AMO, APCO Create Strategic Global Alliance in Financial Communications and Public Affairs

Industry Leaders Combine to Offer Integrated Strategies in Transactions, Crisis Communications, Capital Markets Activities

New York/London/Washington, D.C., November 27, 2006 – AMO, the global strategic and financial communications network, and APCO Worldwide (APCO), a leading global public affairs and corporate communications consultancy, announced today a strategic alliance to offer integrated services in public affairs and financial communications. The alliance, which comprises approximately 700 employees, creates a global communications network with true local experts in the world’s financial and political centers capable of serving the needs of multinational corporations.

By combining the deep knowledge and specialized expertise of two industry leaders, the alliance is uniquely able to meet the needs of companies managing the converging challenges of complex capital markets transactions and sensitive public affairs issues.

“Cross-border mergers and acquisitions increasingly involve regulators, national governments and other stakeholders beyond the traditional financial community. Our alliance with APCO creates a powerful advisor who can anticipate, understand and address the critical perception challenges that threaten the successful outcome of global transactions and complex corporate restructurings,” James L. Abernathy, AMO chairman, said. “Our philosophy within AMO is to work only with the top communications advisor in each market, and this alliance carries our ‘best-in-class’ philosophy into the vital field of public affairs.”

“Public scrutiny, regulatory complexity and litigation have put corporations and their strategic initiatives in the spotlight. Issues raised by regulators, activists, policy-makers and the public in the major capitals of the world and at all levels of government are major factors in determining the success or failure of any transaction. AMO understands the increasingly intricate dynamics of global financial communications better than anyone,” Margery Kraus, APCO president and chief executive officer, said. “This alliance provides clients of both companies with access to sophisticated communications counsel and critical expertise in multiple geographies, communications disciplines and industry sectors.”

AMO and APCO are recognized leaders in their respective fields. APCO, headquartered in Washington, D.C., has received numerous awards and recognition for its work around the globe, including PR Week “2006 PR Agency of the Year” and Public Affairs News “2006 European Consultancy of the Year.” AMO is an unparalleled network of leading financial communications firms in the global financial capitals: The Abernathy MacGregor Group in the United States, Maitland in the UK and Italy, Hering Schuppener in Germany, Euro RSCG C&O in France and Llorente & Cuenca in Spain and Latin America. AMO was named “Financial Consultancy of the Year” in 2006 by The Holmes Report, a leading industry publication.

About AMO

Founded in 2001, AMO is the leading global network of best-in-class strategic and financial communications consultancies located in the main financial centers in Europe and the Americas. Providing sophisticated advice in critical situations surrounding M&A and capital market transactions as well as media relations, investor relations and corporate crises, AMO has established relationships with many S&P 500, FTSE 100, Dax 30, CAC 40 and IBEX 35 companies. In 2006 AMO was named Financial Consultancy of the Year by The Holmes Report and is consistently ranked at the top of M&A league tables of financial PR advisers by mergermarket. AMO’s ‘best in class’ philosophy unites local market leaders with a deep knowledge of financial markets and cross-border transactions: The Abernathy MacGregor Group in the U.S., Maitland in UK and Italy, Euro RSCG C&O in France, Hering Schuppener Consulting in Germany, and Llorente & Cuenca in Spain and Latin America. For more information, please visit www.amo-global.com.

About APCO Worldwide

Founded in 1984, APCO Worldwide is an independently owned global communication consultancy with offices in major cities throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. APCO was named 2006 Agency of the Year by PR Week, 2006 and 2005 European Consultancy of the Year by Public Affairs News and 2004 Public Affairs Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report. Clients include corporations, governments, industry associations and nonprofit organizations. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO includes among its clients seven of the top 10 companies on Fortune’s Global 500. Core services include corporate, investor and internal communication; crisis management; issue management; government relations; litigation communication; media relations; coalition building; opinion research; market entry; corporate responsibility and online communication. APCO is a majority women-owned business. For more information, please visit www.apcoworldwide.com.

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