Quicksilver in running for Rossignol

Californian clothing giant Quicksilver is in the running for Groupe Rossignol, the winter sports equipment company, as the latest candidate in the sector's consolidation.

In an endeavour for the US group to expand its core surf and snowboard fashion business into the outdoor sports market it has approached the French Alps-based family company after a string of small acquisitions which have helped to lift revenues by 30 per cent to USD1.27bn in the year to October.

Rossignol, the biggest maker of ski and snowboard equipment with a quarter of the EUR1.57bn market, admitted receiving a letter from Quicksilver outlining its interest in a merger. So far the 98-year-old French company has not agreed a deal.