Golden Gate Capital announced that the company has established a new operating company, PSEB Group. PSEB will be composed of two Golden Gate portfolio companies, Eddie Bauer and Pacific Sunwear of California. In connection with the establishment of PSEB, Golden Gate will invest additional equity in PSEB to support the company’s growth.

JC Penney has partnered with Fanatics Inc. to open 325 Fanatics in-store shops selling team apparel. An additional 325 Fanatics destinations will be open by the back-to-school season.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be staged in Canada, Mexico and the United States. On Wednesday, the 68th FIFA Congress convened in Moscow and designated the three countries as the hosts of tournament, which by then will be played with 48 teams.

Puma, marking its return to performance basketball this year, has signed top NBA draft prospect Marvin Bagley III to a five-year endorsement deal.

Canada Goose Holdings Inc. announced the next phase of the company’s global retail expansion, opening three stores this fall in Short Hills, NJ; Montréal, Quebec and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Dassault Systèmes announced that the company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Centric Software, a provider of product lifecycle management software solutions.

Eddie Bauer announced that Damien Huang has been named president. Huang was most recently Eddie Bauer’s senior vice president of merchandising & design.

Otis Technology has appointed Larry Williams as chief executive officer, effective July 9.

Licensing Expo, held in Las Vegas from May 22 to 24, 2018, saw significant growth in key areas among the company’s attendee base, including a 10 percent increase in retailers and 16 percent increase in first-time attendees.

Rue21 appointed Laurie Van Brunt president and CEO, Michele Pascoe as senior vice president and CFO and Stephen Sommers as senior vice president and CMO.

Camber Outdoors, the active-outdoor industries organization, has announced seven June events in the 2018 Camber Exchange series.

After a trial run in 2017, Norway-based global outerwear company Helly Hansen has signed on as naming sponsor of what is now “Helly Hansen Chester Race Week” 2018, North America’s largest annual keel boat race week.

San Francisco-based public relations and sports marketing agency OutsidePR has announce a partnership with Mammut Sports Group-North America.

Gap Inc. appointed Neil Fiske, the former CEO at Billabong and Eddie Bauer, as president and CEO of Gap brand.

May retail sales increased 0.7 percent seasonally adjusted over April and 5.6 percent unadjusted year-over-year as a growing economy prompted consumers to continue to spend, the National Retail Federation said Thursday. The numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants.

The American Medical Association (AMA) endorsed a slate of gun control measures, including a ban on assault-type weapons. The nation’s leading organization of medical professionals described gun violence as a “public health crisis.”

With FIFA World Cup 2018 starting in Russia, Adidas is sponsoring 12 of the 32 teams, a slight edge over Nike, at 10. Puma has four teams, New Balance has two and Umbro has one team, Peru.

The SFIA Start-Up Challenge returns for the third consecutive year at SFIA’s annual Industry Leaders Summit on September 26 in Denver, CO.

Swix Sport Group announced Wednesday that the company has changed the company’s name to Brav—reflecting the group’s evolution into a house of brands with a total turnover of more NOK 1 billion.

Koerve Inc. has announced that 80BREAKR—the golf scorecard app enjoyed by golfers worldwide—is now being deployed by golf courses to supplement existing marketing and increase revenue.

Adidas Soccer revealed the signing of Argentina and Juventus forward Paulo Dybala.

The Conservation Alliance board and membership elected Amy Beck, brand manager at Waypoint Outdoor, and Kate Larramendy, design and sustainability adviser at Toad&Co., to serve on the organization’s board of directors.

Point6, the Steamboat, CO-based, family-owned manufacturer of premium merino wool socks, has appointed two new representatives to manage sales and retailer relations in key territories.

Boise State and Nike have agreed to a six-year contract extension valued at an average of more than $2 million per year, Director of Athletics Curt Apsey announced.

Earlier this year, EORA (Eastern Outdoor Reps Association) and NESR (New England Sports Representatives) agreed to merge, and on Wednesday the organizations announced the new entity’s name, 360 Adventure Collective.

Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) on Wednesday announced the association’s endorsement of candidate Joe Neguse, in the Democratic primary election for Colorado’s second congressional district.

Glen Giovanucci, executive vice president at Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co., has decided to leave the retro sportswear brand to pursue other opportunities.

Grendene USA, the U.S. distributor for sandal brands Rider, Ipanema, Grendha, Zaxy and Cartago, announced that Kelly Schmidt has joined the company as the director of sales and merchandising for Rider and Cartago.

Slackline Industries, the manufacturer of slacklines and slackline systems, has contracted In-Sport Fashions Inc. as the company’s official Canadian distributor.

Vasque announced the company’s domestic sales agency of the year and global distributor of the year on the eve of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance tradeshow in Knoxville, TN, this week.

Mountain Khakis announced Whitney Outdoor Group has been awarded MK 2018 Sales Rep Agency of the Year.

Cotopaxi hired Heath Christensen as the company’s new director of wholesale.

Seattle Manufacturing Corporation (SMC) announced the appointment of Evan Wert as global director of sales and marketing.

Seattle, WA-based action sports, lifestyle and outdoor retailer Evo has opened a retail and demo center in Loge Camps in Bend, OR.

Gander Outdoors, formerly known as Gander Mountain, is now open in Kenosha, WI.

Chums, eyewear retainer and outdoor accessory brand, and sister brand Beyond Coastal, sun care product manufacturer, have promoted Andrew Bergquist to West Coast sales manager.

Modell’s Sporting Goods opened the company’s ninth Brooklyn location on Kings Highway in Sheepshead Bay. This will bring Modell’s total store count to 157 locations.

Mountain Safety Research, the Seattle, WA-based outdoor equipment brand, has launched the MSR Impact Project to advance the company’s work in global health.

Granite Gear has appointed Benjamin Landry as the company’s new design & development manager.

PJ Solomon, the investment banking advisory firm, announced the appointment of Matthew Rubel as a senior adviser to the firm. Rubin was the former CEO of Varsity Brands and Collective Brands.

RYU Apparel Inc. entered into an agreement with Canaccord Genuity Corp. to join the Canaccord Genuity Opportunities for the Longer Term Program (COLTS).

Wiley X, the maker protective eyewear, hired Ray T. Hill IV as the company’s vice president of retail sales.

DPS Skis recently named Jamie Starr vice president of global marketing.

BSN Sports has acquired Kelly’s Sports Ltd., based in West Chester, PA.

Benelli USA announced the addition of Bret Maffett as the company’s product manager for the Franchi brand and the accessories category.

Vail Resorts Inc. announced that Chairman and CEO Rob Katz has exercised stock appreciation rights (SARs) that were expiring over the next two years and will be donating 100 percent of the shares and proceeds received to his family charitable foundation and donor advised charitable fund.

Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd. announced the pricing of a private placement offering of C$650 million aggregate principal amount of unsecured medium term notes.

Nike confirmed Monday the company had stopped supplying Iran’s football team with boots ahead of the World Cup due to sanctions.

Asics set ambitious new targets for 2030, including reducing the carbon footprint of the company’s own operations by 33 percent.

Authentic Brands Group (ABG) acquired Nine West Holdings, the parent of Nine West, Anne Klein and Gloria Vanderbilt, in a bankruptcy auction.

Leki announced that Grace Winklemann of Wisconsin is the winner of the 2018 Leki full-ride scholarship to the Ligety-Weibrecht Ski Camp.

Reebok hired Karen Reuther, who formerly worked for Nike and Cast Collective, as global creative director for the company.

Sequential Brands Group Inc. announced Karen Castellano as president of Fashion. Castellano will oversee the company’s brands in the fashion division, which includes Jessica Simpson, Joe’s, William Rast and Ellen Tracy.

Craft Sportswear Canada, a division of New Wave Group, announced the launch of the company’s new Canadian subsidiary offices in Ville-Saint-Laurent, Quebec.

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded JC Penney Company’s Corporate Family Rating to B2 from B1.

Bass Pro Shops received the Ducks Unlimited Corporate Conservation Achievement Award Friday, June 1, at DU’s 81st Annual National Convention in Indianapolis, IN.

Smartwool has signed on as the official sock of the GoPro Mountain Games.

Yue Yuen reported consolidated operating revenue of $876.4 million in May versus $809.5 million a year ago, representing a gain of 8.3 percent.

Newell Brands Inc. announced that the company’s board of directors has approved an expansion to the company’s stock repurchase authorization.

Adidas announced multi-year partnerships with 2017 AVP Beach Volleyball Rookie of the Year Alix Klineman.

The IHRSA Institute announced that Annie Fältman is the recipient of The John McCarthy Merit Scholarship and Kelli Mokeler is the recipient of The Curt & Jane Beusman Scholarship.