Johnson Outdoors history

Subgear is the rebranded name of Seemann Sub, a diving brand active in Germany since 1979.

From 1980, JWA imported Swedish-made compasses manufactured by Silva Production AB (Silva Group) for sale in North America.

Uwatec was founded in Switzerland in 1984 as a manufacturer of scuba gear.

Thus in 1987, just a short time after its spinoff from Johnson Wax, the small but growing Johnson Worldwide Associates went public in order to have access to the capital market and to establish a market value for the company's stock.

With $232 million in sales for 1989, Johnson Worldwide Associates was named one of the best small companies in the United States by Forbes magazine.

By 1992, the company's net sales had increased to $334 million, with 43 percent of the total resulting from sales outside the United States.

Pacific Kayak had been formed in 1993.

By 1995 earnings had rebounded, and company management was focusing on the development of new products, such as electronic diving equipment and camping gear.

Although sales were holding steady, amounting to just over $300 million at the end of fiscal 1997, management was optimistic that a few well-chosen, strategic acquisitions would increase that figure.

British Columbia's Necky brand of kayaks, acquired in late 1998, was folded into the Ocean Kayak facility in Ferndale, Washington, three years later.

The Lake Electric division of Racine, Wisconsin was moved into Minn Kota's Mankato, Minnesota electric boat motor plant in 2000.

The Jack Wolfskin unit was sold to Bain Capital in 2002 for $63 million EUR 64 million).

When the company failed to make these numbers (2004 sales were $355 million), the Johnson family attempted to take the company private again in a deal worth $177 million.

"Johnson Outdoors Finance Chief to Leave," Associated Press Newswires, June 8, 2005.

Johnson Outdoors was profitable, with net income rising from $7.1 million to $8.7 million in 2006.