LOS ANGELES, May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AVP, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: AVPI) , a lifestyle sports entertainment company focused on professional beach volleyball, announced today a three-year licensing agreement with Speedo, the top-selling swimwear brand in the world. As part of the new deal, which runs through 2009, Speedo will manufacture, market and distribute the new "AVP and AVP Pro Series apparel by Speedo" line of merchandise to be sold at all AVP Crocs Tour events as well as through retail distribution.
Highlights of the deal include:
* Speedo will develop performance apparel products targeted to a young,
active consumer; products will include volley shorts, women's
performance swimwear, outerwear, casual wear, hats, visors and
backpacks
* All items will bear the distinctive AVP "spiker" logo and be marketed as
the "AVP and AVP Pro Series by Speedo"
* Speedo will distribute the line to specialty, surf, sporting goods and
department stores
* AVP will market and sell the line onsite in AVP's merchandise stores and
tents at each AVP Crocs Tour event and online through avp.com
"We are excited to announce this new licensing agreement with Speedo, a long-time supporter of the AVP Tour," said Leonard Armato, CEO and Tour commissioner. "With this new line of licensed products from Speedo, our fans and consumers can wear AVP-branded apparel just like their favorite Tour stars. It is an exciting new extension of the AVP brand."
"For over 20 years, Speedo has supported the AVP Tour and beach volleyball through sponsorships of stars like Karch Kiraly, Kerri Walsh, and Holly McPeak, Speedo has had a strong presence within the AVP Tour over the years," said Roger Williams, president, Warnaco Swimwear Group, the exclusive licensee of the SPEEDO(R) brand in North America and the Caribbean. "We are excited to grow our relationship with the AVP Crocs Tour through this new line of licensed apparel. We continue to see in the AVP a great platform to connect with our consumers and the growing loyal AVP fan base on both a local and national level."
SPEEDO(R) is a registered trademark of and used under license from Speedo International Ltd.
Warnaco Swimwear, Inc., a division of The Warnaco Group Inc. , is the authorized licensee of the SPEEDO(R) trademark in North American and the Caribbean.
About the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, Inc.
AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, Inc. is a leading lifestyle sports entertainment company focused on the production, marketing and distribution of professional beach volleyball events worldwide. AVP operates the industry's most prominent national touring series, the AVP CROCS Tour, which was originally organized in 1983. Featuring more than 150 of the top American men and women competitors in the sport, AVP will hold 16 AVP CROCS Tour events throughout the United States in 2006. In 2004, AVP athletes successfully represented the United States during the Olympics in Athens, Greece, winning gold and bronze medals, the first medals won by U.S. women in professional beach volleyball. For more information, please visit http://www.avp.com/.
About Speedo(R)
Born on Bondi Beach near Sydney, Australia in 1928, SPEEDO(R) is the world's top-selling swimwear brand. The brand's heritage derives from its leadership in competitive swimming, where more Olympic Gold Medals have been won in Speedo(R) than any other brand. Eight-time Olympic Medalist Michael Phelps and seven-time Olympic medalist Amanda Beard are among the elite swimmers who wear SPEEDO(R) FASTSKIN(R) technology. Building on its authentic base, the SPEEDO(R) product line has dramatically expanded over the years. It now includes women's fashion and fitness swimwear, men's water shorts, kid's swimwear, active wear, footwear, and a comprehensive collection of aquatic and fitness equipment. For more information visit, http://www.speedousa.com/.
