| TAYLORMADE-ADIDAS
GOLF REPORTS RECORD FIRST-QUARTER REVENUE FOR 2001; UP 21% VERSUS Q1 '00
TaylorMade-adidas Golf announced revenue of EUR 154 million ($145 million)
for the first quarter of 2001. Revenue in the quarter represented an increase
of 21% over the previous high first quarter revenue of EUR 127 million ($124 million)posted
in 2000. The revenue increase in the quarter was driven primarily by
a 57% increase in the company's sales of metalwoods. Momentum in this product
category was specifically fueled by the success of the company's 300 SeriesT metalwoods,
introduced in late 2000. The majority of the remaining revenue increase
came from the company's adidas Golf footwear line that grew by 47% over the first
quarter of 2000 and from adidas Golf brand apparel that posted a 50% increase.
These gains were partially offset by a 13% decline in revenues from irons.
The reduction in iron revenues was a result of not introducing the new 300
Series of irons until late in the first quarter of 2001 while first quarter 2000
revenues included revenues from both FiresoleT and SuperSteelT products that had
been sold throughout the quarter. Gross margins in the first quarter
of 2001 increased to 49.9% compared to 48.3% in the first quarter of 2000. The
improvement in margins was primarily attributable to strength in the metalwood
product line as well as continued improvements in the company's manufacturing
processes. Internationally, Japan continued to grow at a strong rate
and was a major contributor to the 60% growth in international revenues during
the first quarter. "We are pleased with the quarter's progress toward
our goal of becoming the No. 1 performance brand in golf" said TaylorMade-adidas
Golf president, Mark King. "The performance of our 300 Series metalwoods at
retail in the first quarter mirrored the success we saw on the PGA Tour with
this product group in 2000. During the first quarter we have continued to see
adoption of the 300 Series metalwoods on the worldwide professional tours, culminating
this past weekend, when TaylorMade metalwoods were the No. 1 driver on the PGA,
European PGA, Japanese PGA, and BUY.com professional golf tours." "Beyond
the tour, we've seen an acceptance at the retail level as well," King continued.
"TaylorMade's overall metalwood market share at green-grass retailers doubled
from Q1 2000 to Q1 2001 -- a growth larger than any other manufacturer over
that same period." "The early sell-through statistics on our new 300
Series of irons is very encouraging and we are already seeing strengthening in
our market share numbers for this important segment of the market," continued
King. "Our intention has been to reach market leadership in the premium metalwood
category and to build on that momentum with the launch of our 300 Series irons.
We are confident that we are on track in the second quarter of the year to produce
substantial gains in market share for TaylorMade in the iron category."
"We, like all golf manufacturers, have seen some signs of softness in the U.S.
golf market during the early months of 2001. We are pleased that we have been
able to increase our sales, strengthen our market share and solidify our operating
processes during this challenging time. The benefit we derive from the broad strength
of the combined TaylorMade and adidas Golf product lines has allowed us to continue
to invest aggressively into new products and marketing initiatives during a period
when many of our competitors have been forced to retrench."
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