 Poster: A snowHead
|
Rossignol, which claims to be the world's largest ski manufacturer, has seen its share value rise by up to 15% today following speculation of an imminent takeover. The company, whose controlling interest is held by the Boix-Vives family, is said to be considering an offer from the Quiksilver sportswear maker...
Should Rossignol change hands this would mark a historic move for one of the two major French-founded ski equipment brands. During the past quarter century Laurent Boix-Vives, the brains behind Rossignol, has been the great rival of Georges Salomon who took Salomon to international success.
The Salomon family sold their controlling interest to Adidas some years ago.
See this report from BBC Online for further news of developments.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 3-01-05 20:10; edited 3 times in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
This has been going on for months - if not years. The French press has been rife with rumours about Rossignol during November and December, suitors abound, but chairman Laurent Boix-Vives (whose family still holds a controlling interest with a 44.6% shareholding and 63% voting rights) was quick to dismiss talk of a takeover as recently as this morning in an interview, denying it was even being considered.
Still who knows, the French soap goes on, and although the group has diversified away from core ski products (Rossignol, Dynastar) into snowboarding, ice-skating, golf and tennis gear, as well as clothing, alongside its other brands such as Lange and Hammer, such a merger would not surprise many in the industry. There's certainly been a lot of agitation in Rossignol shares recently although the Quiksilver board deny being involved, with nearly a 20% rise in share valuation over the past month.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Just read the written reply to Quiksilver boss Mariette, which states that Laurent Boix-Vives "remains passionately involved in the group which he has built up and no plans exist for him to relinquish that involvement".
Still he's 78 years old and has no obvious successor as his two daughters have expressed no desire to follow in his footsteps and take an active role in management within the group.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
A further report from the International Herald Tribune.
The company has a remarkable history. It first made skis as long ago as 1907 (when skiing hardly existed in France) and Boix-Vives has enjoyed an extraordinary track record with the company - almost 50 years of it - having bought the company before he was 30, in 1956. His initial coup was involving the French world champion Emile Allais and building highly successful fibreglass/metal skis in the 1960s and 1970s.
If Rossignol falls into the hands of an international sports group with no existing ski manufacturing pedigree it won't be the first ski maker to go that way. The Italian fashion family Bennetton started this trend with their purchases of Kastle (and Nordica), but made a hash of it.
In contrast, Atomic has been highly successful under its recent ownership of the Finnish group Amer (who make Wilson tennis racquets), following a financial scandal involving Atomic's founder Alois Rohmoser.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Some additional details on the takeover buzz from today's Daily Telegraph.
They point out that the 'Rossignol family' ski with the 'Quiksilver family'. Aha!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
ABC Online in Australia have their own take on developments:
| Quote: |
The pursuit of Rossignol stems from the changing face of winter sports.
Gone are the days of mountain resorts being packed exclusively with jumpsuited skiers.
Today, runs are packed with a variety of snow-users, from traditional skiers to growing legions of snowboarders and a small number sliding along on permutations like stunted-ski "big feet".
Fashion trends have also morphed, with many of the young skiers and snowboarders adopting looks based on surfers - the kind of style of apparel that has propelled Quiksilver to the top of its segment of the sportswear market and allowed it to branch out into streetwear.
The company, which was founded in Australia but is now based in Huntington Beach, California in the United States, broke $US1 billion in sales this year. |
For their full news story click here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This article from the London Evening Standard puts Rossignol's situation into the broader context of recent consolidation in the ski hardware market.
On a historical note, one of the most striking aspects has been the collapse of Austrian power in the making of skis, boots and bindings over the past 30 years. They were once quite dominant. Kneissl, for example, led the mass production of fibreglass skis in the early 1960s. Austrian bootmakers such as Koflach and Kastinger were powerful in the 1960s and early 1970s. Tyrolia bindings were a key player, but were an early target of foreign ownership, bought by the US giant AMF several decades ago.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Lots of press coverage today following confirmation of Quiksilver's buy-out deal. Good summary here from The Scotsman
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
