NEW YORK/IRVING, Texas – The National Basketball Association (www.nba.com) and the Panini Group (www.paninigroup.com) – the world’s largest sports and entertainment collectibles company – today announced an extension of their partnership through a new multiyear agreement. Under the terms of the new agreement, Panini will continue to be the exclusive trading card and sticker partner for the NBA globally, expanding its current development and distribution of trading cards and products worldwide, with a particular focus on China. The relationship will be managed by the Panini Group’s U.S. subsidiary, Panini America (www.paniniamerica.net).

This renewal reinforces Panini’s unparalleled position as the only company in the world to manufacture official trading cards and stickers for the NBA, NFL, NFLPA, NHL, NHLPA, MLBPA, and FIFA World Cup. Panini’s array of NBA products, which include “National Treasures” and “Prestige”, are designed to attract new and existing collectors, and to establish a high-end marketplace for NBA trading cards and related products domestically and internationally.

“Our companies share a collective interest in promoting our brands worldwide,” said NBA Executive Vice President Global Merchandising Group Sal LaRocca. “Panini has continually demonstrated the ability and commitment to creating products that appeal to our fans on a global basis.”

“The popularity of the NBA game globally is unmatched and, with new NBA superstars emerging, it’s an exciting time to collect NBA trading cards, which are not only fun but highly sought after in the secondary trading card market,” said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop. “In the last three years, there has not been a more valuable modern-day trading card than our National Treasures NBA product that included a 1-of-1 Blake Griffin NBA Logoman Rookie card that sold on the secondary market for $38,000. This new long-term agreement with the NBA serves as the foundation to our future growth and our long-term commitment to the trading card category.”

The Panini Group has exclusive relationships with some of the NBA’s most recognizable players, including five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers. In May of this year, Panini Authentic, Panini’s memorabilia division, signed the Dallas Mavericks as their first exclusive game-worn team partner. Panini also has exclusive relationships with USA Basketball, USA Baseball, the U.S. Soccer Women’s National Team, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Disney, Hello Kitty, Justin Bieber, One Direction and Michael Jackson and more than 600 global licenses with other sports and entertainment properties.

ABOUT PANINI
The Panini Group, established more than 50 years ago in Modena, Italy, has subsidiaries throughout Europe, Latin America and the United States. Panini is the world leader in officially licensed collectibles and is the most significant publisher of collectibles in the U.S., with official licenses for MLBPA, NBA, NFL, NHL, FIFA, USA Baseball, Disney, Nickelodeon, Hello Kitty, Warner Bros. and other key properties from many other licensors. Panini has distribution channels in more than 100 countries and employs a staff of over 800. For more information visit us at www.paniniamerica.net, www.paninigroup.com or www.paniniamerica.wordpress.com. You can also follow Panini America on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and on YouTube.