World TeamTennis and Mylan Announce Title Sponsorship Extension Through 2017
PITTSBURGH and NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- World TeamTennis (WTT), the innovative leader in professional team tennis competition, and Mylan (Nasdaq: MYL), one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, today announced an extension of their title sponsorship agreement through 2017.
Mylan will continue to serve as the title sponsor of Mylan World TeamTennis, extending a partnership that began in 2012. Mylan WTT is the ground-breaking league co-founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King that introduced men and women playing together in professional team tennis competition. Mylan WTT features some of tennis' biggest names competing in more than 50 matches annually in seven U.S. markets. The agreement includes naming and logo rights, broadcast and digital assets, merchandising, and onsite promotion at Mylan WTT matches.
Mylan CEO Heather Bresch commented, "We are very excited to continue our relationship with WTT through 2017 and continue to expand on our organizations' shared commitment to helping people around the world overcome barriers to access. At Mylan, we are working every day to set new standards in health care and provide the world's 7 billion people access to high quality medicine. WTT, in partnership with Mylan, is delivering on its mission of ensuring that everyone – regardless of gender or economic standing—has access to empowerment of team sports, and we look forward to continuing to bring WTT to new markets in the coming years."
"Mylan's continued partnership with World TeamTennis is a testament to the success of the league and our shared vision for future growth, including on an international scale," said Ilana Kloss, CEO/Commissioner of Mylan WTT. "It's a privilege to have a long-term partner who shares our values of access and opportunity as we begin our 40th season and move forward into the next phase of expansion of Mylan WTT."
In partnership with WTT, Mylan has established programming initiatives over the past two years to promote access and highlight opportunities for youth and community charity partners. In association with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) sections in team markets, Mylan PlayDays have introduced thousands of children to tennis with the opportunity to participate in clinics with top Mylan WTT pros. In addition, the Mylan Aces program rewards the team with the most aces each night of the season, raising funds and awareness for local charities.
Since aligning with Mylan, the league has experienced exponential growth in television and digital media, with more than 800 hours of domestic and international broadcast programming over the past three years and international market penetration in more than 50 countries and 200 million homes through partnerships with Eurosport, Eurosport Asia and Ten Sports in India. Earlier this year, Mylan WTT reached a multiyear agreement with ESPN to air the Mylan WTT finals live on ESPN2 and broadcast more than 40 hours of programming annually on ESPN3.
The milestone 40th season of Mylan WTT begins July 12 and concludes with the Mylan WTT Finals on Aug. 2. The season will be highlighted by a yearlong marketing and promotional program that includes a series of special events, kicking off with the Mylan WTT Player Draft on March 16 in Indian Wells, California.
Mylan also will continue as the title sponsor of Mylan WTT Smash Hits, the annual charity event co-hosted by King and Sir Elton John. Mylan's relationship with WTT started during the 2012 season as an official league sponsor before becoming title sponsor of the league and Smash Hits in October 2012.
Mylan is one of the world's leading providers of antiretroviral medicines used to treat HIV/AIDS and has a long history of taking an active role in the fight against the disease. In fact, approximately 40% of those receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS in developing countries rely on a Mylan product. The 2014 Mylan WTT Smash Hits, held on Dec. 7 in London, raised more than $1 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. This marked the first time in the event's 22-year history that it was held outside the U.S.
For more information on Mylan WTT, visit www.WTT.com.
About Mylan:
Mylan is a global pharmaceutical company committed to setting new standards in health care. Working together around the world to provide 7 billion people access to high quality medicine, we innovate to satisfy unmet needs; make reliability and service excellence a habit; do what's right, not what's easy; and impact the future through passionate global leadership. We offer a growing portfolio of more than 1,300 generic pharmaceuticals and several brand medications. In addition, we offer a wide range of antiretroviral therapies, upon which approximately 40% of HIV/AIDS patients in developing countries depend. We also operate one of the largest active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturers and currently market products in approximately 140 countries and territories. Our workforce of more than 20,000 people is dedicated to improving the customer experience and increasing pharmaceutical access to consumers around the world. But don't take our word for it. For more information, visit Mylan.com.
About Mylan World TeamTennis (WTT):
Mylan World TeamTennis is the innovative leader in professional team tennis competition and features many of the world's best players competing annually for the King Trophy, the league's championship trophy named after co-founder Billie Jean King. In 2015, Mylan WTT becomes only the fifth major professional team sports league in the United States to reach the 40th season mark, joining an elite list that includes Major League Baseball, the NFL, the NBA and the NHL. The 2015 regular season is July 12-29 with the Conference Championships set for Thursday, July 30. The Mylan WTT Finals, which will air live on ESPN 2, will be contested on the home court of the Eastern Conference champion on Sunday, August 2. ESPN 3 will also broadcast a number of matches throughout the summer. For more information, visit www.WTT.com.
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SOURCE Mylan Inc.
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