UFA Sports, a subsidiary of CLT-UFA and part owned by Bertelsmann Group, today announced that it has taken a long term starategic partnership in UC Sampdoria. The exclusive financial investment in UC Sampdoria by UFA Sports, Europe’s biggest marketer of football rights, is the company’s first move into the Italian football market and reflects the strength and excellence of the Sampdoria brand name both in Italy and Worldwide. UFA will work directly with Sampdoria’s management team on existing and new initiatives to strengthen the club in Italy and worldwide.

Sampdoria’s strategy for future growth revolves around a strong football team. However, supporters across the world are also demanding secure and comfortable arenas in which to watch their teams. UFA Sports will also work with Sampdoria to help progress plans for the investment in and development of the stadium. In addition UFS Sports will bring to Sampdoria their expertise in exploitation of marketing rights of football clubs.

Sampdoria will examine further opportunities for both strategic and equity investments in the club to assist the existing management in their future plans for growth and success both on and off the field.

Enrico Mantovani, chairman of Sampdoria, commented, ‘This is excellent news for everyone involved at Sampdoria. With this strategic investment we have achieved the first of our five goals, namely strengthening the existing corporate structure in the club. We can now concentrate on the next phase, which will enable us to compete on an even playing field with other great European Clubs. We look forward to working with UFA towards a quick return to Serie A and to building a stronger Sampdoria.

Bernd Hoffman, President of UFA Sports commented, ‘Considering a number of different options in Europe, Sampdoria immediately stood out from the rest as the Italain Club with vision for the future, as well as having a glorious history. The management and commercial structures in place at the Club impressed us all at UFA. When combined with the enormous opportunites to build on the already strong local, natioal and internatioal brand identity, Sampdoria became a very exciting club to be associated with.’

For further information please contact:

Rainer Thumann, Head of Public Relations
UFA Sports
Tel: +49 40 37677193
Fax: +49 172 4530702

Natalia Georgiadou
UC Sampdoria
Tel: +39 010 254 9111