Philips shavers today announces a partnership deal to become Male Shaving Partner of the WilliamsF1 Team in 2006. The deal offers Philips marketing opportunities specifically designed to drive sales and position Philips shavers as the premier male shaver brand to the Formula One audience, estimated at 162 million per Grand Prix.

Through this programme, Philips shavers will be able to exercise various rights as an official sponsor at over 19 Formula One Grands Prix. These rights will be key in supporting local country activation events for retail partners and consumers. Philips shavers will be able to use the combined partner logo, WilliamsF1 images and archive materials for marketing purposes. The partnership is supported by specific designed Philips and WilliamsF1 shavers, which are scheduled for release in 2006.

Like WilliamsF1, Philips shavers prides itself on its advances in innovation, design and technology. WilliamsF1 is dedicated to furthering the pursuit of excellence and developing equipment which exceeds every performance demand from its drivers. Similarly, Philips shavers have always been at the forefront of innovation in their field of expertise, leading the way with revolutionary design, cutting edge technology and consumer-centric vision.

With 66 years of heritage in the shaving category and 450 million shavers sold, Philips is a ground-breaking leader in the shaving market. The inventor of rotary shaving, Philips has been responsible for many category-breaking innovations that have set new standards for the consumer to experience.

The WilliamsF1 Team is one of the most successful Formula One teams in the history of the sport. With a proven pedigree, the WilliamsF1 Team has won 16 World Championships titles in just 28 years, including nine Constructors’ Championships, seven Drivers’ Championships and 113 victories.

Frank Williams, the WilliamsF1 Team Principal, commented, “We are delighted to have formed this partnership with an internationally acknowledged brand and market leader. I hope the association with WilliamsF1 will augment and contribute to the continuous growth of the Phillips Shaver brand.” Andrea Ragnetti, CEO, Philips Domestic Appliances & Personal Care added, “Philips mission is to improve the quality of people’s lives through technological innovations, and aims to do this by working with strategic partners who support breakthrough technology and WilliamsF1 demonstrate these brand
values.”

Nico Engelsman, Senior Vice President Philips Domestic Appliances & Personal Care and Business Manager at Philips Shavers, concluded: “WilliamsF1 is one of the most important names in sport and we are extremely pleased to have created a partnership with them. It gives us an enormous amount of pride to be named as the Male Shaving Partner of the WilliamsF1 Team.”