Vail Resorts Inc. agreed to acquire Canadian ski-resort operator Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. for roughly C$1.4B ($1.06B), "further diversifying its resort locations." Vail Resorts stock, up 40% in the past 12 months, rose 6.3% to $153.06 "in morning trading" in N.Y. The company said that the deal is valued at C$36 ($27.42) a share, "a 43% premium to Whistler’s closing price on Friday." Shareholders of Whistler Blackcomb would receive $C17.50 ($13.33) "a share in cash and 0.0975 shares of Vail Resorts common stock" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/8).
ASICS NET PROFIT UP: Net profit at sportswear and footwear retailer Asics soared 21.9% over a year ago period, "while net sales rose slower" at 6% to reach €445M in the six months ended June 30. According to the company, sales growth was "largely driven by ongoing acceleration in the brand's lifestyle category, Asics Tiger," whose sales grew an impressive 81% over the first half of '15. During the reporting period, Asics rolled out a SAP FMS system globally, "becoming the first sports brand to link its ecommerce, retail, B2B and wholesale systems as one" (FIBRE 2 FASHION, 8/9).
