PSV Extend Philips Partnership Past Historic 100-Year Period

Dutch soccer club and Eredivisie league leaders PSV Eindhoven have announced a five-year extension of their sponsorship agreement with electrical giants Philips, extending their relationship beyond 100 years in the process.

The new deal, which comes into fruition in July, will take the partnership between the two organisations through to the end of the 2015/16 season and surpasses a 100 year partnership with the company having launched the club as a workers team in 1913.

The shirt sponsorship deal has been in place since the inception of the concept in 1982 and PSV are the only club in the Netherlands who are able to boast the same shirt sponsor every season without exception throughout the near 30-year period.

In addition to the kit sponsorship agreement, Philips are also the title sponsors of PSV’s home ground the Philips Stadion and have held this distinction since it opened upon the club’s founding almost a century ago.

PSV general manager Justin Sanders spoke of the deal: “With the 100-year anniversary of PSV in 2013 rapidly approaching, we are very proud of our unique, historic relationship with Philips. Philips and PSV are strong brands and we expect to sign more partners in order to fulfil the club’s sportive ambitions.”

Terms of the new deal were not disclosed, though a statement on the club’s official website PSV revealed that the sponsorship agreement will be continuing under the current conditions of the existing five-year deal that was signed in August 2006.

In addition to these terms, PSV and Philips are planning to explore opportunities for the club to increase their sponsorship revenues by recruiting further partners who fit the profile of promoting healthy living through sport.

Harry Hendriks, chief executive of Philips Electronics Benelux, added: “PSV and Philips have the longest running sponsor relationship in the world, which is extended with another five years. In addition, we share the ambition to make health and well-being central themes of our co-operation by launching innovations and its applications in Holland and across the borders.”