Cascadia Vehicle Tents Led By Bell Lap Advisors In Acquisition By Gathr Outdoors 

Date

January 2022

Client

Cascadia Vehicle Tents (CVT)

Service

Sell-Side M&A Advisory

Buyer

Gathr Outdoors, a portfolio company of Centre Partners

Auto Accessories, Rooftop Tents, Overlanding, DTC, eCommerce, Outdoor Recreation, Off-road, Camping

Cascadia Vehicle Tents, a Bend, Oregon-based manufacturer of rooftop vehicle tents, awnings, off-road trailers and car camping equipment, was acquired by Gathr Outdoors.

Cascadia, who was advised on the sell-side by Bell Lap Advisors, is a family run business that has grown into an industry leader in outdoor recreation known for its car camping equipment for cars, trucks and SUVs. The brand is on a mission to bring rooftop tents to those who share their passion for the outdoors and is proud to offer products used by everyone— from weekend campers to serious overlanders.

Cascadia was co-founded by Bobby Culpepper and Jamie Rose. As part of the transaction, Culpepper will remain with the company and serve as president, overseeing daily operations. He will report to Cory Tholl, president of the Gathr Outdoors Camp segment, which also includes Klymit and Rightline Gear.

Cascadia co-founder Culpepper said of the transaction, “Having built Cascadia Vehicle Tents from the ground up, we are excited and humbled by the opportunity to partner with Gathr Outdoors and their management team to help us reach new heights. Our goal since CVT’s founding has been to deliver the best product and consumer experience, and to help more people enjoy the outdoors, which is core to Gathr Outdoors’ approach.”

Gathr Outdoors, which was previously known as MacNeill Pride Group, was renamed earlier in 2022 to better reflect the company’s leadership in the outdoor recreation industry. As part of the rebrand, Gathr Outdoors reorganized into three segments: Outdoor, Camp, and Recreation. Gathr Outdoors has acquired numerous outdoor brands over the past two years under its former name, and built a strong portfolio of products that resonate with consumers. Cascadia Vehicle Tents joins ORCA, GCI Outdoor, Klymit, Rightline Gear and Pride Sports— a newly formed family of brands that are stronger together and even more committed to enabling people to get ‘Together Outside’.

Gathr Outdoors CEO Keith Bornholtz noted, “Cascadia Vehicle Tents is a natural fit for our growing family of outdoor brands. Their mission and values align exactly with our north star of bringing family and friends ‘Together Outside’. Their products make getting outdoors comfortable, convenient and inclusive—for all adventures, big or small— and that is a perfect fit with our collective purpose at Gathr Outdoors.”

Bell Lap Advisors, advisor to Cascadia Vehicle Tents, is a leading M&A advisory firm focused exclusively on outdoor recreation and active lifestyle industries and is the most experienced M&A adviser for overlanding and adventure van industries in North America.

If you have questions about the M&A process, reach out to us today for a free, no obligation consultation.