Mercedes And The German National Football Association Prolong Contract

Posted by www.eMercedesBenz.com on June 12, 2006 at 12:30 CST

Mercedes and the German National Football Association (DFB) have  
announced today that they will be continuing their partnership  
through the end of 2012.  Mercedes has supported the DFB since 1972  
when a coach was provided for transporting the DFB national team, and  
since 1990 Mercedes has been the principal sponsor of the association.

According to Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of DaimlerChrysler and Head  
of Mercedes Car Group: "Mercedes-Benz and the DFB have been close  
partners for decades.  We are absolutely convinced of our support for  
the German National Football Team."  Dr. Theo Zwanziger, DFB Acting  
President, added: "We are very happy that our long-standing  
partnership with our principal sponsor is to be continued. The  
support from Mercedes-Benz provides a very steady basis for the DFB."

As a foundation for the partnership, Mercedes will be providing  
transportation for the team, which includes a new Mercedes Travego M  
recently supplied as a transport for the national men's team.  In  
addition, Mercedes will also be providing a driving service at  
international matches and other events.

In return, the Mercedes brand will be presented through a number of  
media communications throughout the stadium; and in the future,  
planned testimonial advertisements with DFB Team Manager Oliver  
Bierhoff will further highlight Mercedes' strengths.  A number of  
other social activities, including the support and promotion of young  
talents, are also planned.

For more info on Mercedes' continued DFB support, keep reading for  
the full press release.


OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Mercedes-Benz and DFB prolong contract

Principal sponsorship prolonged to end of 2012
Unique partnership in German sport confirmed
Planning security for DFB
Stuttgart/Frankfurt, Jun 12, 2006
Mercedes-Benz and the German National Football Association (DFB) are  
continuing their time-tried partnership after the end of 2006. This  
was announced by the principal sponsor and the DFB at a joint press  
conference in the DFB Media Centre 2006. The contract, which was due  
to run out at the end of the year, has now been prolonged for another  
six years until the end of 2012. Mercedes-Benz has been supporting  
the DFB since 1972 when a coach was provided for transporting the DFB  
national team. Since 1990, the brand has been the principal sponsor  
of the world's largest national sporting association.

"Mercedes-Benz and the DFB have been close partners for decades,"  
said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of DaimlerChrysler and Head of  
Mercedes Car Group. "We are absolutely convinced of our support for  
the German National Football Team." Mercedes-Benz is giving clear  
confirmation of this by prolonging the contract ahead of schedule and  
still during the group phase of the World Cup.

Dr. Theo Zwanziger, DFB Acting President, declared: "We are very  
happy that our long-standing partnership with our principal sponsor  
is to be continued. The support from Mercedes-Benz provides a very  
steady basis for the DFB, especially as our work together extends far  
beyond just providing transport." The partner-ship is of course based  
on support for transporting the team: Only a short time ago, the DFB  
was presented with a new Mercedes-Benz Travego M as transport for the  
national men's team. In addition, the car manufacturer provides a  
driving service at international matches and other events.

In addition our partnership is presented through media communication  
in the stadium. In future the principal sponsorīs communication  
activities will be accompanied by testimonial advertisements with DFB  
Team Manager Oliver Bierhoff.

As well as numerous other activities in connection with the National  
Team, the interest of both partners also focuses on social activities  
and, in particular, the support and promotion of young talents. “No  
other sport brings people on all continents together like football  
does”, said Dr. Zetsche. “In future we and the DFB want to promote  
this central aspect even more strongly through joint projects dealing  
with integration.”

For more Mercedes-Benz news and information, visit  
www.eMercedesBenz.com.