Brunswick's Acquisition Of Dv8

Brunswick Corporation, formerly known as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, is an American company that has manufactured and marketed a wide variety of products since 1845. Brunswick Bowling & Billiards was one of the business segments of Brunswick Corporation. In 2015, Brunswick Corporation sold its bowling equipment and products division to BlueArc Capital Management, a private investment firm. BlueArc continues to produce bowling balls under the Brunswick and DV8 brand names. Therefore, Brunswick Corporation does not own DV8 anymore.

Brunswick sold its bowling division in 2015

Brunswick Corporation, the American company that has been developing, manufacturing and marketing a wide variety of products since 1845, sold its bowling division in 2015. The company announced in July 2014 that it would be exiting the bowling business by the end of that year, and in May 2015, it completed its exit from the bowling business with the sale of its bowling equipment and products division. The division was sold to BlueArc Capital Management, a private investment firm based in Atlanta, Georgia.

BlueArc completed the acquisition with investments from Gladstone Investment Corporation, a publicly traded business development company in McLean, Virginia, and Capitala Finance Corp., a business development company in Charlotte, North Carolina. The sale price was not disclosed.

The bowling division of Brunswick included bowling centers and bowling equipment and products. The bowling centers were sold to Bowlmor AMF (now known as Bowlero Corporation) in September 2014 for $270 million. The bowling equipment and products division continued to use the Brunswick name and manufactured bowling balls under the Brunswick and DV8 brand names.

The decision to exit the bowling business came as a shock to many in the industry, as Brunswick had been synonymous with bowling for more than a century. The company's founder, John Moses Brunswick, played an integral part in the birth of the game, and the company had contributed directly to the global growth of bowling. However, Brunswick decided to focus on its "core" Marine and Fitness businesses, which provided 92% of the company's net revenues in 2013.

BlueArc Capital Management owns DV8

BlueArc Capital Management, a private investment firm, acquired Brunswick Bowling Products in 2015. This included the rights to the Brunswick and DV8 brand names.

BlueArc Capital Management is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and was established to invest in well-established, market-leading companies. Brunswick Bowling Products, based in Muskegon, Michigan, was a good fit for BlueArc's portfolio, as it is a worldwide market leader in bowling products.

The acquisition was financed by Gladstone Investment Corporation, a publicly traded business development company, and Capitala Finance Corp., a business development company.

Since the acquisition, BlueArc has continued to release bowling balls and bowling equipment under the Brunswick and DV8 names. In 2019, BlueArc also purchased Ebonite International and all the brands under their corporate umbrella.

Brunswick still manufactures bowling products

Brunswick Corporation, formerly known as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, is an American company that has been manufacturing and marketing a wide variety of products since 1845. The company was founded by John Moses Brunswick and originally intended to manufacture carriages. However, Brunswick soon became fascinated with billiards and decided to shift his focus to manufacturing billiard tables, as the best tables at the time were being imported from England.

Brunswick expanded its product line over the years, adding bowling equipment and products in the 1880s. The company played an integral role in the global growth of bowling, opening the first bowling centre in Moscow in 1976 and helping to create the $10 billion bowling industry that exists today.

In 2015, Brunswick Corporation sold its bowling equipment and products division to BlueArc Capital Management, a private investment firm. Despite this sale, Brunswick still manufactures bowling products, including balls, bags, shoes, and accessories, which are available for purchase through local pro shops. The company continues to be a leader in the bowling industry, offering a full-line, full-service network of products and services for bowling centres.

In addition to its bowling products, Brunswick also has a strong presence in the boating industry, owning major brands such as Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, and Mercury Marine. The company reported sales of US$5.8 billion in 2021 and has over 13,000 employees operating in 24 countries.

While Brunswick no longer owns the DV8 brand, which is now under the ownership of BlueArc Capital Management, it continues to be a prominent manufacturer and distributor of bowling products, contributing to the growth and development of the sport globally.

DV8 is a high-performance bowling ball brand

DV8 is a brand of bowling balls, bags, and accessories. Originally part of the Brunswick family, DV8 is now owned by BlueArc Capital Management, a private investment firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. Brunswick sold its bowling equipment and products division to BlueArc in 2015, and BlueArc has since continued to produce bowling balls under the Brunswick and DV8 brand names.

DV8 is known for manufacturing high-performance bowling balls for bowlers of varying skill levels. Their products are available for purchase through local pro shops, and they offer free shipping on orders over $75. DV8 balls cater to different oil lane conditions, making them a versatile option for bowlers looking to up their performance at the lanes.

Some of the most popular DV8 bowling balls include the Intimidator, Notorious, Turmoil Pearl, Poison Pearl, and Glam. The Intimidator, for example, offers maximum hook and unparalleled control in heavy oil conditions, while the Notorious provides an aggressive performance with a strong hook. The Turmoil Pearl is ideal for medium oil conditions, offering maximum angularity and a skid-flip motion. The Poison Pearl is known for its ability to flip on command, allowing bowlers to alter their approach to the pocket for maximum pin action. Lastly, the Glam treats medium-dry and medium-oiled lanes as its personal runways, recovering consistently and delivering pocket hits.

In addition to their performance, DV8 bowling balls also stand out for their aesthetics, with unique colour combinations and designs that turn heads.

Brunswick's history with bowling

Brunswick Bowling & Billiards was the business segment of Brunswick Corporation that historically encompassed three divisions: billiards, bowling equipment and products, and bowling centers. The company has a long history that dates back to the 1800s and has played a significant role in the development and popularisation of bowling.

John Moses Brunswick, the founder of Brunswick Corporation, emigrated from Switzerland to the United States at the age of 14 or 15. He initially worked as an errand boy and a carriage maker before establishing the J.M. Brunswick Manufacturing Company on September 15, 1845, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company's first billiards table was produced in 1845, and by 1848, it had expanded to Chicago. The company continued to grow and diversify its product offerings, including chairs, tables, and cabinets.

In the 1880s, Brunswick began manufacturing bowling equipment, including wooden lanes, bowling balls, and pins. Moses Bensinger, John Brunswick's son-in-law, played a crucial role in promoting bowling as a participatory sport and standardising the rules of the game. He was instrumental in organising the American Bowling Congress in 1895, which held its first significant bowling tournament in 1902.

In 1906, Brunswick opened a large manufacturing plant in Muskegon, Michigan. This plant became the cornerstone of the company's bowling equipment production, introducing innovative products such as the $20 Mineralite (hard rubber) bowling ball. During World War II, the company supplied bowling equipment to United Service Organizations (USO) centres and military bases, resulting in the installation of more than 3,000 bowling lanes by 1945.

Brunswick continued to innovate and improve the bowling experience, introducing the automatic scorer in 1967 and acquiring the rights to manufacture and sell the GS pinsetter series in 1984. However, by the mid-1960s, overexpansion led to a period of decline for the company. Brunswick closed several factories in Europe and entered into joint ventures with international companies to remain competitive.

In July 2014, Brunswick announced its intention to exit the bowling business by the end of the year, retaining its heritage billiards business. The bowling equipment and products division was sold to BlueArc Capital Management in 2015, marking the company's complete exit from the bowling industry. Despite this, Brunswick's legacy in bowling remains significant, and the company's name is still associated with bowling equipment and centres worldwide.

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