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p : 136 | c : 2<br />

risk<br />

categories<br />

macroeconomic risks<br />

As an international company, <strong>PUMA</strong> is<br />

directly exposed to macroeconomic risks.<br />

Developments in the broader economy can<br />

have a direct impact on consumer behavior.<br />

For example, political crises, changes to the<br />

legal framework and social influences may<br />

have a direct positive or negative effect on<br />

consumer behavior.<br />

<strong>PUMA</strong> counters these risks through geographic<br />

diversification and a balanced product<br />

portfolio that leaves its own creative<br />

mark and thus should set the Company<br />

apart from the competition in a positive<br />

manner.<br />

Brand image<br />

As a branded consumer products company,<br />

<strong>PUMA</strong> is well aware of the importance of a<br />

strong brand image. <strong>PUMA</strong> has created an<br />

enviable brand image through its innovative<br />

and compelling brand communication.<br />

Brand image is extremely important: it can<br />

have a positive impact on consumer behavior,<br />

but also a negative one. For example,<br />

counterfeit products can significantly hurt<br />

consumer confidence in a brand and lead to<br />

a negative brand image.<br />

The <strong>PUMA</strong> brand’s extremely high profile<br />

means that product counterfeiters are<br />

increasingly focusing on it. The fight against<br />

brand piracy is one of the top priorities at<br />

pUMa BUsiness and sUstainaBility RepoRt 2012<br />

<strong>PUMA</strong>. <strong>PUMA</strong>’s intellectual property team<br />

does more than just protect a major global<br />

intellectual property portfolio of trademarks,<br />

designs and patents. Its global network<br />

of brand protection officers, external<br />

law firms and private investigation agencies<br />

also battles an increasing number of counterfeit<br />

products that damage <strong>PUMA</strong>’s image<br />

and sales.<br />

In order to effectively confront product<br />

piracy, <strong>PUMA</strong> also works closely with customs<br />

and other law-enforcement authorities<br />

around the world and provides input<br />

regarding the implementation of effective<br />

laws to protect intellectual property.<br />

Even a negative media report about <strong>PUMA</strong>,<br />

for instance over a product recall, infringement<br />

of date protection laws or disciplinary<br />

proceedings, can do significant damage<br />

to the brand and ultimately also result in<br />

the loss of sales and profit, regardless of<br />

whether these events actually happened or<br />

were assumed by the media. In addition to<br />

consistently sophisticated careful PR work,<br />

in the year under review <strong>PUMA</strong> decided to<br />

buy insurance policies to cover such consequential<br />

losses and any ensuing costs.<br />

personnel risks<br />

Creative potential, commitment and<br />

performance of its employees are important<br />

pillars and simultaneously significant<br />

opportunities for the success of any<br />

business. <strong>PUMA</strong> encourages independent<br />

thinking and acting, which is key in a trustbased<br />

corporate culture with a flat hierarchy.<br />

ManageMent RepoRt<br />

<strong>PUMA</strong>’s human-resources strategy seeks to<br />

ensure the long-term sustainability of this<br />

successful philosophy. To achieve this goal,<br />

a control process is in place to detect and<br />

assess human-resources risks. Accordingly,<br />

special attention has been paid to talent<br />

management, identifying key positions<br />

and talented individuals, as well as optimal<br />

talent placement and succession planning.<br />

<strong>PUMA</strong> has instituted additional national and<br />

global regulations and guidelines to ensure<br />

compliance with legal provisions.<br />

<strong>PUMA</strong> will continue to make targeted<br />

investments in the human resources need<br />

for particular functions or regions in order<br />

to meet the future requirement of its corporate<br />

strategy.<br />

procurement risks<br />

Most products are produced in the emerging<br />

markets of Asia. Production in these<br />

countries is associated with various risks.<br />

For instance, certain risks may result from<br />

factors such as fluctuations in exchange<br />

rates, changes in taxes and customs duties,<br />

trade restrictions, natural disasters and<br />

political instability. Risks may also result<br />

from an overdependence on individual<br />

manufacturers.<br />

The portfolio is regularly reviewed and<br />

adjusted to avoid creating a dependence on<br />

individual s<strong>up</strong>pliers and procurement markets.<br />

In order to ensure that the necessary<br />

future production capacity will be available,<br />

framework agreements are generally concluded<br />

for extended periods.<br />

Applying the principles of sustainable development,<br />

the <strong>PUMA</strong>.Safe team was founded<br />

years ago to s<strong>up</strong>port the optimal integration<br />

of environmental protection and social<br />

responsibility into <strong>PUMA</strong>’s core business<br />

areas and to reconcile these two pillars of<br />

sustainable development with economic<br />

development.<br />

product and market<br />

environment<br />

Recognizing and taking advantage of<br />

relevant consumer trends early on is key to<br />

avoiding the risk posed by market-specific<br />

product influences, in particular the risk<br />

of substitutability in the increasingly<br />

competitive lifestyle market. Continuous<br />

development and implementation of new<br />

and innovative concepts are needed to<br />

adjust to continually shortening lifecycles.<br />

Only those companies that identify these<br />

trends at an early stage will be able to gain<br />

an edge over their competitors.<br />

<strong>PUMA</strong>’s heavy investment in product design<br />

and development ensures that the characteristic<br />

<strong>PUMA</strong> design and the targeted<br />

diversification of the entire product range<br />

are consistent with the overall brand strategy,<br />

thereby creating a unique level of brand<br />

recognition.<br />

Additionally, on the sales side, <strong>PUMA</strong> is pursuing<br />

a selective distribution strategy in<br />

order to maintain a distinctive brand identity<br />

and reduce dependence on particular distribution<br />

channels. The expansion of the Company’s<br />

own retail outlets is also intended to

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