Nixon

Nixon was founded in 1997 by Andy Laats and Chad DiNenna in Encinitas, California. Laats, a former Burton snowboard product manager with an engineering degree from Cornell and MBA from Stanford, partnered with DiNenna, who had worked in publishing at TransWorld Media. They raised nearly $1 million from venture capitalists and released their debut catalog through 200 retailers with seven models. Nixon opened a French subsidiary in 2000. By 2005, the company had 90 models, 60 employees, and 55% annual sales growth. In December 2006, Billabong International acquired Nixon for approximately $55 million with deferred payments totaling $76 million by FY 2012. In spring 2012, Nixon regained independence through an agreement with Trilantic Capital Partners and Billabong, each taking 48.5% ownership with 3% held by management. The transaction valued Nixon at approximately $464 million. Nixon is known for bold designs, customizability, and collaborations with brands like Star Wars, Metallica, and Grateful Dead. The company operates globally with sales in over 90 countries.