ATP Tour Inc announced a new 7-year official partnership with China's largest sports clothing company, the Beijing Li-Ning Sports Goods Company. Co-branded ATP-Li-Ning tennis clothes will be available in Li-Ning's more than 3,000 stores across China from 1 July 2006.
The partnership, announced at a joint ATP-Li-Ning press conference in Beijing, capitalizes on the burgeoning popularity of tennis in China following the Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai events. Li-Ning began producing tennis clothing after the 2002 Masters Cup in Shanghai and has since produced significant sales from its tennis lines. Li-Ning anticipates the ATP licensed line of products will make up 25 per cent of their total tennis product sales.
"Brad Drewett, ATP CEO of the International Group, responsible for ATP's business development in China said, “We are very proud to be associated with a company of this stature. Li-Ning has experienced phenomenal growth over the past decade and is a sporting apparel giant. I am certain our multi-year partnership with Li-Ning will further enhance the popularity of tennis in China and consolidate the ATP's long-term strategy to grow its presence in this country.”
Li-Ning listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange in June 2004 and was established by Chinese gymnastics star Li Ning, whose performance at the Los Angeles Olympic Games netted the country six medals, including three gold.
”I am very glad to see the Li-Ning company enter into a partnership with ATP based on a licensing and marketing collaboration in China,” said Li Ning, President of the Beijing Li-Ning Sports Goods Company. “Li-Ning is China's most popular home-grown sports label, with sales revenues more than double those of wellknown international sporting brands."
20240830145952.gif)
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "UBM China (Shanghai)")
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
