Baar/Straubing, Germany – Ski gear maker Marker Völkl has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the Dalbello Group, a family-owned Italian company that has been making ski boots since 1974.

“Dalbello has many of the same attractive business characteristics as Marker Völkl, including a leading market position in its core categories, a loyal customer base, and an experienced product development and management team,” said Jonathan Wiant, CEO of the Marker Group. In the U.S., Marker Völkl president Mike Noonan will assume leadership of the brand.

Alessandro Dalbello, the company founder, said the acquisition “provides us with the resources and scale necessary to drive our future success and will further strengthen our existing product development and distribution capabilities.”

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2015 subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Marker Völkl is part of the Jarden family of over 120 brands that includes not only outdoor products from Marmot and Coleman, but also disconnected brands such as Mr. Coffee, Oster and Ohio Blue Tip Matches.