Bass Pro is acquiring Cabela's for $4.5 billion.
Under the deal, Bass Pro will pay Cabela's shareholders more than $65 a share.
When they combine, Bass Pro plans to keep Cabela's operations in Sidney and Lincoln, Nebraska.
In Sidney, the company employs about 2,000 of the town's 7,000 residents.
It's not clear yet if the acquisition will result in any layoffs or closures anywhere else.
An expert at the University of Denver predicts shoppers won't notice any major changes at either store.
"They both have a very strong customer base," Mac Clouse, Professor of Finance at University of Denver, said. "Cabela's is known for what it does and it has a strong loyal following, as does Bass Pro Shops. And there's no reason to give those two entities up.>
Both companies expect the deal to be approved in the first half of next year.
