Multiple bidders for Vista Outdoor

Article Excerpt

VISTA OUTDOOR INC. $32 is a hold. The company (New York symbol VSTO; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 58.1 million; Market cap: $1.9 billion; No dividends paid; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.vistaoutdoor.com) is a leading maker of consumer products for the outdoor sports and recreation markets. Its brands include Federal Premium ammunition, Savage rifles, Bushnell binoculars and riflescopes, Bell and Giro cycling helmets, and ForeSight golf simulators. In October 2023, the company agreed to sell its Kinetic Group division (firearms) to Czechoslovak Group (CSG) for $1.9 billion. Vista shareholders would receive shares of the merged company plus an aggregate of $750 million in cash. The remaining operations now operate under the Revelyst name. However, Colt CZ Group SE, a firearms maker based in the Czech Republic, offered to buy the whole company for $30.00 a share. Vista rejected that bid in November 2023, preferring CSG’s offer. However, Vista is now considering another unsolicited takeover offer from private equity firm MNC Capital worth $37.50 a share. It seems…