IMG , a sports, entertainment, media, marketing and management company has extended its commercial relationship with the US PGA Tour with a new long-term worldwide agreement that will run through to 2015.
IMG, which is already a partner of the leading golf tour for retail licensing activities in the United States, has been signed up as the PGA Tour's worldwide licensing representative, sportsbusiness.com reported on Tuesday
As per the new agreement, IMG will work with the tour to expand and manage its international licensing program in all regions except Japan. Here the PGA Tour's licensee is Bonmax.
Tim Hawes, senior vice-president of PGA Tour's retail licensing division, said he was "very excited" at being able to announce the new global partnership to the world..
"IMG's ability to provide worldwide licensing services will allow the PGA Tour brand to expand into regions where we have not been before," he said.
"Also, the expertise that IMG's team will provide our current licensee base will increase the PGA Tour brand presence internationally."
IMG will represent all Tour brands, including the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, Nationwide Tour, FedExCup and the Tournament Collection.
Branded products will include apparel, head wear, accessories, sporting goods, luggage, collectibles, toys, jewellery, health, beauty products and home goods.
"We are honoured by this expanded role and the trust placed in us by the PGA Tour," said Bruno Maglione, executive vice-president of IMG Worldwide.
"Given IMG's existing relationship with the PGA Tour on so many fronts, we are thrilled to get started growing the brand globally."
IMG Licensing senior vice-president Wesley Haynes, who has been working with the PGA Tour on licensing within the United States, added: "We are very excited to be expanding our approximate eight-year relationship with the PGA Tour.
"We have had great success growing the Tour's consumer products business within the US marketplace, in spite of the most recent economic turmoil. The PGA Tour brand continues to be growing with our licensees, consumers and with our retail partners, so we are excited by this new role," Maglione said.
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