HEAD Group, a global leader in the sporting goods industry, has officially acquired the AQUALUNG Group.
The decision was made by the Commercial Court of Nice on June 26, which recognized HEAD as the winning bidder to take over AQUALUNG, placed under controlled administration since May 16 due to financial difficulties.
This operation allows HEAD to significantly strengthen its presence in the aquatic sports market, expanding its brand portfolio, which already includes established names such as MARES, SSI, rEvo, LIVEABOARD.COM, and ZOGGS.
HEAD plans a restructuring of AQUALUNG’s operational platform and has already allocated emergency funding to ensure its operational continuity and long-term sustainability. The rescue plan exceeds 50 million euros and includes a comprehensive integration program aimed at generating significant synergies. The agreement will safeguard hundreds of jobs and enhance production facilities located in France, the United Kingdom, and Mexico.
With this acquisition, the world’s leading group in aquatic sports is born, combining two iconic companies united by shared values: safety, innovation, design, comfort, technical performance, and a deep passion for sport and underwater exploration.
HEAD intends to enhance and develop the AQUALUNG, APEKS, and AQUASPHERE brands, also strengthening the strategic segment targeting military and professional clients, which is rapidly expanding. Additionally, it will leverage AQUALUNG’s manufacturing expertise to support the global distribution of premium products, accelerating market leadership and making aquatic sports accessible to an increasingly broad audience.
Founded in 1943 following the invention of the “aqua-lung” by Captain Jacques Cousteau and engineer Émile Gagnan, AQUALUNG is considered a pioneer in the industry, with a presence in over 90 countries and products used by recreational divers, professionals, and armed forces.
HEAD, which acquired MARES in 1971, turning it into one of the leading brands in scuba diving, has continued to expand in the sector: in 2014 it acquired SSI (today Europe’s leading scuba certification agency) and in 2020 integrated the Australian brand ZOGGS, now rapidly growing worldwide thanks to HEAD’s network.
