Dunlop Slazenger was a sports equipment manufacturing company formed by now-defunct BTR plc by consolidating the various sports brands acquired as part their take-over of Dunlop Holdings in 1985.[1]
The company is most recognised for its involvement in golf, tennis, squash, and badminton through the Dunlop Sport, Slazenger, Maxfli and Carlton Sports brands.[2]
Overview
editIn 1996, the company was sold in a management buyout backed by private equity firm Cinven.[3] This arrangement did not have a successful existence, and Dunlop Slazenger soon found itself being run by the banks, led by The Royal Bank of Scotland.[4] Under the banks' management, TaylorMade-adidas Golf took up their option to purchase the Maxfli golf brand in 2004, following a previous licensing arrangement,[5] and the rights to Slazenger Golf in North America were sold to the Slazenger Golf Products Company.[6]
The remainder of Dunlop Slazenger was eventually sold to Sports Direct for £40 million in 2004. Since then Dunlop, Slazenger and other brands have been licensed or sold to other companies, notably Dunlop Sport being sold to Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI), a company of Sumitomo Group, for US$ 137.5 million in 2016–17.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Dunlop and BTR Reach an Accord". The New York Times. March 9, 1985. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
- ^ Wood, Zoe (2016-12-27). "Sports Direct sells Dunlop for $137m". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
- ^ "British Investment Firm To Buy BTR Sports Unit". The New York Times. December 20, 1995. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
- ^ Wootliff, Benjamin (February 10, 2001). "Cinven concedes defeat on Dunlop". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2008-09-23.[dead link]
- ^ Waples, John (January 5, 2003). "Dunlop back on form after golf sale". The Times. London. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
- ^ "Dunlop Sells North American Brand Rights of Slazenger Golf Business to Cleveland-based Company". AllBusiness.com. November 14, 2002. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
- ^ Wood, Zoe (2016-12-27). "Sports Direct sells Dunlop for $137m". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-07-11.