K2 Sports

Infobox_Company
company_name = K2 Inc.
company_
company_type = Private company subsidiary of Jarden Corp.
foundation = 1961
location = Carlsbad, California;
key_people = Richard J. Heckmann: Chairman and CEO; Dan Quayle: Director
num_employees = 4,700
industry = Sporting goods
products = Athletic shoes, apparel, sports equipment accessories; others
revenue = profit$718.5 million USD (2003)
homepage = [http://www.k2inc.net/ www.k2inc.net]

K2 Inc. (nyse|KTO) was founded in 1961 by brothers Bill and Don Kirschner in Vashon Island, near Seattle, Washington. K2 is known for pioneering fiberglass ski technology, which made skis significantly lighter and more lively than their wood and metal contemporaries.

In late 1969, the company's rapid growth required new capital and Bill Kirschner decided a well-financed partner would be 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

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. [Citation
last =Luhn
first =Andy
title ="K2 Corporation (K2 Sports) -- a History"
pages =
year =2002
date =July 23, 2002
url =http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3901
accessdate=2008-03-12]

K2 moved its manufacturing moved from Vason Island to China in 2001. [Citation
last =Virgin
first =Bill
title =K2 Sports will move offices to S. Seattle
newspaper =Seattle Post-Intelligencer
pages =
year =2006
date=June 23, 2006
url =http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/275072_ktwo23.html
accessdate=2007-10-25] On June 22, 2006, K2 announced it was moving its business office from Vashon Island to Seattle's Industrial District. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008172164_k211.html] On April 25th, 2007 Jarden Corporation announced a definitive agreement to acquire K2, Inc. for a cash and stock value per share of $15.50

Product lines

K2 has since expanded and acquired many companies and lines, including:

K2 Lines

*K2 Skis
*K2 Skates
*K2 Bikes
*K2 Licensed Products
*K2 Snowboards

Marine and Outdoor

*Shakespeare Fishing Tackle — fishing equipment and accessories
*Stearns — PFD's and accessories
*Pflueger — Fishing Equipment
*Penn — Fishing Equipment, bought 2007

Team Sports

*Rawlings — Baseball and Football equipment and accessories
*Worth — Baseball equipment and accessories
*DeBeer Lacrosse — Lacrosse equipment and accessories

Action Sports

*Völkl — Skis, Snowboards, and accessories
*Marker — Ski bindings and accessories
*Ride — Snowboards
*Morrow — Snowboards
*5150 — Snowboards
*Liquid — Snowboards
*Viewloader — Paintball marker
*Brass Eagle — Paintball marker
*Worr Game Products — Paintball marker
*JTUSA — Paintball marker
*Dana Designs — Backpacks
*Line — Skis
*Madshus — Skis

Footwear

*Earth shoes — Footwear
*Hawk Shoes — Footwear
*Tubbs — Snowshoes
*Adio — Footwear
*Atlas — Snowshoes
*Full Tilt — Ski boots

Apparel

*ExOfficio — Clothing
*Hilton Casuals — apparel
*Marmot — Sportswear
*Planet Earth — Sportswear

References

External links

* [http://www.k2inc.net/ K2 Inc.]
** [http://www.k2sports.com/ K2 Sports]
*** [http://www.k2skis.com/ K2 Skis]
*** [http://www.k2snowboards.com/ K2 Snowboarding]
*** [http://www.k2skates.com/ K2 Skates]
*** [http://www.k2bike.com/ K2 Bike]