Bauer Performance Sports to Acquire Assets of Combat Sports

EXETER, NEW HAMPSHIRE -- (Marketwired) -- 04/11/13 -- Bauer Performance Sports Ltd. (TSX:BAU) ("Bauer") today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Combat Sports ("Combat"), a leading designer of composite baseball and softball bats, hockey sticks and lacrosse shafts. The acquisition will provide Bauer with advanced composite technologies and strong intellectual property to further strengthen its industry-leading research and development capabilities across its platform of high-performing sports equipment.

"Combat Sports has a history of success in delivering innovative composite technologies to the sporting goods industry, and we are excited to add their knowledge and expertise to Bauer Performance Sports," said Kevin Davis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bauer. "In addition to their experience in the ever-evolving composites industry, Combat has had significant success with certain baseball and softball products, and we look forward to building their brand and expanding their portfolio of products in the future."

Bauer plans to explore and combine relevant composite technologies where applicable to strengthen its overall hockey stick and lacrosse offerings under the BAUER and MAVERIK brands. Combat and several of the company's key employees have had a long history of expertise in composite materials, including developing innovative products for NASA, the U.S. Military and several leading manufacturers. By focusing resources in the areas of Combat's success - baseball, softball and advanced composite technologies - Bauer expects to strengthen the COMBAT brand and grow its overall portfolio of high-performing products.

The acquisition of Combat will be funded from cash on hand and is expected to be accretive in the first year of operation. Bauer anticipates the acquisition to close in the coming weeks, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions and certain other approvals.

"Our expectation is that Canadian-based Combat will remain in its current Ottawa, Ontario and Kent, Washington locations, and we intend to continue manufacturing in Canada," Davis said. "In addition, we fully expect that Combat's previous leadership team and many key employees will be employed by the company after the closing of the transaction."

ABOUT BAUER PERFORMANCE SPORTS LTD.

Bauer Performance Sports Ltd. (TSX:BAU) is a leading developer and manufacturer of ice hockey, roller hockey and lacrosse equipment as well as related apparel. The company has the most recognized and strongest brand in the ice hockey equipment industry, and holds the top market share position in both ice and roller hockey. Its products are marketed under the BAUER, MISSION, MAVERIK, CASCADE and INARIA brand names and are distributed by sales representatives and independent distributors throughout the world. Bauer Performance Sports is focused on building its leadership position and growing market share in all product categories through continued innovation at every level. For more information, visit www.bauerperformancesports.com.

ABOUT COMBAT SPORTS

Combat Sports has been supplying composite and hybrid composite products for both its own brand as well as for high-end brand name companies since 1998 in the baseball/softball bat, hockey stick and lacrosse shaft markets. Combat has a reputation for its premier and innovative composite technology with the latest composite advancements in performance and durability serving players from the grassroots level to the elite professional levels.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release about our current and future plans, expectations and intentions, results, levels of activity, performance, goals or achievements or any other future events or developments constitute forward-looking statements. The words "will", "expects", "plans", "intends", "estimates" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words or other comparable words or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances, but there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Many factors could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance, achievements, future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the following factors: our inability to satisfy the conditions of closing to successfully complete the Combat Sports acquisition, our inability to successfully integrate Combat Sports and its technologies into the Company's other product offerings and grow the COMBAT brand, intense competition in the apparel and equipment industries, volatile market price for Common Shares, general economic and market conditions and current adverse economic conditions. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect us; however, these factors should be considered carefully. The purpose of the forward-looking statements is to provide the reader with a description of management's expectations and may not be appropriate for other purposes; readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements made herein. Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and we have no intention and undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.