Two French ski companies announced deals with Chinese firms to "help to develop ski resorts in China," where winter sports are "becoming popular" ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, according to Alan Charlish of REUTERS. Ski-resort equipment maker Montagne et Neige Developpement agreed to a "joint venture deal with state-owned China Coal Zhangjiakou Coal Mining Machinery" to make equipment for the Chinese and Asian markets. The joint venture, MND Zhangjiakou Mountain Development, has a €110M ($116.8M) contract to design equipment for the Snowland ski resort northwest of Beijing. Compagnie des Alpes expanded its partnership with China's Thaiwoo Ski Resort, under which the French leisure company's staff will "help to run the operation on an almost permanent basis." CDA estimated China has between 5 and 6 million skiers. This is expected to "grow rapidly" ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, providing "an opportunity for European ski operators looking to expand" (REUTERS, 2/16). BLOOMBERG's Angela Cullen reported MND "more than doubled in value" after winning its contract. Shares in the Sainte-Helene-du-Lac, France-based company "rose as high as" €5 ($5.31), trading up 77% at €4.24 ($4.50) on Thursday morning in Paris. The company, which first sold shares to the public in Oct. '13, said that the three-year order is a "game-changer" for its operations in France and China that will "boost the number of employees to more than 500 from 350 now" (BLOOMBERG, 2/16).