SGB Executive Outdoor

Thule AB Acquired by U.K. Buyout Firm

Thule AB will be acquired by Candover Investments, a U.K. buyout firm, from current owner EQT Partners AB, a Stockholm- based buyout firm backed by the billionaire Wallenberg family. Thule AB was acquired by EQT Scandinavia II in 1999. The deal is repor

Bravo Completes Variflex Acquisition

Variflex, Inc. and Bravo Sports, a privately held leading global manufacturer and marketer of branded and OEM hard goods, components and accessories for the skateboard and in-line skating markets, announced that Bravo Sports has completed the acquisition

Huffy Corp. Files Chapter 11; Fights to Stay Alive…

Huffy and all of its subsidiaries have filed for voluntary protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy code citing liquidity issues, significant operating losses associated with portions of its former Canadian operations, increasing public company

LaFuma Gets International Boost…

Lafuma reported that sales for the fiscal year ended September 30 increased a modest 2.0% to €180.0 million ($219.1 mm) compared to €176.4 million ($191.2 mm) last year. LaFuma overcame a drop-off in its key French market with a 15.2% increase in footw

VF Outdoor Coalition Finds Balance in Q3 Growth…

If you pulled a Rip Van Winkle and went to sleep ten years ago and awoke just this last week, you would probably think that you had done so in some sort of bizarre world where VF Corporation, which relied on selling jeans to the value market and intimate

Billabong Ups Fiscal 2005 Outlook; Snags SoCal Retail Chain…

Billabong International has raised its profit guidance for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005. The company now expects profit growth to reach 30% for the current year, up 50% from its initial estimate of 20% growth, saying it was “unduly conservative”.

Judge Allows Suit Against Cabela’s…

A state District Court judge in Texas last week ruled that a taxpayers group may proceed with a lawsuit challenging Fort Worth's tax incentive package for Cabela’s, Inc. The Fort Worth Citizens for Responsible Government filed suit in September, cha

Oakley Sees Soft Q3; Backlog Up 49% on ‘Thump’ Sales…

Oakley is counting on the success of its new ‘Thump’ sunglass/MP3 player and increased military sales to meet full-year 2004 guidance after posting a small 2.2% sales gain in the third quarter that was primarily fueled by its owned-retail business. Sungl

Huffy Corp. Files Chapter 11; Fights to Stay Alive…

Huffy and all of its subsidiaries have filed for voluntary protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy code citing liquidity issues, significant operating losses associated with portions of its former Canadian operations, increasing public company

Rocky Q3 Fueled by Retailer Expansion…

Rocky Shoes & Boots is riding a two-tiered wave made up of increased military sales and aggressive expansion strategies among several key retail customers. RCKY third quarter sales increased 21.0% to $50.1 million in sales, with roughly 10%, or $5.1 mill

LaCrosse Footwear Announces Boot Recall

LaCrosse Footwear Inc., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, has announced a voluntary recall of about 8,400 pairs of Polar and Trailblazer Work Boots. The protective toe cap on the boots may not provide sufficient impact and c

ICON Fiscal Q1 Loss Jumps; CV and Strength Sales Both Decline

ICON Health & Fitness reported that net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 decreased 13.9% to $170.3 million from $197.8 million in the comparable period in fiscal 2004. Sales of cardiovascular and other equipment decreased 9.6% to $143.4 million

Howell Lands as Chief Retail Officer at LL Bean

L.L. Bean has added two new executives geared toward helping the company achieve its retail expansion goals. Ed Howell, a former L.L.Bean employee, returned to the company as Chief Retail Officer and member of the Office of the President. Howell recently

lucy Comes Full Circle; Relaunches Online Store

lucy is reopening its online store for women's activewear. The Portland-based retailer launched its original e-commerce website November 15, 1999. Fifteen months later, the company shut down its website and successfully shifted its focus to brick-and