CORPORATE AND M&A
+++ Helen of Troy successfully completed its previously announced acquisition of Osprey Packs on Dec. 30 for $414.7 million in cash, which includes the impact of a $5.3 million favorable customary closing net working capital adjustment
+++ GSM Outdoors has acquired Washington-based knife and tool manufacturing company SOG Specialty Knives +++
LEGAL & INSTITUTIONAL
+++ The Italian senate’s budget committee approved Tuesday a modified version of an amendment to the budget law that would close the country’s 10 remaining mink farms by June 30, 2022, and permanently ban fur farming throughout Italy +++
EXECUTIVE CHANGES
+++ After Group CEO Robert Buchbauer and CFO Mathias Margreiter had already announced their retirement from management, Nadja Swarovski - a member of the Swarovski management board and head of brand and sustainability strategy as well as chair of the Swarovski Foundation - has now announced that she will leave the company by the end of December 2021 after 26 years with the company
+++ U.S. retail coop REI has expanded its technology leadership team with the addition of Analyn Nouri as the new vice president of platform engineering and Todd Wilson, who has been with REI for 15 years, as vice president of product engineering +++
CSR & SUSTAINABILITY
+++ To reduce its carbon emissions, Canadian Tire Corp. (CTC) has announced a multi-year agreement with Canadian transcontinental railroad company Canadian Pacific to transport goods for CTC’s retail brands Canadian Tire, SportChek, Hockey Experts, Pro Hockey Life, Sports Experts, Mark’s and Atmosphere throughout Canada +++
PRODUCT & MARKETING
+++ The jury of London-based CFI.co (Capital Finance International), a print and online magazine covering business, economics and finance, awarded HeiQ the 2021 Global Award for Best Materials Innovation Experts
+++ According to runningmagazine.ca, On has launched Milimani Runners, a Kenyan elite trail running team +++
RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
+++ U.S. ski and equipment brand RMU has opened the store in Truckee, California, announced in the summer, with a concept that includes retail and tuning services as well as a fully stocked bar and restaurant +++
TRADE SHOWS & EVENTS
+++ The women’s and menswear trade shows Premium and Seek and the textile trade show Neonyt, which were scheduled to run Jan. 18-20 during the Frankfurt Fashion Week, are postponed to July due to tighter Covid-19 restrictions in Germany
+++ The India Trade Promotion Organisation announced that the India International Leather Fair (IILF), scheduled Feb. 1-3 in Chennai, has been postponed to May +++
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