An affiliate of Peak Rock Capital, a middle market private equity firm, today announced that it has acquired Do Outdoors, Inc., the parent company of Lew's Fishing, which has enjoyed a resurgence at the consumer level in recent years under new leadership.
Headquartered in Springfield, Mo., Lew's supplies branded fishing products for mass market retailers, sporting goods chains, and specialty outdoor retailers. The company's product portfolio includes rods, reels, combos, and related fishing accessories, including its proprietary Super Low Profile reel platform.
Since Lew's was re-launched in 2009 under the guidance of CEO Lynn Reeves and president Gary Remensnyder, the company has rapidly grown through product innovation and investment in the iconic Lew's brand.
Anthony DiSimone, CEO of Peak Rock Capital, said, "The investment in Lew's highlights Peak Rock's continued desire to partner with leading branded consumer products businesses where we can help drive strong growth."
Peak Rock Capital is based in Austin, Texas, and has a broad portfolio that includes brands in the food and beverage industry and home improvement consumer goods sector. Peak Rock also counts Hunters Specialities, which makes game calls, scent control products and game attractants, among its investments.
"Lew's has a strong competitive position within the fishing category and a rich history of product innovation," added Peter Leibman, managing director of Peak Rock Capital. "We believe Lew's is an excellent platform for expansion through continued investment in new product development and strategic add-on acquisitions. We are excited to work with the team at Lew's to pursue continued growth and innovation in the category."
Said Reeves, "Through world-class product innovation and industry leading customer service, the Lew's team has been focused on becoming a best-in-class partner to its retailers and a supplier of industry-leading products to its consumers. Our team is proud to have made significant progress toward those goals over the past 7 years, and we look forward to partnering with Peak Rock to continue rapidly growing the company."
