UMBRO scores with Noveau Eyewear

New York March 2008:
Umbro International Ltd, the leading global soccer brand announces today a new ophthalmic eyewear partnership with Nouveau Eyewear Inc.
 The agreement, brokered by The Licensing Company NA Inc, will see a range of Umbro branded ophthalmic eyewear and goggles for the US, Canada, South and Central America, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland and European markets launching Spring 2009.

Founded in 1924, UMBRO is a globally recognized brand with a powerful heritage in the world's most popular sport —soccer. With products distributed in over 90 countries worldwide, UMBRO is synonymous with high-quality, performance soccer product across Footwear and Equipment. 

Noveau Eyewear, one of the worlds leading ophthalmic eyewear companies, confirms that the Umbro eyewear collection is set to launch in January 2009, and will take its cues from street-ready athletic wear.  Looking forward to the World Cup scheduled for 2010 in South Africa, the collection's styling will incorporate colors and graphics infused with the international flair of the sport. 

Terri Hanson, Umbro US, added “ Noveau Eyewear have understood our audience and brand and provided an exciting opportunity for Umbro to enter the ophthalmic marketplace”

“We're thrilled to collaborate with a giant like UMBRO,” says Marj McGraw, Co-President of Nouveau Eyewear.  “The global markets for sports-related fashion apparel and accessories are expanding, and UMBRO Eyewear is ideally positioned to fill a growing demand.”

 Notes to editors:

About Umbro
Umbro is a global football brand. With its head office based in the UK, UMBRO designs, sources and markets football related products which are sold in over 90 countries. Umbro has subsidiary operations in the UK and the US selling products direct to retail and distributes through an international network of 47 licensees.
 
The brand originated in 1924, when the company was founded by the Humphrey Brothers. Umbro has a strong heritage in football, a notable fact being that Umbro provided the kits for 15 out of the 16 teams taking part in the 1966 World Cup - including England. Since the brands origination, Umbro has been associated with leading national teams, clubs and professional players on a global basis.

About The Licensing Company
The Licensing Company (TLC) specializes in creating long-term brand extension programs for some of the world's leading brands. TLC was founded in London in 1996 by Angela Farrugia and Melvin Thomas, and has a reputation of creating the most innovative, effective and successful brand extensions in the world.  With offices in New York, Tokyo and Paris and Munich, TLC boasts over 2, 000 live contracts worldwide,    $2 bn retail sales in 2007, 35, 000 product lines and access to over 70% of the world's consumer marketplace. TLC's portfolio includes well-established brands such as IBM, Jim Beam, Cosmopolitan, Jelly Belly and Umbro as well as the Reckitt Benckiser portfolio of brands. www.thelicensingcompany.com.

About Noveau:
Kristin Carlson
972.242.3633
nouveaukrs@sopris.net