Kathmandu Holdings
Kathmandu Holdings Limited is an international retail chain for functional clothing and outdoor equipment (e.g. backpacks, tents and shoes). The company was founded in 1987 in Melbourne , Australia and Christchurch , New Zealand . Today the headquarters are in Christchurch. The company's shares have been listed on the NZX and ASX since 2009 .
The founders of the company were the Australian Jan Cameron, who had sold her company "ALP Sports Clothing" for this purpose, and the New Zealander John Pawson, who died in 2008 while doing mountain sports on Mount Aspiring . The first stores were opened in Australia, whereas production was mainly based in New Zealand. Today the chain has 133 stores; 83 in Australia, 44 in New Zealand and six in the United Kingdom .
In 2006, the firm went entirely to an Australian private equity firm after Cameron cashed out and left.
In an earthquake in February 2011, the company's headquarters in Christchurch was severely damaged, which is why the company temporarily relocated its headquarters to Melbourne.