Private investors rescue troubled sportswear brand BLK

A private consortium of Fijian and Timor-Leste-based investors has bought troubled sportswear manufacturer BLK from receivers McGrathNicol.

The consortium, led by Timor-Leste oil and energy company Esperança Timor Oan (ETO), acquired BLK from its parent company World Rugby Specialists for an undisclosed sum.

BLK, known as KooGa prior to 2011, entered receivership in November last year, affecting elite clubs across the NRL, Super Rugby, A-League and AFL, as well as numerous grassroots clubs and New Zealand’s Silver Ferns netball team.

Just days prior to its receivership, BLK had a sponsorship deal with Australian Football League team St Kilda.

In a statement released today, the receivers revealed BLK will maintain its partnerships with a number of its previously sponsored clubs, although all contracts with AFL or NRL teams have ended.

ETO Executive Director Nilton Gusmão dos Santos said the BLK purchase would allow ETO to move beyond the energy sector, with the BLK brands to be established under a new company called BLK International Pty Ltd.

ETO will also keep BLK’s executive team and senior management on board, including presiding Chief Executive Tyson Brant.

In the statement, Brant advised “BLK International expects to maintain a high level of customer service and market leading innovation and intends to better deliver product and experience for BLK’s loyal customers.”

The business has managed to maintain high-profile partnerships with teams such as the Silver Ferns and A-League team the Newcastle Jets. It will also continue supplying its Australian and South African Super Rugby clubs, UK’s Saracens and Ospreys rugby clubs, Ireland’s Connacht Rugby, Stade Toulousain in France, Ricoh Black Rams in Japan and Canterbury in New Zealand.

Despite losing its contracts with AFL and NFL teams, Brant added “despite the clubs terminating their arrangements with BLK, BLK International is confident that it will be able to replace that lost business over the medium term once it has rebuilt confidence in the brand.”

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