Hankook Tyre UK renews Elite Sponsorship commitment to Saints

• Hankook renew sponsorship agreement with the Northampton Saints Rugby Club

• Continued commitment as the Elite sponsor until 2016

Daventry, UK, 2^nd May 2012 – Hankook Tyre UK are proud to announce it has renewed its long-standing partnership with the Northampton Saints Rugby Club as the sponsorship agreement is extended for a further four years. The new agreement shall witness Hankook continue their commitment to the club as they remain the Elite sponsor until 2016 with the company’s logo positioned on the team’s shirts.

Hankook, one of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers, has been the Elite sponsor of the Northampton Saints since 2009. The company’s headquarters are based in Northamptonshire in the nearby town of Daventry. Hankook has rapidly built an impressive reputation for its innovative and high-quality tyres.

Tony Lee, Managing Director of Hankook Tyre UK stated that “The partnership between Hankook and the Saints has been a great success to date and we are understandably thrilled to continue our commitment to the club as an Elite Sponsor. It has allowed us to increase brand awareness by reaching a wider audience through the support of an accomplished and talented squad.”

Chief Executive of the Saints, Allan Robson, also added “Hankook is investing into sports advertising in a variety of markets across the globe and our new deal reflects their view of the club as one of the major brands in world rugby,” he said. “It shows that they believe we are a club to be associated with in the next four years and that we will give them the exposure they demand from their investment.

Allan went on to add “Our Elite Sponsors want to be associated with success, and Hankook is no different. With five cup finals in as many years, and with the team in touching distance of a third consecutive Aviva Premiership Rugby semi-final, we have shown clearly that we have re-established ourselves as a force to be reckoned with in English rugby. The vast majority of our top international stars have signed new long-term contracts in the past 12 months, and everyone at Franklin’s Gardens is excited about our future prospects. Of course a good rapport with our Elite Sponsors is crucial to enable us to invest in the continued playing success. Over the past three years we have worked hard to develop and enhance our relationship with Hankook in a variety of ways, and we are delighted that this will be continuing until at least 2016.”

About Northampton Saints

For over 130 years Northampton Saints has been one of the most recognised and successful rugby clubs in England. In the past five years the club has regularly lifted silverware and reached major finals – including the 2011 Heineken Cup final – and in 2012 provided a record number of players to the England Six Nations Elite Player Squad.

As a consequence the club has developed a global profile which is reflected in the high-profile, blue chip companies which are in the group of Elite Sponsors, notably Travis Perkins, Monarch Airlines, Hankook Performance Tyres, Carlsberg UK and Church’s Shoes. The club has nine thousand Season Ticket Holders and a supporter base which extends across the East of England.