In a big paddle sports deal, Pelican International Inc. has acquired most of the assets of Confluence Outdoor for an undisclosed price.
Officials with Laval, Quebec-based thermoformer Pelican said in a Dec. 16 news release that after acquiring the assets of Greenville, S.C.-based Confluence Outdoor, Pelican "now offers the most comprehensive assortment of paddle sports equipment in the industry, from premium brands to more accessible and reliable products."
"The combination of the two businesses will produce by far the largest and most comprehensive group in the paddle sports space," Antoine Elie, Pelican co-founder, said in the release. "This paddle sports powerhouse will offer, under the best brands, a complete line-up of products spanning all paddle sports categories, catering to the needs of all types of consumers."
Confluence Outdoor makes kayaks, canoes, surf and standup paddleboards, as well as paddle sports accessories ranging from touring and recreational to high-performance fishing and whitewater products.
Pelican's products include kayaks, standup paddleboards, canoes, pedal boats, and fishing boats. The firm's plant in Laval recycles more than 99 percent of the excess material produced in its manufacturing processes.
The combined firm will employ more than 800 at three North American manufacturing sites, officials added. The deal "is the optimal union of two industry leaders poised to drive innovation and serve consumers better than ever before," Confluence Outdoor Vice President of Marketing Todd King added.
Confluence Outdoor ranked as North America's 13th-largest rotational molder in the most recent Plastics News ranking, with annual sales estimated at $45 million. The firm had been owned since 2014 by private equity firm J.H. Whitney Capital Partners LLP of New Canaan, Conn.
Pelican ranked as North America's 31st-largest thermoformer in the most recent PN industry ranking, with annual sales estimated at $75 million. In addition to Laval, the firm operates a second Quebec production site in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.