Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN) announced today that it has signed a letter
of intent for the proposed acquisition of Sportmanship International AB (“Sportmanship”),
the distributor of Garmin’s consumer products
in Sweden. The completion of the acquisition is subject to the
negotiation and execution of a definitive acquisition agreement, the
completion of legal and financial due diligence and customary closing
conditions. The acquisition is expected to be completed in December 2008.
Dr. Min Kao, chairman and CEO of Garmin Ltd., said “Sportmanship
has been successful in making the Garmin brand the market leader in
Sweden in portable navigation devices (PNDs). We anticipate that the
acquisition of Sportmanship will further consolidate and expand our
market-leading position in Sweden and the Nordic countries as a whole.”
Christer Johansson, managing director of Sportmanship Invest AB, the
parent company of Sportmanship, said “We are
proud of our success in making Garmin the leading brand of portable
navigation devices in Sweden. We anticipate that the full integration of
Sportmanship into the Garmin family will achieve additional efficiencies
and cost savings that will benefit Sportmanship’s
customers and further drive sales of Garmin products in Sweden.”
Financial terms of the proposed transaction were not released. Following
the acquisition, Sportmanship is expected to change its name to Garmin
Sweden AB. The company will retain its management, sales, marketing and
supporting staff, consisting of approximately 28 people.
About Garmin Ltd.
The global leader in satellite navigation, Garmin Ltd. and its
subsidiaries have designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation,
communication and information devices and applications since 1989 –
most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin’s
products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine,
aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in the
Cayman Islands, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United
States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit
Garmin's virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom
or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200. Garmin is a
registered trademark of Garmin Ltd.
Notice on Forward-Looking Statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin
Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management’s
current expectations. The forward-looking events and
circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results
could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors
and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited
to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 29, 2007 filed by Garmin with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of Garmin’s
Form 10-K can be downloaded at www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html.
No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise.
Garmin International Inc.
Ted Gartner, 913-397-8200
or
Jessica
Myers, 913-397-8200
media.relations@garmin.com