Europe

Zurich Insurance has agreed a three-year deal with the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation to sponsor its re-launched Swiss Ice Hockey Cup.

The Rugby Football Union has agreed a four-year deal for transportation company Heathrow Express to become the new official principal partner of England Sevens.

German sportswear giant Adidas has reached a three-year sponsorship agreement with the Milan Marathon.

Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club and Qatar Petroleum International, which represents the Gulf state’s energy portfolio globally, have signed a sponsorship deal encompassing this year’s horse racing showpiece, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Cheltenham Racecourse has reached a three-year agreement with Freebets.com to make the betting affiliate site the title sponsor of its two mile five furlong handicap chase on Festival Trials Day.

English Premier League champion Manchester United has announced regional sponsorship agreements with Commercial Bank of Qatar and Emirates NBD Bank.

Uefa Champions League and German Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich has extended its long-standing partnership with hotels group Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

Clifford Chance has agreed a deal to become the official law firm of the Rugby World Cup 2015 international rugby union tournament.

Healthcare company Omega Pharma has renewed its co-title sponsorship of UCI WorldTour cycling team Omega Pharma – Quick Step.

Borussia Dortmund has entered into a partnership with Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei, with the agreement set to boost connectivity within the Bundesliga football giant’s Signal Iduna Park.

English Premier League football club Manchester City has agreed a new three-year partnership with UAE banking group First Gulf Bank.

Capital Properties has agreed to renew its kit sponsorship deal with English Premiership rugby union club Sale Sharks for the 2013-14 season.

Stanley CRC Evans Offshore has agreed a five-year extension to its shirt sponsorship deal with Scottish Premiership football team Ross County through to 2018.

Ferry company Stena Line has agreed to become the title sponsor of Northern Irish Elite Ice Hockey League team Belfast Giants for a third successive season.

Russian energy giant Gazprom has signed a four-year sponsorship deal with Fifa which will take in the country’s staging of its first World Cup in 2018.

Manchester-based financial services company AJ Bell has agreed a nine-year stadium naming rights partnership with English Premiership top-tier rugby union team Sale Sharks.