Transaction Expected to be Immediately Accretive to Earnings per Share

Management to Discuss Acquisition via Conference Call Today at 4:30 p.m. ET

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 1, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Diamond, Inc. (Nasdaq:BDE) (the "Company" or "Black Diamond") has successfully completed the acquisition of PIEPS Holding GmbH and its operating subsidiary, PIEPS GmbH (together "PIEPS"), a leading Austrian designer and marketer of avalanche beacons and snow safety products, from the SEIDEL Group, a family-owned group of companies focused on electronics manufacturing.

Founded in 2006, with roots dating back to 1972, PIEPS is widely recognized as an innovator and technology leader in alpine safety equipment. PIEPS offers a focused range of premium alpine performance products, including avalanche transceivers and probes, shovels, safety equipment, packs, and satellite-based devices for messaging, route tracking, and navigation.

Under the terms of the definitive agreement, Black Diamond acquired PIEPS for €8.0 million or approximately $10.3 million in cash and assumed approximately €2.1 million or $2.7 million in debt. Black Diamond has committed up to an additional estimated €2.3 million or approximately $3.0 million of contingent purchase price upon PIEPS' achievement of certain sales targets between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2015, which may be paid at Black Diamond's discretion in cash, shares of Black Diamond common stock, or a combination of cash and such shares.

"PIEPS reinforces our commitment to providing well-engineered products that are rooted in a superior level of personal protection and safety for outdoor athletes," said Peter Metcalf, president and CEO of Black Diamond. "Along with their product quality and functionality, PIEPS' intellectual property and electronic manufacturing capabilities support our growing portfolio of technology-centric products. We believe these factors make PIEPS an ideal acquisition for Black Diamond as we advance our position as one of the most respected and leading active outdoor equipment companies in the world."

PIEPS' CEO Michael Schober commented: "We believe Black Diamond provides PIEPS the important resources to expand our market and technology leadership position in avalanche transceivers. This includes their operational infrastructure tailored to highly engineered products and global distribution platform. We also expect our technical experience developing and manufacturing electronic devices to present unique synergies to Black Diamond's existing and planned electronic products. We believe Black Diamond allows us to better serve the market with premium alpine performance products and we are enthusiastic to join forces as one company."

Conference Call and Webcast

Black Diamond will hold a conference call today, October 1, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time to discuss the acquisition of PIEPS. The Company's President and CEO Peter Metcalf and CFO Robert Peay will host the conference call, followed by a question and answer period.

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Liolios Group at 1-949-574-3860.

The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay at http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=101865 and via the investor relations section at www.blackdiamond-inc.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available after 7:30 p.m. Eastern time on the same day and until October 15, 2012.

About PIEPS GmbH

PIEPS GmbH ("PIEPS") is the founder of avalanche transceiver technology, and a market and technology leader with more than 40 years of experience in alpine safety products. PIEPS offers the full range of premium alpine performance products, including avalanche transceivers, avalanche probes, shovels, safety equipment, backpacks and bags, as well as functional sportswear. Headquartered in Lebring, Steiermark, Austria, all PIEPS products are developed and designed internally with state-of-the-art technology and the highest demands on practical functionality. For additional information, please visit www.pieps.com.

About Black Diamond, Inc.

Black Diamond, Inc. is a global leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of innovative active outdoor performance products for climbing, mountaineering, backpacking, skiing, cycling and other outdoor recreation activities for a wide range of year-round use. The Company's principal brands, Black Diamond®, Gregory™ and POC™, are iconic in the active outdoor industry and linked intrinsically with the modern history of these sports. Black Diamond is synonymous with performance, innovation, durability and safety that the outdoor and action sport communities rely on and embrace in their active lifestyle. Headquartered in Salt Lake City at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, the Company's products are created and tested on some of the best alpine peaks, slopes, crags, roads and trails in the world. These close connections to the Black Diamond lifestyle enhance the authenticity of the Company's brands, inspire product innovation and strengthen customer loyalty. The Company's products are sold by leading specialty retailers in the U.S. and 50 countries around the world. For additional information, please visit the Company's websites at www.blackdiamond-inc.com, www.blackdiamondequipment.com, www.gregorypacks.com, or www.pocsports.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Please note that in this press release we may use words such as "appears," "anticipates," "believes," "plans," "expects," "intends," "future," and similar expressions which constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks and uncertainties. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results of operations or financial condition of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, the overall level of consumer spending on our products; general economic conditions and other factors affecting consumer confidence; disruption and volatility in the global capital and credit markets; the financial strength of the Company's customers; the Company's ability to implement its growth strategy; the Company's ability to successfully integrate and grow acquisitions; the Company's ability to maintain the strength and security of its information technology systems; stability of the Company's manufacturing facilities and foreign suppliers; the Company's ability to protect trademarks and other intellectual property rights; fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of raw materials and contracted products; foreign currency fluctuations; our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards; and legal, regulatory, political and economic risks in international markets. More information on potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results is included from time to time in the Company's public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this press release, and speak only as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.
 

CONTACT: Company Contact:
         Warren B. Kanders
         Executive Chairman
         Tel 203-428-2000
         warren.kanders@bdel.com
         or
         Peter Metcalf
         Chief Executive Officer
         Tel 801-278-5552
         peter.metcalf@bdel.com
         
         Investor Relations:
         Liolios Group, Inc.
         Scott Liolios or Cody Slach
         Tel 949-574-3860
         BDE@liolios.com