RML Russell CP Delaware

Russell Announces Spalding Agreement Including Products, Retail Stores in China ATLANTA, May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Russell Corporation (NYSE:RML) announced today that its Spalding division has signed a strategic alliance agreement with Kangwei to design, manufacture and sell Spalding products in China. The agreement covers athletic apparel, footwear and accessories. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030630/RMLCORPLOGO ) Kangwei has established a separate subsidiary, Guangzhou Ganwei Sports Goods Co., Ltd., to focus on the Spalding brand. Ganwei will launch Spalding apparel and footwear in June 2005. Additional plans call for Ganwei to open as many as 600 self-owned or franchised retail stores selling Spalding apparel, footwear and equipment by the end of 2006. "Kangwei's experience with launching athletic brands and managing the business will be extremely beneficial as we continue to take advantage of the growing global popularity of the Spalding brand," said Scott Creelman, president and CEO of Spalding. "Additionally, they have been successful with their Kangwei branded sports products and certainly have a tremendous understanding of the market in China." Founded in 1986, Kangwei is a privately held company located in Guangzhou and was one of the first companies specializing in sporting goods products in China. In 19 years, it has become one of the largest Chinese sports brands with more than 1,000 self-owned or franchised retailing outlets under the Kangwei brand. About Russell Corporation Russell Corporation is a leading branded athletic and sporting goods company marketing athletic apparel, uniforms, footwear and equipment for a wide variety of sports, outdoor and fitness activities. The Company's major brands include Russell Athletic(R), JERZEES(R), Spalding(R), Brooks(R), Huffy Sports(R), Bike(R), Moving Comfort(R), AAI(R) and Mossy Oak(R). The Company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RML and its web site address is http://www.russellcorp.com/ . About Spalding Springfield, MA-based Spalding is a leading producer and marketer of basketballs, footballs, volleyballs and soccer balls under the Spalding brand name and softballs under the Dudley brand. Spalding is the official basketball supplier of the national Basketball Association (NBA) and the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the official volleyball of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and American Volleyball Association (AVA), the official soccer ball of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) and the official football of the American Football League (AFL) and Pop Warner. Spalding was acquired by Russell Corporation in May 2003. Spalding and Russell's other business units, American Athletic (AAI) and Huffy Sports brands, collectively combined, are now part of the largest basketball equipment provider in the country. AAI is the leading seller of gymnastics equipment in the country as well as institutional basketball backboards, and Huffy Sports, is a leader in basketball backboard systems. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030630/RMLCORPLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Russell Corporation CONTACT: Financial, K. Roger Holliday, +1-678-742-8181, or Media, Nancy Young, +1-678-742-8118, both of Russell Corporation Web site: http://www.russellcorp.com/

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