In a deal finalized this week, BHG Ventures, a private investment firm in Southfield, has acquired a pair of leading online sporting goods and equipment retailers — Sportsman’s Guide and The Golf Warehouse. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
With the acquisition, BHG Ventures plans to capture the accelerating tailwinds within the fitness and recreation industry, particularly the growing demand for high-quality, easy-to-access sporting goods and equipment.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our team and customers,” says Franz Weiglein, CEO of Sportsman’s Guide and The Golf Warehouse. “A renewed focus on our companies will create exciting opportunities for our employees and bring additional investment and growth to enhance our customer experience. Our base of customers will benefit from the stability and investment of the next generation of our company’s ownership.”
Cascade Partners led the assessment and diligence and arranged the debt financing for this acquisition.
“These companies have been pioneers in the digital space, creating an extraordinary foundation from which to build,” says Rajesh Kothari, managing director of Cascade Partners. “BHG’s focus on the market segment will allow the companies to expand their offerings and geographic reach, and meet customer needs even further.”
Sportsman’s Guide is a leading outdoor sporting goods and hunting accessories retailer based in St. Paul, Minn. Since its founding in 1976, the company has been a supplier of top-quality outdoor sporting goods, and hunting, fishing, and camping gear and accessories via SportsmansGuide.com.
The Golf Warehouse, based in Wichita, Kan., was founded in 1998 and has become a leading e-tailer offering consumers brand names and private label offerings in the golf, baseball, and softball markets. Consumers can shop for the best selection of clubs, shoes, apparel, equipment, and more directly from TGW.com.
BHG Ventures focuses on investing in companies and people to create lasting value and opportunities for growth by drawing on a history of success serving consumers. BHG invests in leading companies in the recreation and fitness, health and recreation, and services in and around the home sectors of the economy.
Cascade Partners is an investment banking and private investment firm serving entrepreneurs, businesses, family offices, and investors active in the middle market. The firm has offices in Detroit and Cleveland.
