Bass Pro group to purchase Sportsman’s Warehouse

The parent company of Bass Pro Shops signed a definitive agreement to purchase West Jordan, Utah-based Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: SPWH).

Known collectively as the Great American Outdoors Group, the Bass Pro organization is slated to take over 112 stores that employs nearly 8,000 people through the acquisition expected to close in in the second half of 2021, according to a news release. The cash deal of $18 per share values Sportsman's Warehouse at roughly $785 million based on the company's 43.61 million shares outstanding. Officials with both companies could not be reached for comment by deadline.

“As outdoor sports specialists with unwavering dedication to people who fish, hunt and enjoy the outdoors, we greatly admire the passionate team at Sportsman’s Warehouse for their commitment to their customers and the sports we all love," said Johnny Morris, founder of Great American Outdoors Group and Bass Pro, in the release. "By combining our best practices, our aim is to give our customers a best-of-the-best experience while further uniting them to support conservation."

In the third quarter, Sportsman’s Warehouse reported $385.7 million in net sales, a nearly 60% increase compared with the same period a year earlier. Gross profits rose to $130.6 million from $84.2 million in third quarter 2019, according to the company's quarterly earnings release. This year's Forbes 400 estimated Bass Pro's annual sales at $6.5 billion.

Besides Bass Pro, Great American Outdoors Group also owns Cabela’s, White River Marine Group and Morris' nature-based resorts. Bass Pro purchased Cabela's in 2017 for $5 billion, according to past reporting.

The group operates 169 stores under the Bass Pro and Cabela’s brands, according to the release. It will remain privately held through the transaction.

SPWH shares were trading at $17.60 as of 11:55 a.m., compared with a 52-week range of $4.08 to $18.46.