AIRWALK ON WATER: Snowboarding lifestyle product
company Airwalk has been acquired by Sunrise Capital
Partners, an investment fund affiliated with Houlihan Lokey
Howard & Zukin. Airwalk's CEO Peter Goehrig will continue
to lead the company, and he said the company plans to
implement new interactive marketing plans, product
introductions and retail-based consumer programs (Sunrise).
VENATOR BOARD CHALLENGE: In N.Y., Erin White reports
that the Venator Group "appears to be close to defeating a
proxy battle for board seats being waged by dissident
shareholders Greenway Partners." Greenway holds "more than"
14% of Venator and is running its "own slate of four
nominees for the 11-member board against Venator's four-
member slate." White: "People following the fight said even
if Greenway loses, a sizable pro-dissident vote could prod
Venator management to adjust strategy anyway." Greenway has
been "very vocal about its unhappiness with the company's
performance," but some analysts believe Venator is seeing
"signs of a turnaround" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/16).
SHIFTING GEARS: Amazon.com has acquired a significant
minority stake in Gear.com, an e-commerce Internet site
which offers brand-name sporting goods (Amazon.com).
MORE NOTES: Shares in The North Face were up 1 13/16,
or 19%, to close at 11 5/8 yesterday after reports that a
group led by Dallas investor and MLB Rangers Minority Owner
Ed Rose "is exploring the possibility of acquiring" the
company. Rose's group holds a 9.4% stake in The North Face
(WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/16)....CA-based ticketing company
ETM Entertainment Network will acquire Dillard's Ticketing
System (DTS). ETM currently operates its own system which
sells tickets for the NFL Cardinals, Dodgers, Mets, Twins,
Rangers, Phillies, Isles, San Diego Sports Arena and the SC-
based BiLo Center. DTS clients include the D'Backs, Suns,
Rockies, Coyotes and Stars (ETM)....The NTRA has purchased
OK-based Winner Communications via its newly created
subsidiary, NTRA Investments. NTRA's financing was obtained
through loans provided by Breeder's Cup, Jockey Club,
Keeneland Association and Oak Tree Racing (NTRA).
