SGB Executive Sportsmans
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: 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: Smith & Wesson CEO Sees Company Outpacing Industry, Led by 1854 Launch
In the sporting goods channel, the company’s long gun unit shipments increased by over 14 percent in the fourth quarter versus the year-ago period and handgun shipments were said to be up almost 8 percent.
EXEC: Delta Apparel Suspends and Explores Shuttering Honduras Operations
The parent of the Soffe, Delta and Salt Life brands reported in a regulatory filing that it plans to formally suspend its manufacturing operations in Honduras due to ongoing liquidity challenges, impacting approximately 2,413 employees.
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.
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: Sportsman’s Warehouse to Focus More on “Warehouse” and Value Moving Forward
The hunting, fishing, camping and shooting specialty retailer is embracing part of its name in a more profound way as 2024 progresses, promising to focus more on the “Warehouse” part of the name to provide more value for cash-strapped outdoor sports enthusiasts
EXEC: DBI Gets Q1 Lift from Topo and Keds While Dress and Seasonal Drag on Retail
DBI also acquired Rubino, a profitable Canadian footwear retailer operating nearly 30 stores, specifically serving the Province of Quebec. Quebec represents nearly one-quarter of Canada’s population, but DBI had no existing presence. Rubino did CN$47 million in 2023.
EXEC: Dick’s SG Leadership Details Q1 Comps, House of Sport, 50K Stores, Q2 View
First-quarter comps were reportedly driven by a 2.7 percent increase in transactions and a 2.6 percent increase in average ticket with strength across footwear, athletic apparel and hardlines. DKS will begin to anniversary the higher shrink rates from 2023 in the second quarter.
EXEC: CEO Kevin Plank Outlines Dramatic Turnaround Plan for Under Armour
With some apparent aggravation on what the brand has become, Plank noted that Under Armour has become a brand that competes primarily on price versus what should be its core competency—performance and technical innovation.
EXEC: Industry Organizations Push Back on Biden Administration’s Tariff Decisions
The decision to maintain Section 301 China tariffs and implement new tariffs has U.S. retail and brand companies up in arms over the decision released this week by the Biden administration.
EXEC: Key Footwear Factory Report Sees Flat Q1 and Unsettled Market for 2024
The Group believes the global footwear industry will remain unsettled in the near term amidst the uncertain macroeconomic environment driven by persistent inflation, high interest rates, regional conflicts, and its impact on shipping lanes.
EXEC: Solo Brands CEO Outlines Early Progress on Turnaround Plan
Solo Brands, Inc. reported first-quarter sales and adjusted EBITDA topped expectations and noted progress is being made in repositioning its brands for growth. On an analyst call, Chris Metz, CEO, said Solo Stove saw improving DTC trends while Chubbies benefited from the early arrival of a shorts campaign.
EXEC: Yeti Shares Jump as Q1 ProfIts and Revenue Fly Past Estimates
Shares of Yeti, Inc. jumped about 11 percent Thursday after the company reported that lower freight and product costs drove first-quarter earnings well above Wall Street targets, leading to raised EPS guidance for the year. Sales grew by double-digits for the second consecutive quarter.
