ABOUT ADIDAS

adidas – a name that stands for competence in all sectors of sport around the globe. The vision of company founder Adolf Dassler has long become reality. The idea was as simple as it was brilliant. Adi Dassler’s aim was to provide every athlete with the best possible equipment. It all began in 1920, when Adi Dassler made his first shoes using the few materials available after the First World War. Today, the adidas product range extends from shoes, apparel and accessories for basketball, soccer, fitness and training to adventure, trail and golf. The adidas name dates back to 1948, deriving from the first two syllables of Adi Dassler’s first and last name.

In 1997, adidas acquired the Salomon group, and the company’s name changed to adidas-Salomon AG. The Salomon group included Bonfire and the TaylorMade golf brands, among others.

adidas completed and introduced its revolutionary three-divisional structure in 2002. The brand segmented into three divisions: adidas Sport Performance, adidas Sport Heritage and adidas Sport Style. The Sport Performance division features products that are developed for the sports performance market but have design appeal, encouraging consumers to wear the products both on and off the court or playing field. The adidas Sports Heritage division contains adidas Originals products. Originals extends the unique and authentic heritage of adidas products to the lifestyle market. The Sport Style division houses Y-3, a collaboration between iconic Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto and adidas. Y-3 combines the mission of the sports brand with the vision of style to develop an unexpected, radical appeal and the future in sportswear.

In October 2005, the Salomon business segment was sold to the Finnish Amer Sports Corporation. The company changed its legal name to adidas AG in May 2006.

On January 31, 2006, adidas-Salomon AG acquired Reebok International Ltd. The closing of the Reebok transaction marks a new chapter in the history of the adidas Group. By combining two of the most respected and well-known brands in the worldwide sporting goods industry, the new Group will benefit from a more competitive worldwide platform, well-defined and complementary brand identities, a wider range of products, and a stronger presence across teams, athletes, events and leagues.
Today, the new adidas Group has more than 25,000 employees worldwide, with more than 2,000 working at the company’s headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany. A team of designers, product developers and experts for biomechanics and material technology carries out research and corporate functions in Portland, Oregon and at adidas’ second technology center in Scheinfeld, Germany.

For more information on adidas, please visit www.adidas.com.

For more information on the adidas Group, please visit www.adidas-group.com.