Key Announcement

Five V Capital Invests in Leading Global Adventure Equipment Company Sea to Summit

Perth, Australia - Sea to Summit Pty Ltd (the “Company”), the global adventure equipment brand headquartered in Perth, Western Australia, is pleased to announce that Australia-based investment firm, Five V Capital, has signed an agreement to become the majority shareholder in the Company.

Sea to Summit holds a global market-leading position in adventure equipment including sleeping bags, dry bags, sleeping mats, tents, camp kitchen, and outdoor accessories. The Company’s large range of products appeals to a global and diverse consumer audience, from amateur campers to outdoor enthusiasts, NASA, defense forces, emergency services, and extreme athletes.

In Australia, Sea to Summit distributes a range of leading global adventure brands via its Sea to Summit Brands business, including BioLite, Black Diamond, CamelBak, Helinox and Jetboil. The impressive suite of market-leading outdoor, travel and water sports brands align with its philosophy ‘to equip and inspire’ consumers.

Founded in 1991 by Roland Tyson and co-led with his partner, Penny Sanderson, who joined the business in the mid-90s, Sea to Summit has grown into a global brand and currently distributes products in over 73 countries, with offices in Australia, the USA, Germany, and China. Sea to Summit’s obsession with design and innovation has resulted in more awards in more categories than any other brand in the industry.

Five V Capital, a certified B Corporation, seeks to invest alongside founders and management teams to support businesses to grow and create sustainable, market leading positions in their core markets. Through its partnership with Sea to Summit, Five V Capital sees a significant opportunity to accelerate the Company’s global growth, pursuing opportunities across the breadth of the Sea to Summit’s business, including in key areas that can benefit from Five V’s omnichannel consumer, e-commerce, supply chain and sustainability expertise.

Sea to Summit’s founder, Roland Tyson, will continue to be a shareholder alongside Five V, and will continue to advise the company on product design and marketing as a Director of the Company. Sally McCoy will step down as Executive Chair and will become a Non-Executive Director of the company.

The transaction is expected to complete in June 2022.  

Roland Tyson, Co-Founder of Sea to Summit commented: “Since launching Sea to Summit over 30 years ago, we are proud to have built our reputation as a trusted designer of products that have been continuously tested in the Australian Outback and other demanding environments worldwide. As a business, we are constantly looking for ways to improve our product offering and engage more customers and this partnership presents an exciting opportunity to execute on our growth plans.”

Greg Dupont, CEO of Sea to Summit added: “We are delighted to partner with Five V Capital through this next stage of our journey. Through Five V’s knowledge of the digital ecosystem, coupled with its demonstrable track record of international expansion – we anticipate this transaction to rapidly accelerate our brand and distribution business growth domestically and globally. Together with Five V Capital, we will continue to be a global leader in our field and invent authentic gear that enables freedom and self-reliance in any environment.”

Five V Capital’s Angus Whitehead added: “Sea to Summit aligns with Five V’s focus on partnering with great teams to build sustainable, long-term value. We are privileged to be able to support such an innovative Australian business. The authenticity and heritage of Sea to Summit’s brand provides a compelling backdrop to our investment, and we believe the business is well positioned to become a global leader in sustainability. We are excited to be partnering with Greg, Roland, Sally, and the broader Sea to Summit team to grow both the Sea to Summit brand and the distribution business globally.”

 

Contact:

Edelman (Australia):  +61 (0) 400 900 004 Jana.tsiligiannis@edelman.com

Purple Orange (United States): +1 (307) 413-8667 chris.dickey@purpleorangepr.com

 

About Sea to Summit

Sea to Summit is an award-winning manufacturer of ingeniously designed, omni-terrain outdoor gear. Their product line ranges from ultralight cookware to the most versatile tent on the market. Their innovation team is constantly searching for the perfect balance of weight, durability, and packability. This Australian brand is no stranger to some of the most remote places on the planet, and its products are field-tested in the world’s most demanding environments. Sea to Summit was established in 1991 and is currently distributed in over 73 countries, with offices in Australia, USA, Germany, and China.

For more information: https://seatosummit.com.au/ | https://www.linkedin.com/company/sea-to-summit-head-office/

YOUR RELENTLESS ALLY IN EVERY ADVENTURE

 

About Five V Capital

Five V Capital, a certified B Corporation, is a private equity and venture capital focused fund manager based in Sydney with over $1.4 billion of funds under management. Five V’s unique investment approach is underpinned by a philosophy of alignment and is reflected in the Five V Capital team being the largest investors across its funds. This alignment between team, investors, partners and management teams is a key component of Five V’s success. Five V Capital’s current portfolio contains several leading businesses including Mantel Group, Automic Group, Penten, Openway Food Co, APP Corporation, Monson Agencies Australia, Totara Learning, Education Perfect and Plenti. For more information: https://www.fivevcapital.com/ |  https://www.linkedin.com/company/fivevcapital