Europe

Qatari private investment firm QIPCO Holding has reached a three-year deal with Horse Racing Ireland to become the title sponsor of the Irish Champion Stakes.

Irish Pro12 rugby union team Munster has agreed a 10-year stadium naming rights deal with newspaper group Independent News & Media.

Financial services company Prioritet Finans is to become the new main sponsor of Swedish Allsvenskan top-division football club Djurgården.

Dutch Eredivisie football club Ajax has signed a short-term extension to its main sponsor deal with financial services firm Aegon.

The Kyocera Document Solutions arm of Japanese electronics manufacturer Kyocera has extended its premium partnership with the German Hockey Federation (DHB) to cover this year’s Hockey World Cup.

The UK Sponsorship Awards, of which Sports Sponsorship Insider is a partner, announced the winners in more than 20 award categories at the London Marriot Hotel last night.

British multi-purpose vehicle manufacturer Land Rover has announced an extension to its title sponsorship of the Burghley Horse Trials, with the partnership now set to run until the end of 2017.

Manchester-based sportswear firm Umbro is in talks to return as the kit provider of reigning English Premier League champion Manchester United, according to the Independent newspaper.

A discussion focusing on how the industry promotes itself currently, and how it can improve, will form part of the ESA Sponsorship Summit in London on April 3.

German automotive manufacturer Audi has extended its commitment to winter sports by sponsoring a further three International Ski Federation (FIS) properties.

Hockey apparel and equipment manufacturer Reece Australia has agreed a kit deal with the German Hockey Federation (DHB) covering the next two editions of the summer Olympics.

The Royal Dutch Hockey Association (KNHB) is generating over €4.2m ($5.8m) per year from central sponsors for its 2013 to 2016 commercial cycle as it prepares to host the men’s and women’s Hockey World Cups in May.

EE beat competition from rival telecoms brands and brands from the finance sector to sign its six-year Lead Partner deal last month with Wembley Stadium in London.

IMG Schweiz, the Swiss arm of the IMG agency, has reached a sponsorship deal with charcuterie brand Malbuner for ice hockey’s Spengler Cup.

Cowes Week Limited, the organising body of Isle of Wight sailing regatta Cowes Week, has added Laithwaite’s Wine to its roster of official sponsors under a two-year agreement.

Pre-paid mobile SIM card provider Lycamobile has agreed a deal to become the official mobile partner of Test match grounds in England ahead of the 2014 cricket season.