Editing Kore Outdoor (section)

== History ==

=== Origins ===

Kore Outdoor was established following the restructuring of GI Sportz, a Canadian paintball manufacturer founded in 2010.

Before the establishment of Kore, GI Sportz had expanded through several major acquisitions.

In December 2013, GI Sportz acquired [[Tippmann Sports]], adding the longstanding American marker manufacturer to its equipment portfolio.[3]

On 24 July 2015, GI Sportz announced its acquisition of [[KEE Action Sports]], which controlled brands including Empire, JT, Spyder and other established paintball equipment businesses.[4]

These acquisitions brought several major manufacturers and distributors under common ownership.

=== Establishment in 2020 ===

On 15 October 2020, GI Sportz Inc. and its American affiliates entered receivership.

KSV Restructuring Inc. was appointed receiver to oversee the companies' property, assets and business operations.

On 22 October 2020, GI Sportz announced a proposed restructuring involving the sale of its business to a newly established company, Kore Outdoor Inc.[5]

The transaction was completed on 1 December 2020.

Kore Outdoor was initially owned by [[Fulcrum Capital Partners]], the existing majority shareholder of GI Sportz, alongside members of the management team and [[Richmond Italia]].

Billy Ceranski, previously president of GI Sportz, became chief executive officer of Kore Outdoor.

Paul Antoniadis was appointed senior vice president and chief financial officer, while Dave "Opie" Thomas continued as chief operating officer.[1]

The restructuring transferred GI Sportz's operating business and established brands to Kore Outdoor.

GI Sportz continued as a product brand within the new company rather than disappearing from the market.

=== European operations ===

On 8 December 2021, Kore Outdoor announced the acquisition of the British company GI Sportz Europe Limited.

The purchase was completed through Kore Outdoor Europe Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary.

The transaction consolidated ownership of the company's European operations.

Kore stated that its existing British operations and workforce would continue following the acquisition.[6]

=== Ironbridge Equity Partners ===

In August 2022, Canadian investment firm [[Ironbridge Equity Partners]] and Kore Outdoor's management acquired a controlling interest in the company from Fulcrum Capital Partners.

Ironbridge announced the transaction on 9 August, while Kore Outdoor issued its own completion announcement on 26 August.

At the time, Kore reported manufacturing facilities in Montreal and Fort Wayne, Indiana, with distribution operations serving customers in more than 70 countries.

Billy Ceranski continued as chief executive officer following the transaction.[7]

=== Expansion of manufacturing ===

On 28 February 2024, Kore Outdoor announced the reopening of the former Great American Paintball (GAP) manufacturing facility near Reno, Nevada.

The facility resumed the production and distribution of paintballs, complementing Kore's existing Canadian manufacturing operations.

The company identified GI Sportz, Empire, DXS and Dynasty among the paintball product ranges supported by the facility.[8]

In January 2026, Kore announced an original equipment manufacturing agreement with Contract Killer to develop and manufacture a three-tier range of paintballs.

The agreement involved the development of products to Contract Killer's specifications using Kore's manufacturing facilities and paintball production technology.[9]