Crocs’ $2.5 billion acquisition of Italian casual footwear brand, Hey Dude Shoes, was met with some skepticism when it was announced just before Christmas, in part because more than 80% of the deal would be funded with debt.

The deal, which was widely reported to be worth about $500 million, brings Topps’ sports and entertainment businesses to Fanatics, just five months after the loss of its Major League Baseball license blew up a planned SPAC merger.

The pandemic dropped play occasions by 500 million across the U.S. in 2020, according to the latest U.S. Trends in Team Sports report from SFIA, with 11 of the 23 tracked team sports falling by more than 20%.

The largest player in the fast-growing paddle sport segment, Pickleball Central, has received a majority investment from Dallas-based PE firm Dundon Capital Partners LLC.

Austin, TX-based Yeti is planning to move into its first European office in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, as part of a gradual internationalization effort.

The College Station, TX-based maker of custom long-range, bolt-action rifles has acquired Stiller’s Precision Firearms’ assets in a sale that closed Dec 28.