
EXEC: JD Sports Inks Partner for South Africa Expansion
The company signed a franchise agreement with Foschini Retail Group (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of South African retailer The Foschini Group Limited (TFG) to launch the JD brand in South Africa.

EXEC: Researching Exposures & Effects from PFAS and Consumer Textiles on Human Health
The study provides insights into the measurement of PFAS in various consumer textiles and how they enter the body; however, the pattern of PFAS detection in the evaluated textiles does not fully align with reported human serum levels.

EXEC: Colt CZ Sees Firearms Unit Sales Fall 10 Percent in 2023 as U.S. Market Declines
The number of firearms sold in 2023 decreased by 10.4 percent compared to 2022, reaching 621 thousand units sold, primarily due to lower demand in the U.S. commercial market.

EXEC: Amer Sports Majority Owner Posts Strong Year of Growing Retail Sales in China
Anta Sports, which runs retail stores in China for the Anta brand, Fila, Descente, Kolon Sport, and was the 53 percent majority owner of Amer Sports at year-end, reported that revenue reached another high in 2023. Anta’s stake in Amer Sports was diluted to 43 percent after the Amer IPO in February.

EXEC: Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Sees Tough 2023 Comp Against COVID-Induced Growth
While year-over-year sales for the consolidated sales of the organization were down 6.0 year-over-year, sales versus the last pre-COVID year were up nearly 27 percent.

EXEC: MNC Capital Partners Ups Ante in Vista Outdoor Takeover Bid
MNC submitted an increased all-cash proposal to acquire Vista Outdoor, Inc. for $37.50 per share, or approximately $3.0 billion, as it tries to head off the sale of Vista’s ammo business to a foreign entity. Meanwhile, Vista has scheduled a shareholder vote for the sale of the ammo business to Czechoslovak Group.

EXEC: Academy Execs Break Down Q4 Hits and Misses, 2024 Outlook
Academy saw an improving comp store sales trend in its fiscal fourth quarter, and while still negative, it gave company management something to hold on to when assessing overall performance in Q4, the full year ended February 3 and planning the year ahead.

EXEC: Gregory, High Sierra Parent Company Seeks Dual Listing for Shares
An additional listing is expected to increase liquidity of the company’s shares and create an opportunity to reach investors in markets that are an important part of the company’s global footprint and growth drivers for its business.

EXEC: Nike Admits it Has a Problem, and Its Solution is… Air?
The Swoosh is putting Nike Air ahead of its innovative solutions to its current stale product and sluggish sales problem. The other solution is to play nice and support those pesky retail partners now that the brand suddenly needs them again.

EXEC: DSW Parent Sees Business on Right Track with New People and Processes
DBI expects net sales growth in the low-single-digits in 2024 versus 2023, even when considering the headwind of the extra week of sales in 2023. EPS is forecasted to range between 70 cents to 80 cents per share for 2024, representing a roughly 10 percent increase at the midpoint when compared to the 2023 results.

EXEC: Fila Brand Continues Downward Spiral in 2023 Even as Q4 Declines Moderate
Fila brand revenues were down 22.5 percent in the quarter in constant-currency terms and (-22.5 percent CC), while Fila USA revenues, which covers the U.S., Canada and Mexico, fell 35.3 percent in constant-currency terms for the period.

EXEC: Investors React as Gildan Activewear Confirms Receipt of Acquisition Overture
In response to the receipt of a confidential non-binding expression of interest to acquire Gildan, Gildan’s Board formed a Special Committee of independent directors to, among other things, review and consider the merits of the proposal and seek alternatives.

EXEC: Caleres Looks to Invest in Brand Portfolio Growth as Famous Footwear Struggles
The parent company of Famous Footwear and the Naturalizer, Vionic, Allen Edmonds, Blowfish Malibu, and Sam Edelman brands said the Brand Portfolio segment led the financial performance of the company for the first time in nearly two decades.

EXEC: Rip Curl and Oboz Parent Saw Both Brands Hurt by Retailer Caution in H1
KMD Brands, Inc., the New Zealand-based parent of the Rip Curl, Oboz and Kathmandu brands, reported that total consolidated Group revenue in the first half of fiscal 2024 decreased 14.5 percent year-over-year (YoY).

EXEC: Xtep Gives Nod to Saucony Profits, Provides Details on Wolverine IP Deal
The retail partner for the Saucony, Merrell, K·Swiss, and Palladium brands, and now a 40 percent owner of the Saucony IP in China, said 2023 was a landmark year as it celebrated its 15th Anniversary of listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.