BNN Technology PLC BNN Technology Extends Arsenal Coaching Deal

TIDMBNN

BNN Technology PLC

26 July 2017

26 July 2017

BNN Technology and Arsenal FC extend and expand partnership

Exclusive 'coach the coaches' partnership significantly expands its reach in 2017-18 after the success of its early training camps in China

BNN Technology (AIM: BNN), a London-listed Chinese technology, content and services company, today announces a further extension and expansion of its multifaceted partnership with Arsenal Football Club. The Group becomes Arsenal's exclusive partner for delivering a 'Coaching the Coaches' programmes in China, with an extra 450 coaches set to be trained in the new season following the success of the first camp in the first half of 2017.

As a further step in BNN's strategy to support grassroots football in China by developing large public participation programmes, the Group announced on 24 March 2017 that its existing commercial relationship with Arsenal would be significantly expanded to focus on delivering unique content, developing coaching programmes, providing 'money can't buy' VIP experiences for Chinese football fans and offering competitions through online channels, including the Xinhua News Mobile App. BNN successfully launched its initiative by offering 250 Chinese football coaches the opportunity to be trained by qualified Arsenal coaches in the first clinic held in June 2017 in Beijing.

In the first half of 2017 more than 100,000 football fans registered with BNN's Arsenal site for competitions, content and to vote for nominees seeking selection for the training camps, generating additional valuable consumer data. This extremely encouraging response to the programme in recent months has prompted the partners to expand the number of coaching places available to up to 750 before the end of the 2017-18 soccer season, with a total of three five-day camps, hosting up to 50 new coaches on each day.

BNN will continue to provide a range of Arsenal content to its online channels including manager interviews before games, pre-match press conferences, weekly news bulletin videos, weekly training footage, monthly bespoke coaching videos and three news articles per week. In addition, Chinese fans will be offered opportunities to win, through free-to-enter prize draws, fully paid VIP trips to watch Arsenal play at the club's Emirates Stadium in London, as well as competitions to win exclusive merchandise such as Arsenal jerseys and signed footballs.

BNN's football-based initiatives form part of the Group's wider data strategy, using content and services to attract users to register with its sites and apps to create a broad marketing platform based on high-quality user data. In recent months, football fans have driven significant customer acquisition for the Group to utilise across all of its sales platforms, including B2C channels for student services, mobile top-ups, and higher margin mobile bandwidth.

Darren Mercer, Chief Executive of BNN Technology, said:

"We are to delighted to now become Arsenal's exclusive 'Coaching the Coaches' partner in China, further expanding our relationship with one of Europe's most successful clubs. This development will accelerate our activities supporting China's football ambitions, while also delivering first class content to our online channels and gaining further high quality data to utilise across our other sales platforms. The success of the coaching programme to date has exceeded all our expectations and we remain committed to football as a driver of social engagement in China that will also strengthen the base of our consumer focused operations such as our new student platform."

Vinai Venkatesham, Chief Commercial Officer of Arsenal FC, said:

"we understand the power football has to engage and inspire across all ages and are delighted to have extended and expanded our partnership with BNN to support the growth of grassroots football in China further through their 'Coaching the Coaches' programme. The growth of the relationship demonstrates our commitment to China, with the partnership helping to deliver valuable content and exclusive access to our millions of supporters locally while also introducing BNN's services to a wider audience. We're looking forward to seeing this next stage of the partnership flourish."

For further information, please contact:

 
 BNN Technology plc                     [phone] 
   Darren Mercer, Chief Executive 
    Scott Kennedy, Chief Financial 
    Officer 
    Stephen Benzikie, Communications 
 
 Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated           [phone] 
  & Financial Adviser)                                 3494 
   Andrew Emmott / Ritchie Balmer 
 
    Mirabaud Securities LLP (Broker)        [phone] 
    Peter Krens                                        3362 
 

About the Group

BNN Technology plc is a Chinese technology, content and services company that builds long-term partnerships to deliver China's citizens with value-added services, content and evolving opportunities.

Listed on AIM since 2014 the Group principally engages in providing technology to partners to facilitate fulfilment of payments online and on mobile apps through partnerships or affiliate agreements with corporate and key government partners, and, developing digital content, both online and mobile. Through its partnership with Xinhuatong and NewNet, BNN facilitates mobile payments, through its technology platform, on the Xinhua News mobile app in 12 provinces in China. The Chinese consumer shift to 'life on mobile' is only just beginning and BNN's platform technology enables urban and rural communities across China to access exclusive content and pay for more services online.

The Group employs nearly 300 professionals throughout China.

About Arsenal FC

Arsenal is one of the leading clubs in world football with a strong heritage of success, progressive thinking and financial stability.

Arsenal Football Club was founded in 1886 in Woolwich, south London, before moving to Highbury in north London in 1913.

Arsenal has an impressive roll of honour: English League Champions 13 times, FA Cup winners a record 13 times, League Cup winners twice and European Cup Winners' Cup (1994) and European Fairs Cup (1970) winners once.

In addition, Arsenal Ladies are the most successful English club in women's football.

Arsenal's Manager since 1996 has been Frenchman Arsène Wenger. Wenger is Arsenal Football Club's most successful manager. His honours include three League titles, seven FA Cups and six Charity/Community Shields, including two League and Cup 'doubles' in 1998 and 2002.

For further information please visit: www.Arsenal.com

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

NRAOKPDKOBKDNOB

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 26, 2017 02:01 ET (06:01 GMT)