ING Real Estate supports ‘Premier Challenge’ Volvo entry

by Bindy Lockhart on 12 Nov 2004 One year from today the starting gun will fire to commence Leg One of the Volvo Ocean Race 2005 - 2006. To coincide with this, the Board of ING Real Estate is proud to announce their support of the all Australian Premier Challenge entry to the race.

This support will enable the Premier Challenge syndicate to confidently build their new VO70, which is necessary to take part in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005 – 2006. Headed by Grant Wharington, the syndicate have an abundance of yachting experience as well as undisputed success in the business and campaign management arena.

On the water, Wharington is flanked by world-renowned sailing master Ian ‘Barney’ Walker, an experienced tactician and Volvo Ocean Race veteran who has already circumnavigated the world twice, and is considered to be one of the most talented offshore competitors in the world.

The yacht itself is being designed by Don Jones, designer of the highly innovative, extremely successful super-maxi yacht ‘Skandia’, Wharington’s current racing yacht upon which he is already conducting crew trials and training for this Premier Challenge.

ING Real Estate’s Australian spokesman Mark Broomfield says the rationale for the support for the Premier Challenge is the synergy seen between ING Real Estate’s business and participation in this race, often dubbed the ‘Everest of Sailing’ - Strategy, Innovation, Communication, Commitment, Client Focus, Sustainability, Risk Management, Execution, and last but not the least The Value of Team Work.

‘As the Premier Challenge’s first Sponsorship Partner, we are delighted that we have been able to remain consistent with our commitment to create value, enabling this team to build their racing yacht 70 to the highest possible standard, alleviating any financial concerns.

We will use the opportunity to further unite our global team of three business lines, creating an unrivalled synergy in the Real Estate Sector across Investment Management, Finance and Development.’

Wharington enthuses, ‘We are extremely pleased to welcome ING Real Estate as our first major Sponsorship Partner. Their investment is a great boost to our syndicate plans, the future looks bright and above all, we remain determined to win the Volvo Ocean Race 2005 – 2006, for Australia and for our partners.’

ING Real Estate is an international real estate company, active in real estate investment management, development and finance. The company ranks among the world’s three largest real estate players and has offices in fifteen countries in Europe, the United States, Asia and Australia.

ING Real Estate is part of ING Group, a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to over 60 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries.

With a diverse workforce of over 112,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.