EighteenGlobal Expansion

EighteenGlobal has acquired Foremost Golf, a British-based retail consortium which was formed 15 years ago and consists of 225 pro shops.

Termed a friendly takeover, the deal makes the group the largest business-to-business golf company in the United Kingdom with a target figure of more than 1,000 retail outlets by the end of next year.

EighteenGlobal, a website which was originally founded in South Africa and counts major champions Nick Faldo and Ernie Els among its shareholders, will absorb Foremost's revenue and operations in a bid to streamline distribution and increase profitability for on-course shops and 'green grass' clubs.

The deal means that EighteenGlobal now also owns Greenside magazine, a quarterly publication with a print run of 200,000 copies which is the largest circulation golf title in the UK today. It also expands EighteenGlobal's reach amongst golf professionals in the United Kingdom and sets the company up for expansion in Southern Africa, Australia and the United States.

"By acquiring Foremost and capitalising on the synergies our two companies share, we can accelerate our innovations around restructuring the golf supply chain and, as a result, step up our growth," said Steve Jarrett, senior vice-president and a founder of EighteenGlobal. "Additionally, Foremost is a great fit for EighteenGlobal because we share the same mission, values and focus on returning prosperity to the on-course golfing world."

The deal enables Foremost pros, 120 of whom were already EighteenGlobal partners, to sell a broad selection of products online to their members, including holidays, books and videos.

"Foremost's mission has always been to strengthen the on-course pros' retail proposition to their members," said Paul Hedges, managing director of Foremost, who is now managing director of EighteenGlobal's UK operations. "Eighteen Global has bought Foremost so that our company can do what it does. The reason our shareholders have accepted the offer is that Foremost will continue to trade and deliver the benefits to the members that we have been doing."

*Foremost exhibited its latest product lines and customer services to members of the public who visited the recent GolfExpo 2000 trade show at the NEC.