VERBUND fills FK “Austria Magna” with new energy

09.10.2006Wien

VERBUND, Austria’s leading electricity company, and the current Austrian football champion “FK Austria MAGNA” are striving for an energy-filled relationship. From immediately, the domestic power giant, which generates almost 90 percent of its electricity from clean, domestic hydropower, will represent one of the most important sponsors of 23-fold Austrian football champion and 25-fold record cup winner “Austria”.

“We have scrutinized our decision in detail and have come to the conclusion that VERBUND and “Austria” go together extraordinarily well,” Hans Haider, VERBUND General Director, explains the company’s decision to go for the support of the “violet” team. “Both “Austria” and VERBUND feature among the best in their respective trades and can boast impressive results, both in Austria and on the international playing field,” explains Haider.

Thus it is highly pleasing that the entry of VERBUND coincides with the “Austria” team’s attaining the UEFA Cup group phase. The General Director perceives of this as another parallel between the two Austrian traditional institutions “Austria” and VERBUND: “Similarly, we at VERBUND are also, from our strong position on the Austrian domestic market, increasingly strengthening our position on the European market.” Another favourable aspect is that “Austria” encourages the training of newcomers, a concept which is begun with the football academy in Hollabrunn, continued with the amateur team in the “Red Zac Erste Liga”, and pursued all the way up to the champions league.

Frank Stronach adds: “We have always said that it is important and necessary for the future of “Austria” to have a solid financial basis. For that, you need good and strong partners. Therefore we, at Magna, are very happy to have succeeded in winning over a successful and prestigious company such as VERBUND for “Magna Austria”.”

The entry of one of the most prestigious Austrian companies to one of the top domestic football clubs is especially favourable against the backdrop of the coming European football championship in 2008 in Austria. “If Austria’s top teams are supported by strong partners from the economy, then that’s undoubtedly a good starting point for a successful performance of the Austrian national team in this significant large-scale sportive event,” Haider concludes.

The partnership was concluded for a period of three years until the end of the football championship season 2008/09. Concerning the amount of the sponsoring sum, it was agreed not to disclose information.