who owns who?

[mrpike1973]

hi i heard rapala now owns marcum and strikemaster can anyone tell what else they own thanks

[CaptainMusky]

Rapala does not own marcum. They are in a strategic partnership along with otter. Rapala does own strike master though.

[Jim Almquist]

Storm, Luhr-Jensen, Suffix, VMC, Blue Fox, Terminator, Trigger, Williamsaon, Marcum ,and Strikemaster are all Respected Rapala Brands

[Hawg]

Where's Johnson Outdoors come in here? I thought they bought Strikemaster.

[BartmanMN]

Where's Johnson Outdoors come in here? I thought they bought Strikemaster.

No. They do own Humminbird.

[Ziesmer]

Do they own Otter also?

[CaptainMusky]

Rapala does NOT own Marcum OR Otter.

Johnson Outdoors bought Lakemaster.

[JohnMickish]

Johnson Outdoors owns MinnKota, Humminbird, Cannon and Lakemaster in our world. They also own Kayak, diving and camping companies.

[hovermn]

Versa Electronics is Marcum's parent company. I'm standing in their lobby right now ;-)

[TruthWalleyes]

Storm, Luhr-Jensen, Suffix, VMC, Blue Fox, Terminator, Trigger, Williamsaon, Marcum ,and Strikemaster are all Respected Rapala Brands

Rapala is a respected brand...I'd buy a whole lot more of the brands listed above if i knew they were rapala owned...Maybe rapala should ditch all these brand names and stick with the brand name that runs straight!!

[Ziesmer]

Are Otter and Marcum partners with Rapala then?

[Esox_Magnum]

Are Otter and Marcum partners with Rapala then?

Yes Rapala does the marketing end of it...

[JohnMickish]

Versa Electronics is Marcum's parent company. I'm standing in their lobby right now ;-)

Who ownes Versa?

I personally with there was alot more transparency in who owned who.

[Walleye Guy]

Rapala, the world’s favorite fishing lure and Versa Electronics, the owner of MarCum Technologies and Showdown brands, industry-leading fishing sonar and underwater viewing systems, have formed a strategic manufacturing and exclusive distribution partnership.

Under the agreement, the two well-known Minnesota-based companies, Rapala and Marcum, will combine forces in a shoulder to shoulder partnership. Marcum is a respected manufacturer of world class fishing electronics and is known for their innovation and high quality products. Rapala is the world leader in sales, marketing and distribution of leading fishing brands.

In the partnership, Marcum will maintain all responsibility for product development, production and customer service. Rapala will take over all sales, marketing and distribution, effective April 2, 2012.

“MarCum’s products are cutting edge and of outstanding quality, in a class of their own,” said Tom Mackin, president of Rapala USA. “We’re excited to provide anglers with top-of-the-line technology products for both open water and ice fishing. Together, we will become an unbeatable resource for our customers in the trade and for anglers around the world.”

“Rapala products and the Rapala brand are truly unmatched,” said Versa CEO, Kevin Johnsrud. “We are thrilled to combine efforts and provide anglers with a product offering that is unrivaled.”

MarCum Technologies – the fastest-growing company in sonar technology – is devoted to offering angling innovations including sonar flashers and digital fish finders, underwater cameras and more. With products made primarily in the USA, its latest offering, the LX-7 Sonar System, is a radically groundbreaking system that features over a decade of advanced sonar design, with multiple industry-exclusive features.

Rapala was unofficially founded in 1936 when Lauri Rapala invented the Rapala fishing lure. Rapala has grown from humble beginnings to become a market leader in the fishing tackle industry.

The Rapala brand’s functionality and high quality are known by fishermen around the world. Rapala maintains its strict standards of craftsmanship while delivering its fishing products to anglers in more than 130 countries.

Versa Electronics, in operation for over 50 years, acquired the MarCum and Showdown brands in 2009. Versa has been responsible for the manufacture of MarCum products since 2006, and with the introduction of the latest digital sonar product, has demonstrated its commitment to continuing innovation and growth in fishing electronics.

[Walleye Guy]

Bolstering its already solid ice fishing selection, Rapala VMC Corporation (Rapala) announces it has acquired the assets of Minnesota-based StrikeMaster Corporation, the leading supplier of ice augers in the United States. In a symmetrical maneuver, Rapala also acquired the Mora ICE brand – Europe’s preeminent name in ice augers and cutting blades – from Mora of Sweden AB (Mora, Sweden).

“We have jumped into the winter business with both boots!” exclaimed Tom Mackin, President of Rapala USA. “Now we have the ability to reach anglers during all seasons. Our new ice fishing lineup is quite extensive with tackle and accessories, augers, electronics and more. These acquisitions are directly in line with our core competencies and a perfect fit to the Rapala family of brands,” said Mackin.

[Walleye Guy]

Rapala and Otter Outdoors Combine ‘Ice Forces’

Rapala®, the world’s most successful fishing lure and Otter Outdoors, ice fishing industry leader and manufacturer of the highest grade portable ice fishing sleds and shelters on the globe, have formed a strategic partnership.

The agreement, which will formally begin April 1, 2013, forms a mutually beneficial sales, marketing and distribution partnership that will augment and empower the newly formed Ice Force™ ice fishing brand, uniting industry powerhouses Rapala, Sufix, StrikeMaster, MarCum Technologies, and Otter Outdoors. In the partnership, Otter maintains all responsibility for product development, production and customer service. Rapala assumes all sales, marketing and distribution rights of Otter Outdoors products.

“Otter has been a marketing partner with Strikemaster and Marcum for many years,” stated Otter Outdoors president Brian Evenson. “Continuing and expanding upon these partnerships with a celebrated company like Rapala is a natural. This potent alliance allows us to concentrate on Otter’s strength of superior product development while leveraging Rapala’s renowned talent in sales, marketing and distribution. We’re extremely excited to be able to maintain ‘business as usual’ at Otter, while benefitting from Rapala’s legendary influence in the sportfishing arena.”

“Otter has long been the undisputed leader in the development of the highest quality, innovative portable ice fishing sleds and shelters in the business,” says Tom Mackin, president of Rapala USA. “When we first sought a shelter partner for Ice Force, feedback among our industry insiders was unanimous: Otter simply makes the finest gear in its category. This partnership allows us to provide anglers with an even greater blend of leading-edge products, both for open water and ice fishing.

Evenson adds: “From a consumer perspective, each of our brands will retain their autonomy, while presenting distributors and dealers with a powerhouse purchasing option that can meet most of their key product needs through one simple distribution network.”

Otter Outdoors, manufacturer of the popular Otter Fish House and Otter Sled, remains committed to building the highest quality innovative ice fishing equipment in the industry. Otter’s ultra durable Pro and Wild Sleds are used and abused by more ice anglers than any other brand. A full range of portable shelters, from the toasty warm Xtreme Thermal PRO Series to the perennially popular Thermal Top Wild Series in Cabin, Cottage and Lodge models provide frozen water fishermen with the ultimate in comfort, portability and organization on ice.

Rapala was unofficially founded in 1936 when Lauri Rapala invented the Rapala fishing lure. Rapala has grown from humble beginnings to become a market leader in the fishing tackle industry. The Rapala brand’s functionality and high quality are known by fishermen around the world. Rapala maintains its strict standards of craftsmanship while delivering its fishing products to anglers in more than 130 countries.

For more information on Rapala, please visit www.rapala.com or www.facebook.com/RapalaUSA, and for more information on Otter Outdoors, please visit www.otter.com, or the Otter Outdoors Facebook Fan Pag

[hydro]

Interesting thread. It looks like Normark is positioning itself to dominate the ice fishing industry in the years to come.

It was not always that way. The history of Normark is rather interesting and I was close to it as it began to grow. In 1960 Ray Ostrom (who ran Ostrom’s Tackle on 36th & Lake Street in Minneapolis) partnered up with Ron Weber and formed a deal with Lauri Rapala to import the original floating minnow lure. The business rapidly took off and they registered their new business as “The Rapala Company” here in the United States. Unfortunately for me, a result of their success was that Ray closed the Ostrom’s tackle store in the early ‘70s. At the time, I was still in middle school and I lost the tackle outlet 8 short blocks from my house.

Eventually, Ron and Ray restructured the company to form the “Normark Corporation” which grew exponentially and proceeded to absorb several other domestic tackle companies. Lauri Rapala passed away in 1974 and the Finnish company was restructured as “Rapala Oy” but still privately held by the Rapala family. Ray Ostrom sold his share of the company back to Normark in 1984, and Ron Anderson stepped out in the early 1990’s when Normark was acquired by Rapala Oy. The Finnish company was acquired by a private group of investors from the Rapala family in 1998, restructured as “Rapala Normark Oy”, and listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.

Since 2005, Rapala Normark Oy has been aggressively acquiring companies in the tackle and sporting goods market and continues to grow. Here is a partial list of companies they have acquired, from the Rapala HSOforum:

Blue Fox

Storm lures

VMC hook (France)

Willtech lure (China)

Williamsson big game fishing

Marttiini (Finland, maker of the Rapala fillet knife)

Tortue (France)

Terminator spinner bait

Sufix Fishing Line

Dynamite Baits (UK carp tackle)

Shimano (US distribution alliance)

Strikemaster

[DTro]

I guess its crystal clear huh.

[Glockwinger]

Reminds me of AC/DC...

Who Made Who

[Eric Wettschreck]

More like Abbot and Costello's "Who's on first."

It's all crystal clear as mud to me.