SGB Executive Sports & Fitness
Global Survey: Running Race Participation Surpasses Pre-Pandemic Levels
The Running USA Global Runner Survey was based 7,400 runners and event participants, was conducted over June and July 2024. Brooks and Asics again ranked as the preferred running and training footwear brands by respondents.
EXEC: Nike, Inc.’s Debt Ratings Outlook Lowered by S&P
S&P Global Ratings downgraded its debt ratings outlook on Nike, Inc. as the company pulled its financial guidance for the fiscal year ending May 2025 and postponed its investor day amid a strategy shift and CEO transition.
Report: M&A Activity in Active Lifestyle Sector Seeing Strong Recovery
Houlihan Lokey’s “Active Lifestyle Market Update” for the second quarter shows M&A activity in the active lifestyle space has rebounded strongly from a “muted” 2023, “supported by increasing confidence, renewed financing market activity, and a return of mega deals.”
EXEC: Adidas AG Appoints Mathieu Sidokpohou Head of Global Sales as Hoeld Departs
Sidokpohou joined the company in 2020 as GM of Adidas France. In July 2021, he became GM of the Cluster South Europe before taking over the responsibility as Managing Director for Europe in 2023. He succeeds Arthur Hoeld, who will step down at the end of October.
BSN Sports and Varsity Spirit Parent Hit by Data Breach
Varsity Brands, the parent of BSN Sports and Varsity Spirit, disclosed that more than 65,000 individuals may have had their personal information stolen due to a data breach that occurred earlier this year.
Report: September Retail Sales Top Expectations, Led by Clothing and Footwear
U.S. retail sales increased a seasonally-adjusted 0.4 percent month-over-month in September, up from the unrevised 0.1 percent gain in August, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The performance was slightly ahead of the 0.3 percent the Dow Jones forecasted.
EXEC: Frasers Group Managing Director of Sport to Step Down
The parent company of Sports Direct, Everlast, and Slazenger, reported that Ger Wright will leave her role as managing director of Sport at the end of November. Wright will remain on the Group’s Board as a non-executive director.
EXEC: Lululemon Touts International Growth Potential
At an investor event held in Shanghai, Lululemon Athletica officials did not provide any major updates on progress in reviving North America revenues, but analysts told SGB Media that officials laid out a convincing strategy to reach its goal of having international ultimately represent half of sales, fueled predominately by China Mainland.
EXEC: Adidas Again Lifts Guidance on Robust Third Quarter Results
Excluding Yeezy sales, currency-neutral revenues jumped 14 percent in Q3. Any further Yeezy sales this year are expected at cost, resulting in ~€50 million in additional sales and no further profit contribution in the fourth quarter.
EXEC: Sports Direct Parent Acquires Minority Stake in Online Retailer THG
Frasers Group, the parent of Sports Direct, agreed to buy a £10 million ($13 million) stake in THG, formerly The Hut Group. The fundraising will enable the online retailer to spin off its unprofitable tech unit, Ingenuity.
EXEC: Nike’s Stock Nets “Buy” Upgrade on Leadership Changes
Nike scored its first rating upgrade since news arrived of Elliot Hill’s appointment as CEO. Truist Securities’ Joe Civello believes Nike’s increasingly veteran-driven management team can revive the brand’s marketing and innovation, including better promoting Caitlin Clark, while continuing to repair wholesale relationships. Civello also cited selling direct on Amazon as a “game-changer” opportunity.
EXEC: Anta Sports Sees Fila’s China Retail Sales Turn Negative in Q3
The company is the largest shareholder of Arc’teryx, Wilson and Salomon parent Amer Sports, and also runs retail stores in China for the Anta brand, Fila, Descente, Kolon Sport, and Amer Sports.
EXEC: Ten Takeaways from SFIA’s 2024 Team Sports Report
SFIA’s 2024 U.S. Trends in Team Sports Report included some concerning findings, including continued deterioration in Core participation, but overall had more positive findings than negative.
EXEC: Swedish Investment Firm Merges Five Companies into Single Sports/Active Entity
Storskogen companies Ullmax, JO Sport, Tennis fashion, Racketdoktorn and On Target have merged into the joint company ASHE, which now constitutes a leading Nordic distribution, sales and marketing partner within sports and active lifestyle.
EXEC: September Footwear Factory Shipments Shine as Key Nike Factory Returns to Growth
Yue Yuen’s Manufacturing business boasted a 26.7 percent year-over-year increase in September, while Feng Tay reported Manufacturing revenues inched up 1.3 percent to NT$6.82 billion in September.
