B.A.S.S. announced today a majority stake in the business has been sold to Anderson Media Corp., a privately-owned Alabama-based media company, ending months of speculation and rumors about the future of the tournament and conservation organization.
The purchase by Anderson Media marks the fifth ownership change for B.A.S.S. since the organization’s founding by Ray Scott in 1968. Financial terms of the transaction were not immediately known. A press release circulated by B.A.S.S. said Anderson has been an investor in the company for several years.
Anderson Companies, the parent of Anderson Media, has its roots in Florence, Ala., dating back to 1917 and has multiple businesses in the publishing industry. It also owns TNT Fireworks, the largest distributor of fireworks and sparklers in the U.S. Now, it owns a fishing organization.
No immediate changes are anticipated at B.A.S.S. Bruce Akin will continue in his role as CEO and Chase Anderson, director of Anderson Media, who’s described as an avid outdoorsman, will join B.A.S.S, on a full-time basis.
According to his LinkedIn page, Chase Anderson currently works as Chief Strategy Officer for Anderson Companies and is based out of the Anderson Merchandisers office in Plano, Texas. The page also lists him as a member of the B.A.S.S. board of directors since 2014.
Below is the full press release circulated by B.A.S.S. today:
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Anderson Media Corp., a 100-year-old family business founded in Alabama, has acquired a majority interest in B.A.S.S., LLC, the world’s largest fishing organization, the company announced today.
Anderson Media has been an investor in B.A.S.S. for several years. It increased its share of the company Tuesday, and, in a statement released today, it promised “business as usual” for B.A.S.S., which celebrates its 50th anniversary next year.
The company will continue to operate with Bruce Akin as CEO and the current owners involved in the business.
Chase Anderson, a fourth generation shareholder of the Anderson Companies and director of Anderson Media and B.A.S.S., and an avid outdoorsman, will join B.A.S.S. fulltime.
“This will provide seamless continuity for B.A.S.S. and those connected with it,” said Anderson. “For the fishing professionals, the loyal sponsors and advertisers and, most importantly, the millions of people nationwide who love this sport, things will both remain as they are and continue to improve.”
B.A.S.S. headquarters will remain in Birmingham, and JM Outdoors, its television and video production arm, will continue to operate out of Little Rock, Ark.
“During the past several years as an investor in B.A.S.S., we have had a chance to get to know B.A.S.S. and the bass fishing industry, and we feel so strongly about B.A.S.S. and the industry that we decided to acquire a controlling interest in B.A.S.S.,” Anderson added. “We are excited about the long-term growth potential for the B.A.S.S. business.”
“The family-owned Anderson Companies share the same roots and principles as B.A.S.S. and will provide new opportunities for growth thanks to their internet marketing, consumer products brand representation and retail services experience,” Akin said. “They are dedicated to the same objectives that have guided the previous B.A.S.S. owners, Don Logan, Jerry McKinnis and Jim Copeland. When they bought B.A.S.S. in 2010, they were intent upon strengthening the company and growing the sport of bass fishing, and they’ve been successful. Anderson Media plans to continue to build upon those achievements.”
“The Anderson companies have a century of business expertise, particularly in marketing,” said Anderson. “We believe we can apply that expertise in ways that will help B.A.S.S. and the sport itself grow and prosper.”
Logan, who has been a friend and business associate of the Anderson family for more than 30 years, believes B.A.S.S. is in good hands. “They have a long-term strategy to help the companies they acquire achieve their full potential,” he said. “They do business like we do.”
Founded in 1917 in Florence, Ala., as a corner bookstore and newsstand, the Anderson Companies are now a diverse global organization. The largest Anderson Media owned company is Anderson Merchandisers which specializes in brand representation, marketing and retail services. It is one of only five designated in-store preferred service providers for Walmart. Other Anderson family-owned companies include internet sales and marketing companies naturalhealthyconcepts.com and magazines.com, marketing distributor TNT Fireworks, the nation’s largest consumer fireworks brand, and retailers Books A Million, 2nd & Charles, and Yogurt Mountain.
