I'll have to change my name now North Kiteboarding is no more..

[kiterocky]

Is it real that slingshot will close at the end of 2018 too? Whats going on?

[NorCalNomad]

Is it real that slingshot will close at the end of 2018 too? Whats going on?

I also heard liquid force is going down.

[a99]

Seems that some giant mega brand intended to buy all kites mega brands- who it is ? Virgin, Apple, amazon, walmart, vw, china's giant, who ? Nice business for them now- kite gears are in hights, no big investments needed in developing, just sell easy further 5 years that was achieved in 30 years.
As after 10-20 years all will kite with drones and today kite will be as manual gear in auto, rarity:)

[purdyd]

Screenshot_2018-04-16-06-32-59.png

All in on duotone?

I hope to something like ION KITEBOARDING or TRUE KITEBOARDING , that’s the best way i think and for sure sounds better than DUOTONE

I agree with that.

[alford]

Is it real that slingshot will close at the end of 2018 too? Whats going on?

Seriously? Where are you getting your information?

[downsouth]

Then there was the story that Cabrhina to Changing to Neilpryde ... some crazy stuff

The NKB one seems to be more than just an industry rumour.

B&M was bought by Emeran who have closed the one fund and opened a second fund. This could mean that they will sell B&M , this is what Emeran does. Whatever happens , if NKB looses the name then the connection to one of there "Brand Values" by association is lost. This could spell disaster for "NKB and Noth Sails Windsurifng" one can only hope that the boys and girls in Munich have it under control.

The rest is up to the market sit back and enjoy the popcorn.

[omg]

Why do they need to change the name? In normal corporate buyouts, there's no need to change the name nor brand, why everyone assumes they are forced/will want to do this?

Then there was the story that Cabrhina to Changing to Neilpryde ... some crazy stuff

The NKB one seems to be more than just an industry rumour.

B&M was bought by Emeran who have closed the one fund and opened a second fund. This could mean that they will sell B&M , this is what Emeran does. Whatever happens , if NKB looses the name then the connection to one of there "Brand Values" by association is lost. This could spell disaster for "NKB and Noth Sails Windsurifng" one can only hope that the boys and girls in Munich have it under control.

The rest is up to the market sit back and enjoy the popcorn.

[andylc]

I agree with omg. Most buyouts involve keeping the company name if it is successful. The only reason to change the trading name would be eg the Harvey Weinstein Film Company - better off changing something like that! The name is part of the ongoing success of the brand so there would be no point in changing it in this scenario.

[effisk]

B&M who manufactures North kites and windsurfing sails uses the name under a licence - it does not own the name. North Sails Group, which owns the name, wants to buy B&M and threatened to not renew the licence if B&M refuses the buyout. B&M did refuse. Simple.

[jannik]

I have a Duotone snowboard. It was a brand under F2 but it has been dead for some years now.