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Posted at 11:15 a.m. on November 23, 2016
The Brillion News
BRILLION – Ariens Company today (Wednesday, Nov. 23) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its aftermarket parts business to Arrowhead Engineered Products Inc. of Blaine, Minnesota.
The aftermarket parts business includes the Stens brand sold directly to independent power equipment dealers, and the JThomas Parts brand sold directly to professional landscape contractors.
The sale is expected to be complete by the end of this year. Both companies are privately held and terms of the agreement will not be disclosed.
“This is a strategic decision that allows the company to continue to re-invest in the original equipment manufacturing business,” said Dan Ariens, Chairman and CEO of Ariens Company. “We have been enhancing our manufacturing plants with automation technology and, at the same time, we will continue to invest in R&D capabilities to accelerate the rate of new product introductions.”
The company will also invest in a robust e-commerce platform for its niche outdoor supply brands Gempler’s, AW Direct and Ben Meadows. Ariens Company acquired Stens in 1995 and JThomas in 2008.
A brother of Dan Ariens, Peter Ariens, was the president of Stens, with corporate headquarters in Jasper, Indiana, until two years ago. Arrowhead EP makes no mention of the sale on its corporate website, nor does Stens.
The move positions Arrowhead to be a major supplier of critical replacement parts.
“We appreciate the significant contribution of the employees in Stens and JThomas who have been dedicated to profitably growing this business,” Ariens said. “Stens has been part of the Ariens family of brands for a long time and the employees have built a solid reputation for a high level of service and a strong brand in their own right.”
Arrowhead Engineered Products is a supplier of non-discretionary, mission-critical, aftermarket replacement parts for a wide variety of motorized vehicles, across the powersports, outdoor power equipment, agricultural/industrial, marine, and heavy-duty and automotive end-markets.