Despite a quite unhealthy golf retail market that is plagued by declining rounds of play, price wars on key technology, and a strong commitment from TSA and Dicks Sporting Goods to the golf category, the world is about to get another public golf specialty retailer.
Golf Galaxy, a Minnesota-based golf specialty retailer with 44 stores in 19 states last week filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. The shares will be sold by the company and by selling shareholders with the expectation they can raise $46 million in the offering.
Golf Galaxy intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of shares to “continue to open new retail stores across the country and for general corporate purposes” and will allocate a portion of the proceeds to pay preferred shareholders all of the accrued and unpaid dividends due upon conversion of their shares of preferred stock into shares of common stock.
Golf Galaxy reported that the increase in net sales in the most recent fiscal year resulted primarily from $25.5 million in sales from new stores opened in fiscal 2005 or fiscal 2004, coupled with a 6.7% increase in comparable store sales. The increase in comparable store sales was primarily attributable to increased sales of clubs, apparel, and golf balls.
Galaxy opened ten new stores in the fiscal 2005 year ended February 26 after opening four stores in fiscal 2004. Golf Galaxy has already opened ten of eleven stores planned for the first quarter of the current fiscal year, with three to five more planned for the balance of the year.
The strong improvement in gross margin for the year was attributed to higher margins achieved on the sales of clubs and apparel as the retailer improves purchasing leverage and increases sales of higher margin merchandise. GM also got a bit of a lift from leveraging of occupancy costs and lower cost of services.
Exclusive of certain one-time items, net income for 2005 would have been $2.5 million, compared to $1.4 million in fiscal 04, an increase of about 78.5%.
Galaxy gets 60% of its merchandise from its five largest suppliers. Acushnet Company, Callaway Golf Company, and TaylorMade-adidas Golf each represented more than 10% of purchases.
Golf Galaxy opened its first retail store in Bloomington, Minn. in April 1997. They raised $30.9 million of venture equity financing to supplement the $1.9 million of start up capital raised through a private placement financing. GolfGalaxy.com launched in March 2004.
>>> Quick, what is the most over-retailed sporting goods sector after Hunt/Fish/Camp
| Golf Galaxy | |||
| Fiscal 2005 Full Year Results | |||
| (in $ millions) | 2005 | 2004 | Change |
| Total Sales | $133.1 | $99.6 | +33.6% |
| Gross Profit % | 29.4% | 27.3% | +210 bps |
| Net Income | $7.54 | $7.58 | -0.5% |
| Diluted EPS | 97¢ | 98¢ | -1.0% |
| Comp Sales | 6.7% | 5.6% | |
| Inven @ qtr-end | $30.4 | $25.6 | +19.0% |
