While boasting that it wants to overtake Puma, New Balance is moving into the skate footwear market, through a licensing deal with Black Box Distribution in California. The range is to be branded as New Balance Numeric or NB#. Black Box, a company specializing in skating products, will make and market both footwear and apparel under these brands. The deal initially covers the U.S. and Canada, where New Balance's skate range is to be launched in the third quarter of next year, through specialist skating and action sports retailers only.

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