Yachting: German giant new cup family member

Team New Zealand have signed German software giant SAP to the "family of five" sponsorship spot left vacant by Television New Zealand.

The multimillion-dollar package gives SAP exclusive naming rights on the Team New Zealand spinnakers as well as sharing sponsorship signs with Telecom, Toyota, Lotto and Steinlager on the hulls and mainsails of the black boats.

The deal is a big boost for the New Zealand campaign to retain the America's Cup in 2003.

SAP co-chairman Hasso Plattner told the Herald last month that talks with Team New Zealand about a major sponsorship deal had broken down, but it was still interested in a minor sponsorship role.

But Team New Zealand chief executive Ross Blackman said Mr Plattner's comments were made in the context of market rumours that SAP was looking at a sponsorship figure that exceeded the syndicate's whole campaign budget.

TVNZ said last month that it would retain broadcasting rights but was pulling its One logo from the "family of five" because sponsorship costs were much higher now.

Sponsorship requirements for the next cup defence are tipped to be as high as $85 million.

The main sponsors are believed to have contributed about $5 million each to the last campaign.

SAP is the world's third-largest software company. It holds naming rights for the US grand prix and is a corporate partner of the McLaren Formula One team.

Martin Homlish, SAP global marketing chief, said the America's Cup provided the company with a powerful marketing vehicle to expose its brand to millions of people.

Herald Online feature: America's Cup