SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE<\/a>)– This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20210513005347\/en\/<\/a><\/p>\n Shaquille O\u2019Neal will be joining The Alkaline Water Company as an equity partner and member of the Company\u2019s Board of Advisors. He will also serve as a marquee brand ambassador for Alkaline88\u00ae. (Photo: Business Wire)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n\ufeff\u201cShaquille O\u2019Neal\u2019s track record as a basketball champion and Hall of Famer has translated into similar successes in business and corporate partnerships. His reputation as an astute investor, larger-than-life brand partner, and phenomenal ambassador makes this partnership extremely exciting,\u201d said Aaron Keay, Chairman of The Alkaline Water Company. \u201cWe want to welcome Shaquille to the Company\u2019s advisory board and believe his positive presence and global outreach will enable Alkaline88\u00ae<\/sup> to aggressively push our growth trajectory even faster.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cAlkaline88 is an innovative product in the water category and I am so excited to partner with The Alkaline Water Company to help raise their game to new heights,\u201d said O\u2019Neal. \u201cI am humbled by the opportunity to join the Advisory Board while also being a brand ambassador.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nAlkaline88 is known for its superior hydration with a perfect 8.8pH balance. The brand was developed to deliver a smooth taste that encourages consumers to drink more and fully hydrate, and the company is dedicated to purity, quality, and value. The water\u2019s ingredient deck is simple, easy to understand, and free of buffers. Dubbed \u201cthe clean beverage,\u201d Alkaline88 ionized water contains just two pure ingredients that customers trust \u2014 water and Pink Himalayan Rock Salt.\n<\/p>\n \nThe Alkaline88 flagship brand of premium alkaline water is now available in 75,000 stores across all trades in the U.S. For more information, visit www.thealkalinewaterco.com<\/a><\/span>.\n<\/p>\n \nAuthentic Brands Group (ABG), a brand development, marketing, and entertainment company is a strategic partner of the Shaquille O\u2019Neal brand.\n<\/p>\n \nComplete details of this Partnership can be found in the Company\u2019s filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n About The Alkaline Water Company:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \nFounded in 2012, The Alkaline Water Company (NASDAQ and CSE: WTER) is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its flagship product, Alkaline88\u00ae, is a leading premier alkaline water brand available in bulk and single-serve sizes along with eco-friendly aluminum packaging options. With its innovative, state-of-the-art proprietary electrolysis process, Alkaline88\u00ae delivers perfect 8.8 pH balanced alkaline drinking water with trace minerals and electrolytes and boasts our trademarked label \u2018Clean Beverage.\u2019 Quickly being recognized as a growing lifestyle brand, Alkaline88\u00ae launched A88 Infused\u2122 in 2019 to meet consumer demand for flavor-infused products. A88 Infused\u2122 flavored water is available in six unique all-natural flavors, with new flavors coming soon. Additionally, in 2020, the Company launched A88 Infused Beverage Division Inc., which includes the Company\u2019s CBD water and flavor-infused water. For the Company\u2019s topical and ingestible offerings, A88 Infused Products Inc. includes both the Company\u2019s lab-tested full-spectrum hemp salves, balms, lotions, essential oils, and bath salts, along with broad-spectrum hemp, powder packs, oil tinctures, capsules, and gummies.\n<\/p>\n \nTo purchase Alkaline88 and A88 Flavor Infused products online, visit us at www.alkaline88.com<\/a><\/span>. To learn more about The Alkaline Water Company, please visit www.thealkalinewaterco.com<\/a><\/span> or connect with us on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, or LinkedIn<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n About Shaquille O\u2019Neal<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n \nShaquille O\u2019Neal is one of the world\u2019s most successful athlete-turned-businessman, whose accomplishments both on and off the court have translated into a highly sought-after consumer brand. As an entrepreneur, sports analyst, DJ, restaurateur, and brand ambassador, Shaquille O\u2019Neal\u2019s signature \u201cBusiness of Fun\u201d mantra resonates throughout each of his countless endeavors.\n<\/p>\n \nThe 15-time NBA All-Star\u2019s unprecedented athletic career spanned nearly two decades and earned him countless awards and honors, including NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA Rookie of the Year, four NBA Championships and a First Ballot NBA Hall of Famer. Currently, O\u2019Neal is an analyst on TNT\u2019s Emmy Award-winning \u201cInside the NBA.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nO’Neal, who has a PhD in Leadership and Education, established The Shaquille O\u2019Neal Foundation which provides resources for underserved youth. He also gives back through a number of annual philanthropic programs including Shaq to School, Shaqsgiving, and Shaq a Claus.\n<\/p>\n \nThe launch of his Las Vegas eatery Big Chicken has further elevated Shaquille\u2019s status as he has positioned himself as a successful restaurateur. A second Big Chicken location is open in Glendale, CA and additional locations will debut at sea on Carnival Cruise Lines Radiance and Mardi Gras.\n<\/p>\n \nFollow Shaquille O\u2019Neal on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n About Authentic Brands Group:<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n \nAuthentic Brands Group (ABG) is a brand development, marketing and entertainment company, which owns a portfolio of global media, entertainment and lifestyle brands. Headquartered in New York City, ABG elevates and builds the long-term value of more than 30 consumer brands and properties by partnering with best-in-class manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Its brands have a global retail footprint across the luxury, specialty, department store, mid-tier, mass, and e-commerce channels, and in more than 5,950 freestanding stores and shop-in-shops around the world.\n<\/p>\n \nABG is committed to transforming brands by delivering compelling product, content, business and immersive experiences. It creates and activates original marketing strategies to drive the success of its brands across all consumer touchpoints, platforms and emerging media. ABG\u2019s portfolio of iconic and world-renowned brands generates more than $10 billion in annual retail sales and includes Marilyn Monroe\u00ae, Elvis Presley\u00ae, Muhammad Ali\u00ae, Shaquille O’Neal\u00ae, Dr. J\u00ae, Greg Norman\u00ae, Neil Lane\u00ae, Thalia\u00ae, Sports Illustrated\u00ae, Eddie Bauer\u00ae*, Spyder\u00ae, Volcom\u00ae, Airwalk\u00ae, Nautica\u00ae, Forever 21\u00ae, A\u00e9ropostale\u00ae, Juicy Couture\u00ae, Vince Camuto\u00ae, Lucky Brand\u00ae, Nine West\u00ae, Jones New York\u00ae, Frederick’s of Hollywood\u00ae, Adrienne Vittadini\u00ae, Tretorn\u00ae, Tapout\u00ae, Prince\u00ae, Vision Street Wear\u00ae, Brooks Brothers\u00ae, Barneys New York\u00ae, Judith Leiber\u00ae, Herve Leger\u00ae, Frye\u00ae, Hickey Freeman\u00ae, Hart Schaffner Marx\u00ae, Thomasville\u00ae, Drexel\u00ae and Henredon\u00ae. Pending acquisition in June 2021*.\n<\/p>\n \nFor more information, visit authenticbrandsgroup.com<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \nFollow ABG on Twitter<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements<\/b><\/p>\n \nThis news release contains \u201cforward-looking statements.\u201d Statements in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the following: the Company\u2019s belief that Shaquille\u2019s positive presence and global outreach will enable Alkaline88\u00ae to aggressively push the Company\u2019s growth trajectory even faster; Shaq\u2019s statement that he looks forward to helping raise the Company\u2019s game to new heights; and that the partnership is expected to provide significant branding, creative, and business benefits to drive both sales and shareholder value creation.\n<\/p>\n \nThe material assumptions supporting these forward-looking statements include, among others, that the demand for the Company\u2019s products will continue to significantly grow; that the past production capacity of the Company\u2019s co-packing facilities can be maintained or increased; that there will be increased production capacity through implementation of new production facilities, new co-packers and new technology; that there will be an increase in number of products available for sale to retailers and consumers; that there will be an expansion in geographical areas by national retailers carrying the Company\u2019s products; that there will be an expansion into new national and regional grocery retailers; that there will be an expansion into new e-commerce, home delivery, convenience, and healthy food channels; that there will not be interruptions on production of the Company\u2019s products; that there will not be a recall of products due to unintended contamination or other adverse events relating to the Company\u2019s products; and that the Company will be able to obtain additional capital to meet the Company\u2019s growing demand and satisfy the capital expenditure requirements needed to increase production and support sales activity. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, governmental regulations being implemented regarding the production and sale of alkaline water or any other products; additional competitors selling alkaline water and enhanced water products in bulk containers reducing the Company\u2019s sales; the fact that the Company does not own or operate any of its production facilities and that co-packers may not renew current agreements and\/or not satisfy increased production quotas; the fact that the Company has a limited number of suppliers of its unique bulk bottles; the potential for supply-chain interruption due to factors beyond the Company\u2019s control; the fact that there may be a recall of products due to unintended contamination; the inherent uncertainties associated with operating as an early stage company; changes in customer demand and the fact that consumers may not embrace enhanced water products as expected or at all; the extent to which the Company is successful in gaining new long-term relationships with new retailers and retaining existing relationships with retailers; the Company\u2019s ability to raise the additional funding that it will need to continue to pursue its business, planned capital expansion and sales activity; competition in the industry in which the Company operates and market conditions and the unexpected illness or other incapacity or inability of any of the Company\u2019s high profile endorsers to perform their obligations under the endorsement agreements with the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and Canada. Although the Company believes that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Readers should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in the reports and other documents the Company files with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov<\/a><\/span>, and on the SEDAR, available at www.sedar.com<\/a><\/span>.\n<\/p>\n View source version on businesswire.com: <\/span>https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20210513005347\/en\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The Alkaline Water Company Inc. Media \nMichelle Ciciyasvili KEYWORDS:<\/b> United States North America Canada Arizona<\/p>\n INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:<\/b> Basketball Sports General Sports Public Relations\/Investor Relations Men Communications Family Food\/Beverage Consumer Retail<\/p>\n
\nThe Alkaline Water Company Inc. (NASDAQ and CSE: WTER) (the \u201cCompany\u201d), the country\u2019s largest independent alkaline water company, is pleased to announce that basketball Hall of Famer and entertainment icon Shaquille O\u2019Neal will be joining The Alkaline Water Company as an equity partner and member of the Company\u2019s Board of Advisors. He will also serve as a marquee brand ambassador for Alkaline88\u00ae<\/sup>.\n<\/p>\n![\"Shaquille](\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20210513005347\/en\/878298\/4\/Shaq_Alkaline88.jpg\")
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Richard A. Wright
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President and CEO
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866-242-0240
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investors@thealkalinewaterco.com<\/a><\/p>\n
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Jessica Starman
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888-461-2233
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jessica@elev8newmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n
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Authentic Brands Group (ABG) \u2013 Shaquille O\u2019Neal
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mciciyasvili@abg-nyc.com<\/a><\/p>\n
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