K2 Korea Group acquires outdoor brand Nepa to strengthen portfolio

Outdoor brands K2 and Nepa are set to join forces under one corporate roof.

K2 Korea Group announced Wednesday that it has signed an agreement to acquire Nepa. The deal is structured as a shareholder-allocated paid-in capital increase, with K2 Korea Group subscribing to newly issued shares. Once the capital increase is complete, K2 Korea Group will replace MBK Partners as Nepa's largest shareholder.

K2 Korea Group said it acquired Nepa to strengthen its brand portfolio and expand its mid- to long-term growth foundation, drawing on its accumulated expertise in the outdoor business. The group decided to proceed after highly valuing Nepa's brand assets, customer base and growth potential as an established outdoor brand.

Following the acquisition, the group plans to preserve Nepa's distinct brand identity and strengths while enhancing its product and marketing competitiveness. It will also increase investment in existing retail channels, including dealerships and stores. Through these efforts, the group aims to further strengthen Nepa's brand competitiveness and is considering entering overseas markets over the medium to long term.

"We will combine K2 Korea Group's business expertise with Nepa's strengths to create synergies, and through active investment, further strengthen brand competitiveness and broaden consumer choice," a K2 Korea Group official said.

"The capital coming in through this share issuance will allow us to fully eliminate our debt and financial cost burdens," a Nepa official said. "By concentrating our full investment capacity on product planning, design R&D and aggressive brand marketing, we will leap forward as a leading premium outdoor lifestyle brand."

K2 Korea Group is a fashion and sports company spanning the outdoor, sports, golf and industrial safety sectors. Its portfolio includes outdoor brands K2 and Eider, golf brands Wide Angle and Piretti, sports brand Dynafit, outdoor lifestyle brand Nordisk, and industrial safety brands K2 Safety and Eider Safety.