HAMMER NEWS

EBONITE INTERNATIONAL ACQUIRES ALL RIGHTS TO HAMMER BRAND

Hopkinsville, KY - Ebonite International, Inc. continues to be the bowling industry’s
most proactive company with the acquisition of all rights to the Hammer
brand name and its product technology from Faball Enterprises,
announced William T. Scheid, president of Ebonite.




Effective February 8, 2002, Ebonite International, Inc. will own the
Hammer brand name. This brand was previously licensed to Faball USA.
"Hammer is an icon brand in the bowling industry that, unfortunately,
has not been able to maintain its technological edge over the past few
years," said Scheid. "We strongly believe that there is still a large,
core audience for this brand if the right product is developed and
offered. It is our intent to revive Hammer and return it to its
rightful place in the bowling market."




Faball Enterprises was formed in 1978 by Johnny Wonders and Earl
Widman. In 1981, they created the second urethane ball in the market
and Hammer was born. After a PBA player was featured on a tournament
telecast playing the ball, sales exploded.




"We were the first to put a logo on the side of the ball. After that
telecast, a revolution was born," said Wonders. "Our thick shell
urethane was truly unique and could really perform. Our followers
started calling themselves Hammerheads."




In 1996, Faball Enterprises licensed the Hammer product name to Faball
USA. This company has maintained the brand name since that time until
its acquisition by Ebonite.




"When you develop a product like Hammer, it’s like giving birth to a
child," said Wonders. "I am confident the brand is now in good hands
with Ebonite International. I look for Hammer to become a force in the
industry once again."




Ebonite is committed to maintaining a separate identity for Hammer.
"Hammer will be Hammer. It will have its own product development team
to ensure that the balls have their own cutting edge technology and
distinct look," said Scheid. "The followers of this brand have great
expectations and we intend to meet them. Our company is a proponent of
supporting and growing the sport. We believe in customer service for
all of our customers and this will apply to Hammer’s customers as
well," he said.




This is the second major acquisition by Ebonite International in the
past year. In 2001, the company purchased Colorado-based Vantage
Bowling Corporation, a leading capital equipment and replacement parts
company.




Based in Hopkinsville, Kent., Ebonite International is a
privately-owned company that currently services bowling centers,
distributors and retail outlets both domestically and internationally.

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• 02/07/2002
  EBONITE INTERNATIONAL ACQUIRES ALL RIGHTS TO HAMMER BRAND

  Hopkinsville, KY - Ebonite International, Inc. continues to be the bowling industry’s
  most