Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s owned INEOS Automotive is embroiled in high-profile lawsuits with New Zealand Rugby (NZR). The firm is in dispute with Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. These controversies have arisen amidst claims of unpaid sponsorship fees and a ended partnership agreement.
New Zealand Rugby has already initiated legal action against INEOS. They claim that INEOS defaulted on the initial payment of a six-year sponsorship agreement that was signed in 2021. Per NZR, the fee was only payable for the year 2025. This marks a further interesting twist from the settlement made back in March between INEOS and NZR over the same sponsorship deal.
Tottenham Hotspur has brought its own lawsuit against INEOS Automotive in the London Commercial Court. The club argues that INEOS has failed to meet its promises under a sponsorship deal that started in 2022. This new partnership builds upon a previous deal that INEOS Group signed with Spurs back in 2020.
An INEOS Automotive spokesperson stated, “INEOS Automotive has been a partner of Tottenham Hotspur since 2022, taking on a partnership agreement that INEOS Group had in place with the club since 2020.” This comment highlights the close partnership between the two organizations leading up to their legal dispute.
Furthermore, the spokesperson clarified INEOS’s stance on the termination of the partnership: “We have a contractual right to terminate our partnership contract and in December 2024 exercised that right.” This claim is likely part of INEOS’s plan to defend its actions in a potential lawsuit over the sponsorship agreement with Tottenham.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, known for co-owning Manchester United, has seen his automotive venture become a focal point for legal disputes in recent months. The result of these cases will be financially decisive for INEOS Automotive. Equally important is the potential for the company to be damaging its brand reputation within the sports sponsorship landscape.
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