PARIS
-
French sports
equipment maker Skis
Rossignol SA confirmed
Monday that it has been
approached by U.S.
sportswear company
Quiksilver Inc. about a
possible merger.
Quiksilver recently made
contact with Rossignol
management to discuss a
possible deal, said Yves
Barnoud, a spokesman for the
French family-controlled
company. Barnoud said no
decision had been made about
any possible deal.
No one at
Huntington Beach,
Calif.-based Quiksilver Inc.
was available for comment.
Rossignol shares surged on
the news, closing up 5.71
percent at 16.28 euros
($21.99), in Paris.
Quiksilver shares rose 16
cents, or 0.5 percent, to
finish at $29.95 on the New
York Stock Exchange.
French financial daily Les
Echos had reported that
Chairman Laurent Boix-Vives
was considering offers from
Quiksilver and other
companies that the report
did not identify.
Rossignol had revenue of 479
million euros ($652 million)
in 2003-2004, about 60
percent of which came from
ski equipment and apparel.
Quiksilver, whose sportswear
is popular among surfers and
skateboarders, posted
revenue of $975 million in
2003.
