BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

03/11/2009

Grayling commences operations in Belarus

Worlds third largest independent PR, PA and IR consultancy opens office in Minsk extending its Central and Eastern European footprint

Services offered to Belarus companies seeking investment from world capital markets and international businesses planning entry into Belarus

Grayling, the worlds third largest independent Public Relations, Public Affairs and Investor Relations consultancy and the largest in central and eastern Europe, south eastern Europe and Eurasia, today announces it is opening its own office and has commenced operations in the Republic of Belarus. It believes it is the first international network firm to have incorporated and begun a full-time local presence in the market.

Grayling, which is being formed from the merger of Grayling, Trimedia and Mmd, is owned by Huntsworth Plc (www.huntsworth.com/ LSE: HNT), a world class communications group with Public Relations at its core.

Through its heritage company, Mmd, Graylings experience across the CIS includes global communications for Rosneft in Russia and System Capital Management in Ukraine; international reputation building; financial communications and Investor Relations for big CIS businesses and strategic communications, Public Relations and Government Relations for multinational companies in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Azerbaijan. Huntsworth Plc is the largest UK company by market capitalisation to invest in the Republic of Belarus to-date.

Graylings operation in Belarus will offer a full range of Public Affairs, Government Relations and Public Relations services to international companies present in the Republic or contemplating entrance into the Belarusian market. Grayling will also offer international Investor Relations, Public Relations and Public Affairs services to Belarus companies and state institutions seeking exposure to world capital markets, or other publics, internationally. It will do this by dovetailing its Minsk office with Graylings network of offices in 65 locations in the global financial, commercial and political centres around the world

Graylings Belarus operation is a 70-30 joint venture of between Grayling and BTH Investments (UK); a corporate advisory company working across Central and Eastern Europe and CIS.

Vladimir Melnikov, Deputy General Director of Grayling in the CIS and Dmitry Marinovsky, the agencys chief consultant in Minsk, will lead Graylings day-to-day operations in Belarus.

Chris Dobson, Managing Director Grayling - Central & South Eastern Europe & CIS said: I am delighted that Grayling will be the first international network consultancy to open its own office in Belarus: a true sign that Belarus is becoming an important part of European markets and, indeed, consistent with our track record of being first into Eastern Europes emerging markets. I am also delighted that we have launched with such a committed partner as BTH Investments.

Stephen Lock, Deputy Managing Director Grayling and Regional Director for Eurasia, to who Grayling in Belarus will report, added: Belarus sits at a strategic crossroads between Russia and the EU. It offers exciting potential for inward investors as a manufacturing and research base to serve both markets. It is also, as I have come to learn in the 18 months we have been preparing this venture, a beautiful country with warm-hearted and determined people.

Mark Pursey, Director of BTH Investments, added: Belarus is a country of 10 million people and still an untapped market for many European, Eurasian and international companies. Graylings unrivalled corporate, financial and government relations experience across the CIS can be of particular service to Belarus companies considering their investment options in world capital markets, as part of the Republics Privatisation programme, and international businesses seeking to enter Europes last great opportunity market.

For further information, please contact:

Grayling

Vladimir Melnikov(office)+7 495 788 67 84

Vladimir.melnikov@mmd.ru (mobile) +7 903 790 2822

BTH Investments

Mark Pursey+44 7595 511 166

Mark.pursey@grayling.com

About Grayling

In August 2009, parent company Huntsworth Plc announced its intention to merge Grayling, Trimedia and Mmd to form one consultancy. The new company will become the worlds third largest independent Public Relations, Public Affairs and Investor Relations firm. It has 830 staff, revenues in excess of 80 million and offices in 65 locations around the world.

Mmd, which will carry the Grayling name from January 1st 2010, is the leading Public Relations and Public Affairs consultancy in Central & Eastern Europe and the opening of the Minsk office is Mmds 20th office in its 19th country.

www.thenewgrayling.com

About Huntsworth plc

Huntsworth plc (www.huntsworth.com/ LSE: HNT) is a world-class communications group with public relations at its core, global in scale but rooted in domestic excellence in the countries in which it operates.

Huntsworth owns some of the worlds leading PR consultancies and offers expertise across a number of sectors including: consumer, finance, public affairs and technology together with an integrated healthcare offer. Huntsworth Group companies clients include 49 of FTSE 100 companies, 101 of Fortune 500 companies and 111 of EuroTop300 companies. www.huntsworth.com

About BTH Investments

BTH Investment is a specialised business risk advisory and business development company that supports CIS companies that want to trade and seek investment from the UK and European markets, and British companies seeking investment opportunities, new markets, product procurement and outsourcing opportunities in the CIS. It help companies, government agencies and individual investors reduce their risk exposure to markets that are new to them and capitalise on their business potential.

Source:

http://www.prfire.co.uk/press-release/grayling-commences-operations-in-belarus-2955.html


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