Edited press release
Epsom Downs Racecourse announced May 4 that Investec, a leading specialist bank, has agreed to become long-term partners by sponsoring the English Derby Festival until 2013. The 2009 Derby Festival will be held June 5-6 at Epsom Downs.
Epsom Downs Racecourse managing director, Nick Blofeld, commented: “We are very excited by the news and believe there is a great fit between the two companies which will mean we are both able to benefit from a long-term relationship. These days it is much more about strategic partnerships and there are many ways Investec and Epsom Downs can work together to keep the Derby Festival a hugely successful event but also bring some fresh creativity and reach new audiences.
“Investec is a very successful international company and has worked in other sports already. The company is probably best known in the UK for its England Autumn International Rugby sponsorship at Twickenham, The Investec Challenge Series.
“Investec have great respect for the traditions of the Epsom Derby (Eng-I) and Oaks (Eng-I), but also wants to bring such great races and the event to more of their clients and contacts who haven’t yet felt that buzz and excitement.”
Investec’s UK CEO, Bradley Fried said: “We are delighted to be joining Epsom and the Derby Festival at the beginning of a new era and know that together we will be able to make a great event even better. We also have a proud international history and a commitment to developing the companies and sports with which we get involved. The Derby makes sense for us on a number of levels; it has excellent television coverage which adds a new dimension to our brand footprint, the heritage has some quirky elements that suit our positioning of Out of the Ordinary, and there is a natural equine fit with our usage of the Investec Zebra as brand icon.”
The Investec announcement follows soon after the completion of the three-year £38 million re-development program at Epsom Downs. Included in the re-development program was construction of a new 120-room Holiday Inn Express on-site hotel, the Entrance Pavilion and Duchess’s Stand and also the return to a full calendar of 14 race days for 2009.
Investec is a specialist banking group that offers a range of services and products in private client activities, capital markets, investment banking, asset management and property.