GCO is continuing its aggressive effort to become thebiggest player in the retail licensed merchandise category, agreeing to acquirethe assets of retailer Sports Avenue for an unspecified price. The transactionis expected to close in Q2.

Sports Avenue was founded in 1986 and is headed byJeff Collins, president. In its most recent FY, the business generatedapproximately $42 million in revenues, approximately $5 million from e-commercesites and the remainder from traditional brick and mortar stores. Sports Avenueoperates 13 websites, including the Dale Earnhardt Shop and separate ones forthe Universities of Iowa, Kentucky and Washington among others. On the brickand mortar side, the operation ... Log in to view full article.