Taking its partnership with FC Bayern Munich (München in Germany) to the next level, Audi has announced that it will acquire a direct financial stake in Germany's most successful soccer club. In three stages between March 2010 and July 2011 at the latest, Audi plans to buy 2.5 million shares at a total price of €90 million (US$135 million), ultimately taking a 9.09 percent stake in FC Bayern Munich.

"Since 2002, we have been fostering a close partnership as the automotive partner of FC Bayern and now, as a premium automaker, we are taking a direct stake in one of the world's best and superbly managed soccer clubs – from my perspective, this is a revolutionary, albeit logical, next step from which both parties will benefit," said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Management Board for Marketing and Sales of AUDI AG.

Former striker and now Chairman of the Executive Board of FC Bayern Munich, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, said: "I am sure that this partnership will also open up many new opportunities for us on a global level. I am thinking about the Asian market, for example, on which Audi already has a very strong presence. We look forward to our further collaboration."

It's worth noting that in the beginning of 2003, Audi employees founded the "Audi FC Bayern Fan Club" that now counts over 5,000 members making it the largest one in Germany.