Jarden

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Jarden Corporation (NYSE: JAH), based in Rye, NY, is an American conglomerate of many well-known consumer product brands in the areas of kitchen electronics, kitchen cookware, kitchen tools, gaming, arts & crafts, home storage, and clothing. In 2006, it was ranked #585 on the Fortune 1000, and had a market cap of $2 billion US.

In March 1993, Ball Corporation spun off its canning business as a new company called Alltrista Corporation. In June 2002, Alltrista changed its name to Jarden Corporation. The spin-off held the names Kerr, Ball, and Bernardin. ^[1]

In March 1998, Sunbeam Corporation acquired the Coleman Company and Coleman Powermate. In December 2002, Sunbeam Corporation filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and canceled its common stock. When it emerged from bankruptcy, Sunbeam changed its name to American Household, Inc., a privately held company. In January 2005, Jarden acquired American Household, Inc. which was then comprised of The Coleman Company, Inc., Campingaz, Coleman, Powermate, First Alert, and BRK; and Sunbeam Products, Inc., comprising Sunbeam, Health o meter, Mr. Coffee, and Oster.

In April 2002, Alltrista acquired Tilia International, Inc. for $145 million, involving the trademarks Foodsaver and VillaWare. ^[2] In November 2002, Jarden purchased the Diamond Brands, Inc., which had been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Trademarks involved include Diamond and Forster. ^[3] In September 2003, Jarden acquired Lehigh Consumer Products Corporation. Trademarks involved include Crawford, Lehigh, and Leslie-Locke.

In March 2004, Jarden acquired Loew-Cornell, a maker of brushes and other arts and crafts supplies. Trademarks involved include American Painter, Arttec, and Contemporary Crafts. In June 2004, Jarden bought a 75% stake in the privately held U.S. Playing Card Company, and in October 2004 it purchased the remaining 25%. Trademarks included Bee, Bicycle, Aviator, and Hoyle. ^[4]

In July 2005, Jarden acquired The Holmes Group, maker of home and kitchen products, for approximately $420 million in cash and 6.2 million shares of Jarden common stock. Trademarks involved include Crock-Pot, Seal-a-Meal, and Bionaire. ^[5]

In September 2006, Jarden acquired PineMountain firelogs, candles, and firestarters from Conros Corporation.^[6]

On August 9,2007, Jarden acquired K2 Sports for US$ 1,2 Billion. K2 has brands such as Adio, ExOfficio, JT Sports, Marker, Marmot, Penn, Rawlings, Ride, Sevylor, Shakespeare, Stearns, Völkl and Worth under its umbrella. ^[7]