Puma SE, branded as Puma, is a German multinational corporation that designs and manufactures athletic and casual footwear, apparel, and accessories, which is headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany. Puma is the third-largest sportswear manufacturer in the world. The company was founded in 1948 by Rudolf Dassler. In 1924, Rudolf and his brother Adolf "Adi" Dassler had jointly formed the company Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory). The relationship between the two brothers deteriorated until the two agreed to split in 1948, forming two separate entities, Adidas and Puma. Both companies are currently based in Herzogenaurach, Germany. As of 2017, Puma SE employs more than 13,000 people worldwide and distributes its products in more than 120 countries. Following the split from his brother, Rudolf originally registered the newly established company as Ruda (derived from Rudolf Dassler, as Adidas was based on Adi Dassler), but later changed the name to Puma.