MELBOURNE has secured Automotive Holdings Group (AHG) – the largest automotive retailing group in Australia – as its major sponsor for the next three years.

AHG, which will don the front and back of Melbourne’s guernsey until at least the end of 2016, has been operating in Australia for 61 years. It will also feature on all playing, training and retail apparel. AHG will also gain strong exposure within the MCG at Melbourne home games.

The new partnership is a significant step in the rebuild of Melbourne and the club is confident it will be a long and mutually beneficial relationship.

AHG has targeted Victoria as a key expansion market for its organisation, with Melbourne a key branding and promotional asset for it to achieve greater market share.

Chief executive Peter Jackson said the new agreement was a great fillip for the club.
“We are absolutely delighted to have entered into a new partnership with AHG – an established, stable and successful Australian company for more than 60 years and an ASX200 listed company,” he said.

“It’s a mutual benefit for both parties and we are excited about the opportunities and growth for both businesses.

“We are genuinely optimistic about the next three years, and we look forward to building the brands of both entities.”

AHG managing director Bronte Howson said the sponsorship would be funded within existing marketing budgets and would give the group’s automotive dealerships mass market exposure across Australia.

“This is a great branding opportunity for AHG and especially for our online presence,” Howson said.

“The partnership gives AHG strong brand exposure across Australia and strongly supports our position as Australia’s largest motoring group.

Howson said the Melbourne partnership was compared with several other sponsorship opportunities.

“The timing was right for both parties,” he said.

“Melbourne’s jumper sponsorship opened up as we were looking to increase our branding nationally. Having Paul Roos join the club as head coach, Peter Jackson as CEO and Glen Bartlett as president gives us great confidence that we’re working with a complementary leadership culture.

“The club also offers the group exposure to its influential membership, supporter base and coterie groups.”

Established in Perth in 1952, AHG operates 152 passenger, bus and truck franchises across Australia and New Zealand.

AHG has a significant logistics division with operations in every mainland state. It also operates national refrigerated transport and storage, auto and truck parts warehousing and distribution, and distribution across Australia and New Zealand of KTM and Husaberg motorcycles.

The Company is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and is placed in the ASX 200.

AHG facts

AHG is a diversified automotive retailing and logistics group with operations in every Australian mainland state and in New Zealand.

AHG is the largest automotive retailer in Australia by sales, profitability, market capitalisation and workforce.

In the 12 months to the end of June 2013, AHG’s Australian and New Zealand dealerships sold 63,962 new vehicles and 29,555 used vehicles.

AHG represents nine of the 10 most popular passenger vehicle brands in Australia.

In Victoria, AHG holds 31 vehicle franchises at 17 locations.

AHG supports a wide range of charities and community and sporting groups across Australia and New Zealand.