PUMA Hosts Launch Event for New Ferrari Product Range

MELBOURNE, Australia, March 4 --

- Michael Schumacher Among Special Guests of Honor

Today PUMA(R) unveils the Ferrari motorsport product range at the PUMA Concept Store in the heart of Melbourne, just in time to kick-off the Formula 1 race season.

The evening will be hosted by Australian TV personality Chloe Maxwell. Starting at 7:00pm, Chloe will introduce special guests of honor, PUMA Chairman and CEO, Jochen Zeitz, General Manager of Ferrari, John Todt, and Ferrari's top two drivers, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. Each will share their thoughts on this new partnership, the product range and the upcoming Formula 1 season.

"I am very pleased to join our partners at Ferrari in Melbourne to launch this new product range," said Jochen Zeitz, CEO and Chairman of PUMA AG. "This season, we are offering replica and official Ferrari merchandise to the race fans and consumers who incorporate the products into their own personal style."

The new product range, which will be showcased by the event staff and a merchandised product display, includes official replica shirts, sweatshirts, rain jackets, headwear, various team t-shirts and polo shirts. Available for men and women, a key design element is the incorporation of PUMA's signature formstrip on the epaulette (shoulder) of several garments. The statement product of the collection is the Future Cat motorsport shoe. The shoe features the Ferrari shield on the lower edge of the heel. Both brands' signature color, red, is accented with white on the high version of the shoe, which is a lifestyle version of the professional shoe worn by Michael Schumacher. Focusing more heavily on street style, the Future Cat Low is offered in three solid colors, red, yellow and black, in addition to a replica version of the pro shoe.

"As one of the leading suppliers in motorsport and lifestyle, we look forward to debuting our product range at PUMA Concept Stores," said Jean Todt, General Manager of Ferrari.

The evening concludes with entertainment by Sophie Monk, one of Australia's leading pop stars.

PUMA(R) is the global athletic brand that successfully fuses influences from sport, lifestyle and fashion. PUMA's unique industry perspective delivers the unexpected in sportlifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories, through technical innovation and revolutionary design. Established in Herzogenaurach, Germany in 1948, PUMA distributes products in over 80 countries. For further information please visit http://www.puma.com.