Black Diamond to Acquire PIEPS GmbH

Avalanche Transceiver Technology Founder and Market Leader

PIEPS Strengthens Black Diamond's Portfolio of Life-Dependent Products

Management to Discuss Acquisition via Conference Call After the Expected Close on Monday, October 1 at 4:30 p.m. ET

SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Diamond, Inc. (Nasdaq:BDE) (the "Company" or "Black Diamond") has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 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. PIEPS is the only authorized European Iridium satellite network partner within the alpine sport and outdoor sectors.

For its fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, PIEPS' sales were €6.0 million or approximately $8.2 million.

Under the terms of a definitive agreement, Black Diamond will purchase PIEPS for €8.0 million or approximately $10.4 million in cash and will also assume 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 the closing of the transaction and March 31, 2015.

The transaction is expected to close on October 1, 2012 and is expected to be immediately accretive to Black Diamond earnings per share.

"Black Diamond's acquisition of PIEPS reflects our ongoing strategy to assemble the best and brightest global companies that lead the charge in creating safer travel and backcountry adventure experiences," said Peter Metcalf, president and CEO of Black Diamond. "Like Black Diamond Equipment, PIEPS is widely recognized among backcountry enthusiasts for its electronic innovation, premium quality, product reliability and practicality. This reputation has translated into their position as one of the global leaders in avalanche transceivers and has given PIEPS a leading market share in its core markets of Germany and Austria."

"After closing, PIEPS will be run as a semi-autonomous, discrete but closely-linked Black Diamond brand that we believe will benefit directly from our operational infrastructure that is similarly tailored to highly engineered, life-dependent products," continued Metcalf. "We also expect to grow PIEPS' sales in those markets and geographies covered by Black Diamond's global distribution platform. PIEPS has historically generated higher gross margin than a typical hard goods company and we expect that to have a positive impact on our overall average gross margin. PIEPS intellectual property, specifically its avalanche technology—including their paradigm-changing Global Finder—supports Black Diamond's continuing focus on developing our electronic technology and applications product portfolio. We believe that all of these factors make PIEPS an ideal acquisition for Black Diamond as we advance our strategy to become the world's most respected outdoor equipment and lifestyle company."

PIEPS' CEO Michael Schober commented: "The joint power of Black Diamond's global operational resources and PIEPS' leading alpine search and rescue technology creates a powerful platform for further product development. We believe that Black Diamond's existing and planned electronic products will be supported with our extensive technical experience developing and manufacturing avalanche beacons and other electronic devices. In Black Diamond, we are confident that we have found our ideal match to cultivate our brand and look forward to continue delivering premium alpine performance products."

All PIEPS products are designed and developed in its state-of-the-art facilities and are the result of close collaboration with top mountain guides and rescue teams, scientists and alpine security specialists, as well as major universities in Austria and Switzerland, such as the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research. PIEPS electronic products will continue to be manufactured by SEIDEL Elektronik, another member of the SEIDEL Group and a contract manufacturer of electronic products for over 15 years.

Renowned for its technological innovation, PIEPS is the recipient of many prestigious industry awards, including Gear of the Show at the summer 2012 Outdoor Retailer and the ISPO Outdoor Award in 2011. It also holds the distinctive ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9001 certification which defines the standard for quality management systems.

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company's acquisition of PIEPS is expected to close on October 1, 2012. In anticipation of that, Black Diamond has scheduled a conference call on Monday, October 1 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. 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 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

Released September 24, 2012