Running Specialty Group and imATHLETE Announce Strategic Partnership

Retailer’s President Bill Kirkendall to join organization’s board of directors

 DENVER--The Running Specialty Group (RSG) announced today a strategic agreement with imATHLETE, a sports registration company that is changing the way event organizers engage with athletes. In addition, RSG President Bill Kirkendall will be appointed to the imATHLETE board of directors.

“This is an exciting alignment for RSG which will provide our team with a new perspective of the running community and enable us to connect, inspire and serve our customers in a new, more relevant way beyond our store walls,” said Kirkendall.

As frontrunners in data management technology for the sporting industry, imATHLETE boasts an impressive portfolio of clients including the GORE-TEX Philadelphia Marathon, ASICS Los Angeles Marathon and the MetroPCS Dallas Marathon. Through this agreement, RSG will be able to meaningfully engage with athletes who share similar interests as RSG’s core customer. Additionally, imATHLETE and RSG will jointly create new opportunities surrounding training, event marketing and product offerings, all with a focus on helping people maintain an active, healthy lifestyle. In support of this agreement, RSG’s parent company, The Finish Line, Inc., has made an undisclosed financial investment in imATHLETE.

“The RSG partnership plays a very important role in our continuous efforts to inspire athletes and enhance their healthy lifestyle,” said imATHLETE CEO Jeff Matlow. “RSG’s leadership in the specialty running industry combined with imATHLETE’s in-depth market knowledge of athletic behavior unlocks exciting opportunities for the athlete’s overall experience.”

About Running Specialty Group
 
The Running Specialty Group (RSG) is an operating segment of The Finish Line, Inc. (NASDAQ: FINL). This includes 68 specialty running stores in 15 states and the District of Columbia under The Running Company, Run On!, Blue Mile, Boulder Running Company, Roncker’s Running Spot, Running Fit, VA Runner, Capital RunWalk, Richmond RoadRunner, Garry Gribble’s Running Sports, Run Colorado and Raleigh Running Outfitters banners.
 More information is available at www.run.com or www.boulderrunningcompany.com. Follow RSG on Twitter at twitter.com/Run_Dot_Com and “like” RSG on Facebook at facebook.com/Run.com.

About imATHLETE
 
imATHLETE blends registration, fundraising and e-commerce technology with the social networking and gamefication inherent in running, triathlon, cycling and all participatory sports. Recognized as a leading force in the sporting world with its industry-changing registration technology, imATHLETE is one of the fastest growing companies in the market. With clients and partners that include ASICS Los Angeles Marathon, 500 Festival Mini Marathon, GORE-TEX Philadelphia Marathon, MetroPCS Dallas Marathon, Twin Cities in Motion, American Trail Running Association, and thousands of others. imATHLETE technology is transforming the relationship between event organizers and their participants. To learn more about imATHLETE, visit www.imATHLETE.com. imATHLETE also can be found on Twitter by following @IAmAthlete and by liking the imATHLETE Facebook page.
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
This news release includes statements that are or may be considered “forward-looking” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words or phrases such as “believe,” “expect,” “future,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “estimates,” “outlook,” “potential,” “optimistic,” “confidence,” “continue,” “evolve,” “expand,” “growth” or words and phrases of similar meaning. Statements that describe objectives, plans or goals also are forward-looking statements.

All of these forward-looking statements are subject to risks, management assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statements. The principal risk factors that could cause actual performance and future actions to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the company’s reliance on a few key vendors for a majority of its merchandise purchases (including a significant portion from one key vendor); the availability and timely receipt of products; the ability to timely fulfill and ship products to customers; fluctuations in oil prices causing changes in gasoline and energy prices, resulting in changes in consumer spending as well as increases in utility, freight and product costs; product demand and market acceptance risks; deterioration of macro-economic and business conditions; the inability to locate and obtain or retain acceptable lease terms for the company’s stores; the effect of competitive products and pricing; loss of key employees; execution of strategic growth initiatives (including actual and potential mergers and acquisitions and other components of the company’s capital allocation strategy); cybersecurity risks, including breach of customer data; and the other risks detailed in the company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included herein are made only as of the date of this report and Finish Line undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Contacts: Running Specialty Group / Dianna L. Boyce, Corporate Communications, 317-613-6577


Source RSG through BUSINESS WIRE by press release ©