Finland’s Amer Buys Fitness Products Maker

Amer Sports, a sports equipment maker behind the Wilson, Atomic and Suunto brands, is buying Fitness Products International, a Southern California-based maker of strength-training products, including the Icarian brand.

Helsinki, Finland-based Amer Sports said the $12-million deal would strengthen its position as “a full-line supplier of fitness equipment.” Amer is Finland’s biggest cigarette maker but last year announced it would quit tobacco production in 2004 and concentrate on sports equipment.

Its Precor unit makes fitness equipment for commercial and home markets, including stretching, strength-training systems and cross-trainers.

Based in Sun Valley, Fitness Products employs 110 people with annual sales of about $13 million. It makes equipment such as dumbbells, free-weight benches and racks.

From Associated Press