Living up to its Hype
"This is one of our most important acquisitions in Central Europe in the last five years," said the CEO of Aegis Media Central Services, Peter Ford. Isobar's investment in Hypermedia is the result of negotiations that have been ongoing since autumn 2004. Isobar joins the Carat and Vizeum media houses and research company Synovate under Aegis Media's wing. Aegis Media is in turn held by Aegis Group SA.
Isobar says it is the only global full service network of interactive marketing companies. Although in its salad days, as the company is only several years' old, it is already one of the biggest interactive media networks in the world. It joins and coordinates all brands that deal with electronic media within the Aegis Group. Over 1,000 specialists work for Isobar in 27 countries.
So why did Hypermedia yield to Isobar? "I am a businessman. I am only convinced by the final effect," said the president of Hypermedia, Sławomir Stępniewski, explaining the implementation is as important as the vision. "What is important for me is the access to international markets. What is more, Aegis customers and Hypermedia customers are two different groups, which creates new possibilities, [and a] new business level."
Isobar now has a 100-percent stake in Hypermedia. Previously, Stępniewski was the majority shareholder (90 per cent of shares) in Hypermedia, and the remaining part belonged to employees. It supplies complex solutions for interactive marketing communication.
Last year was a success for Hypermedia. The company's turnover was zł.8.1 billion and the growth of product sales and services was 42 percent more than the previous year. Net income amounted zł.1.561 billion. Hypermedia has 30 clients, including PKO BP, Oracle, Philip Morris, Procter&Gamble, and Hewlett Packard. "Our clients have been with us for more than three years. In our history there has never been a brand that would resign from cooperating with us," boasts Stępniewski.
"Poland is important for the development of the communication markets in Europe. With its growing middle class, the Polish market is very good for advanced technologies, as there are more and more people who can afford it. We consider Poland to be fully integrated with Europe and we treat the Polish market as seriously as the UK, German, French, or Spanish ones," stressed Ford.
According to Stępniewski, who was officially appointed Isobar CEO in Poland, Hypermedia will keep its brand and independence. In the next three years the company will double its personnel, which is now 45 people in five departments. "No more acquisitions are predicted for Poland," added Stępniewski.
Isobar says it is the only global full service network of interactive marketing companies. Although in its salad days, as the company is only several years' old, it is already one of the biggest interactive media networks in the world. It joins and coordinates all brands that deal with electronic media within the Aegis Group. Over 1,000 specialists work for Isobar in 27 countries.
So why did Hypermedia yield to Isobar? "I am a businessman. I am only convinced by the final effect," said the president of Hypermedia, Sławomir Stępniewski, explaining the implementation is as important as the vision. "What is important for me is the access to international markets. What is more, Aegis customers and Hypermedia customers are two different groups, which creates new possibilities, [and a] new business level."
Isobar now has a 100-percent stake in Hypermedia. Previously, Stępniewski was the majority shareholder (90 per cent of shares) in Hypermedia, and the remaining part belonged to employees. It supplies complex solutions for interactive marketing communication.
Last year was a success for Hypermedia. The company's turnover was zł.8.1 billion and the growth of product sales and services was 42 percent more than the previous year. Net income amounted zł.1.561 billion. Hypermedia has 30 clients, including PKO BP, Oracle, Philip Morris, Procter&Gamble, and Hewlett Packard. "Our clients have been with us for more than three years. In our history there has never been a brand that would resign from cooperating with us," boasts Stępniewski.
"Poland is important for the development of the communication markets in Europe. With its growing middle class, the Polish market is very good for advanced technologies, as there are more and more people who can afford it. We consider Poland to be fully integrated with Europe and we treat the Polish market as seriously as the UK, German, French, or Spanish ones," stressed Ford.
According to Stępniewski, who was officially appointed Isobar CEO in Poland, Hypermedia will keep its brand and independence. In the next three years the company will double its personnel, which is now 45 people in five departments. "No more acquisitions are predicted for Poland," added Stępniewski.
