GolfSmith Files For IPO

My favorite golf retailer, GolfSmith, has filed for an IPO. It’ll use the symbol, GOLF . The press release is below:

Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. Files Registration Statement for Proposed Initial Public Offering

AUSTIN, Texas—(BUSINESS WIRE)—March 14, 2006—Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc., announced today that it has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed initial public offering of its common stock.

Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc., is currently expected to offer all of the shares and will grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional shares up to 15 percent of the total offering size. Merrill Lynch & Co. and JPMorgan are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering, and Lazard Capital Markets is acting as co-manager.

The company intends to use the proceeds from the offering primarily to repay outstanding indebtedness.

Copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained, when available, from Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated at 4 World Financial Center, 5th Floor, New York, NY, 10080 (212-449-1000); or JPMorgan Prospectus Department at One Chase Manhattan Plaza, Floor 5B, New York, NY, 10081 (212-552-5164).

Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc., is a specialty retailer of golf equipment, apparel and accessories. The company operates as an integrated multi-channel retailer, offering its customers the convenience of shopping in its 52 stores across the United States, through its Internet site and from its assortment of catalogs. Golfsmith offers an extensive product selection that features premier national brands, as well as its proprietary products and pre-owned clubs.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy ordinary shares of Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc., nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.