MessageMedia Expands International Presence Creates MessageMedia Europe
MessageMedia Forms Joint Venture With SOFTBANK and Vivendi to Pursue Leadership Position in Europe
BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 1999-- MessageMedia Inc. (Nasdaq:MESG), a leading provider of e-mail-based customer relationship management and direct marketing services, agreed today to create MessageMedia Europe, a joint venture between MessageMedia and @viso (''Atviso'').
@viso, a strategic partnership between Vivendi, the European leader in communications, and SOFTBANK, will help MessageMedia rapidly penetrate the European region. MessageMedia entered into a non-binding agreement with @viso and the two companies are working toward a definitive agreement.
''MessageMedia has the unique opportunity to extend its U.S. brand in the e-messaging category in the rapidly growing European market,'' said Larry Jones, president and CEO of MessageMedia. ''By teaming with Vivendi and SOFTBANK through @viso, we will dramatically accelerate our entry into the continental European marketplace.''
''As the pre-eminent leader in large-scale e-mail services, MessageMedia is becoming increasingly central to the new Internet economy,'' said Masayoshi Son, Chairman of SOFTBANK Corp. ''We expect that its innovative technology and sharply focused business model will position MessageMedia as a major force in this critical infrastructure sector in Europe.''
MessageMedia Europe will be led by managing director, David Ehrenthal, previously vice president of international development for MessageMedia. Mr. Ehrenthal possesses extensive expertise in the e-messaging space as well as eight years of multinational business experience with MessageMedia, American Express and other firms. As a previous marketing director for American Express Travel Related Services, Ehrenthal was instrumental in developing the Small Business Corporate Card business in Europe.
MessageMedia's outsourced e-mail services are designed to help clients deliver timely information to subscribers, route and respond to customer requests, uncover new marketing opportunities, provide e-mail support for online e-commerce applications as well as conduct online customer surveys and research. These scalable solutions enable companies to increase customer retention and loyalty through an e-mail dialog as well as reduce operational and technology risk in executing large-scale e-mail programs at a reduced cost.
As part of the joint venture, @viso will provide MessageMedia Europe with a full set of market access services in Europe, including identifying local competitors and potential partners, in order to accelerate MessageMedia Europe's position as a leader in e-mail services. @viso will act as an incubator, providing capital, infrastructure, and local support services, including strategic marketing, technical facilities and personnel resources.
MessageMedia is currently providing e-messaging services in Europe for Barclays Bank and Bertelsmann.
About @ viso
Formed in July 1999, @viso (Atviso) is a joint venture between Vivendi and SOFTBANK, aimed at helping U.S. Internet companies gain rapid market entry into continental Europe. Its regional expertise and toolboxes of services -- including state-of-the-art technical facilities and marketing, legal, PR and recruitment services -- help businesses expand into new territory. Additional information about @viso can be found at www.atviso.com
About Vivendi
With net sales of 39 billion euros (estimated for 1999) and 260,000 employees in over 100 countries, Vivendi is the world leader in Environmental Services and a major player in communications. Vivendi owns Cegetel, the largest French private telecommunications operator, Europe's leading pay-television company Canal+, and the publishing giant Havas.
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