Dunlop Slazenger
Dunlop Slazenger is a sports equipment manufacturing company formed by BTR plc by consolidating the various sports brands acquired as part their take-over of Dunlop Holdings in 1985. It is currently owned by Sports World International.The company is most recognised for its involvement in golf, tennis, squash and badminton through the Dunlop, Slazenger, Maxfli and Carlton brands.
In 1996 the company was sold in a management buyout backed by private equity firm Cinven. This arrangement did not have a successful existence, and Dunlop Slazenger soon found itself being run by the banks, led by The Royal Bank of Scotland. Under the banks management, TaylorMade-adidas Golf took up their option to purchase the Maxfli golf brand in 2004, following a previous licensing arrangement, and the rights to Slazenger Golf in North America were sold to the Slazenger Golf Products Company.
The remainder of Dunlop Slazenger was eventually sold to Sports Direct in 2004. Since then Dunlop, Slazenger and other brands have been licensed or sold to other companies, notably Dunlop being sold to Sumitomo's SRI Sports in 2016-17.
