Endura SA signs licensing agreement with ASICS Corporation
Swatch Group company to develop a brand new watch collection for leading sports equipment manufacturer Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, May 9, 2006 - Endura SA today announced the signature of a global licensing agreement with the international sporting goods leading company, ASICS Corporation. With its proven expertise in producing quality private label watches, Endura will create a totally new collection of timepieces to express the values and cutting-edge technology of the ASICS brand and products. In Spring 2007, the new ASICS watch collection will be ready for action with an international debut at the Baselworld Watch and Jewellery Show in March. The ASICS timepieces will underline the sports shoe manufacturer’s proven commitment to providing serious athletes with technically advanced products. Each timepiece will complement the wearer’s individual goals with precision, reliability and style.
ASICS is specialized in the production of sports shoes and was founded in 1949 when Kihachiro Onitsuka began manufacturing basketball shoes in Kobe, Japan. The company name ASICS is an acronym for the Latin phrase "Anima Sana In Corpore Sano", which translates as "a sound mind in a sound body". Today ASICS produces top quality shoes, designed for running, volleyball, walking, wrestling, track & field, and many other sports for sports enthusiasts all over the world. www.asics.com The Swatch Group Ltd is the largest manufacturer and distributor of watches and jewellery in the world. It is a synonym for emotional and luxury products of high quality and has its own worldwide network of distribution organizations. The Group is an expert in the manufacture of finished watches, movements and components. Its watch brands are Breguet, Blancpain, Glashütte-Original, JaquetDroz, Léon Hatot, Omega in the luxury and prestige segment; Rado, Longines, Union in the high end range; Tissot, Calvin Klein, Certina, Mido, Hamilton, Pierre Balmain in the middle range; Swatch, Flik Flak in the basic segment, and Endura. Endura SA is the Swatch Group’s private label company. The company offers clients a full range of services, from design consultancy through production to distribution and after-sales support. The company works closely with its clients to develop watches that express customer brand identities and values in state-of-the-art products. www.endura.ch
CONTACTS: Endura SA Béatrice Howald Phone +41 32 343 68 33 Fax +41 32 343 69 22 ASICS Corporation Public relations Phone+81 78 303 2255 Fax + 81 78 303 2247