Herbalife Announces Sponsorship of Lacrosse's New L.A. Riptide; Agreement Furthers Company's Strategy to Align with Sports and Provide Sampling Opportunities to Independent DistributorsLOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 2006--Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) continues its presence on the sporting field with the sponsorship of The Los Angeles Riptide, southern California's newest professional sports franchise in the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) league. The agreement is in alignment with the company's sponsorship strategy to associate with health and fitness and sports-related activities, giving its independent distributors face-to-face time with consumers.
The L.A. Riptide, owned and operated by AEG, starts its six-game home season June 3rd at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The Riptide is one of four expansion teams, in addition to teams from Chicago, Denver and San Francisco that will compete in the six-year old league's newly-created Western Division. They join the original six teams that now make up the Eastern Division from Baltimore, Boston, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Rochester.
Each team in MLL plays a 12-game season from May through August.
In 2006, Herbalife is sponsoring over 35 sporting events including triathlons, major league soccer, beach volleyball, tennis and dragon boat races. Herbalife independent distributors sample products including Liftoff(TM), its new patented energy drink, NouriFusion vitamin-based skin care products and Formula 1 protein drink.
In August 2005, Herbalife signed a multi-year, multi-tiered sponsorship agreement that names Herbalife a "Founding Partner" of AEG-owned and operated Home Depot Center and designates Herbalife as the Official Nutrition Company / Sponsor of several additional AEG-owned and operated teams, events and initiatives including the Los Angeles Galaxy (major league soccer franchise), Amgen Tour of California and ING Bay to Breakers, among others.
