SGB Executive Outdoor

EXEC: Wall Street Debates Shareholder Approval for Vista Outdoor’s CSG Deal
Wall Street analysts appear split on whether Vista Outdoor’s sale of its Kinetic ammunition business to Czechoslovak Group a.s. will now go through after receiving long-awaited regulatory approval or whether a higher bid from MNC Capital for the entire business and a potential DOJ investigation could derail the deal.

EXEC: Adidas Bribery Investigation Claims First Two China Employees
Adidas reported on June 26 that two Chinese employees had left the company as the German sportswear giant investigates bribery allegations in China.

EXEC: Vista Outdoor Secures U.S. Government Approval for Ammo Business Sale to CSG
Vista Outdoor, Inc. reported late afternoon on June 25 that it had received regulatory approval from an interagency committee of the U.S. government for the proposed sale of its ammunition business, The Kinetic Group, to Prague-based Czechoslovak Group a.s. (CSG).

CSG Again Increases Purchase Price for Vista Outdoor’s Ammo Business
Vista Outdoor, Inc. announced that Czechoslovak Group (CSG) had increased its bid for The Kinetic Group, Vista Outdoor’s ammunition business, by $40 million from $1.96 billion to $2 billion. The higher offer comes as Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) last week called on Vista Outdoor shareholders to abstain from voting to approve the sale.

EXEC: Rip Curl, Oboz Parent KMD Brands Sees Weaker-Than-Expected End to Fiscal Year
The parent company to the Rip Curl, Oboz and Kathmandu brands reported a slower-than-expected start to the winter promotional season for Kathmandu and noted that Rip Curl and Oboz wholesale customers continue to reduce their inventory holdings.

EXEC: Vista Sees Proxy Advisor Change View on Ammo Group Sale; Suggests MNC Re-Look
Institutional Shareholder Services is now calling on Vista Outdoor shareholders to abstain from voting on Vista’s $1.96 billion sale of its Kinetic Group ammunition business unit to Czechoslovakia Group after recommending shareholders approve the sale only three weeks ago.

EXEC: EMS/Bob’s Parent to Shutter Distribution Center in Bankruptcy Proceedings
In a bankruptcy court affidavit, David Barton, CEO of Mountain Sports LLC, the parent of Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) and Bob’s Stores, said the company plans to close its primary distribution center and fulfill orders from stores as an initial step its reorganization.

EXEC: EMS/Bob’s Parent Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Mountain Sports, the parent of Eastern Mountain Sports and Bob’s Stores, filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 protection in Wilmington, DE, U.S. Bankruptcy Court…

EXEC: Giant Group Sees May Sales Decline Accelerate
The Taiwan-based bicycle manufacturer reported a 7.1 percent year-over-year decline for the month to NT$7.2 million.

Report: Troubling Decline in Core Outdoor Participants
Among it’s findings, the OIA 2024 Outdoor Participation Trends Report found that the average number of outings per participant in 2023 fell 11.4 percent from 70.5 per participant in 2022 to 62.5 outings per participant in 2023.

EXEC: Academy Sports Talks Push for Better Footwear Allocations
Steve Lawrence, CEO at Academy Sports, elaborated on the retailer’s efforts to improve access to better product from its footwear vendor partners and secure new brands, including Hoka and On.

Bob’s and EMS to Close Stores, Layoff Employees Amid Financial Struggles
Owned by Los Angeles-based GoDigital Media Group, Bob’s Stores and EMS are closing some stores and will layoff employees beginning June 14 as it company faces liquidity woes.

EXEC: Academy Sports CEO Remains Bullish on Sales Recovery
Academy Sports and Outdoors missed Wall Street’s earnings expectations for the second straight quarter on lower-than-expected sales but Steve Lawrence, CEO, told analysts he remains confident growth will improve in coming quarters as the chain benefits from a focus on newness and value while capitalizing on key selling occasions over the year.

EXEC: Vista Outdoor Receives New Bid For Ammo Business, JDH Capital Reported Bidder
Vista Outdoor reported it received an all-cash $2 billion takeover offer for its ammunition business from an unnamed private U.S. investment firm. JDH Capital, the investment group run by Texas oil billionaire Jeffrey Hildebrand, is behind a new bid, sources told the Financial Times.

EXEC: Zumiez Saw U.S. Business Return to Growth in Q1; Sees Global Growth for Year
Looking to Q2, net sales for the North America business for fiscal May increased 2.5 percent year-over-year, while the Other International business decreased 1.1 percent. Men’s was said to be the largest positive comparable sales growth category followed by Women’s.