Corporate:
+++ U.K. retailers undergoing bankruptcy proceedings accounted for 39% of all mergers and acquisitions in 2020, up from 20% in 2019, according to an international law firm, RPC
+++ A Milan-based private equity firm, Wise Equity SGR, has acquired a 33% stake in the Selle Royal Group, a leading Italian manufacturer of bike saddles sold under various brand names including Selle Royal and Brooks (more in our Outdoor Industry Compass)
Retail:
+++ Zalando has opened its 12th factory outlet on Düsseldorf’s central Königsallee, close to the local Globetrotter store, and it is the e-tailer’s biggest one so far, covering 2,500 sqm. on three floors
Legal & Institutional:
+++ The Spanish sporting goods industry association, Afydad, has started again discussions to encourage sports retailers to join it, as is already the case in France and some other countries
Marketing:
+++ Macron will replace Hummel as the technical sponsor of the Aalborg BK football club, which plays in the Danish Superliga, for six seasons starting in 2021/22
+++ Decathlon has signed a sponsorship deal with Jamal Hill, a 100-meter freestyle swimmer who belongs to the U.S. Paralympic Team
+++ Therabody has announced that Sir Mo Farah, the most decorated athlete in British athletics history, has joined its team of athlete ambassadors
+++ Webuycycle.co.uk, the performance bicycle reseller based in Derby, U.K., has announced its support of triathletes Tom Bishop and Sian Rainsley as they aim for Olympic success in 2021 and 2024
+++ Puma has signed up Breanna Stewart, the two-time Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) champion, on a long-term endorsement deal that will see the athlete create products in collaboration with the German sports brand, including her own signature shoe +++ Santini and the UCI Track Champions League have signed a new partnership agreement that makes the Italian brand the official kit supplier to the series
+++ The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has teamed up with Unicorn, a dart board manufacturer, to donate dartboards to local pubs across the U.K. to celebrate the return of indoor socializing after the pandemic +++
+++ Luanvi of Spain is a new technical sponsor of the 18th edition of Corri Trieste, the road running race in the Italian city of Trieste, which is scheduled to take place on Sept. 23
+++ Titleist has announced a partnership with Rugby League World Cup 2021 as licensed golf ball partner of the event from Oct. 23 to Nov. 27
