Capstone Group Advised Sale of BOB Trailers to Britax Group–CORRECTED

Capstone Partners, a Chertsey, U.K. Boston-based investment banking firm, is announcing it advised BOB Trailers on its sale to Britax Group Limited, a portfolio company of Nordic Capital Fund VII. Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed. The Capstone M&A team of John Ferrara, Jacob Voorhees, and Sophea Chau managed the transaction on behalf of BOB. (CORRECTED: Capstone is a Boston-based investment bank).

PRESS RELEASE:

Capstone Partners LLC, a leading national investment banking firm, announced that it has successfully advised BOB Trailers, Inc. on its acquisition by Britax Group Limited, a portfolio company of Nordic Capital Fund VII.  The transaction marks the international unification of two of the top brands in the juvenile products category.   The terms of this transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in the UK with major facilities in the UK, Germany, Australia and the U.S., Britax is the world’s premier brand for children car safety seats and strollers. Britax successfully expanded into the stroller market by launching its B-range of strollers in recent years (B-Ready, B-Smart, B-Mobile and B-Scene).  The company complemented its stroller offering earlier this year when it introduced its innovative, quick-folding B-Agile stroller.  Britax car seats and strollers are sold globally in all major retailers and specialty stores.  Additional information about Britax can be found at www.britax.com.

BOB, which began in 1994 as a manufacturer of bicycle trailers, is widely considered America’s premier provider of innovative, design oriented high quality “sport utility” or jogging strollers. BOB’s line of successful products includes the BOB Revolution SE and CE as well as BOB Ironman®, BOB Sport Utility Stroller and the BOB Stroller Strides®*Fitness Stroller.   Based in Boise, Idaho, the company now makes a full line of multi-functional strollers and accessories that is sold at retailers and specialty stores across the U.S. and Canada.  Additional information about BOB Trailers can be found at www.bobgear.com.

Karl Kahofer, CEO of Britax Child Safety, commented, “We’ve admired for some time BOB’s ingenuity and commitment to customers and are convinced that its products, customer service, and business ethics make it a natural fit for Britax.   This purchase reinforces Britax’s global leadership in child safety and mobility, and is fully in line with our international growth strategy.  We have no plans to change the BOB name; in fact we are excited to expand the BOB product range globally.”

BOB cofounder and CEO, Roger Malinowski, is equally enthusiastic about the acquisition.  “When we started this company more than fifteen years ago,” he said, “we simply wanted to design and manufacture the world’s best single-wheel bike trailers, and later, the world’s best strollers for active, sports-minded parents.  When you look at the thoughtful engineering behind the Britax stroller line and the revolutionary design behind its car seats, you can see why our two companies will fit well together.”

The Capstone M&A team of John Ferrara, Managing Partner, Jacob Voorhees, Director, and Sophea Chau, Associate (based in Boston, MA), managed the transaction on behalf of BOB.  “Our consumer products group was very proud to represent BOB Trailers in this landmark cross-border transaction.  We believe the legacy that Roger Malinowski has built in the BOB brand will be expanded globally through Britax’s broad international distribution channels.”

Capstone Partners LLC is a leading national investment banking firm dedicated to serving the corporate finance needs of middle market business owners, investors and creditors.  The firm provides merger & acquisition, private placement, corporate restructuring, valuation and financial advisory services.  Capstone maintains various industry specialties including business services, consumer products, education & training, government services, health & medical, manufacturing & industrial and technology & media.  The firm also possesses merchant banking capabilities to actively co-invest in transactions.  Additional information about Capstone Partners can be found at www.capstonellc.com.