New Balance/Warrior to acquire Brine (confirmed)

[Rob Graff]

I'd view the current landscape like this:

#1 -New Balance
Division A - Warrior - they own the patents and that is key... Division B - Brine. Will they become the "Chevy" to the Warrior "Caddy" in automobile terms?

2 Tied at #2

#2 -STX (which I'm guessing has [or had] some type of licensing agreement with RBK - note the NLL gloves were StX with RBK badge)

#2 -DeBeer/Gait. Gait is the really driving force here. Potential target for UnderArmor or Nike to get into the market?

THEN everyone else....

#4 -Harrow - Big in women's game - I have the impression that it is dying in mens. Is this accurate?

#5 -ShockDoctor - Avoided the patent hole, but their pads and stuff is very new - and the lax community is undecided right now...

#7 - A variety of shaft companies that are using new materials to make niche shafts (Serpent/Maverik/Talon/Goss) and may (or may not) expand.

Big questions now - what does Nike do? What does RBK do? Or, more accurately - what are they doing....

[cjwilhelmi]

IMO - New Balance uses Warrior to market all lacrosse gear. Keeps Brine name for soccer, field hockey, etc.

[PigPen]

What does this mean for the Powells?

in the words of Ivan Drago (aka Dave Morrow) "I will break (crush) you!"

Somebody might need to go get a real job.

[Has No Left]

Up until 48 hours ago, this was NOT what was supposed to happen. I can't elaborate, but somebody made a better offer at the last minute.

[Timbalaned]

Up until 48 hours ago, this was NOT what was supposed to happen. I can't elaborate, but somebody made a better offer at the last minute.

So why would you even go and say that if you can't elaborate, really not cool

[mholtz]

I've heard rumors that Brine had some debt problems, possibly due to a law suit over a patent but these are exactly that... Rumors.

[Danny Hogan]

i thought brine was the one who cashed in off the lawsuit? legal bills?

[mholtz]

i thought brine was the one who cashed in off the lawsuit? legal bills?

I believe that was Brine vs STX.

I dunno for sure tho.

[gobblerlax05]

duke mens
bc womens
gt
and sailsbury!

[Beta]

duke mens
bc womens
gt
and sailsbury!

Huh?

[Sonny]

Brine to remain in Milford
By Andrew J. Manuse/ Daily News Staff
Friday, August 11, 2006 - Updated: 02:24 AM EST

Consumers probably won’t see price hikes on Brine-branded lacrosse products following New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc.’s acquisition of the Milford-based sports equipment maker earlier this week.
New Balance, of Boston, which bought Brine Inc.’s competitor Warrior Lacrosse in 2004, will sell both brands of lacrosse equipment and footwear side-by-side, according to spokeswoman Amy Vreeland. "They’re very complementary brands," she said.
Ted Hallock, retail manager at Commonwealth Lacrosse in Framingham, said Warrior is "the hip, up front company" among his customers, while Brine "is more of a traditional company."
New Balance’s acquisition of Brine "would have made a huge gigantic impact" on prices 10 to 15 years ago, Hallock said, when there were fewer companies involved in lacrosse gear. "There are many companies in the business now," he said.
Marketing costs drive pricing more than anything.
"A lot of the kids are branded," Hallock said. "They either use Warrior or Brine. Not because of any design; it’s a brand-name thing."

Full article here:
http://www.milforddailynews.com/localRe ... leid=97235

[Rob Graff]

Consumers probably won’t see price hikes on Brine-branded lacrosse products following New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc.’s acquisition of the Milford-based sports equipment maker earlier this week.

I highly doubt this statement from a team perspective.

[Andy Sharp]

"It will operate the same way. It will stay in Milford," she said. "We’re looking at all different elements of their business. There may be some consolidation."

That last part will keep blood pressures up in Milford and Warren.
In my last buyout, our office lasted a year, just before Xmas.

[Ken Lovic]

My Brine rep and his boss were both fired this past weekend... maybe the process was sped up...

the warrior rep in our area now serves Warrior and Brine. He sells both individually. All I know is our Brine sponsorship was cut BIG time.

[Sonny]

My Brine rep and his boss were both fired this past weekend... maybe the process was sped up...

the warrior rep in our area now serves Warrior and Brine. He sells both individually. All I know is our Brine sponsorship was cut BIG time.

Wow. That was quick! Evidently, Warrior/New Balance had already made pre-made plans to modify the business quickly after the deal was announced if they are already cutting people, etc.