Jan. 1, 2003 – Ducati teams with Fila
Ducati teams with Fila
Two Italian firms, Fila Holding SpA and Ducati Corse Srl, have entered into a partnership in which Fila receives a two-year exclusive world license to use the “Ducati Corse” brand to develop and market garments, footwear and accessories.
The deal will have the two official Ducati teams — Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss in the MotoGP Championship and Neil Hodgson and Ruben Xaus in the Superbike class — endorsing the “Ducati by Fila” apparel. The collections will be marketed through Fila Sport Life Stores and Ducati’s network of dealers, and also will be available through the companies’ respective Web sites.
“The new agreement with Ducati Corse completes the Fila Motor Sport project — a new initiative that confirms the company’s current commitment to relaunching the brand in international markets,” Marco Isaia, Fila managing director and CEO, said while announcing the deal.
Fila Holding SpA (NYSE: FLH), Biella, Italy, is a manufacturer of footwear and apparel for sport and leisure. Its worldwide revenues for the third quarter were $266.9 million, down 8% from $289.5 million in the corresponding period of 2001. On a constant exchange basis, the firm says, total revenues would have been in line with those of the previous year. Third quarter net income was $ 2.7 million compared with a net loss of $31.8 million in the third quarter of 2001.
Holding di Partecipazioni Industriali SpA (HdP), which has a 71.8% stake in FLH, has reportedly been trying to sell its unprofitable sportswear unit for more than a year.
