DeBartolo Holdings

DeBartolo Sports & Entertainment merges with Cindrich & Co.

TAMPA, Florida - DeBartolo Sports and Entertainment LLC (DSE) announced today, Nov. 29, that it has merged with Cindrich & Co., to become one the nation’s most powerful and influential athlete management and hospitality companies. The two companies inked the deal this morning and DSE officially acquired Cindrich & Co.’s assets. The corporate headquarters will be located in Tampa, Fla. with regional offices in Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and Columbus, Ohio.

Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr.’s decision to expand his involvement in sports beyond hospitality packages occurred in March 2006 at the San Francisco 49ers’ reunion held at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. While spending time with the five-time Super Bowl winning athletes whom he considers family, it became clear to him that his concern for them was still in his blood.

Also at the reunion was Chuck Saulino founder of Allsports Enterprises, the hospitality arm of DeBartolo. An associate and friend of the DeBartolo family for more than 25 years, Saulino agreed that the DeBartolo brand should be extended to athlete management, an area that has always been a passion of Mr. DeBartolo. Known as the players’ owner, Mr. DeBartolo and Mr. Saulino created DeBartolo Sports and Entertainment LLC, now a full-service athlete management agency and hospitality company. DeBartolo will serve as DSE Chairman and Saulino, President.

As part of their corporate strategy, DeBartolo and Saulino wanted to make an immediate impact in the market so they decided to purchase an existing athlete management company. After several months of high level discussions with the nation’s top agencies, DeBartolo and Saulino made the decision to acquire Cindrich & Co.’s assets and merge with Mr. Ralph Cindrich.

Cindrich founded Cindrich & Co. in 1977 after retiring from the NFL having played for the New England Patriots (1972) and the Houston Oilers (1973-75). Since then, he has made The Sporting News’ “100 Most Powerful” list with the publication stating he is “one of the Top 100 Most Powerful people in all of sports, one of the most influential agents in the NFL." Cindrich will continue to serve the sports and entertainment industry as Chief Operating Officer of DSE.

“Ralph Cindrich is one of the most powerful men in the sports industry. He brings nearly 30 years of sports industry experience to the table and we are pleased that he is now a very important member of the DeBartolo family of companies,” says DeBartolo, Chairman of DSE.

DeBartolo says that he will continue to grow DSE by hiring the most experienced agents who are certified by the National Football League Players Association.

Leading the line-up of agents are some of the most impressive names in the industry, Adam Heller, Adam Van Rees, Greg Diulus and Brian Kopp. Heller is a well-known, certified contract advisor with the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). He has assisted in the negotiation of more than $200 million in NFL contracts. Van Rees is a registered athlete-agent and a certified contract advisor with the NFLPA. Diulus has been with Cindrich & Co. since 1989 and will remain on staff with DSE as a certified agent by the NFLPA. He will continue his responsibilities which range from marketing and attaining endorsement opportunities for clients to pre-draft marketing, pro-day planning and new client recruitment. Kopp is a certified agent by the National Football League Players Association.

The organization will continue to look at future opportunities within the sports marketing arena which are synergistic with the corporate business objectives.

About DeBartolo Sports and Entertainment, Athlete Management Division: An integral component of the DeBartolo Sports and Entertainment portfolio is the Athlete Management Division. This dynamic affiliate offers personal management services for today’s finest professional athletes. When you are represented by one of DSE’s certified sports agents you become a part of the DeBartolo business family. Through many of the same values and beliefs that made Eddie DeBartolo Jr. a Super Bowl and Stanley Cup Championship owner, a DSE athlete will be represented with the highest level of integrity and respect. Personal management services for our athletes include: professional contract negotiations, personal wealth management and planning, extensive public and media relations as well as family estate and retirement planning. Financial security is the ultimate benefit that we will provide for a DSE athlete and their families.
For more information on the DeBartolo portfolio of companies please visit www.thedebartologroup.com or call the Tampa corporate headquarters at 813.908.8400. For more information on DeBartolo hospitality packages, please visit www.debartolosports.com or call 888-DSE-1DSE.

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DEBARTOLO BECOMES OUTBACK BOWL OFFICIAL GAME SPONSOR

Tampa, FL – Outback Bowl officials announced today that DeBartolo has agreed to become an “Official Game Sponsor” of the New Year’s Day college football bowl game for the next two years. DeBartolo has sponsored the bowls annual Team Luncheon during the week of the game for the past four years. Their name will remain on the luncheon, but as part of their increased involvement they will also be added as the title sponsor of the DeBartolo Pregame Show in Raymond James Stadium on game day.

DeBartolo joins the U.S. Marines, Tampa Bay Convention & Visitor Bureau, St Petersburg/Clearwater Area CVB and Anheuser Busch in the bowls second highest category of sponsorship following title sponsor Outback Steakhouse.

“The DeBartolo name is synonymous with success and sports so it is with pride that we welcome Eddie DeBartolo Jr., his family and the DeBartolo affiliates as an Official Game Sponsor of the Outback Bowl, sponsor of our Participating Team Luncheon and spectacular Pregame Show,” stated Outback Bowl President/CEO Jim McVay.“Mr DeBartolo and his company have been tremendous supporters of the Outback Bowl for years and we are thrilled that they have decided to expand their participation with our New Year’s Day game.”

“On behalf of the entire DeBartolo family as well as the staff and employees of the DeBartolo affiliate companies nationwide we are proud to increase our support and sponsorship in this outstanding college bowl game. The rich tradition that the Outback Bowl represents mirrors our company philosophy of building strong business partnerships within our community. We are proud to be a part of such a wonderful event”, said Edward J. DeBartolo Jr., Chairman of the Board of DeBartolo.

DeBartolo in Brief: The entrepreneurial spirit of DeBartolo never stops evolving. Seeing the potential in others has always been a recognized strength of the company. Thus DeBartolo Holdings, LLC was formed to optimize the portfolio of DeBartolo affiliate companies, property development and equity interests. The activities consist of investments in equity securities as well as short and medium term loans for expansion financing, acquisitions, leveraged or management buyouts and recapitalization of promising North American companies.

The DeBartolo portfolio of affiliate companies today includes: DeBartolo Development, LLC, a nationwide commercial real estate and residential development company, Hytec Automotive, one of the world’s foremost suppliers of new water pumps for automobiles and trucks, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio; Famous Famiglia an award winning, national retail pizza company, founded and based in
New York City, Ed & Eddie’s Ice Cream a walk-up sundry store in south Tampa, Florida and the most recent affiliate DeBartolo Sports and Entertainment, LLC, a leading sports and entertainment travel company which provides its’ customers with the ultimate travel experience at the world’s leading sporting events.

The DeBartolo family also has a strong philanthropic commitment to the Tampa Bay community as well. The DeBartolo Family Foundation is a non-profit organization created by the members of the Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr. family to benefit local communities. The Foundation annually awards scholarships to deserving students, provides grants to individuals and organizations with special needs, and presents the
Spirit of Humanity Award, honoring non-profit organizations that provide extraordinary assistance to Tampa Bay residents with special needs.

The Outback Bowl will celebrate its 21st year on January 1, 2007 in Raymond James Stadium. The game matches teams from the SEC and Big Ten conference and will be televised internationally on ESPN at 11:00 A.M. ET. Last year’s game brought in 42,000 out of market visitors from 43 states.

Membership ticket packages for the bowl are available through the bowl office at 813-874-BOWL. Individual tickets will go on sale through Ticketmaster beginning October 1. For more information on the Outback Bowl go to www.OutbackBowl.com

For more information on the DeBartolo portfolio of companies please visit www.thedebartologroup.com or call the Tampa corporate headquarters at 813.908.8400.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Hytec Automotive Receives TS 16949 Certification

Category: Parts and Accessory News

Hytec Automotive recently earned the TS 16949 certification from National Quality Assurance USA (NQA), making its products compliant with automotive standards worldwide. Hytec Automotive, a DeBartolo company, supplies new water pumps for automobiles, light and heavy-duty trucks, marine, high performance and industrial applications.