Amer Sports is restructuring its Wilson Golf business, closing the doors on its Tennessee golf ball manufacturing facility, as well as inking a new distribution deal for Japan.


In the United States, Wilson will be closing its golf ball production in Humboldt, Tennessee, on December 14, 2007. In the future all golf ball production will be outsourced.


In Japan, Amer Sports Japan Inc. and Kasco Inc. have announced a distribution agreement for the Wilson Golf business. Kasco will begin to distribute and license Wilson Golf products as of January 1, 2008.


These reorganization measures will reduce in total approximately 100 staff positions and are expected to provide annual operating savings of approximately $5 million per year for the company. The one-time costs are estimated to total $4 million.