Formula One team Lotus Renault GP and Processia Solutions have renewed their Technical Partnership, erectile it was announced yesterday, ailment April 6.

The Team and Processia Solutions have been partners since 2005 with the new agreement running until the end of 2012.

Processia specializes in the implementation of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions and provides advanced software development services.

The team are predicting efficiency gains of up to 15 per cent in some areas by improving software communications, nurse information transfer and data translation between departments.

Processia Solutions will continue to bring their expertise to the Design, Production and Race Engineering departments within Lotus Renault GP.

Lotus Renault GP Technical Director James Allison stated: “Success in Formula One is heavily dependent upon innovation. Each season brings a more intense development battle than the last and the team that can bring developments to the circuit the fastest will prosper.

“Furthermore, as the sport enters an era of cost control agreements, there is an even higher premium placed on innovations that allow more work to be done for less cost. Processia help us fight on this often unsung but extremely important front by delivering innovations across a wide range of our processes, allowing us to get our designs to the track faster and more efficiently.”

Processia Chief Executive Officer Vincent Fraser added: “We are proud to extend our long term partnership with Lotus Renault GP, as it demonstrates Processia’s ability to provide high-end bespoke engineering software development in the most demanding environments”

The Rio 2016 Olympics organisers said yesterday, April 6, that they have surpassed a “conservative” US$700m estimate for local sponsorships with just two deals.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) chose Rio to stage the Games in October 2009 and will be the quadrennial event’s first South American host.

Organisers are now aiming to cap local sponsorships at $1.2bn, which means it won’t require government funds to run the event, said Leonardo Gryner, chief executive officer of the Rio organizing committee. The group won’t try to surpass that figure because organizers aren’t motivated by profits, he said.

The 2016 Games have reached agreements with Banco Bradesco SA, Brazil’s second-largest bank by market value, in a banking category and with Embratel Participacoes SA and America Movil SAB’s Claro, both owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, for telecommunications. Gryner said both deals were for more than $320m and set records for local Olympic sponsorships, without providing details.

Gryner told reporters in London: “We would rather reduce the number of sponsors than increase the overall revenue just to create profit. The target we now have is not to require any funds from the government. So we still need to raise one-third of the target.”

Ahead of this Friday’s, April 8, commence of the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), 4 of the cricket competitions franchises have secured new sponsorship deals.

The Rajasthan Royals has unveiled a new premier shirt sponsor, as well as a new principal associate sponsor in The Floriana Group and HDFC Life respectively.

The Floriana Group, which has interests in marble mining, processing and manufacturing, as well as wellness, personal care and agri-business. The one-year deal is believed to be worth around US$3m.

HDFC Life will be the principal associate sponsor this year. Its logo will be emblazoned on the back of the Royals’ shirts.

The sides former shirt sponsor Ultratech Cement, has switched its allegiances to league rivals and 2009 champions the Deccan Chargers, ending a two-year association with the Royals. Although no financial details have been released, the deal is also believed to be worth in the region of US$3m.

In other news, reigning IPL champions the Chennai Super Kings have announced a partnership with TI Cycles who will be associated with the IPL team through its brands BSA & HERCULES as their official bicycle sponsor.

Finally, the Kings XI Punjab has roped in Q Cinemas as their official multiplex sponsor for the upcoming tournament. Under this new sponsorship partnership, the Q Cinemas will have their branding on Jersey.

A sponsorship contract between Coca-Cola and Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney has been ended by the company, meaning that the soccer star will no longer be used to promote the Coke Zero brand.

The decision comes following numerous stories of negative press surrounding Rooney culminating in the striker swearing into the TV cameras after scoring a hat-trick against West Ham United last weekend – a move that has resulted in a two-match ban.

Rooney’s deal with the soft drink brand began in 2005, on a rolling £370,000 (US$603,000) a year sponsorship contract, but the company has now confirmed that it will not be renewing the contract.

According to media reports, the company has become increasingly frustrated with Rooney’s controversial attitude, most recently with the striker’s infamous foul-mouthed celebration in which he admitted a charge of using foul and abusive language.

A Coca-Cola spokesman said: “We mutually agreed that we would not renew our relationship. We wish Wayne well in his career.”

The Manchester United player still has sponsorship deals with Nike and EA Sports

A partnership has been unveiled today, sample buy April 7, between the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) and leading international digital solutions company Sigma as part of its continued drive to bring technology innovations to the world’s best match racing series.

The English County Cricket Club’s (CCC) of Hampshire and Leicestershire have both announced sponsorship deals ahead of the start of the 2011 LV County Championship season on Friday, April 8.

Probiz has agreed a deal to become Hampshire’s main shirt sponsor for the 2011 season, with the firm’s name to appear on the front of the team’s jersey.

The financial services company already back LV County Championship Division One rivals Sussex, holding the naming rights to the club’s Hove stadium, with rugby league teams the Wigan Warriors and the Castleford Tigers, and soccer team West Bromwich Albion also on their sponsorship books.

Zac Toumazi, Hampshire cricket group’s commercial director said: “I am very pleased to welcome Probiz to the club. I hope this will be the start of a long and very successful partnership between Hampshire Cricket and Probiz both on and off the pitch.”

“It’s an amazing feeling to be front shirt sponsors of such a successful cricket club,” added Probiz founder Feisal Nahaboo.

Meanwhile, Leicestershire CCC has renewed its partnership with HSBC Merchant Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Payments, for another season.

The company endured a successful first season as a sponsor of the team, helping to increase the club’s work in the local community – something that remains a critical part of the renewed deal.

Under the terms of the agreement, money from the deal will be used to nurture young cricketers in the county, and support Leicestershire’s indoor cricket school.

Chris Davies, managing director of HSBC Merchant Services said: “Giving something back to the community is of great importance to us and we are proud to be able to sponsor our local club for another year.  We are excited to see what the season has in store for Grace Road. We will be supporting the team all the way.”

FC Twente, doctor the reigning Dutch Eredivisie soccer champions, shop ed have agreed a five-year kit sponsorship deal with Burrda Sport to commence at the start of next season.

Under the terms, decease the first team, academy and women’s sides will all be wearing apparel produced by the Swiss sportswear company from 1st July 2011 until the summer of 2016.

Burrda replaces Diadora as kit sponsors of the side, whose deal to provide the club with match and training apparel expires at the end of the season. The Italian sportswear brand signed a four-year contract with Twente in 2008.

Main sponsor Arke will continue to have its logo emblazoned on the centre panel of the club’s shirts, with the home kit having a watermark of the prancing horse from the team’s badge on the front of the shirt.

Burrda currently produce kits for the Belgian and Qatari national soccer teams, English Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers and Championship sides Leicester City and Watford.

The Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB) have completed a sponsorship deal with footwear manufacturer New Balance.

As part of the multi-year deal New Balance will become the official footwear and apparel sponsor of the team. A New Balance sign located on top of a new HD video board has also been revealed in Fenway Park’s right field. The sign, which measures 70 feet in length and 7.75 feet in height, will sport the red New Balance logo.

Sam Kennedy, Red Sox executive vice president and chief operating officer, commented: “New Balance has consistently brought ideas to the table that demonstrate a shared commitment to adding value to important areas of our business, including our home, Fenway Park, and philanthropic efforts like the Run to Home Base. We couldn’t be more excited.”

Joe Preston, New Balance executive vice president of global product and marketing, said: “We are proud to partner with the Boston Red Sox and are thrilled to have the New Balance brand be part of America’s most beloved ballpark. Like the Red Sox, New Balance has more than 100 years of history as a Boston-based company, and we share their passion and commitment for continued innovation and excellence.”

Along with the New Balance sponsorship agreement, the Red Sox have announced a four-year deal with Basement Technologies to become the franchise’s official waterproofing specialists.

Sam Kennedy said of the Basement Technologies deal: “We are thrilled to have Basement Technologies as an official corporate partner of the Boston Red Sox and to help promote their industry leading basement waterproofing systems to the Red Sox Nation.”

Under the terms of the deal, Basement Technologies will be designated space within the concourse at the Red Sox’s ballpark, Fenway Park, during each home game of the regular MLB season. In addition, Basement Technologies will have comprehensive branding rights and unveil a fleet of Basement Technologies trucks and vehicles that will display the Red Sox Brand.

James Pratt, founder and chief executive of Basement Technologies added: “We are extremely pleased to be designated as the official waterproofing company of the Boston Red Sox and at the opportunity to feature our innovative patented waterproofing systems and basement remodelling products at Fenway Park.”

The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), the labour union that represents professional ice hockey players that play in the NHL, has signed a five-year extension with Reebok to remain an official apparel supplier of the organisation.

The new player apparel agreement will begin as of July with Reebok maintaining their exclusive rights to produce team jerseys and official replica garments that resemble team jerseys, but are printed on t-shirts.

However, the NHLPA has agreed licensing deals with three other manufacturers – Knights Apparel, Old Time Hockey and Sogo T-shirts – to have non-exclusive rights to produce all other apparel featuring National Hockey League (NHL) players with Reebok.

In addition to the terms of the non-exclusive licences, player names, numbers and likenesses can be incorporated on headgear and clothing produced by the manufacturers.

The value of these four partnerships has been estimated at around US$8m over the duration of the contract and revenue generated from sales will be shared between the manufacturers, the NHLPA and the National Hockey League.

Adam Larry, director of licensing and associate counsel for the NHLPA, declared: “The player apparel category has grown a lot in the last five years, and there is a tremendous demand for it. The licensees we are bringing on board are looking at creative ways to use the personality rights to create new types of product.”

Keith Leach, Reebok’s director of merchandising, added: “The jersey and replica T-shirt make up the biggest part of our business, so that is the most important component of maintaining our portfolio moving forward.”

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) has renewed its sponsorship deal with ACC Limited, India’s leading cement manufacturer, as their Official Team Partner ahead of season 4 of the inaugural competition.

Under the terms, ACC will run a number of promotions during the IPL season. In addition, it also would have its brand presence in stadia in the form of perimeter boards, advertising spots on the big screen placards among others.

ACC started its association the IPL last season by becoming one of the official Team Partner of Kings XI Punjab.

Commenting on the partnership, KXIP COO Col. Arvinder Singh stated: “We are pleased to continue our relationship with ACC Ltd as our Official Team Partner   for the second year in a row. Both our companies share common values and we are excited about the joint initiatives that we propose to undertake in our catchment area which we shall soon announce.”

Speaking on the occasion, ACC Limited Director Sales (North) Joydeep Mukherjee added: “I am delighted, that our association with Kings XI Punjab continues for the second year. The format of Indian Premier League allows us to associate with the most popular sport in India and gives us a wide scope of running innovative activities around consumers, channel and employees.”

KXIP had earlier renewed association with Emirates as the main sponsor besides Reebok, USL and Wrigley.