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KEN CRANE
04-21-2004, 12:13 PM
Official Release

"K2 it has acquired the assets of Worr Game Products and Innovative Products, both privately held companies. Worr Game Products is a leader in the manufacture of premium paintball markers incorporating its proprietary Autococker® technology. K2 anticipates that Worr will provide a platform for further growth in the premium marker segment, and will be highly complementary to K2's other paintball businesses including its existing premium JT brand. Worr and JT will also benefit from common distribution channels."

K2 Posts Record Results; Makes Two More Acquisitions

APRIL 20, 2004 -- K2 record Q1 sales, an increase of 76.6% to $277.4 million. Diluted EPS increased to $0.27, as compared to $0.01 in the year earlier period, and higher than guidance estimates of $0.25 previously provided by the company. Basic EPS were $0.31 for the 2004 first quarter as compared to $0.01 in the year earlier period.

Richard Heckmann, COB/CEO, said, "We are extremely pleased with the results of the first quarter which were driven by strength across all our divisions and product lines. Our record performance is a reflection of our premier stable of sporting goods brands, continued successful integration of our recent acquisitions and the achievement of operating efficiencies across our businesses. Consistent with our strategic plan, we recently completed two acquisitions that fit perfectly with K2's other paintball brands, and our Stearns Marine division. We continue to believe that we are well positioned to benefit from the consolidation of sporting goods retailers worldwide and to see additional opportunities that will drive consolidation on the equipment side of the business."

K2 it has acquired the assets of Worr Game Products and Innovative Products, both privately held companies. Worr Game Products is a leader in the manufacture of premium paintball markers incorporating its proprietary Autococker® technology. K2 anticipates that Worr will provide a platform for further growth in the premium marker segment, and will be highly complementary to K2's other paintball businesses including its existing premium JT brand. Worr and JT will also benefit from common distribution channels.

Innovative Products is a market leader in accessories for all-terrain vehicles, including gun, bow and luggage racks. There are over 10 million ATVs in use in the US today, and approximately 50% of sales in the ATV sector are accessories. Innovative Products will integrate with K2's Stearns division, and will benefit from common manufacturing and distribution channels.

The purchase price for the two transactions consisted of a combination of K2 stock, cash, and the pay-off of certain debt. On an annualized run-rate, total sales for the two acquired companies are estimated at approximately $25 million in the next 12 months. The transactions are expected to be EPS neutral in 2004 and accretive to

In Q1 2004, K2 sales were $161.1 million, excluding material acquisitions in 2003 which included Rawlings, Worth, Atlas and Tubbs, and Brass Eagle. In Q1 2003, K2 sales were $149.7 million net of divestitures, which reflects sales growth of 8% on a comparable basis in the first quarter of 2004 versus the same period in 2003.

Gross profit increased to 31.2%, as compared to 30.0% of sales in the comparable 2003 period. Higher gross profits reflect a continuation of trends in previous quarters, including a more favorable product mix driven in the first quarter by team sports, winter sports, paintball products, improved manufacturing efficiencies, and fewer close-out sales. SG&A expenses of 24.2% of sales in the first quarter of 2004 were slightly less as a percentage over the comparable 2003 quarter, despite an increase in dollar amounts, due to the higher sales volume during the 2004 quarter. Operating margins improved from 5.6% in first quarter 2003 to 7.0% of sales for the same period in 2004, driven by enhanced leveraging of selling, general and administrative expenses over higher sales volume and an increase in gross profits.

Hep
04-21-2004, 12:20 PM
This sounds familiar Ken. lol So now K2 owns pretty much 30-40% of the market share? Its a dog eat dog world. So whos next? SP? WDP? AGD?

Sparco
04-21-2004, 12:44 PM
Interesting... in honor of this I bought 10 shares of K2 for the hell of it. It gives me more of a reason to follow the whole thing if I'm financially involved.

I'm curious to learn more regarding K2's motives for going after Worr. I'd be more inclined to believe that they'd target a smaller company like AGD before WDP or SP. Although K2 could easily out bank SP in legal fees, perhaps K2 could stop that scourge.

It appears as though K2 will let WGP still do their thing, much like they will with BE and BE does with JT.

Hep
04-21-2004, 01:00 PM
Interesting... in honor of this I bought 10 shares of K2 for the hell of it. .

I was looking also, hmmmm at $15+ a share it might not be a bad idea.

Reverserewind
04-21-2004, 01:14 PM
That's pretty cool. K2's a pretty mainstream company it will be interesting to see if they begin to link any of their facets together.

Sparco
04-21-2004, 01:16 PM
http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=kto

If you're looking to get rich quick... bad purchase. (I know you know this)

However, I bought the shares more for the sake of claiming ownership than anything else. Now I can see I own a bit of WGP without ever having to own a 'cocker!

Emmit
04-21-2004, 02:54 PM
That's pretty cool. K2's a pretty mainstream company it will be interesting to see if they begin to link any of their facets together.
We can only hope.

If you look at it you've got a major corporation with a lot more marketing and R&D type stuff...they make Ski goggles why not make Paintball Goggles? They make pants, coats etc...why not pants and jersies??? This could be something big...or it could just be something where they see an industry that's growing, and wanted a piece of the pie before it was all gone.

Reverserewind
04-21-2004, 05:05 PM
This could be something big...or it could just be something where they see an industry that's growing, and wanted a piece of the pie before it was all gone.


Well regardless they've been smart in the past. Look what they've been able to gain from the mountain biking industry and also the snowboarding industry. Their timing in entering these two sports was perfect and their company profile has grown because of it. I'm sure they'll use their R&D to better all of their ventures. Their experience in skiing helped them develop one of the best early step in snowboard systems. And it also helped them create a top line in-line skate. Regardless of their plans it's another positive step for paintball.

C.Carles-AOG
04-21-2004, 06:50 PM
Wow. Looks like paintball is growing as an industry and is being noticed.

Rain-Man
04-21-2004, 11:56 PM
It looks like another level.

WGP
Viewloader
JT
Brasseagle

And don't forget, Jt makes masks used not only in Paintball but also BMX & Public Safety Training. It blew my mind to see one of their masks in GALL's catalog at the station.

Unfortunately, this may not be a lucrative stock. Brassseagle's prices were'nt meteoric and circled around $7. I got our stock club to buy some & they've held on to it.

BlueEyedDevil
04-23-2004, 11:12 PM
Hehe I am gunna win this one. My step father is a stock broker, guess who has many shares =)

Clowndog
04-24-2004, 11:52 AM
I doubt that K2 will evr be a HUGE seller on the market, however, it would be an interesting purchase for the purpose of selling when the time is right. What really worries me is that they now "controll" so much of yours and mine favorite form of entertainment. Beware of price shifts and other "side" marketing.
I have always wanted Oakley to make Paintball goggles.

Reverserewind
04-24-2004, 01:29 PM
I have always wanted Oakley to make Paintball goggles.


Oakley would worry me more than anything else, save maybe Nike.

Emmit
04-24-2004, 01:38 PM
Oakley made some nice shoes a while back...but they didn't really catch on...

Goggles would be good, but you've got to wonder how they'd end up looking with the face protection...while the lenses and the frames would be good, the face protection might be questionable..

Reverserewind
04-24-2004, 01:57 PM
My concern with Oakley is that they always seem to be over priced and under quality. I know in skiing they are one of the most popular goggles and yes the lenses are good but they never seem to last. That and they're really designed for style and less function. Rarely do you see people heavily involved in the industry with Oakleys (at least in my experience) unless they are sponsored.

My buddy had a pair of those shoes, they were so poorly made they wrecked his achelis tendons and it took him 2 monts before he could ride his bike again (competes in road races).

Vantage_TeS
04-24-2004, 04:14 PM
A little addition:

RICHIE
Certified Worr Tech

--A few words from Bud...

"Mr. Budd Orr would like to address the public concerning the recent merger with K2 Inc. Bud- "I would just like to say that now with the recent support and resources of K2 Sports we will continue to produce the highest quality paintball products on the market. I understand that alot of you are concerned with what might change here at Worr Games... Let me assure you that i am still the president and it will be business as usual. What our aquisition by K2 has enabled us to do is bring WGP to the next level... with the added support we will be able to produce the same high quality product, and with the resources that K2 has provided we will be able to bring a lot of new and exciting products to the paintball world. As far as my position and the rest of the Worr Games staff, there will be no changes... If anything we can now get some of our department the added quality and customer support we are known for. So in so many words... it just gets better from here. Thank you for all you support... You, the players, are what makes paintball great."