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Native name | 李宁有限公司 |
|---|---|
| Company type | Public |
| SEHK: 2331 | |
| Industry | Sportswear andsports equipment[1] |
| Founded | 1989; 36 years ago (1989) |
| Headquarters |
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Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | |
| Products | Athletic shoes,apparel,sports equipment,accessories |
| Revenue |  US$1.1 billion (FY 2012)[2] |
| US$318.8 million (FY 2012)[2] | |
| Website | lining.com |
| Li-Ning Co., Ltd. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 李宁有限公司 | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 李寧有限公司 | ||||||
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Li-Ning Company Limited is a Chinesesportswear andsports equipment company founded by former Olympic gymnastLi Ning. The company endorses a number of international athletes and teams.
The company was founded in 1989 byLi Ning, a former Chinese Olympic gymnast. As of 2015, Li Ning remained the chairman of the company's board of directors.[3] In 2005, Li-Ning created a joint-venture with French sports apparel company,AIGLE, giving Li-Ning the exclusive right to be the sole distributor of AIGLE's products in China for 50 years.[4] In 2006, Li-Ning posted revenues of US$418 million, and total profits of about US$39 million. As of March 2007, there were 4,297 Li-Ning retail stores.[5] The company directly owns some of the retail stores while others are franchised.
In January 2010, Li-Ning opened its U.S. headquarters and flagship store inPortland, Oregon. In 2010, as part of the 'Revitalization' of the brand, Li-Ning released a new logo and the new slogan "让改变发生" "Ràng Gǎibiàn Fāshēng" in Chinese, translated to "Let the Change Occur" in English. In January 2011, Li-Ning entered into a partnership with Chicago-basedAcquity Group[6] to expand its U.S. distribution and brand awareness.
In April 2012, Li-Ning was awarded the highest distinction of "Outstanding Contribution to Quality Standardization Award" in knitwear division at the Third National Textile Standardization Technical Committee's inaugural meeting held inZhuhai,Guangdong. In September 2012, Li-Ning signed into a partnership with NBA playerDwyane Wade.
In 2013, The Group recorded revenue of RMB2,906 million, which represented a decrease of 24.6% year-on-year, due to near-term focus on sell-in reductions, inventory clearance, and reducing the number of stores.[7] The Group projected a net loss of up to 820 million yuan (US$13.19 million) for 2014, the third straight year where it was unprofitable.[8][9]
In 2019, Li-Ning reported revenues increased by 32 percent and reached 13.87 billion yuan against 10.51 billion yuan a year ago. Net profit attributable to equity holders increased to ¥1.5 billion from ¥715.3 million which vaulted 110 percent.[10]
In 2020, Li-Ning saw its revenue increase 4.2 percent year-on-year to 14.46 billion yuan ($2.22 billion), the net profit increased on a comparative basis by 34.2 percent to 1.7 billion yuan ($261 million).[11]
On 7 March 2022, the world largest sovereign wealth fund, theGovernment Pension Fund of Norway excluded and divested from Li-Ning. The reason for this exclusion was an "unacceptable risk that the company contributes to serious human rights violations".[12][13] That same month, theUS Customs & Border Protection began detaining Li-Ning products from entering American soil due to the company using North Korean labor in its supply chain, causing them to withdraw from the US market.[14]
The company's production facilities have been linked tohuman rights abuses against Uyghurs.[15]
The company has used sponsorship deals, particularly with athletes and sports teams, both inChina and abroad, to raise its profile.[16]
In 2006, the company entered strategic collaborations with theNational Basketball Association, theAssociation of Tennis Professionals, theChinese University Basketball Association, and theChinese Football Association. It also signed sponsorship deals with the Chinese national teams and theSudan track and field team. The company would also provide apparel for theArgentina national basketball team at international events including the2008 Summer Olympics and2012 Summer Olympics. A similar deal was made with the Swedish Olympic Committee.[5]
Indian Olympic Association had signed a sponsorship deal with Li Ning for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.[17]
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the brand held a fashion show on January 18, 2020, during Paris menswear fashion week. The show also showcased a 10-piece capsule collection in collaboration withJackie Chan and a sneaker done up withDwyane Wade.[18]
Li-Ning sought sponsorship opportunities related to the2008 Summer Olympics held inBeijing, China. The company arranged to outfit every presenter for broadcasterCCTV-5, the sports channel of theChinese Central Television.[19] Li-Ning also sponsored the Chinese national teams of Gymnastics, Table Tennis, Archery and Diving. It also sponsored the Spanish basketball team, as well as the Argentine andSwedish Olympics teams.
In a now famous case ofambush marketing (a subset ofguerilla marketing), when entire countries were tuned to the2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, millions saw Li Ning light the torch.[20] Though the Li-Ning company was not an official sponsor of the games, it had still associated itself with the games through its role as an equipment supplier for several Chinese Olympic teams, and through Li's status as a Chinese sports and business icon. Consequently, the ceremony generated tremendous exposure for Li's eponymous company to the chagrin of official sports apparel supplierAdidas, as viewers did not realize that he had been fully dressed in Adidas as per its sponsorship rights to the Games.[21] The company's share price increased by over 3% on the first day of trading after the opening ceremony.[22]
Li-Ning was an official marketing partner of theNational Basketball Association and has/had sponsorship deals with ten players:Baron Davis (retired),Shaquille O'Neal (retired),Damon Jones (retired),José Calderón (retired),Cleanthony Early of theRio Grande Valley Vipers,Glenn Robinson III of theGolden State Warriors,Evan Turner of theAtlanta Hawks,Dwyane Wade of theMiami Heat (lifetime contract), andCJ McCollum of the New Orleans Pelicans.[5]
In 2006, O'Neal signed a four-year deal with Li-Ning, reportedly worth US$1.25 million, the largest deal made by the company, and the highest profile signing of an American sports star by a Chinese company.[23] O'Neal cited former teammate Damon Jones and the Spanish national basketball team's deal with Li-Ning as influences on his decision to sign with Li-Ning.[24][25]
Previously, Li-Ning also operated as shirt sponsor for theVietnam national football team from 2006 to 2008, which saw Vietnam's prominent rise to successes in2007 AFC Asian Cup and2008 AFF Championship.
In 2010, Li-Ning became the official shirt sponsor for Tajikistan's tennis team, as well as forFC Istiklol.
In 2012,Dwyane Wade left theJordan Brand for Li-Ning. The deal was worth $10 million.[26]
In 2019, Li-Ning announced that it would not do business with theHouston Rockets after the NBA team's then-general managerDaryl Morey tweeted in support of the2019–20 Hong Kong protests.[27] Also, Li-Ning along withSunlight Sports Pvt. Ltd. (representative and distributor of Li-Ning in India)[28] signed sponsorship deals with Indian badminton playersP V Sindhu andKidambi Srikanth.[29][30]
Indonesia (Asian Games and Sea Games only)
Espanyol (2010-2012)Celta de Vigo (2010-2013)Málaga (2010-2011)Sevilla (2011-2012)
Tractor SC (2017-2018)Persepolis (2018-2019)Esteghlal Khuzestan
Puebla (2018-2019)
Vardar (2008-2012)
Istiklol (2010-2012)
Phu Dong (2019-2022)In July 2011, Li-Ning, along with other majorsportswear and fashion brands includingNike,Adidas andAbercrombie & Fitch, was the subject of a report by the environmental groupGreenpeace entitled 'Dirty Laundry'. Li-Ning, along with Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas,Bauer Hockey,Calvin Klein,Converse,Cortefiel,H&M,Lacoste, Nike, Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation (PVH Corp) andPuma, were accused of working with suppliers inChina who, according to the findings of the report, contribute to the pollution of theYangtze andPearl Rivers.[35] Samples taken from one facility belonging to theYoungor Group located on theYangtze River Delta and another belonging to the Well Dyeing Factory Ltd. located on a tributary of thePearl River Delta revealed the presence of hazardous and persistenthormone disruptor chemicals, includingalkylphenols,perfluorinated compounds andperfluorooctane sulfonate.[citation needed]
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