KMD on Australian Securities Exchange

Kathmandu

Logo: Sdmartincr, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons³

New Zealand retail company

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Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1987Founded¹

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TickerKMD on Australian Securities Exchange¹
Industryretail¹
HeadquartersChristchurch¹
Websitewww.kathmandu.co.nz
Listed onNew Zealand Exchange Ltd (KMD), Australian Securities Exchange (KMD)¹

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KMD Brands is a global outdoor, lifestyle and sports company and Certified B Corporation. It consists of three iconic brands: Kathmandu, Rip Curl and Oboz. The Group is dual-listed on the NZX and ASX. Kathmandu was founded in 1987 in New Zealand and specialises in technical and sustainable clothing and equipment for outdoors adventures. Oboz, acquired by the group in 2018, is based in Bozeman, Montana, and designs footwear for hiking and trail running. Rip Curl, acquired in 2019, is a global surf brand founded in 1969 at Bells Beach and headquartered in Torquay, Victoria.²

Corporate structure

Kathmandu sits at the top of its group. 2 entities, 1 country on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

Kathmandu Christchurch
- Rip Curl Subsidiary · Torquay

Built from subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0); major holders from Schedules 13D and 13G. Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

Founded by Jan Cameron in 1987.¹

Kathmandu was founded by John Pawson and Jan Cameron in 1987 following their sale of the ALP Sports Clothing label. The company set up its first retail outlets in Australia, whilst manufacturing most of its original clothing range in New Zealand. Bernard Wicht, owner of Alpine Accoutrements, had been the main manufacturer for ALP Sports but continued to manufacture for Kathmandu and also partnered with Penny Hazard to set up the Bivouac chain of stores in New Zealand. In 1992 Kathmandu, having established a strong operation in Australia (with stores in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra) re-entered the New Zealand retail marketplace, purchasing Alps Sports from its receivers and brought in Bernard Wicht to join John Pawson and Jan Cameron as a third shareholder.

In 2006, Quadrant Private Equity bought the company for NZ$275 million, after Cameron had previously sold half of her business. Wicht was the owner of both the Fairydown and Macpac brands until 2015.

Kathmandu was listed on the Australian and New Zealand stock exchanges in November 2009. Kathmandu announced the purchase of Oboz in March 2018. In October 2019, Kathmandu announced it would buy 100% of Australian surf brand Rip Curl for A$350m. In March 2022, Kathmandu Holdings was rebranded KMD Brands.

From Wikipedia’s article on KMD Brands, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.⁴

Leadership

Who has led Kathmandu, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

FounderJan Cameron¹

Subsidiaries and ownership

Subsidiaries

Rip Curl since Oct 31, 2019

From Wikidata.¹

Acquisitions

Oct 31, 2019Rip Curl became a subsidiary¹

Controversies and legal

Wage subsidy controversy

Like other businesses operating in New Zealand, Kathmandu received sizeable financial support from the New Zealand government in the form of wage subsidies for its employees across New Zealand. This was part of a wider policy of economic stimulus for large and small businesses following the COVID-19 outbreak and the resulting downturn in the economy. As part of this programme, Kathmandu Group received $6.2 million from New Zealand taxpayers in 2020. However, despite subsequently posting a profit of NZ $31.5 million, Kathmandu management refused to repay the funds even though the company had enjoyed a profitable year. This decision was condemned on both sides of the political spectrum in New Zealand with the two major parties describing it as unfair. Kathmandu's decision was also labelled as an example of the "waste" and "fraud" in the wage subsidy scheme treasury had earlier warned of.