MST Golf Group Berhad (“MST Golf”), the largest specialised retailer of golf equipment in Malaysia, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) with PT Sinar Eka Selaras, a leading provider of multi-brand retail and distribution solutions in Indonesia with the vertical name of Erajaya Active Lifestyle, marking MST Golf’s maiden golf retailing foray in Indonesia.
The MoU sets out the parties’ intention to collaborate and create a joint venture company (“JVC”) to undertake the establishment and operation of golf retail business and indoor golf centres under the brand name “MST GOLF” and “MST GOLF ARENA” brands respectively.
The JVC will leverage on the synergies between both partners – MST Golf’s golf retail experience and its established brand as a golf specialist retailer, as well as Erajaya Active Lifestyle’s track record and reputation as Indonesia’s leading retailer of consumer and active lifestyle products. Erajaya Active Lifestyle owns and operates leading retail brands for lifestyle gadgets, the Internet of Things (IoT) and its ecosystem, smarthome, sports fashion, diving and others. Erajaya Active Lifestyle is a business vertical under PT Erajaya Swasembada Tbk (“Erajaya Group”), a public listed company on the Indonesia Stock Exchange with net sales of USD3.3 billion recorded in its financial year ended 2022. The Erajaya Group, through its respective Erajaya business verticals, is a leading Indonesian retail player and distributor with a wide omnichannel retail coverage. It has a strong distribution network that connects more than 1,700 retail stores and 89 distribution centres across the region, supported by a formidable logistics and integrated supply chain. As the leading golf retailer in Malaysia, MST Golf brings its expertise in golf retailing, product merchandising, and customer service with strong brands support to the Indonesian market. Erajaya Active Lifestyle will provide its expertise in importation and supply chain management, sourcing of high potential retail locations in shopping malls and other suitable commercial properties, human resources, government relations and local authorities compliance matters to support the business expansion.
Subject to the finalisation of the business plan and execution of definitive agreements anticipated to be within this year, the JVC will introduce MST Golf’s retail outlet concepts, encompassing MST Golf Specialty store, MST Golf Arena (indoor golf centre featuring simulator bays complete with food and beverage offerings) and the Golf Lab (golf academy with club fitting) to the Indonesian consumer market. This will be delivered primarily through the setting up of a big store format retail outlet chain that offers a comprehensive range of high-quality golf products, equipment comprising golf clubs, golf balls and accessories and golf apparel from notable brands, as well as other value-added services. MST Golf’s retail outlets aim to offer a one-stop golf equipment retail environment to suit the needs of different target groups of consumers, while the indoor golf centres with direct access from the retail outlets provide golf playing, learning and other activities suitable for individuals, families and groups covering golfers and the general public.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Erajaya Active Lifestyle to bring our passion for golf and retailing to the Indonesian market. The Erajaya Group is well-established and respected in Indonesia, and its complete retail business infrastructure and extensive local knowledge will contribute tremendously to the setting up the MST Golf brand in Indonesia,” said Ng Yap, Executive Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of MST Golf.
“At MST Golf, we strive to deliver golf shopping, learning, and playing to both golfers and non-golfers, while also promoting the growth and enjoyment of the sport in the region. We cannot have found a better partner than Erajaya Active Lifestyle, who share similar management approach with MST Golf which is critical for a long-term business partnership like ours. To this end, our partnership will certainly add value to MST Golf and Erajaya Active Lifestyle by achieving both companies’ objectives and goals.”
The expansion into Indonesia is part of MST Golf’s key business strategies and growth plan to expand into new geographical markets. In 2021, Indonesia’s real Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) grew by 3.7%, and for the first 9 months of 2022, Indonesia’s real GDP grew 5.4% as compared to the first 9 months of 2021 (Source: Statistics Indonesia).
“We are very excited about the Indonesian market with its growing population, the emerging affluence of the young and middle class that contributes to the vibrancy of the market, supported by an overall robust economic growth. In particular, we are pleased to note that the domestic golfer demography continues to be driven by the younger cohorts with a relatively higher spending power. In addition, the high standards of golf industry infrastructures, namely the golf courses and driving ranges, continues to promote a favourable environment for more active golfing besides drawing new golfers into the game. This partnership will fast track our expansion plan to capture a significant share of the growing golf market in Indonesia,” Ng Yap added.
“We are very pleased to partner with MST Golf to expand its retail reach in Indonesia. This collaboration is in line with Erajaya Active Lifestyle’s growth strategies and focus on the active lifestyle space. We have successfully established ourselves as the leading player in this space, which, coupled with our parent company’s decades of experience in the retail segment, make us a formidable retail force in Indonesia,” said Djohan Sutanto, Chief Executive Director of Erajaya Active Lifestyle.
“In Indonesia, we have witnessed a sustained rise in golfing interest from the Gen-Z demography, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because, generally, people wanted to stay healthy and be able to exercise outdoors, while still observing health protocol and social distancing. Despite the post-pandemic reopening of the economy, these so-called ‘pandemic golfers’, consisting of new golfers who started to learn and play golf during the pandemic, have been consistently plying the many golf courses and driving ranges across Indonesia. Furthermore, with golf becoming part of the mainstream pop culture – in part led by the various innovative and hip cross-collaborations among retail brands, celebrities, and influencers – the sport has never been more relevant and appealing to the masses across all ages and income groups, and as such, the outlook for the industry continues to be promising.”
MST Golf has submitted its initial public offering (“IPO”) application to the Securities Commission Malaysia and is seeking to list on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad. Subject to the authority’s approval, proceeds raised from the IPO has been earmarked for, among others, MST Golf’s expansion into new geographical markets namely Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
ABOUT MST Golf Group Berhad
MST Golf Group Berhad (“MST Golf”) is the leading and largest golf retailer in Malaysia with more than 40 locations in Malaysia and Singapore. With retail as its backbone, MST Golf’s businesses also cover brand management, and distribution, golf academies, event/tournament management, corporate merchandising, tech shops and driving ranges. MST Golf is the distributor and retail partner of many of the world’s leading golf brands.
MST Golf owns and operates MST Golf Arena, the ground-breaking indoor golf centre which merges entertainment, dining and retail. Two outlets are currently open at The Gardens Mall in Mid Valley City, Kuala Lumpur and another at Tropicana Gardens Mall in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, with a third slated to open later this year at Gurney Paragon Mall in Georgetown, Penang.
To learn more, visit https://mstgolf.com/
ABOUT Erajaya Active Lifestyle
Erajaya Active Lifestyle is a business vertical under the Erajaya Group that focuses on the marketing, distribution and retail operations in active lifestyle space, which include lifestyle gadgets, Internet of Things (IOT) and its ecosystem, smarthome and active fashion products. Erajaya Active Lifestyle is entrusted to represent leading global brands in Indonesia such as Apple, ASICS, DJI, GARMIN, Google, GoPro, JBL, JD Sports, Samsung, Sony, Xiaomi and many more. Erajaya Active Lifestyle operates retail outlets under the brand Urban Republic, GARMIN Brand Stores, DJI Experiences Store, ASICS and JD Sports.
To learn more, visit https://www.erajaya.com/