MUMBAI: National Basketball Association (NBA) and German multinational software corporation SAP have entered into a new multiyear marketing partnership that will make SAP the Official Business Analytics Software Partner of the NBA.

The partnership includes the Women?s National Basketball Association and the NBA Development League and will allow SAP to connect with the passionate fan bases of all three leagues. Along with the U.S, the partnership extends to several international markets, including Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India and Russia.

As part of the marketing partnership, SAP will serve as an associate partner of NBA All-Star, the NBA Draft and the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service.

Additionally, SAP will be a partner of NBA China Games 2012, which includes two games between the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers in Beijing (11 October) and Shanghai (14 October), and NBA Europe Live 2012 presented by BBVA game in Berlin between the Dallas Mavericks and Alba Berlin (6 October).

In addition, NBA has selected SAP HANA platform to develop a statistical experience for its fans on NBA.com. The real-time data platform will enable the league to bring official NBA statistical information directly to fans? fingertips on the league?s official website.

?We are constantly researching new and emerging technologies in an effort to provide our fans with new ways to connect with our game,? said NBA Commissioner David Stern. ?SAP is a leader in providing innovative software solutions and an ideal partner to provide a dynamic and comprehensive statistical offering as fans interact with NBA basketball on a global basis.?

?SAP is honored to partner with the NBA, one of the world?s most respected sports organizations,? said SAP co-CEO Bill McDermott. ?Through SAP HANA, fans will be able to experience the NBA as never before. This is a slam dunk for SAP, the NBA and the many fans who will now have access to unprecedented insight and analysis.?

The NBA statistics team will implement SAP HANA to run the league?s enhanced statistical offering on NBA.com, which previously was accessible only to NBA employees and select media members. NBA fans will be able to access large volumes of statistical information and analysis tools on the SAP HANA platform, which will enhance their overall experience.

Furthermore, the NBA has also selected SAP BusinessObjects business intelligence (BI) solutions for advanced analysis with SAP BusinessObjects Explorer software and SAP Data Services software.

By utilising SAP HANA to power official NBA statistics on NBA.com, and SAP BusinessObjects Explorer and SAP Data Services to enhance data quality, the NBA will provide fans with access to an innovative and easy-to-use statistical platform for their desktop, tablet or mobile device. The project is scheduled to launch during the 2012-13 season.

Throughout the year SAP solutions will deliver real-time data across the NBA?s entire global operations, encompassing media, special events, mobility, social media, player and team statistics, technology and fan interactions.

MUMBAI: Zinkia, a Madrid, Spain-based company specialising in entertainment brand production and management and the creator of the property Pocoyo, has received authorisation from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue Level-1 American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on Zinkia shares earmarked for placement among U.S. investors.

Each ADR will represent five ordinary shares (ORDs) of Zinkia stock and will be listed on the Over-the-Counter market (OTC) of the New York Stock Exchange.

The Bank of New York Mellon will serve as the depository institution for Zinkia?s ADRs (a physical certificate that endorses the deposit of shares in a U.S. bank for international companies), while the custodian in Spain for the underlying shares is the BBVA.

The listing on the New York Stock Exchange will allow for Zinkia to diversify its investment base and increase its exposure to the U.S. market, thereby providing for further strategic company development. This operation does not involve a capital increase or an increase in financing for Zinkia, as it is executed on existing shares.

Zinkia?s primary focus is the development and production of content for all media platforms to engage, entertain and educate children of all cultures.

Zinkia is the worldwide licensor of Pocoyo, one of Spain?s most successful animation productions, with a potential global audience reach of 3.5 million. The company is currently developing new properties including Mola Noguru and The Fishtale Saga.

In April 2011, Zinkia acquired a 51 per cent stake in London-based family entertainment company Cake.