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Edelman Enters Vietnam Market with Acquisition of Leading Public Relations Firm, AVC Communications
AVC Edelman Plans for Aggressive Growth on the Back of Increasing Interest From Foreign Companies to Tap into a Consumer Market of 90 million

Ho Chi Minh City February 27, 2012 Edelman, the worlds largest public relations firm, today announced the acquisition of Vietnam-based AVC Communications, marking its entry into the Vietnam market, pending government approval. The new company will be named AVC Edelman. Because its immediate and medium growth prospects are one of the best in Asia Pacific, our clients are pounding at our door for communications help to navigate the Vietnam market, said Richard Edelman, president and CEO of Edelman, at the announcement of the acquisition to media and clients in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnams middle-income sector is growing rapidly and it has the 13th largest population in the world. Vietnam has tripled its GDP over the last decade and is expected to grow faster, at 5-6% in 2012, than the other markets in Southeast Asia, despite global economic uncertainty. Coupled with economic growth and foreign direct investment, the local public relations industry has also tripled in size in the last five years as multinational corporations and local brands are shifting budgets from pure-play, above the line advertising spending to a marketing mix that includes PR and social media. AVC Communications, founded in 2000, is a full-service public relations, marketing activation, public affairs and digital agency. With a staff of 35, making it one of the leading players in the market, AVC Communications has a roster of long-standing multinational client relationships in industries such as consumer electronics, technology, healthcare, FMCG and energy. Public relations is still a relatively young industry in Vietnam, said Bui Ngoc Anh, managing director and founder of AVC. As one of the first multinational PR firms to enter Vietnam directly, AVC Edelman will be able to define a new standard for the communications industry locally. We wanted to be part of Edelman because it doesnt just bring a great network and capability; it is totally committed to the training and development of our team that will enhance our services and deepen our skillsets. Edelman, with an extensive network of 23 offices across 11 countries in Asia Pacific and 62 offices worldwide is known for being an innovator in the industry. It invented the media tour, was the first

PR firm to start a technology practice, has led the digital revolution in public relations and is renowned for its world-leading research such as the Edelman Trust Barometer, the goodpurpose study, and the Edelman Health Barometer. AVC has been a pioneer in the market by being focused on its clients business outcomes and providing an integrated communications offering that includes deep digital capability, said David Brain, president and CEO of Edelman Asia Pacific. The addition of AVC to our network in Asia Pacific, with its strong local relationships and recognized brand name, will certainly give us an edge in our ability to service clients across the region. AVC will form part of Edelmans Southeast Asia sub-region, reporting into Bob Grove, managing director of Edelman Southeast Asia. The key markets in Southeast Asia are increasingly becoming a strategic foreign direct investment destination in addition to the focus on China and India. With 300 people across our Southeast Asia markets, Edelman has the strength and depth to provide clients with an array of communications services and counsel to support their growth in this region.

According to recently released figures from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Southeast Asia is the largest destination of US FDI in the Asia-Pacific, ahead of Australia, Japan, and China.

About Edelman Edelman is the worlds largest public relations firm, with 62 offices and more than 4,000 employees worldwide, as well as affiliates in more than 30 cities. Edelman was named Advertising Ages topranked PR firm of the decade in 2009 and one of its A-List Agencies in both 2010 and 2011; Adweeks 2011 PR Agency of the Year; PRWeeks 2011 Large PR Agency of the Year; and The Holmes Reports 2011 Global Agency of the Year. Edelman was named one of the Best Places to Work by Advertising Age in 2010 and among Glassdoors top five 2011 Best Places to Work. Edelman owns specialty firms Blue (advertising), StrategyOne (research), Ruth (integrated marketing), DJE Science (medical education/publishing and science communications), MATTER (sports, sponsorship, and entertainment), and Edelman Consulting. Visit http://www.edelman.com for more information.

About AVC AVC is a Vietnam communications agency that provides highly creative and strategically-driven public relations, integrated digital and marketing activation services to the countrys leading branded and fast-growth companies. AVCs commitment is to deliver outstanding campaigns and tailored solutions from strategy to execution. Visit http://www.avc.com.vn for more information.