smaller goalie company, but their pro-grade stuff is phenomenally well-made and they've already set up offshore production for the price-point gear -- and the only things they don't make are pants, skates and masks.

edit: $10 gift certificate to Tim's says the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan buys Bauer. And why not? They already own MLSE - this way they can equip their team for free. heh

[RadioGaGa 162]

The same people who are designing, selling and marketing the product will still be there.

Depending who buys them, right? If (for example) Easton bought them...they'd have their own R&D & manufacturing etc...and there would probably be massive staff changes.

[RadioGaGa 162]

In the few hours since this was made public, I've heard of two potentials that really make sense.

One company who is interested is not in the sports world but has been trying; not on this level however.

The second is currently in sports and has spoken about/is looking to get into hockey.

Both companies have the resources to get this deal done.

Why do you have to tease? I;m sure some know who you are talking about...but can you give any extra hints to those of us not in the 'biz.

Please, don't say there is a plot of land in Kitchener screaming for a Bauer factory? If Jim B. couldn't get into the NHL as an owner, he'll buy one of the NHLs' biggest equipment companies instead.

[PMurphy17 25]

I just read 4 pages of nonsense. Is there any way to delete every reply but 3??? Those 3 people know who they are.

Cold hard fact #1... Nike massively over paid for Bauer. The long and short is they were blinding overestimating the growth potential of a already peaked inline skate market.

Cold hard fact #2... Canstar was a branding nightmare when Nike bought it. Paying yearly for copyrights and trademarks for all of the canstar brand names to only completly misuse or not use at all doesn't help profit margins either.

[Buzz_LightBeer 969]

I assume my Puma comment doesn't make me one of "those 3 people" =)

[flyguy1697 0]

I know it sounds highly far fetched but I could see Graf obtaining Bauer's name for the skate sake of it. Graf could then market better equipment that they are not know for like shoulders, shin's etc. I would like to see a real hockey company make the investment. I was not too thrilled when Nike bought Bauer because I saw it as only a way for Nike to make money and I'm not saying that I wouldn't want more money in Nike's shoes but I just think they weren't in it for the right reasons. I would love to see what Graf could do with NBH's skate technology too. By any chance did you inside source mention any possible takers?

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

Dude. Stop. Please.

I mean, really. We're talking about the biggest brand in hockey. And you're going to tell me that a brand that obviously isn't as big as them, BUYING THEM?

[Chadd 916]

Easton buying Eagle... interesting. I gotta say, Easton's goalie pants are the only ones that can hold a candle to the pro-stock CCM's and Vaughns. Investing in Eagle and a mask maker (maybe Sportmask or someone smaller like Hackva) would give them the ability to produce goalie gear from head to toe, assuming they took the time to build a skate themselves. Eagle has a rep for being a smaller goalie company, but their pro-grade stuff is phenomenally well-made and they've already set up offshore production for the price-point gear -- and the only things they don't make are pants, skates and masks.

edit: $10 gift certificate to Tim's says the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan buys Bauer. And why not? They already own MLSE - this way they can equip their team for free. heh

Bell already has a lot of knowledge in the helmet industry, albeit in other applications. I don't see the acquisition of a goalie mask manufacturer on the horizon. Better to spend the money bringing your people up to speed than buying an existing brand name and phasing it out.

[TBLfan 25]

New Balance(warrior) could buy NBH, they have enough money. If so, god help us.

[Havok19 0]

I can see it!

Mac Daddy

One90 once

pole xxx lite

bleh........

[Jim A 4]

Guys listen to SRI, NBH won't be swallowed up by another hockey company..

in essence outside of likely something like Golf, Nike appears to be going in the direction of footwear and apparel, NBH foremost is neither of them..

the brand isn't going away, likely it will be done around close of fiscal year (date noted by DarkStar50)

No matter what, when the sale goes through some very talented people will lose their jobs..

Also what will be the goal of the new parent company? to bleed them dry and show lossses for against their other groups.(look at the company who owns Yakima (or did) some middle eastern group that essentially just trimmed and flowed their budget based on their overall bottom line and whether or not they needed to bleed $)

[Cobra2717 0]

EDIT: Now that I actually re-read the article, there is nothing really that hasnt been said. So unless you want to see Nike's fiscal numbers, dont bother.

Just for kicks...here is an article with some info.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articl...420092007-1.htm

Man, so many companies for sale lately that I have wanted to buy...Aston Martin, NBH...where is the money when you need it.

[Sghockey21 1]

I'm sure NBH is still making money from hockey even though it lags behind most of their other businesses. Question is, Why sell NBH when they are still making money off of it? Is it because their profits from the forseeable future will hardly exceed what they would get by selling the company now?

In this case, since everyone knows that hockey equipment doesn't make a great deal, why would any other company pay a premium for NBH? If NBH doesn't make enough money on hockey, I don't see how any other company will be able to do it.

[Sven 1]

Lets throw money together and NBH beomes MSHBAUER

[Hede 2]

Lets throw money together and NBH beomes MSHBAUER

Yes better that then other hockeycompanies taken over. I hope its going to be an outsider that come up with the $$$$. So it dos not become a part of Warrior ore Mission. More companies will be better fore us so we have more to chose from, better price.

[DarkStar50 679]

So you want to get in the hockey business, eh, kid?

It's not what it looks like from the outside. Trust us...........

[lb33knight 0]

I'm sure NBH is still making money from hockey even though it lags behind most of their other businesses. Question is, Why sell NBH when they are still making money off of it? Is it because their profits from the forseeable future will hardly exceed what they would get by selling the company now?

Nike is making money with NBH. Tons of it. But it doesn't have the rate of return that they are used to seeing with their other companies. They want to sell NBH now while they are at the top so that they can maximize their return and use that money to reinvest into something else that will be more profitable to them.

In this case, since everyone knows that hockey equipment doesn't make a great deal, why would any other company pay a premium for NBH? If NBH doesn't make enough money on hockey, I don't see how any other company will be able to do it.

NBH does make enough money, trust me. The company has risen steadily year after year. But the customer base just isn't as large as Nike's other companies. Hockey is a specialized market. Not everyone needs skates but they need shoes.

Think of it this way - why would you keep trying to run a lemonade stand, even though you were making a little money, when you could sell it and put it toward a restaurant?

[DarkStar50 679]

That is a great thought Brandon. The question is why do guys like you, me, and JR keep running the lemonade stands?!!! And actually, the answer, for me, is if I had to do it all over again, I would do it all over again. I like the industry . The news about Nike and NBH is just more proof for me that something different is always just around the corner in this industry.

[lb33knight 0]

When it all boils down to it, we do what were do because we like helping people. There's nothing like the smile on a kid's face after buying his first stick and skates. Sure we could all go work at NBH or somewhere else but the everyday, hands on experience that we give is our contribution to the hockey world. Our local people appreciate us even though many others don't know that we exist. Every puzzle has many pieces. The LHS is just where our piece fits.

[Sven 1]

So you want to get in the hockey business, eh, kid?

It's not what it looks like from the outside. Trust us...........

You mean, its better NOT to know whats inside.. Like in the "Matrix" or working in the paramedic/medical-sector (which i do now, haha)

[Deerok 3]

Wishful thinking, but if the financials were there and it made sense (to him), I would love to see Warren Buffet buy it and have them be part of Berkshire Hathaway.

Pure fantasy I know.

[djosbun 0]

I do believe that New Balance is a publicly traded company, so if they really wanted to make a push and buy Bauer they can create a 'stock release', and the money from this newly sold stock shares can fund the purchase of Bauer.

Obviously this is contingent on New Balance being a public company. I'll have to do some checking......

Well, I couldn't find anything related to New Balance being a publicly traded company. I called Amy Vreeland, which is their corporate communications director. She stated that they are not publicly traded, so they probably do not have the capital to purchase Bauer.