Bombardier Recreational Products

The story of Bombardier Recreational Products, or BRP, begins with the ingenuity of its founder, Joseph-Armand Bombardier. From a young age in Valcourt, Quebec, he was fascinated with mechanics, building his first snow vehicle at just 15. In 1937, he patented a key sprocket wheel and track system, and by 1942, he founded L'Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée to produce larger snowmobiles like the B12. His dream of a personal snowmobile was realized in 1959 with the launch of the iconic Ski-Doo, which created the sport of snowmobiling. A significant shift occurred in 2003 when Bombardier Inc. spun off its recreational products division. This new, independent company, BRP, was acquired by a group of investors including Bain Capital and the Bombardier-Beaudoin family. This strategic move allowed BRP to focus entirely on the powersports market. Freed from the larger corporation, BRP thrived, expanding its product lines to include Sea-Doo personal watercraft and Can-Am all-terrain vehicles. A major milestone in its journey as an independent entity was its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Toronto Stock Exchange in May 2013, which raised approximately $262.3 million. This event provided capital to pay down debt and further finance the company's growth and innovation in the powersports world.