ICYMI: Industry News
From Oct. 16–20, 2023
NSSF’s Atlanta Campaign Targets Illegal Gun Purchases
NSSF, together with the ATF and the DOJ, announced a month-long public education campaign reminding the Greater Atlanta area public about stiff penalties facing individuals convicted of unlawful firearm purchases.
The “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” campaign is in its 23rd year and drives home the message that anyone making an illegal firearm purchase faces a federal felony penalty of up to 15 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines. An additional 15 years can be added if the straw purchase is made with the intent of trafficking across state lines. The program is funded in full by the firearm industry. Atlanta was chosen for this specific campaign by ATF.
“The firearm industry has always been fully committed to keeping firearms out of the hands of those who should not possess them. We are proud to launch this public awareness campaign in Atlanta and of our more than two-decade cooperative relationship with ATF, DOJ and the entire law enforcement community to assist them in their efforts to reduce criminal acquisition of firearms,” said NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi.
The Atlanta area “Don’t Lie” campaign will total more than 21.6 million gross media impressions running across a pool of 132 digital billboards, posters and transit shelters, as well as MARTA bus and rail inventory in key locations throughout the region with the message: “Buy a gun for someone who can’t and buy yourself 15 years in jail. Don’t Lie for the Other Guy.” The campaign also includes more than 500 radio spots playing on four major FM stations. On social media “Don’t Lie” advertisements will run across Facebook and Instagram, in addition to geofenced mobile display ads, generating an additional 3 million impressions.
The “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” program also involves educating firearm retailers to better detect and prevent straw purchases by providing “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” retailer kits containing a training video and information for store owners and staff, as well as point-of-purchase displays aimed to deter illegal straw purchasers.
For more info: www.dontlie.org
FN Breaks Ground At Future Site Of Second Production Facility
FN America LLC broke ground on what will be the site of the company’s second production facility in South Carolina. This second facility will be located within the Pickens County Commerce Park in Liberty, S.C.
Mark Cherpes, president and CEO of FN America, commemorated the event alongside Julien Compère, CEO of the Herstal Group and FN Herstal, Gov. Henry McMaster, Chairman Chris Bowers of the Pickens County Council and Ray Farley of Alliance Pickens Economic Development. In attendance were colleagues, future neighbors of the new FN facility and members of the Pickens community.
“This was a historic day for FN. More than 40 years ago, FN opened operations in Columbia to fulfill a government contract for the U.S. Army. Since that day, FN’s business has grown tremendously, and we have forged unbreakable bonds within the state of South Carolina,” said Cherpes. “Pickens County is a great ally to the manufacturing community and one we have had ties to for many years through our ongoing partnership with their Career and Technology Center’s Machine Tool students. That partnership has helped to develop our future workforce in the community and will be of great importance as we embark upon this expansion to better meet the needs of our customers.”
In attendance at the groundbreaking were several of the students and instructors from the Pickens County Career and Technology Center. For many years, FN America has worked closely with the school through a work-based learning partnership that engages the school’s highly skilled machine and tool students to give them real-world experience as they pursue a career path in manufacturing.
“This partnership is representative of one of the many ways in which Pickens County invests to develop tomorrow’s workforce through today’s students, and positions itself as a partner to the manufacturing sector,” said Farley. “We are delighted to welcome FN as a permanent fixture in our community with this future facility.”
The company will invest $33 million to construct the future 100,000-sq. ft. facility over two phases beginning in April 2024 and will create 176 new jobs for the Pickens community. With state-of-the-art equipment and construction, FN’s second facility will expand the company’s manufacturing footprint and allow it to meet the demand of its military, law enforcement and consumer markets.
For more info: www.fnamerica.com
Vista Outdoor To Sell Sporting Products Business For $1.91 Billion
Vista Outdoor has announced a definitive agreement to sell its Sporting Products business to Czechoslovak Group a.s. (CSG) for an enterprise value of $1.91 billion in an all-cash transaction subject to customary closing conditions. This transaction represents the next step in Vista Outdoor’s plan to split the company into separate entities, which was previously announced on May 5, 2022.
CSG is a leading industrial technology holding company, operating within five strategic business segments, including defense, aerospace, ammunition, mobility and business. CSG is 100% owned and led by Michal Strnad. CSG employs more than 10,000 people worldwide and it owns and manages a diverse portfolio of industrial and trade companies across the defense and civil sectors.
“We are confident that CSG is a great home for our leading ammunition brands,” said Jason Vanderbrink, CEO of Sporting Products. “The company is fully committed to our iconic American brands and expanding our legacy of U.S. manufacturing, support for military and law enforcement customers and investments in conservation and our hunting and shooting heritage. We are excited to work closely with the CSG team as we enter this next phase and position our brands for long-term success.”
Michal Strnad, CEO of CSG, shared, “Jason and the Sporting Products leadership team have a strong heritage of delivering high-quality products, and we are pleased to welcome them to the CSG family of companies as we partner to support their next chapter. We look forward to building on the company’s success in delivering innovative, quality products and are confident in the long-term value we can create together. We are committed to expanding their legacy of U.S. manufacturing and providing resources to accelerate their growth.”
The transaction values the Sporting Products business at an enterprise value of $1.91 billion, on a cash-free, debt-free basis with a normalized level of working capital, and is supported by $1.11 billion of fully committed debt financing with the remaining amount funded by CSG. To effect the transaction, Vista Outdoor will separate its Outdoor Products business from its Sporting Products business, and CSG will merge one of its subsidiaries with Vista Outdoor (holding only the Sporting Products business), with current public stockholders of Vista Outdoor receiving shares of Outdoor Products (recently rebranded as Revelyst) and approximately $750 million in cash in the aggregate.
The transaction is expected to close in calendar year 2024, and is subject to approval of stockholders, receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
Upon closing, Vanderbrink will remain CEO of the Sporting Products business and the U.S. headquarters will remain in Anoka, Minn. In connection with the transaction, the company’s approximately 4,000 employees who represent four factories and the consumer brands CCI, Federal, HEVI-Shot, Remington and Speer will continue their heritage of community and conservation support through local and national organizations.
For more info: www.vistaoutdoor.com
SIG SAUER Electro-Optics ROMEO-M17 Receives NSN Designation
SIG SAUER Inc. announced the ROMEO-M17 (RM17) red dot sight has been assigned a NATO Stock Number (NSN). This distinguished designation is part of the continued modernization efforts of the Modular Handgun System (MHS) Program. For inclusion on the MHS Additional Authorized List (AAL), the U.S. Army evaluated numerous pistol red dot sights, from multiple manufacturers, through vigorous environmental and performance evaluations and the RM17 and R2 achieved successful selection. The issuance of the NSN to these products streamlines the procurement process for all NATO members and partner countries as an identified standardized material.
The ROMEO-M17 (NSN: 1240-01-713-9795) was developed from the ground up for the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System and is the ultimate aiming solution. The RM17 will withstand the rigors of the battlefield, featuring the proprietary SIG-LOC mounting system with bottom-mount technology and five interface points with the pistol slide, for an extremely strong and robust lock-up. Combined with the side-mounted battery the sight has an extremely low position when mounted to the slide, offering a full sight picture and co-witness with the existing standard-height iron sights.
“The assignment of an NSN number is an exciting achievement for SIG SAUER Electro-Optics and the ROMEO product line. With the global demand for these products, the NSN assignment will allow for ease in the procurement process, the ability to increase our reach within the NATO countries, and faster deployment,” said Andy York, SIG SAUER Electro-Optics president. “This assignment is also significant to non-NATO customers and civilians as the NSN designation does not come easily and signifies that the ROMEO-M17 has achieved a testing and use acceptance by the world’s most discerning military customers.”
For more info: www.sigsauer.com
FALCO Holsters To Showcase New Dealer Program At NASGW
FALCO Holsters has introduced a cutting-edge dealer program tailored for brick-and-mortar retailers. The program showcases dealer-only FALCO Multifit holsters, streamlining SKU management and optimizing retail space utilization. The entire category will be displayed at the 2023 National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) Expo in Columbus, Ohio, from October 25 to 27. Wholesalers, manufacturers, association members and media are invited to Booth #386 to see FALCO’s premium handcrafted leather holsters.
Katarína Zacharová, VP of sales and marketing for FALCO Holsters, shared, “Our dealer-exclusive category is designed to enhance the retail-to-consumer relationship at the counter level. Each holster is crafted to bring value to both merchants and their customers, offering exclusive products not available elsewhere — not on our website, and certainly, no better deals on Amazon or any other e-commerce platform.”
Highlights of the FALCO Holsters dealer program, tailored for retailers, include exclusive product lines, brand ownership, enhanced profitability, strategic pricing policies, efficient inventory management, territory-based exclusivity, in-store marketing support and a simple ordering process.
For more info: www.falcoholsters.com/brick-mortar-exclusives
Walther’s “Beyond The Counter” Video Series Highlights Vance Outdoors
Walther Arms Inc. launched the second video in its “Beyond the Counter” series, featuring Andrew Hyder, employee at Vance Outdoors, as he shares his unique story of going from motorcycle racing to competitive shooting and ultimately landing a career with Vance Outdoors 12 years ago.
Vance Outdoors is a name synonymous with quality firearms, outdoor gear and exceptional customer service since 1938. Nestled in the heart of Ohio, with multiple locations across the state, Vance Outdoors has grown from a small family-owned shop into a regional powerhouse as a trusted destination for sportsmen, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
“We strive to establish and maintain a community within our store for our customers. We want them to feel welcome and like they are one of us, because they are,” said Andrew Hyder, employee at Vance Outdoors. “I always encourage shooters to learn as much as they can, take classes, watch videos and get involved so they become more proficient and comfortable with their firearm. The best part of my job here at Vance Outdoors is getting to spend time with the people who walk through our doors. There’s also something special about being able to help a first-time gun buyer through education, which ultimately increases their confidence and ‘comfortability,’ and then watch them leave the store excited to practice their skills at the gun range.”
“Stores like Vance Outdoors are just as important to us as the consumers who walk through their doors. They’re an extension of Walther day in and day out, as they help the industry grow and become an irreplaceable resource in their local community,” said Nick Gutierrez, dealer/buy group channel manager at Walther Arms. “Being able to highlight our premier dealers allows us to recognize their efforts in making sure our brand and products are continuously supported, the consumer feels confident with their choice and everyone involved has a positive experience.”
For more info: www.waltherarms.com
SAF Unveils New & Improved Website
The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) unveiled a redesign of its website, saf.org, which significantly increases functionality and vastly improves the user experience. In addition to an overall improved page flow and updated look, the new design provides visitors quick access to detailed information and educational programs.
Notably, the new website includes quick access to a brand-new “Current Legal Action” page where users can now easily find information related to SAF’s nation-leading litigation program, to include thorough case summaries, pleading documents and links to full case dockets. Visitors will also find dedicated links to SAF’s two current primary legal initiatives: Capture the Flag — challenging Red Flag Laws around the country — and the State Law Preemption Project, which challenges local and municipal gun controls enacted in violation of state preemption.
“Just in time to celebrate SAF’s 50th anniversary, the new design and layout of saf.org will significantly improve the user experience when visiting our website,” said SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut. “We’re excited to offer improved functionality and accessibility to the information our members, supporters and the public at large need to stay informed about SAF’s important legal work.”
The new website also includes quick access to news releases, investigative journalism pieces and links to SAF’s corporate partner pages as well as to the “Submit a Case” page, where users are encouraged to submit their information if they feel their civil rights have been violated.
For more info: www.saf.org
Natchez Shooting & Outdoors Announces Sweepstakes
Natchez Shooting & Outdoors announced its Natchez Outdoor Essentials Sweepstakes to celebrate its expanding offerings for customers’ outdoor adventures.
With four prize packages valued at over $8,000, this exciting range of items encompass reloading equipment, ammunition, camping essentials, fishing gear and hunting equipment.
The event is sponsored by Allen Company, ATN, Barnes, Crimson Trace, CRKT, Fiocchi, Forster, Frog Lube, Lapua, Lee, Lyman, Mountain House, Nightstick, Nosler, Personal Security Products, Rio, Riton, Safariland, Sarge, Smith & Wesson, Umarex, Vertx and ZeroTech.
The promotion began October 16, 2023, at 1 a.m. EST and ends October 27, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
For more info: www.natchezss.com
