Press Release Content

Ad Agencies Unite - Look to Build on Global Foundation

[Dateline] On [date], Munich Multimedia Agencies b.a.s. interactive, and daughter company, b.a.s. e-commerce, will join forces with International Publicis Network to become known collectively as Publicis Technology. This marriage of talent and resources is designed to advance both the company and her current clients -- a roster that today includes the names Kaufhof, Mannesmann D2, Privat, Siemens, LBS Bavaria, and GZS.

Publicis Technology, with this strategic union, is expected to achieve additional advantage in the millennial marketplace. The multimedia agency will now create product and implement strategies in close cooperation with the agencies of the Publicis Network. "A reach both conceptual and technological is a vital criterion for German agencies out to compete worldwide," explains Claus Andreas Preen, Managing Partner of b.a.s. interactive and b.a.s. e-commerce.

"The Publicis Network offers, quite simply, a great capacity to develop and expand business," says Preen. "Unified as a more powerful logistical and creative unit, we will be able to expand our range of services and boost performance for the benefit of all clients, both established and new." He adds, "We will deliver the quality and capabilities of an experienced multimedia agency, enhanced by an international network."

Within the scope of network membership, Publicis Technology will remain an independently operated agency. There will be no changes in operational style or customer service; clients will retain their current contact.

In fact, according to Preen, the corporate customers of b.a.s interactive and b.a.s e-commerce welcome the changes in name and structure. "Our clients are enlightened. They grasp the concept of global reach as a tool with many applications; for instance, creating multitude cross-marketing campaigns."

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Back on the agency side, Publicis’ benefit from this collaboration is immediate and tangible. The network has taken a giant single stride toward its goal of assuming the lead in the multimedia market. At the ready are five in-place Publicis Network companies stationed in Paris, London, San Francisco, Singapore and Munich.

With the merger, b.a.s. interactive and b.a.s. e-commerce separate from the Munich agency group, b.a.s.. According to b.a.s. partner, Monika Beumers, "The multimedia agencies quickly developed into service companies offering a particular product, so it was the right time to accept the offer of Publicis." Publicis has taken over the majority of the agency’s shares of b.a.s. interactive and b.a.s. e-commerce.

Aiming to devote their energy solely to the management of b.a.s. innovations-group, Beumers and fellow partner, Wulf Henrich, sold their stock in the interactive corporations.

Claus Andreas Preen retains his stock in Publicis Technology and remains managing partner of b.a.s. interactive and b.a.s. e-commerce.

b.a.s. e-commerce GmbH (a limited liability company) will be integrated as a unit into Publicis Technology. Tobias Gärtner, who with Preen is a manager of b.a.s. e-commerce, will assume the position of Management Supervisor for the agency as a whole, Publicis Technology.

Internally, the restructuring is viewed as key to doing business in a new age with new technology.

"The borders between the realms of multimedia and electronic commerce are ever more open," says Preen. "The joining of these agencies ultimately serves a single primary purpose… That is, enabling the success of our clients in this rapidly evolving, supercharged global market."

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contact:
Publicis Technology GmbH
Claus Andreas Preen
Schellingstrasse 35, 80799 Munich, Germany
Tel.: +49 – 89 - 28 69 80-10,
Fax: +49 – 89 - 273 03 03
E-Mail: capreen@publicis-technology.de
www.publicis-technology.de
Portrait Publicis Technology

b.a.s. interactive was founded in 1996 and today has 42 employees. Some of the clients are Kaufhof, GZS, Mannesmann D2, Siemens, LBS Bavaria, HypoVereinsbank, Telegate, Zurich Swiss and the German Directmarketing Association.

Portrait Publicis S.A.

Publicis is the second largest agency network in Europe. Worldwide, it ranks at position no. ten. Publicis is at home on all five continents: it has branches in 71 countries and 117 cities. Billings: 1998 worldwide: 6,3 billion Dollars. Gross Income in Germany in 1998: 188,5 millions DM (plus 8,9 percent compared to the previous year). Some of the clients are Nestlé, L’Oreal, Renault, Siemens and British Airways. In 1997, the network Publicis Technology was founded. Her priorities: electronic media and multimedia.