WWE (NYSE: WWE) and Authentic Brands Group, LLC (ABG) today
announced a joint venture for Tapout™, a newly repositioned fitness
lifestyle brand. Tapout™ is now the official fitness and
training partner of WWE, and will be integrated across WWE’s global
platforms including TV programming, WWE Network, pay-per-view
broadcasts, live events, digital, and social media.
WWE Superstar Roman Reigns (Photo:
Business Wire)
“Tapout was ABG’s first acquisition and it continues to be a
global brand with strong sales and blue chip partners all over the
world. We have a very strong commitment to the brand’s ongoing
success,” said Jamie Salter, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of ABG. “WWE is a media and entertainment force and we are excited
to partner with them on Tapout’s future growth.”
“WWE is always looking for new opportunities to partner with
best-in-class organizations, develop new products for our fans and
drive shareholder value,” said WWE Chairman & CEO Vince
McMahon. “This joint venture aligns with our strategic approach,
and we look forward to building the Tapout brand.”
As part of this strategic partnership, WWE will create new
content featuring its Superstars and Divas in Tapout™ apparel and
market the brand across all platforms. Tapout™ branding will also
be featured at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, and
all performers, trainers, and staff will be outfitted in Tapout™
workout apparel.
“WWE’s expansive reach provides a global platform to broaden
Tapout’s presence and consumer base,” said Nick Woodhouse,
President and Chief Marketing Officer of ABG. “This is a powerhouse
pairing given the synergy between Tapout’s brand promise to be the
premiere hard-body fitness brand, and WWE’s commitment to training
and fitness.”
“Combining ABG’s strengths in retail brand development,
licensing and distribution with WWE’s marketing expertise, global
reach and passionate fan base, makes for a powerful partnership,”
said Michelle D. Wilson, WWE Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer.
“The Tapout brand will enable us to expand into new product
categories and further grow our current $1 billion consumer product
retail business.”
The next generation of Tapout™ preserves the original brand
essence and drives a hard-body, fitness-centric message positioned
around motivation, discipline and determination. An all new line of
men’s and women’s performance apparel and accessories will launch
at retail in Spring 2016. New Tapout™ branding and packaging will
roll out in key categories throughout 2015 starting with beverages,
supplements and fitness centers.
About WWE
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated
media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment.
The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and
deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE
is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television
programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms.
WWE programming reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide in 35
languages. WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 over-the-top premium
network that includes all 12 live pay-per-views, scheduled
programming and a massive video-on-demand library, is currently
available in more than 170 countries. The company is headquartered
in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London,
Mexico City, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, Munich, and
Tokyo.
Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at
wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global
activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.
About Authentic Brands Group,
LLC
Authentic Brands Group, in partnership with Leonard
Green & Partners, is an intellectual property corporation
with a mandate to acquire, manage and build long-term value in
prominent consumer brands. Headquartered in New York City, ABG's
mission is to further enhance brand equity through partnering with
best-in-class licensees and direct-to-retail partnerships. ABG
brands include Marilyn Monroe®, Mini Marilyn™, Muhammad Ali®,
Elvis Presley®, Juicy Couture®, Judith Leiber®, Adrienne
Vittadini®, Taryn Rose®, Hickey Freeman®, Hart Schaffner Marx®,
Palm Beach®, Misook®, Prince®, Spyder®, Airwalk®, Above The Rim®,
Vision Street Wear®, Hind®, Ektelon®, Viking®, Bobby Jones®,
Tapout®, Sportcraft®. www.abg-nyc.com.
Trademarks: All WWE programming,
talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves,
trademarks, logos, and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE
and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos, and copyrights
are the property of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements: This
press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These
risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating
to: WWE Network; major distribution agreements; our need to
continue to develop creative and entertaining programs and events;
a decline in the popularity of our brand of sports entertainment;
the continued importance of key performers and the services of
Vincent K. McMahon; possible adverse changes in the regulatory
atmosphere and related private sector initiatives; the highly
competitive, rapidly changing and increasingly fragmented nature of
the markets in which we operate and greater financial resources or
marketplace presence of many of our competitors; uncertainties
associated with international markets; our difficulty or inability
to promote and conduct our live events and/or other businesses if
we do not comply with applicable regulations; our dependence on our
intellectual property rights, our need to protect those rights, and
the risks of our infringement of others' intellectual property
rights; the complexity of our rights agreements across distribution
mechanisms and geographical areas; potential substantial liability
in the event of accidents or injuries occurring during our
physically demanding events including, without limitation, claims
relating to CTE; large public events as well as travel to and from
such events; our feature film business; our expansion into new or
complementary businesses and/or strategic investments; our computer
systems and online operations; a possible decline in general
economic conditions and disruption in financial markets; our
accounts receivable; our revolving credit facility; litigation; our
potential failure to meet market expectations for our financial
performance, which could adversely affect our stock; Vincent K.
McMahon exercising control over our affairs, and his interests may
conflict with the holders of our Class A common stock; a
substantial number of shares which are eligible for sale by the
McMahons and the sale, or the perception of possible sales, of
those shares could lower our stock price; and the relatively small
public "float" of our Class A common stock. In addition, our
dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among
other things, our liquidity and cash flow, strategic plan
(including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and
condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of
dividends (including under our revolving credit facility), general
economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our
Board of Directors may consider relevant. Forward-looking
statements made by the Company speak only as of the date made, are
subject to change without any obligation on the part of the Company
to update or revise them, and undue reliance should not be placed
on these statements.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150325005608/en/
Media:WWEMatt Altman,
203-352-1177Matthew.Altman@wwecorp.comorTapout/ABGHaley Steinberg,
646-612-7439hsteinberg@abg-nyc.comorInvestors:WWEMichael Weitz,
203-352-8642Michael.Weitz@wwecorp.com
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