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Chelsea
Football Club announces Samsung Electronics as
Official Club Sponsor
London, U.K. - April 25th, 2005 - Chelsea Football
Club is delighted to announce Samsung Electronics
Co. Ltd as its new Official Club Sponsor.
The agreement was signed today at Stamford Bridge,
Chelsea´s stadium, by In-Soo Kim, Samsung
European President, and Peter Kenyon, Chelsea
FC plc Chief Executive.
The five year deal, which starts on June 1, 2005,
is the biggest ever sponsorship deal signed by
Chelsea and the second largest by Samsung after
its sponsorship of the Olympic Games.
The logo of ´Samsung Mobile´ will
appear on the new Chelsea Centenary shirts for
the first time on its pre-season tour this summer.
Chelsea Chief Executive Peter Kenyon said: "We
are absolutely delighted to have Samsung as our
new official club sponsor. The company is one
of the world´s largest brand names, and
we are excited about what it can offer Chelsea.
"Samsung has a key part to play in the future
global development of Chelsea and we believe we
can play a similar role for it in its strategic
aims. There is a great synergy between the two
brands in terms of recent dramatic growth and
success, levels of performance and market targets.
"As a company it has already shown a strong
commitment to sport through sponsorship of the
Olympic Games and in football through its ownership
of Suwon Bluewings, the champions of Asia. We
look forward to a long and fruitful relationship."
The agreement gives Samsung exclusivity with
Chelsea in product categories such as mobile phones,
AV, white goods and IT equipment.
"Samsung and Chelsea Football Club are organisations
with a huge presence in their respective global
markets," said In-Soo Kim, President &
CEO of Samsung Electronics Europe.
"Samsung is already a leading global brand
in digital technology and is enjoying dramatic
growth in Europe, success that is being replicated
by Chelsea´s impact in the UEFA Champions
League and the English Premiership.
"Chelsea is making its mark on the world
stage as one of the rising stars of football,
and the association with the club will not only
help drive and enhance Samsung´s image on
a global scale but also allow us to get even closer
to our customers. Samsung is an equally ambitious
company, and we are looking forward to sharing
that drive and momentum to build on our success
and boost brand awareness."
In-Soo Kim added: "Chelsea Football Club
has a stylish heritage that is reflected in Samsung´s
passion for design and innovation. Samsung has
highlighted its leadership in mobile and therefore
has chosen this to appear on the Chelsea shirt.
Samsung Mobile is already a leading brand globally.
I am convinced that the association with Samsung
Mobile will create a positive spill-over effect
for other product categories. We will be undertaking
a range of marketing activities to support this
partnership and will look to strengthen the value
of both brands as well as drive product sales
on a global scale."
Chelsea Football Club Manager and First Team
Coach, Jose Mourinho, was also present at the
announcement, and posed for photographs with In-Soo
Kim and Peter Kenyon, as was Chelsea´s Business
Affairs Director Paul Smith, who made the opening
press conference address.
Paul Smith said: "Our relationship with
Samsung is the next, and very important step,
in the Chelsea business plan of working with global,
blue-chip partners at every level.
"In the last two years Chelsea´s UK
fan base has increased by 300 percent to an impressive
2.9 million. Worldwide, the fan base is approaching
20 million. That represents amazing growth. The
Chelsea brand is seen as dynamic, cosmopolitan
and successful which represents an attractive
platform for our partners."
Sponsorship activities between Chelsea and Samsung
will run in the UK and across Europe, Asia as
well as in North and South America. This will
drive further sales and marketing activities,
starting with Samsung´s Mobile division.
Samsung will promote the company´s expertise
in telecommunications and digital convergence,
and grow its position in Europe as leading design
and development for consumer technology.
About Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader
in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media
and digital convergence technologies with 2004
parent company sales of US$55.2 billion and net
income of US$10.3 billion. Employing approximately
123,000 people in 93 offices in 48 countries,
the company consists of five main business units:
Digital Appliance Business, Digital Media Business,
LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and Telecommunication
Network Business. Recognized as one of the fastest
growing brands, Samsung Electronics is the world´s
largest producer of colour monitors, colour TVs,
memory chips and TFT-LCDs. For more information,
please visit www.samsung.com
For further information please contact:
Chelsea FC
Simon Greenberg +44 (0)207 958 2885 simon.greenberg@chelseafc.com
Helen Wood +44 (0)207 565 1487 / +44 (0)7764 787180
helen.wood@chelseafc.com
Samsung
Suyeon Chae +82 (0)2-727-7824 suyeon.chae@samsung.com
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