Press release
On July 27th, 2010, AMS and Stöer signed a consortium agreement to jointly apply for a license contract for the construction and maintenance of bus shelters in Warsaw. The consortium agreement has beenmade by both parties exclusively for the purpose of acquiring the aforementioned contract. The proxy of the established consortium shall submit an application for the license contract, on behalf of both companies, on July 28, 2010, to the Warsaw Municipal Government Office.
The purpose of establishing the consortium by AMS and Ströer Polska is to combine the potential of both companies. The advantages for the City of Warsaw, coming from such a solution, include, i.a., the combination of AMS' unique experience in furnishing Polish towns and cities with Ströer's European experience in that respect. On the other hand, as the City of Warsaw shall sign a contract with only one licensee, the consortium guarantees an efficient execution and increased security of an investment process resulting from the contribution of capital by two strong partners, which reduces economic risks of the investment. The companies, constituting the consortium, are the biggest operators on the Polish out-of-home market. They have stable financial situation and belong to Groups listed on the stock exchanges. This guarantees the City of Warsaw increased security. Similar solution has been implemented in comparable European cities i.a. Vienna, Dresden and Hamburg.
On May 18th, 2010, the authorities of the City of Warsaw announced the opening of the legal proceedings to grant a license for construction and maintenance of bus shelters in Warsaw. 1,580 bus shelters are to be replaced. The closing date for submitting applications to execute license contract expires on July 28th, 2010. During the next stage of the process the City Hall will carry out negotiations with selected companies to establish the final conditions of the order for the construction and maintenance of bus shelters in Warsaw. The total cost of the investment estimated by the city amounts to approximately PLN 80 million and is to be covered by the investor. The investor who wins the license contract shall be entitled to sell advertising surfaces on the panels on bus shelters. In case of the consortium established by AMS and Ströer, after a joint investment in construction of bus shelters, each of the companies shall sell the advertisement spaces on the bus shelters separately. This is one of the largest investment processes on the Polish out-of-home market.
- "Due to our experience in execution of international city furniture contracts, i.a. on very demanding and expecting high standards German market, we know that bus shelters should not only be esthetic but also functional. This is highly important for the passengers. The bus shelters we want to propose for Warsaw are designed with such an intention. Their modern and flexible construction, can be adjusted to any, even very narrow spaces. They are resistant to devastation and can be easily preserved. They provide passengers with protection against wind and sun and their design is both up - to - date and esthetic" - says Janusz Malinowski, the President of the Management Board of Ströer Polska.
Taking into account that, as part of the contract, The City of Warsaw intends to participate in profits from selling the advertising faces on bus shelters - it is highly relevant that both companies have excellent recognition of needs and peculiarity of Polish market, as well as a broad network of clients so they do not need to search for purchasers of panels on bus shelters.
- "We are very pleased that the opening of the legal process to grant license for construction and maintenance of bus shelters in Warsaw has been finally announced - we have been striving for that for many years. Now, we will be able to utilize our exceptional, 20-year - long experience from the Polish market where we have implemented many intricate and nonstandard projects, requiring individual approach. AMS is the biggest operator on the Warsaw market of citylight panels placed on bus shelters and has good recognition of clients' expectations in that respect - comments Marek Kuzaka, the Deputy President of the Management Board of AMS S.A.
The non-confirmed closing date of the City Hall negotiations with the companies applying for the license is two to three months. The city authorities expect the first bus shelters to be built next year, while the whole investment is planned to be fulfilled in three - years' time. The rate of investment execution is dependent also on the speed of the investor selection process.
More information:
AMS:
Grazyna Golebiowska, Director of Marketing Communication and PR
g.golebiowska@ams.com.pl
Tel.: +48 502 722 805
Ströer Group:
Marta Glowacka, Citybell Consulting
mglowacka@citybell.pl
Tel.: +48 722 349 000
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AMS SA is the leading company on the Polish out of home market, it was established in 1990. Since September 2002, AMS has been a member of Agora Group. AMS has furnished 27 Polish towns and cities, with over 3 300 bus shelters and carried out contracts with all big cities in Poland. Having been a pioneer, AMS has also implemented investments in "the capital salon" - kiosks and poster pillars on Krakowskie Przedmieście and bus shelters on Al.Ujazdowskie Street in Warsaw, as well as street furniture on the representative Wroclaw passage - Olawska Street. Kiosks and pillars on Krakowskie Przedmiescie in Warsaw were awarded by the "Media and Marketing Polska" weekly magazine as the Best Pilot Project of the Year, 2008
AMS is running a Bramy Kraju (Gates of the Country) project - the comprehensive municipal marketing program, dedicated to the creation of an image and brand of Polish cities, in particular through the development of the public space. Within the program, among others, together with the Cracow municipality AMS in 2009 realized a competition for land development plan of the Wolnica Square, especially taking into consideration street furniture. At present another competition is being arranged. for land development plan of the Walowy Square in Gdansk.
AMS is providing the clients with effective advertising campaigns using the widest portfolio of media on the market. The company offers advertising panels in all market segments: universal, premium - among others cityscrolls - superpremium and spectacular. AMS' portfolio of products comprises also mobile advertising (busses and trams). In total, AMS offers 24.6 thousand advertising spaces on its panels. The company also offers small advertising panels on petrol stations and advertising spaces on the Warsaw subway trains. In 2008, AMS launched on the Warsaw subway trains a pioneering digital signage communication channel - CityINFOtv. More information on the company is available at www.ams.com.pl .
Ströer
Ströer Out-of-Home Media AG is a specialist for all forms of outdoor advertising - ranging from classic posters, advertising in waiting areas and mass transit to digital and interactive media. The company markets over 280,000 advertising spaces and is one of the leading out-of-home advertisers in Europe: In terms of sales revenue, Ströer is the leader in its core markets of Germany, Turkey and Poland (following the acquisition of News Outdoor Poland). In these markets the company provides its clients with extensive networks for nationwide advertising campaigns. The Ströer Group has some 1,400 employees at over 60 locations. The company's portfolio comprises a variety of different outdoor advertising products. In terms of advertising media and street furniture, the company values top quality, innovation and superior design. With its products, Ströer sets new standards of design of public spaces. Ströer street furniture has already received 26 international awards.
The company is proud to have numerous contracts with European cities, including both modern advertising media and facilities concerning street furniture. For many years Ströer has also been conducting intensive research and development work in the field of street furniture with its Technology Centre in Cologne being one of the most modern one in Europe.
Ströer is the initiator and organizer of the Cities and Regions Promotion Festival which has become a prestigious event constituting a symbol of integration of local government and business environment as well as the example of how to promote the highest standards of work, creativity, integrity and commitment to the process of image building and promotion of cities and regions.
More information about the company is available at www.stroeer.com .