Bad Boy to buy Hustler Turf from Stanley Black & Decker

The Hustler Surfer X stand-on mower. (Photo: Hustler Turf)

Stanley Black & Decker will sell its Excel Industries business to Bad Boy Mowers in a move it said will help it to further refine its portfolio of brands. Excel makes the Hustler Turf Equipment line of professional and consumer lawn care equipment. Terms were not disclosed.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. Stanley Black & Decker acquired Excel Industries in 2021 for $375 million in cash.

“The sale of Excel further refines our portfolio and unlocks greater shareholder value by concentrating resources on the areas where we see the most compelling opportunities to grow and win,” said Chris Nelson, Stanley Black & Decker’s President & CEO. “We remain committed to growing our Outdoor business through innovation and our strong family of brands, including Cub Cadet, Dewalt, Craftsman, Troy-Bilt and Black+Decker. We are excited about the high-growth opportunities presented in electric outdoor products, and we will continue to thoughtfully invest in high-performance, residential ride-on and zero-turn mowers. We are confident in our plans to drive organic growth and margin expansion across this portion of our business.”

Located in Hesston, Kan., Excel is expected to generate FY 2026 revenue of approximately $300 million.

“Our Outdoor business and brands remain a strong asset, with meaningful value and opportunity ahead,” said Bill Beck, president, Tools & Outdoor, Stanley Black & Decker. “As we take this next step, I want to recognize and thank our Excel team members for their exceptional dedication, hard work, and valuable contributions. Because of their efforts, the business has strong momentum and is well positioned for the future.”

In addition to selling off the Hustler brand, Stanley Black & Decker said will transition to a licensing model for its gasoline walk-behind outdoor products.

Founded in 2002, Arkansas-based Bad Boy Mowers is owned by The Sterling Group, a private equity and private credit investment firm.

“We are excited to welcome Hustler and its talented team to the Bad Boy family,” said Peter Ballantyne, CEO of Bad Boy Mowers. “We have tremendous respect for the business and the team that has built it over many decades. We look forward to supporting Hustler’s continued success as a leader in professional grade mowers.”

In August, Stanley Black & Decker said it would invest $1 billion in the U.S. through 2028 to advance innovation, develop next-generation tools and solutions, and increase access to training opportunities to expand the skilled trades workforce.

Of that amount, the company said approximately 50% will go to research and development to accelerate the creation of next-generation tools and solutions for trades professionals. The other 50% will support capital expenditures and long-term investments to further strengthen its U.S. manufacturing footprint and support new product development.