Golf Town, Canada-based specialty golf retailer, will acquire GolfSmith International Holdings Inc. (GOLF) for $6.10 per share in cash, the two companies said Monday. The companies noted that the transaction will create the world's largest specialty golf retailer.
The offer price represents a 29.5 percent premium to Golfsmith's closing stock price on Friday of $4.71. The boards of directors of both Golf Town and Golfsmith have approved the transaction.
Golf Town, owned by Omers Private Equity, operates 54 stores across Canada and 7 stores in the greater Boston area. Golf Town expanded into the U.S. market in 2011 by opening 6 stores in the greater Boston area.
Austin, Texas-based Golfsmith has been in business for over 40 years and is a speciality retailer of golf equipment as well as related apparel and accessories. The company operates 85 retail locations across the U.S., through its Internet site and from its assortment of catalogues.
While reporting its financial results for the fourth quarter in early March, GolfSmith said it incurred $1.3 million in costs in 2011 associated with exploring a strategic transaction that may include a potential sale of the company. However, the company added that it has not reached an agreement with respect to such a transaction and it cannot predict whether a deal will be reached.
GolfSmith's fourth-quarter net loss narrowed slightly to $5.6 million or $0.34 per share from $5.7 million or $0.35 per share in the year-ago period. However, net revenues grew 2.3 percent to $74.5 million, and was positively impacted by new store growth of four stores since the end of the year-ago quarter. This was partially offset by a decrease in comparable store sales of 4.7 percent.
Commenting on the deal, Don Morrison, Senior Managing Director and Canadian Country Head of Omers Private Equity said, "Golfsmith is a company that we have admired for years. This transaction will give us a formidable footprint in North America and will also provide a strong platform for future growth."
The closing of the deal, which is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals, is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2012. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition.
Atlantic Equity Partners III, L.P. and certain officers of Golfsmith, collectively holding a majority of Golfsmith's outstanding shares, have given their written consent to the deal. The transaction is not subject to further stockholder approval.
Upon closing of the transaction, GolfSmith CEO Martin Hanaka will assume the role of CEO of the combined company.
Sue Gove, President, COO and CFO of Golfsmith will become the president and COO of the combined company. Ron Hornbaker, Interim CEO of Golf Town, will assume the role of EVP-Stores.
Canada-based Omers Private Equity has over $6.3 billion of investments under management and manages the private equity activities of pension fund Omers, which has over $55 billion in net assets.
GOLF closed Friday's trading on the Nasdaq at $4.71 on a volume of 1,100 shares.
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