Gridiron Capital Completes Sale of GSM Outdoors
GSM Exit Showcases Value-Added Partnership Within Consumer Products & Services Sector
NEW CANAAN, CT, October 1, 2024 – Gridiron Capital, LLC (“Gridiron Capital”), an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, is pleased to announce that the sale of Good Sportsman Marketing Outdoors (“GSM,” “GSM Outdoors,” or the “Company”) to Platinum Equity has been completed.
Headquartered in Irving, Texas, GSM Outdoors is an industry-leading branded outdoor enthusiast company with a diverse and growing portfolio of more than 50 rugged outdoor brands. We believe GSM provides a comprehensive range of consumable accessories, gear, and subscription services, along with an exceptional service model, making the Company the ultimate one-stop-shop for both consumers and retail partners. GSM sells through a diverse mix of channels, including online retailers, sporting goods stores, mass merchants, outdoorsman retailers, farm and fleet stores, and dealers and distributors across the United States and Canada.
GSM CEO Eddie Castro and the entire management team will continue to lead GSM.
“We are immensely proud of the growth GSM has realized during our partnership. Their relentless commitment to becoming a market leader in the outdoor enthusiast space through continuously driving organic growth with new product development and strategic M&A is remarkable. We look forward to celebrating their next chapter with Platinum,” said Kevin Jackson, Managing Partner at Gridiron Capital.
Eddie Castro, CEO of GSM, said, “Gridiron and the Centers of Excellence have been invaluable partners during this incredible growth period for GSM, and we look forward to continuing this upward trajectory with the Platinum team. We remain dedicated to delivering the most innovative and high-quality gear to support our customers’ outdoor passions, pursuits, and success above all else.”
“We are thrilled to announce the sale of GSM to Platinum Equity is complete,” said John Warner, Managing Director at Gridiron Capital. “We are honored to have partnered with Eddie and his team, united by a culture of hands-on collaboration and a shared vision for exploring new horizons in the outdoor enthusiast space. We wish them the best of luck and look forward to their ongoing success.”
Robert W. Baird & Co. served as financial advisor to GSM Outdoors and Gridiron Capital. Finn Dixon & Herling LLP served as legal counsel in connection with the sale. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
About Gridiron Capital
Gridiron Capital is an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, and creating value by building middle-market companies into industry-leaders in the consumer products & services, industrial growth, and business services segments in the United States and Canada. We help transform growing companies by winning together through hard work, partnerships grounded in shared values, and a unique culture that comes from hands-on experience building and running businesses. As a team led by former operators and entrepreneurs, we know what it takes to run successful businesses on a day-to-day basis. Additional information is available on the firm’s website: www.gridironcapital.com.
Contacts
Gridiron Capital, LLC
Kevin Jackson
Managing Partner
John Warner
Managing Director
SOURCE Gridiron Capital, LLC