AMF GOES BOWLING FOR DOLLARS IN MID-MAY SALE

     AMF Cos., the nation's largest bowling company, will be sold
to a New York investment banking firm by mid-May in a deal that
could top $1B, according to the RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH.  In a
February 16 letter to employees, AMF Chair William Goodwin said
AMF had signed a "definitive purchase agreement" with an
affiliate of Goldman, Sachs & Co.  He said the transaction is
expected to be completed "within 90 days."  AMF has declined to
reveal any details of the deal, but Goodwin said in his letter,
"They have indicated to us that they plan to operate AMF with its
present employees with an emphasis on development and growth."
International Bowling Industry magazine called the deal "the most
lucrative financial transaction in the history of the bowing
industry."  AMF owns 277 bowling centers in the U.S. and
overseas.  There are an estimated 50 million bowlers in the U.S.
who spend $4B a year to participate in the sport (Chip Jones,
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 2/24).