Done deal for Intrawest-Whistler Mt. By Chris Woodall It’s not over until the fat lawyer sings, when it comes to mergers. For Intrawest/Blackcomb and Whistler Mountain, the merger everyone knows about wasn’t officially a done deal until the final I’s were dotted and the T’s crossed in Vancouver, March 14. "The arrangement previously announced by the company has become effective," says the press release from Intrawest. The partners now enter a "quiet period" for a week or so to allow the news to seep into the marketplace, says Intrawest president Hugh Smythe. "Nobody’s trying to avoid anybody," he told Pique newsmagazine about giving additional information on the aftermath of the merger. "There’s really hasn’t been any changes, it’s just a legal closing," he said. Smythe also repeated the original merger announcement that no changes are contemplated to take place at either Blackcomb or Whistler Mt. ski operations during this ski season. There also hasn’t been any thought right now to alter the name of the mountains. "Whistler joins the Intrawest family of ski mountains," Smythe explains. "How that will be identified hasn’t been figured out at this point." But during the summer and into next fall it will be a different story. "Once the ski season ends there will be a lot more focus on all of that," Smythe says, acknowledging that the mountains are popularly referred to as Whistler/Blackcomb in the minds of visitors.
