DW® AQUIRES AMERICAN PERCUSSION BRANDS FROM FENDER®

Drum Workshop, Inc. and Fender Musical Instruments have finalized an asset sale agreement to purchase owned and licensed percussion brands including Latin Percussion®, Toca® Percussion, Gretsch® Drums, Gibraltar Hardware and KAT® Percussion from Fender’s KMC subsidiary. Ovation® Guitars, and exclusive U.S. distribution rights for Sabian® Cymbals are also included in the transaction.

“This is an amazing opportunity to extend our passion and commitment for the art of drumming,” said Chris Lombardi, President and CEO of Drum Workshop, Inc. We’re excited to welcome these legendary American brands to the DW family.”

Founded in 1972, the family owned and operated manufacturing company also boasts the award-winning DW Drums brand, as well as Pacific Drums and Percussion® (PDP). Details of the purchase are forthcoming, however it has been announced that DW Drums manufacturing operations will remain in California, Gretsch drum production will continue in South Carolina and LP’s offices will stay in New Jersey.

"We are extremely proud of our team's effort to nurture and grow each of the individual brands and are enthusiastic for their future,” said FMIC’s interim CEO and board member Scott Gilbertson. “We recognize the strategic opportunity for DW and are confident that they will be champions of the brands moving forward."

“It promises to be a very exciting year”, continued Lombardi. My father (DW Founder, Don Lombardi) and I are whole-heartedly dedicated to these already well-established brands and see a bright future ahead for the entire drum industry.”
 

About Drum Workshop, Inc.: Drum Workshop, Inc. is a family-owned American manufacturer of professional drums, pedals and hardware. Many of the world's top professionals, such as Sheila E., Mick Fleetwood, Neil Peart, Max Weinberg and Dave Grohl have made the DW brand "The Drummer's Choice." Drum Workshop is also home to Pacific Drums and Percussion, a full line of production drum and hardware products. For more information, visit www.dwdrums.com.

About Fender Musical Instruments Corporation: Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is one of the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturers, marketers and distributors, whose portfolio of brands includes Fender®, Squier®, Gretsch®, Jackson®, EVH® and Charvel® among others. For more information, visit www.fender.com.

About KMC Music, Inc.: KMC Music is a subsidiary of FMIC and one of the largest independent U.S. distributors of musical instruments and accessories, and is a leading wholesaler of musical instruments, accessories and lighting equipment. For more information, visit www.kmcmusicorp.com.

Other brands named in the acquisition are Percussion Plus®, CB® Drums and CB® Educational and Adamas® Strings. Financial and other terms of the deal are undisclosed. For further information contact: 3450 Lunar Court, Oxnard, CA 93030, tel: 805- 485-6999, fax: 805-485-1334. email: info@dwdrums.com