PUMA announces partnership with Centauro (BILD)

Johannesburg, South Africa (ots) -

New Sub-License Deal with PUMA-Partnered African Football
Federations Will Increase Prominence of African Football in Latin
America

PUMA® announced today that it has entered a partnership with
Centauro, the largest sporting goods retail chain in Latin America,
through which it will sub-license the branding rights to four of its
partnered African federations; Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon and
Senegal. The partnership is effective from January 2013 through to
the end of the 2014 FIFA World Cup® and through this deal, the four
African federations will carry Centauro branding on licensed training
wear, perimeter boards at training facilities and press walls.

From the outset of the partnership, licensed product including
replica shirts will be on sale in Centauro stores in Brazil. To drive
visibility of this growing focus on African football in Centauro
stores, PUMA and Centauro will work closely together to activate a
marketing campaign in which Ivory Coast and Manchester City
midfielder Yaya Touré will feature. The PUMA sponsored football star
and CAF African Player of the Year for 2011 and 2012, will feature
within ATL and BTL campaigns to promote the availability of the Ivory
Coast, Ghana, Cameroon and Senegal replica kits and licensed product
within Centauro stores.

Stefano Caroti, Chief Commercial Officer for PUMA commented: "This
new relationship with Centauro is a positive move for the brand and a
demonstration of our continued commitment to African football. Our
journey with the football on this continent began more than ten years
ago and we continue to maintain this. African football is
experiencing a growing profile and credibility in Latin America, a
region with an expanding market and clear commercial opportunities to
capitalise on the demand of consumers for licensed product. Through
this partnership with Centauro, we hope to further drive the
visibility of our partnered African federations and African football
in the 2014 FIFA World Cup®."

Speaking about the new partnership, Centauro owner Sebastião
Bomfim Filho said: "We are very excited to be working with PUMA and
there's some very interesting marketing activations in the pipe line
which will be rolled out through 2013, ultimately building up to the
FIFA World Cup® Brazil 2014, when desire for licensed football
product will be at its peak. We've seen a growth in our region in the
interest for African football, and this is an opportunity that we're
keen to capitalise on. PUMA is the brand with the greatest footing in
African football and is therefore the perfect partner for this
endeavour."

For additional media material and information, visit
www.thenewsmarket.com/puma

PUMA

PUMA is one of the world's leading Sportlifestyle companies that
designs and develops footwear, apparel and accessories. It is
committed to working in ways that contribute to the world by
supporting Creativity, SAFE Sustainability and Peace, and by staying
true to the principles of being Fair, Honest, Positive and Creative
in decisions made and actions taken. PUMA starts in Sport and ends in
Fashion. Its Sport Performance and Lifestyle labels include
categories such as Football, Running, Motorsports, Golf and Sailing.
Sport Fashion features collaborations with renowned designer labels
such as Alexander McQueen and Mihara Yasuhiro. The PUMA Group owns
the brands PUMA, Cobra Golf and Tretorn. The company, which was
founded in 1948, distributes its products in more than 120 countries,
employs about 11,000 people worldwide and has headquarters in
Herzogenaurach/Germany, Boston, London and Hong Kong. For more
information, please visit http://www.puma.com

CENTAURO

Centauro is the largest retail chain of sporting goods in Latin
America. With 169 stores in 23 States, it also has an e-commerce
operation Centauro.com.br. The brand belongs to the SBF Group, a
company that closed 2012 with sales of R$ 2 billion. Founded in 1981,
Centauro introduced in Brazil the unprecedented model of sporting
goods megastore, when it decided to offer in a single place,
clothing, accessories and a variety of sporting gear, as well as to
allow even greater experimentation and involvement of consumers with
products before deciding on the purchase. Last year, the SBF Group
sold minority stakes of 30% to GP Investments. The capital stemming
from this operation will allow the group to retain its leadership
position in the Latin American sporting goods retail segment,
consolidating its expansion process.

Media Contacts:
PUMA:
Tim Stedman, International PR, PUMA - Tim.stedman@puma.com -
+49 9132 81 2961

Centauro:
Juliana Decanine, Giusti Comunicação - juliana@giusticom.com.br
+ 5511-5502-5448

Maria Rita Teixeira, Giusti Comunicação - mariarita@giusticom.com.br
+5511-5502-5466

Agatha Abreu, Giusti Comunicação - agatha@giusticom.com.br
+5511- 5502-5460