Adidas seeks buyer for golf business

Adidas said on Wednesday it would aim to sell its loss-making golf business to focus on shoes and clothing, after its core Adidas brand reported strong quarterly sales, particularly in the United States.

"We decided that now is the time to focus even more on our core strength in the athletic footwear and apparel market," said Chief Executive Herbert Hainer.

Adidas made the announcement as it reported strong first-quarter figures for its core brand, particularly in North America, where sales jumped 31 percent as a hike in marketing spend helping it to gain ground on arch rival Nike.

Adidas shares, which soared to an all-time high last week when it released strong headline quarterly figures and raised its 2016 outlook, were up 0.9 percent at 0724 GMT, compared with a slightly weaker German blue-chip index.

After slipping last year into third place in the U.S. market behind Nike and fast-growing Under Armour, Adidas has made a big push in North American sports, agreeing a partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL) and sponsorship deals with top NHL and National Football League (NFL) players.

Total Adidas brand sales rose 26 percent, far outperforming the 6 percent of its Reebok fitness brand, which some investors hope might also be put up for sale after Hainer is replaced as CEO by former Henkel boss Kasper Rorsted in October.

Adidas brand sales were also strong in greater China and western Europe, rising 30 percent and 26 percent respectively.

Sales at its golf business fell 1 percent after stripping out currency effects, with growth at TaylorMade and Adidas golf failing to make up for falls at Ashworth and Adams. In 2015, golf unit sales fell a currency-neutral 13 percent to 902 million euros ($1.04 billion)- about 5.3 percent of group sales.

After peaking around 2000 when Tiger Woods was in his prime, the number of people playing golf in the United States, which accounts for about half the global golf market, has fallen to an estimated 23 million from nearly 30 million in 2000.

Adidas bought the TaylorMade brand in 1997 along with Salomon, developing it into the world's biggest golf supplier. It acquired Ashworth in 2008 and Adams four years later.

Other companies in the golf market include Nike, Kering's Puma and Callaway Golf.