Nidecker Group Acquires Sole Technology

Sole Technology, a retailer focused on action sports, was established by French skateboarding champion Pierre André Senizergues over three decades ago. Recently, the Nidecker Group, a family-owned sports company based in Switzerland, completed the acquisition of Senizergues’ four Lake Forest-based retail brands – Etnies, éS, Emerica, and ThirtyTwo.

Despite the acquisition, Senizergues will retain a minority stake in the footwear and apparel brands he founded and will continue to serve as the group’s chief executive. The Sole Technology firm will no longer exist as a result of the acquisition, although the financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

In a recent statement, Senizergues expressed the difficulty of the decision to sell but acknowledged that at 61 years old, he felt it was time to pass the torch to “fresh blood.” He expressed confidence in Nidecker, citing their shared values and commitment to rider-owned principles as key factors in the decision.

Nidecker, with roots dating back to 1887 as a woodworking company, has evolved to include a range of sports equipment, including snowboards, skis, and sleds. In addition to the four brands acquired from Sole Technology, Nidecker’s portfolio includes other snowboarding and outerwear brands like Bataleon, Jones, #YES, Rome, and its namesake Nidecker.

The chief executive of Nidecker, Henry Nidecker, expressed honor in continuing the legacy of the acquired brands and emphasized the company’s commitment to maintaining their authenticity and quality standards moving forward. With this acquisition, Nidecker aims to bring new energy and opportunities for growth to the action sports brands under its ownership.