Formula One racing team, ambulance Williams are pushing through with stock flotation plans and  Williams Grand Prix Holdings Plc are offering shares at a rate of 24  – 29 euros (US$32.7 – $39.5) apiece.

The individual share prices mean that the company is valued at $361m at the mid-point of the pricing according to a statement emailed today, February 9.

Williams F1 isn’t raising new capital in the offering, which enables existing shareholders to sell down part of their holding “to allow investor participation.”

Alan Zucker has been promoted to senior vice president of clients and managing director of talent marketing for leading sports and media firm IMG.

In reporting to Sandy Montag, senior corporate vice president of IMG Sports and Entertainment, Zucker will now assist him in all areas of IMG’s Clients business unit, including broadcasting, coaching and speakers.

Zucker has been with the company for 15 years and on a day-to-day basis, handles the management, marketing and sales of Peyton, Eli and Archie Manning, LaDainian Tomlinson, Matthew Stafford, Joe Montana, Jim Nantz, Danica Patrick, and Joe Mauer. Zucker negotiates their marketing endorsements, manages connections to the NFLPA, creates revenue for their foundations and charities and drives all other revenue producing income off of the field. 

Zucker also works hand in hand with IMG’s individual talent agents across all divisions to assist them in developing corporate relationships. Some of that talent has included Maria Sharapova, Arnold Palmer, Venus Williams, Alex Ovechkin, Peggy Fleming, Gisele, Dick Vitale, Billie Jean King, Lindsey Vonn, Kristi Yamaguchi and John Madden.

Brandt have secured the primary sponsorship of Turner Motorsports, No. 31 Chevrolet Impala driven by Justin Allgaier, for 17 NASCAR Nationwide Series races next season.

Brandt will also become an associate sponsor to all four of the Turner Motorsport entries in an agreement which is believed to be worth around US$4m in total.

“We are extremely excited to team up with Justin and Turner Motorsports for the 2011 racing season. Brandt is an exciting, aggressive and family values-based company. We feel we are teaming up with a driver who embodies these same qualities, and we are looking forward to seeing him exemplify that on the track.” said Rick C. Brandt, Brandt president and chief executive officer.

“Also, Nascar’s upcoming transition to ethanol fuel embodies Brandt’s leadership as a premier producer of environmentally sustainable products for agriculture. We look forward to representing American farmers on the track.”

Steve Turner, owner of Turner Motorsports, added: “I am very happy to welcome Brandt as a Turner Motorsports marketing partner. It is a company that I feel has the same core values and the same qualities that we do at Turner Motorsports. They have seen the value in Nascar and how it can help move the needle from both a marketing and sales perspective. We are confident we will win with them both on and off the track. I am honored they want to be a part of our organisation and are looking forward to a long-term successful relationship.”

A three-year deal has been struck between the German Golf Association (DGV) and pharmaceuticals company, Medicom Pharma to become a major sponsor as of 2011.

The contract will see the company’s logo emblazed upon the membership cards of 620,000 affiliated German golfers. Medicom will now be involved alongside the DGV in promotional activities, providing an array of special offers for the association’s members. The deal is reported to be wort a mid-six figure sum each year according to sponsors.de. The company joins the likes of Vodafone and Audi AG as major sponsors of the association.

“Through our commitment, we want to show that with our supplements, made using the latest scientific evidence and in accordance with German law, anyone can improve his golf game. Our products help every athlete improve his general well-being, which is a substantial advantage before, during and after the game. As an avid golfer, I look forward to working with the German Golf Association.” said Medicom Pharma managing director Daniel Rexhausen.

Japan’s preparations to host Rugby World Cup 2019 have stepped up with the appointment of leading business figure Fujio Mitarai as President of the Organising Committee.

Mr Mitarai, Honorary President of the Japan Business Federation, Japan’s most powerful business lobby and current Chairman and CEO of Canon Inc. has been appointed by the Japan Rugby Football Union to preside over the development of the Organising Committee structure as Japan prepares to be the first Asian host of Rugby’s showcase tournament.

Former Japan Prime Minister, Chairman of the Japan Sports Association and President of the Japan Rugby Football Union Yoshiro Mori, Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) Vice Chairman Yoshio Nakamura, and President of the Japan Olympic Committee Tsunekazu Takeda were also unveiled as Vice President’s of the Organising Committee.  It was also announced that Koji Tokumasu, from Japan Rugby Football Union, will be General Manager.

Each will bring considerable government, business and sports event management experience to the Organising Committee, reflecting the JRFU’s commitment to delivering a world class tournament. Additional appointments of officials and senior management will follow over the coming months as tournament planning progresses.

Mr Mitarai told the press conference in Tokyo today that “business in Japan is right behind RWC 2019. We have seen Japan come together for FIFA 2002 World Cup, the Tokyo and Nagano Olympics and it is now necessary for our nation to again become ‘One big team’ and prepare to host Rugby World Cup.

“While sports has the power to move our hearts and make us one, the Rugby World Cup is more than just a sports event, it gives Japan the opportunity to share at political, trade and friendship levels with many other nations, ” Mitarai told journalists.

The announcement caps a year of significant progress for the JRFU as it continues to implement the foundations to deliver to a tournament which Japan, Asia and the global Rugby community can be proud of and which delivers the framework to accelerate the growth of Rugby throughout Asia.

“The success of hosting a world cup cannot be accomplished by the Japan Rugby Football Union alone, but working together as a nation and going toward the same goal utilizing experts in various areas as one ‘Team’ will be the best way to make it possible,”  Mori told the press conference.

“The establishment  of an Organising Committee ensures the success of a tournament that is supported in many areas.” Mori added.

Source BBC: Representatives from the UK racing and betting industries have failed to reach an agreement on the 50th Levy scheme by the 31 October deadline.

As a result the government will now make the decision on the matter.

For the past 50 years, the sport has been funded, in large part, by a levy – a tax – on bookmakers’ profits.

The subsidy’s level is decided between the two industries but the bookmakers offer is well below what the sport wants to secure its immediate future.

Levy Board chairman Paul Lee stated: “It is very disappointing that it has not proved possible to reach agreement.

“Despite protracted and in-depth discussion at board meetings and elsewhere, ultimately the positions of Racing and the Bookmakers’ Committee remained significantly apart.”

Will Roseff, chairman of the Bookmakers’ Committee, said: “I am very frustrated. The Bookmakers’ Committee constructed a very good argument which realistically addressed the challenges faced by bookmakers and Racing.

“That the HBLB has elected not to approve the recommendations of the Bookmakers’ Committee is further evidence that the current system has failed.

“It is now time to replace the Levy process with a commercial relationship that will reflect Racing’s true worth in the highly competitive bookmaking sector.

“I truly believe that Racing must face up to the reality that is affecting every other aspect of the British economic landscape.

“This failure brings more uncertainty to an industry that needs a period of stability to plan for a new commercial reality come what may, we will continue to seek to work with Racing to achieve a satisfactory long-term solution.”

The responsibility for the scheme, which runs from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012, will therefore be referred to Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport for determination.

He has already said that this will be the last year that the government will be prepared to step in and sort out the issue.

Hunt said: “It’s a big disappointment that the racing and gambling industries have failed to sort this out – but frankly the government should never be the last resort in an essentially commercial negotiation.

The decision on the levy will be made by Hunt on the basis of advice from Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson. A timetable will be announced in due course.

Champion jump jockey Tony McCoy said last week that a total overhaul of horse racing is needed if the sport is to stem the decline in popularity.

“A lot needs to be done to improve the state of racing in this country,” he told BBC Radio Somerset.

“The bookmakers are probably taking more out of racing than they are putting in. Racing is a great sport but whether it is being marketed in the right way and everything is being done to make it the success that it can be, I’m not so sure.

“If you look at what Barry Hearn has done with darts and snooker, maybe we need someone like him in charge.”

National Hockey League (NHL) franchise Florida Panthers have extended their affiliation agreement ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones.

As they have in previous years, the Cyclones will serve as the ECHL affiliate for both the Panthers and Nashville Predators.

The Florida Panthers, who will open their 21st NHL season this October, will remain as the Cyclones parent club for the fifth consecutive campaign. 

As it has been for the last three seasons, the San Antonio Rampage will be the American Hockey League affiliate for the Panthers. The Cyclones and Rampage were closely connected a year ago; 12 Cyclones players received call-ups at some point during the 2013-14 regular season and logged a combined 222 AHL games.

“The Panthers are pleased to once again partner with the Cincinnati Cyclones,” said Panthers Executive VP and General Manager Dale Tallon, “Cincinnati had a very successful season last year advancing to the Kelly Cup finals and it is important that our prospects develop in a winning and positive environment.”