I am not really sure what you mean by "strategic group in their industry." Here is a company history, maybe this will help you find an answer:
Swiss immigrant woodworker John Brunswick built his first billiard table in 1845 in Cincinnati. In 1874 he formed a partnership with Julius Balke, and a decade later they teamed with H. W. Collender to form Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company.
Following Brunswick's death, son-in-law Moses Bensinger became president. The company diversified into bowling equipment during the 1880s. Bensinger's son, B. E., followed as president (1904) and led the company into wood and rubber products, phonographs, and records. (Al Jolson recorded "Sonny Boy" on the Brunswick label.) Brunswick went public after WWI.
By 1930 Brunswick focused on bowling and billiards, sports that had seedy reputations during the 1920s and 1930s. When B. E. died in 1935, his son Bob became CEO and launched a massive promotional campaign to make his meal tickets respectable.
Bob's brother Ted succeeded him as CEO in 1954. Bowling equipment rival AMF introduced the first automatic pinsetter in 1952, and Brunswick followed four years later, capturing the lead by 1958. Brunswick diversified, adding Owens Yacht, MacGregor (sporting goods, 1958), Aloe (medical supplies, 1959), Mercury (marine products, 1961), and Zebco (fishing equipment, 1961). The company adopted its present name in 1960.
Bowling sales plummeted in the 1960s, and Brunswick cut costs by selling unprofitable units and focusing on new products such as an automatic scorer. Acquisitions in the 1970s brought Brunswick into the medical diagnostics and energy and transportation markets. CEO Jack Reichert, a former pin boy who became chairman in 1983, cut corporate staff in half and promoted the marine business.
Brunswick sparked an industrywide consolidation trend in 1986 by buying Bayliner and Ray Industries (boats), followed by Kiekhaefer Aeromarine (marine propulsion engines, 1990) and Martin Reel Company (fly reels, 1991). In 1992 Brunswick and Tracker Marine (a Missouri-based boat manufacturer) formed a partnership to build boats and marine equipment. Also that year Brunswick bought the Browning line of rods and reels.
In 1993 Brunswick began selling its businesses in the automotive, electronics, and defense industries. Two years later the company's Brunswick Indoor Recreation division opened family entertainment centers in Brazil, China, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.
Brunswick expanded its outdoor recreation business in 1996 by purchasing Nelson/Weather Rite (camping equipment) from Roadmaster Industries (later named the RDM Sports Group) along with Roadmaster's bicycle business. Also that year Brunswick acquired the Boston Whaler line of saltwater boats from Meridian Sports. In 1997 the company bought Igloo Holdings (coolers), Bell Sports' (now Riddell Bell Holdings) Mongoose bicycle unit, Mancuso's Life Fitness (exercise equipment) unit, Hoppe's gun-cleaning and hunting accessories business, Hammer Strength (fitness equipment), and DBA products (bowling-lane machines and equipment). Brunswick bought ParaBody (fitness equipment) in 1998.
The company lost antitrust lawsuits in 1999 that totaled nearly $300 million. However, all but two cases (with judgments of $65 million) were overturned on appeal.
In early 2001 Brunswick cut some jobs and rolled its bicycle business over to Pacific Cycle. Stung by the US's economic slowdown, the company announced 500 more job cuts in its powerboat division, even as it acquired Princecraft Boats from Outboard Marine. Also in 2001 Brunswick sold Hoppe's (to Michaels of Oregon) and Zebco (to W.C. Bradley) and acquired UK-based luxury boat maker Sealine International. In October the company agreed to buy Hatteras Yachts, a luxury boat maker, from GenMar Holdings for about $80 million. The following month the company sold its Igloo cooler unit to Westar Capital.
Then in early December 2001 Brunswick completed the acquisition of Hatteras Yachts from Genmar Industries for about $80 million in cash.
Early in 2002 Brunswick closed the sale of its European fishing business to Zebco Sports Europe Ltd., a company newly formed by the operation's management. As 2002 came to a close, Brunswick completed the purchase of marine navigation electronics maker Northstar Technologies, Inc, and propeller maker Teignbridge Propellers.
The following year Brunswick purchased the assets of coin-operated pool table maker Valley-Dynamo for $34.5 million from Fenway Partners and a private investor, each of which controlled 50?f the company. Brunswick acquired the Crestliner, Lowe, and Lund lines of aluminum boats from Genmar Holdings for a reported $191 million. The company also purchased a 70?take in New Zealand-based Navman NV Limited (GPS systems) in 2003; the remaining 30?as acquired in 2004.
Early in 2005 Brunswick's Mercury Marine division expanded its offering of offshore sportfishing products with the acquisition of Albemarle Sportfishing Boats Inc. for an undisclosed sum. In May the company acquired Triton Boat Company, a maker of fiberglass bass and saltwater and aluminum fishing boats, also for an undisclosed amount.
Brunswick's marina of boat brands continued to grow in early 2006 with the purchase of Cabo Yachts of Adelanto, California. Cabo joined Brunswick's Hatteras Collection of sportfishing boat brands. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
Answered By: Conan the Librarian - 3/1/2006 |