Basspro buying Cabelas?

[werner.reiche]

http://www.outdoorhub.com/news/2016/...uying-cabelas/

Last November, OutdoorHub reported on speculation that Bass Pro Shops, a privately held outdoor retailer, was interested in buying out one of its biggest competitors: Cabela’s. It now appears that Bass Pro is moving forward in making a bid on its rival—with the help of Goldman Sachs. Reuters broke the news this week, reporting that sources say Bass Pro and Goldman Sachs Group’s private equity arm partnered up to make an offer for Cabela’s. The news almost instantly caused Cabela’s shares to jump 8.4 percent, ending up with a 6.4 percent increase to $52.51 on Tuesday. So far, both Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops declined to comment on the issue.
Market analysts say that by working with Goldman Sachs, Bass Pro will have certainly have the ability to pursue the purchase of Cabela’s—but they are not the only ones. There are other entities interested in making bids on large outdoor retailer, and sources claim the process is still in its earliest stages. Officially, Cabela’s said last year that it will be working with an investment bank to explore its options, which may include an outright sale of the company, or just sections of it.
There is currently much speculation, and some concern, on how a sale would proceed. Cabela’s currently has 67 stores operating in North America and employs about 19,300 people. The outdoor retailer was originally founded as a mail-order business in 1961 by its namesake Richard Cabela. Cabela started the company with nothing more than $45 worth of fishing flies, and ran the business from his kitchen table with his wife. Due to incredible demand and its rising popularity, the company grew rapidly, eventually settling in a 50,000 square-foot facility in Sidney, Nebraska. The company’s sprawling headquarters remains in the city to this day.
Some observers say that should a sale to Bass Pro move forward, it is possible that Cabela’s infrastructure would remain more or less intact. The Cabela’s brand is very valuable and experts say that Bass Pro would be wise to preserve that. Leon Nicholas, senior vice president of Kantar Retail, a retail research and consulting firm, told the Omaha World Herald that Bass Pro may seek to keep Cabela’s headquarters operating. Residents of Sidney, where Cabela’s is one of the largest employers, certainly hopes the same.
“I think people are very optimistic that they’re going to stay, at least we are,” Dennis Denovellis, who owns a business in town, told the Herald. “We’ve been here a long, long time and they’ve been here a long, long time.”
Experts add that if Bass Pro does acquire Cabela’s, the company will have a firm grip on the outdoor retail industry and perhaps give greater competition to online giants such as Amazon.

[Attila]

There's a lot at stake with this possible sale.

I've only been in one Cabela's (Minnesota), and worked in Bass Pro over a decade ago. There are a lot of similarities between the two and both definitely bring a new experience to the shopper, unlike other smaller tackle retailers. For the record, I do shop at Bass Pro, Le Barons, and Sail with no real loyalty to any one store over another. It just happens to be whatever is closest to where I find myself in need of things.

If the sale does go ahead, I'm hoping that there won't be any store closures as both companies are pretty cool.

[seabast]

I found Cabela's online store much better than BP for Canadian so whatever happen next I hope we won't lose it.

[sawbill]

Basically their only competition is Amazon so it'll be interesting to see if a merger or buy out will affect their product pricing.

[Oddmott]

I hope it doesn't happen.

Competition is great. Monopolies suck. Hate how the new world order in business is only ever focused on becoming bigger, rather than better.

[Gobbler_Hunter7]

If this was to happen I just hope the quality of Cabela's items doesn't diminish. I have found over the passed couple of years that the Bass Pro brand of "Red Head" just has gone down the toilet as far as quality is concerned and my items from Cabela's and their Cabela's brand items have just been superior in quality with very reasonable pricing. I also like that Cabela's offers a Canadian online store where the prices are shown in CDN dollar instead of Bass Pro where the site is American and charges an arm and a leg for shipping. I do like both stores but I just prefer Cabela's lately. Also, Cabela's produces a lot of very useful and informative hunting videos that I also hope continue if there was a sale of the company.

[Bandwagon]

I hope it doesn't happen.

Competition is great. Monopolies suck. Hate how the new world order in business is only ever focused on becoming bigger, rather than better.

This is far from a monopoly, most cities have multiple privately owned outdoor stores along with the many national chains including Rogers, Scheels, tackle warehouse to name a few.

[Wahoo]

If this was to happen I just hope the quality of Cabela's items doesn't diminish. I have found over the passed couple of years that the Bass Pro brand of "Red Head" just has gone down the toilet as far as quality is concerned and my items from Cabela's and their Cabela's brand items have just been superior in quality with very reasonable pricing. I also like that Cabela's offers a Canadian online store where the prices are shown in CDN dollar instead of Bass Pro where the site is American and charges an arm and a leg for shipping. I do like both stores but I just prefer Cabela's lately. Also, Cabela's produces a lot of very useful and informative hunting videos that I also hope continue if there was a sale of the company.

I'll have to agree with this. (Plus best warranty on their branded footwear out there!)

[yellow dog]

Oh well lots of other outdoor retail outlets to shop at. Wouldn't loose sleep over it.

[wingnut]

I agree in keeping the Cabelas brand . It would be nice to see if Bass pro takes over that they also start showing prices in in Canadian dollars and shipping from Canadian locations . That along with totally ignoring the majority of southwestern Ontario . What about all the duck hunters in Long Point , Ontario . They along with the rest of us have to drive 1.5 -2.5 hrs plus to get to Vaughn , Niagara -on -the lake and Barrie . London would have been a far better choice in my opinion . Most hunters aren't going to take the chance and drive all the way to Barrie or Vaughn without already being stocked up for the hunt up north . And they still have EPPS in Orillia . You'll still get lots of business being parked on the way to cottage country along with me . But if I can save a few bucks on gas and time to run all the way there and either pay a little more at the Ma and Pa store for a case of shells , knowing they have them in stock or even go to the no tax sales locally or an hour away to Sail , I will . It has been somewhat of a disappointment for a lot of us , waiting for these stores to get to Ontario , only to find they are almost as out of the way as when we made trips to the U.S . Then there is no guarantee that when you go there ,what you want will be there , even if you call ahead . No matter what happens , I just hope some of the thinking will change to .