Callaway Golf Company (NYSE:ELY), the largest premium golf club manufacturer in the world, and Ashworth Inc. (Nasdaq:ASHW), a leading designer and distributor of golf sportswear, have announced the signing of an exclusive licensing agreement between the two companies for the creation of a complete line of men’s and women’s Callaway golf apparel. The Companies believe that this strategic alliance represents one of the largest and most significant partnerships in the golf industry.
The new Autumn 2002 Men’s Callaway Golf Apparel line will debut in selected golf retail pro shops and department stores in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Retailers will be given a preview of the line at the Callaway Golf Partnership Event this October.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to partner with the leading golf apparel designer and manufacturer in the industry,” said Mick McCormick, executive vice president of global sales for Callaway Golf. “This is an outstanding opportunity for us to expand our brand by utilising the varied channels of distribution that Ashworth has built through the years.”
Ashworth president and CEO Randy Herrel said, “Ashworth will build a design, development and sales organisation dedicated to the Callaway Golf Apparel brand that is separate from the Ashworth brand. The world-wide identity that Callaway Golf has built in clubs and balls combined with the strong identity Ashworth has built in golf sportswear makes this a very powerful strategic alliance. We believe combining these two great brands will enable us both further to expand our leadership positions.”
Callaway Golf and Ashworth Inc. both showed solid revenue growth in the first quarter of 2001. Callaway Golf reported sales of $261 million for the quarter, an increase of 32 percent over the same period in 2000, while Ashworth reported sales of $27.7 million, an increase of 23.1 percent over the first quarter of 2000.
Callaway Golf www.callawaygolf.com
Ashworth www.ashworthinc.com.