Bushnell Outdoor Products acquires Cébé

MidOcean Partners, the leading private equity company, and Bushnell Outdoor Products, for over 60 years the world leader of the sports optics field, quality eyewear and outdoor accessories, today announced that Bushnell has acquired the Cébé brand from Marcolin S.p.A., the leading company in the optics industry and listed on the Milan stock exchange. No details of the acquisition have been given.

Founded in 1892, Cébé boasts an excellent tradition in the production of top-quality frames and top-of-the-range sports sunglasses, ski goggles and helmets.

Olivier Ciaravino, vice president and general manager of Bushnell Outdoor Products, stated: “Cébé is an excellent opportunity for us to differentiate our lines of products and distribution channels with the aim of expanding our brand portfolio. Cébé is the excellent completion of the Bollé and Serengeti brands. Thanks to an important presence in the winter sports, racing and cycling markets, Cébé will further increase our opportunities for growth."

David Basto, general manager of MidOcean Partners, said: “Bushnell Outdoor Products, our European subsidiary, has achieved excellent levels of growth in the sunglasses sector. The acquisition of Cébé consolidates the possibility of promoting and enriching our product lines. Cébé’s essential value lies in meeting the needs of sports enthusiasts by offering them maximum protection, and its mission to continually create and innovate perfectly corresponds with our objectives.”

The parties signed a final acquisition agreement and the transaction was concluded May 12, 2009.

This is the ninth acquisition by Bushnell Outdoor Products since 2000. In line with its objective of growth through acquisition, last year Bushnell Outdoor Products acquired Simmons Optics and Millett Industries.