TaylorMade-adidas Golf exercised its option to purchase the Maxfli brand outright under terms of the licensing and distribution agreement it signed with Dunlop Slazenger Group LTD in December 2001.
The licensing deal provided the golf division of adidas-Salomon AG the exclusive distribution and licensing rights for the Maxfli and Slazenger golf brands and gave TM-aG a 15-month option to buy the Maxfli golf ball and accessory brand.
TM-aGs market share in golf balls has grown to 7.5%, compared to less than 1% prior to the Maxfli deal that commenced in January 2002. Golf ball sales represent about 16% of the global $7.5 billion golf market.
In June, TM-aG started moving the Maxfli operation to Carlsbad from its South Carolina home. R&D and manufacturing stayed behind and the company has not indicated its intent to move those operations to California.
