Vexilar gets bought out

lunkerslayer

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https://www.outdoornews.com/2023/10/21/iowa-based-wealth-management-firm-acquires-vexilar/
Robert A. Jablonski and Valiant Wealth Management announced Monday October 16, 2023, the acquisition of Vexilar Incorporated and AWC Incorporated, naming Rob Jablonski to lead the business going forward. Vexilar and AWC have been owned by Steven J. Baumann who has been president of Vexilar since 1995.

Vexilar is the premier ice fishing marine electronics company in the United States with a 60-year history of developing and manufacturing advanced sonar and fish-finding equipment for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. Its state-of-the-art sonar technology provides anglers with real-time, precise information about the underwater environment, helping them locate fish and optimize their fishing strategies.

AWC is a leading ice fishing equipment manufacturer that produces the K-drill line of ice augers, patented augers designed to revolutionize the way anglers drill through the ice. These light-weight augers are powered by modern high powered cordless electric drills to make it easier for fisherman to get out on the ice and get fishing.

After working for Vexilar Inc. as a Mechanical Engineer since 1977, Mr. Baumann, and Skip Christman bought the then struggling company in 1986, made monumental advancements and truly pioneered the use of ice fishing electronics with the Vexilar FL-8 Flasher. In 1995, Baumann assumed the role as company president following Christman's unexpected passing. Mr. Baumann helped mold Vexilar into the ice fishing leader, securing numerous patents, and helping anglers countless increase their ice fishing success.

Baumann's engineering, ingenuity, vision, and contributions to the ice fishing industry are legendary. Steven Baumann was inducted into the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame in 2004, the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 2012, and Vexilar Inc. was honored as a Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame inductee in 2015.

Valiant is a Wealth Management company based in Des Moines, Iowa, that provides modern financial and lifestyle management services. Valiant believes that a diversified portfolio is a mixture of in-market investments and directly investing in high potential privately held companies, like Vexilar.

Jablonski is a seasoned manufacturing executive with experience at General Motors, Kohler Company and Pella Corp and is an avid angler and outdoor lover. “I am honored to be leading Vexilar, a true legacy brand in ice fishing in the United States and a company with a strong runway for growth.” Jablonski said in the statement. “I’m excited to be transitioning the business with Steve Baumann, an icon in the ice fishing industry, and. I look forward to building on Vexilar’s and AWC’s successful histories, in partnership with the leadership team at Valiant”.
Could be good could be bad
I just hope they reconsider and bring back the tribeam ice ducer
 


guywhofishes

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I hope they keep that genius who does their transducer videos - he makes the technical stuff seem so simple. 🥴
 

FightingSioux

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Must be making a bunch of $$$$ of old flasher technology for what they charge. Haven’t used my vexilar in years. Not sure how they expect to expand vexilar sales which in my opinion have been going down.
 

Freedom

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Seeing less and less vexilars every year. Glad the owner got to cash in before the slow decline
 


Sluggo

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Curious what you guys think are the top few electronics fishermen are buying instead of vexilars besides live units?
 

Sluggo

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Anything that has mapping is a huge plus, my vex never gets used since I bought a helix.
Thanks. I just watched a Helix 7 ice fishing video. A lot of nice features. How’s the realtime response of the Helix compare to a Vex?
 


jdfisherman

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Key words are "wealth management firm". They care nothing about the product; only how to wring as much money out of it as possible before they run the brand into the toilet. Prices will go up, quality will go down, and Vex's already shrinking market share will get even smaller, but not before the vultures take their profits and run.
 

Jigaman

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I have an 18 and a 28. Just got a livescope so will likely be selling the 28 if anyone is interested. 2 seasons old, located near GF, $450.
 

Shockwave

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I like my Marcum M5. Now days it's mostly used for setting tip-ups since we have livescope.
 


Bfishn

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They are so far behind I'm not sure they can recover anymore. Also how can they justify their price? It would be different if you had this old simple tech that was a much cheaper option, but when your trying to charge $500 for an fl18 who in their right mind is going to go that route over a graph that has many more options and functionality along with much easier summertime use?
 

shorthairsrus

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I remember a thread like this not that long ago with the Vex owners vs graphs. The graphs were few and far between and we will laughed at from the Vexes.

Now were only using Vex for setting hook height :rolleyes:

Any Vexes left? I did get a good deal from a guy and bought one when i guide my tribe.
 

lunkerslayer

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Why do I feel the need to dig up a few old threads and whisper "I told u so"?
It's OK to say I told you so, you probably would get less eye rolls and foot stomping here then at home. Why are you going to say i told you so again anyways
 


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