Above The Rim Names Australia and New Zealand Distributor

Collective Licensing International, LLC announced a three-year license agreement with premier hardgoods supplier Hyper Extension. Under the agreement, Hyper Extension will design, market and sell hard goods exclusively in Australia and New Zealand under the Above the Rim brand name.

The new agreement marks the first time ATR hard goods will be distributed in Australia and New Zealand and presents a great opportunity to help re-launch the performance basketball brand this Fall 2010. Hyper Extension will be supplying backboards, backboard systems, nets, pumps and needles to sporting goods and department stores.

“We are pleased to further our Collective Licensing International relationship with the addition of Above the Rim hard goods license,” said Matthew Clark, Director of Hyper Extension. “We are confident that the Above The Rim brand will be extremely successful throughout Australia and New Zealand.”

With offices in Australia and Shanghai, Hyper Extension is currently the hardgoods licensee for the CLI brands Airwalk and Vision Street Wear. Hyper Extension is a leading bicycle and sporting goods supplier to the Australian and New Zealand market through a number of distribution channels including mass, sport specialty and institutional.

Founded in 1989 and dubbed the original “player’s brand,” ATR (www.abovetherimhoops.com) will re-launch in October 2010 with a limited footwear line and then, for Spring 2011, the brand will be releasing complete apparel and footwear collections. The highly anticipated new collections will include signature styles designed with ATR's professional athletes as well as “team” products designed for everyday play.

“We are excited to leverage Hyper Extension’s expertise in the hard goods market as we re-launch the Above the Rim brand,” said Bruce Pettet CEO of Collective Licensing. “Their proven ability to launch and drive the growth of new brands in Australia and New Zealand will elevate ATR’s re-entry into the performance basketball market and create meaningful brand impressions with our consumers.”

Collective Licensing International, LLC, a subsidiary of Collective Brands, Inc., was formed in January 2004 and is the owner and/or license operator of Airwalk, Above The Rim, Vision Street Wear, Clinch Gear, STRIKEFORCE, Sims, Lamar and LTD, World Snowboarding Championships and Hind.