Running Supply Acquires Achille Agway

Running Supply, Inc., operating as Runnings, based in Marshall, MN, agreed to acquire Achille Enterprises, Inc. Operating under Achille Agway, Achille Enterprises owns six farm and home stores in New Hampshire and Vermont.

IHRSA Adds Two Board Members

IHRSA appointed Ori Gorfine, president of U.S. Fitness Holdings and Richard Beddie, CEO of ExerciseNZ and the chief of staff to the International Confederation of Registers for Exercise Professionals, to its Board of Directors.

Adidas’ Debt Ratings Downgraded On Slashed Outlook

Moody’s downgraded the debt ratings of Adidas following the company’s steep profit warning for 2023, “signaling a significant and unexpected further downward revision of the company’s financials and credit metrics for the next 12-18 months.”

VF Corp’s Debt Ratings Lowered

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the debt ratings of VF Corp. due to the company’s currently high leverage resulting from underperformance in its largest and most profitable brand, Vans, as well as large customer inventory destocking at Dickies, a slower-than-expected recovery in China, and elevated inventory levels that are leading to higher promotional sales activity and reduced margins.

Quell Raises $10M In Series A Funding Round

Quell, the UK-based fitness gaming developer and publisher, completed a $10 million Series A funding round led by Tencent with follow-on investment from Khosla Ventures, Heartcore Capital, Social Impact Capital, and entrepreneur Naval Ravikant.

Life Time To Hold Pickleball Tournaments

Life Time, the operator of over 160 fitness clubs, is bringing nine pickleball tournaments to its locations resulting from alliances with the Professional Pickleball Association and Major League Pickleball.

Shimano Forecasts Sharp Drop In 2023 Sales; Pursues A New Culture

After reviewing in more detail the financial statements filed by Shimano, Inc. following the company’s 2022 earnings report this past week, there is an ominous set of figures and remarks in the company’s outlook for its business in 2023 missed in earlier reporting of the company’s strong 2022 results.

Penn Entertainment Completes Acquisition Of Barstool Sports

Penn Entertainment, Inc. completed its previously announced acquisition of Barstool Sports, Inc. after securing a three percent stake in Barstool Sports in February 2020. Penn realized the remaining interest in Barstool Sports for approximately $388 million.