Manufacturing  April 6, 2015

Exxel Outdoors acquires American Recreation Products

BOULDER — American Recreation Products LLC, a Boulder-based company that makes and sells outdoor equipment and apparel, has been sold to Los Angeles-based Exxel Outdoors LLC.

The combined company, under the name Exxel Outdoors LLC, will be headquartered in Boulder and led by Exxel’s co-founders, chief executive Harry Kazazian and board chairman Armen Kouleyan. Brett Jordan, who has served as CEO of American Rec since July 2011, will serve as president of Exxel Outdoors.

Chesterfield, Mo.-based Kellwood Co. LLC, a portfolio company of Sun Capital Partners Inc. that bought American Rec in 1988, announced the sale Monday. Terms of the transaction were not released.

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American Rec makes and sells outdoor equipment and apparel under such brands as Kelty, Sierra Designs, Slumberjack, Wenzel, Ultimate Direction, Mountain Trails and Instabed. Exxel has a factory in Haleyville, Ala., and makes and distributes outdoor gear under the Suisse Sport, Master Sportsman, X20 Water Sports and Ticla brands.

American Rec’s headquarters is at 6235 Lookout Road in the Gunbarrel Business Center.

Exxel will maintain its locations in California, Utah and Alabama. Company officials told SNews Outdoors that the combined company will employ about 287 people, including 110 from Exxel and 117 from American Rec.

“There will be some displacement,” Kazazian told SNews, “but ultimately these moves will result in a net gain of jobs.”

BOULDER — American Recreation Products LLC, a Boulder-based company that makes and sells outdoor equipment and apparel, has been sold to Los Angeles-based Exxel Outdoors LLC.

The combined company, under the name Exxel Outdoors LLC, will be headquartered in Boulder and led by Exxel’s co-founders, chief executive Harry Kazazian and board chairman Armen Kouleyan. Brett Jordan, who has served as CEO of American Rec since July 2011, will serve as president of Exxel Outdoors.

Chesterfield, Mo.-based Kellwood Co. LLC, a portfolio company of Sun Capital Partners Inc. that bought American Rec in 1988, announced the sale Monday. Terms of the transaction were…

Dallas Heltzell
With BizWest since 2012 and in Colorado since 1979, Dallas worked at the Longmont Times-Call, Colorado Springs Gazette, Denver Post and Public News Service. A Missouri native and Mizzou School of Journalism grad, Dallas started as a sports writer and outdoor columnist at the St. Charles (Mo.) Banner-News, then went to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch before fleeing the heat and humidity for the Rockies. He especially loves covering our mountain communities.
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