SAO PAULO, Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — MZ Group (www.groupmz.com), a multinational company and the world’s largest independent provider of investor relations (IR), corporate communications, governance, market intelligence and applied technology services, and MVL Communications (www.mvl.com.br), one of the Brazilian leaders in organizational communications, crisis management and solutions for dialogue between people and brands in classic and digital media, announced today the merger of their operations. The transaction will be concluded this December following due diligence from both parties.

The merger gives rise to @titude Global (www.attitude-global.com), a leading corporate communications group with global footprint and the world’s largest independent provider of investor relations services, with a particular focus on innovation and high growth markets. With expected consolidated revenues of US$34 million in 2011, @titude Global provides exclusive services to more than 580 clients in 11 countries, through its offices located in Sao Paulo, New York, Chicago, San Diego, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei.

MZ Group and MVL Communications’ shareholders and executives are joining forces and now share the same corporate vision: to be the world leader in their respective areas of operation based on innovation, perseverance, ethical conduct, merit-based culture and a firm determination to increase value for shareholders and society as a whole. @titude Global is poised for the imminent convergence of all media and communications tools and the provision of multi-stakeholder platforms on a local and global scale.

New Corporate, Governance and Entrepreneurial Structure

Rodolfo Zabisky, founding partner of MZ Group and CEO of @titude Global, believes that the initiative “is another important step towards assembling a major confederation of entrepreneurs that will catalyze and lead the consolidation of the corporate communications, investor relations and governance business on a global scale. We will continue to exercise our vocation by providing clients with innovative products and services, while undergoing accelerated growth and putting the utmost value on our people.”

The Chairman of @titude Global will be Caio Tulio Costa, a partner of MVL Communications. In addition to Rodolfo Zabisky, the Board of Directors comprises Jose Luiz Osorio (Jardim Botanico Investments) and two independent members, Carlos Kokron and Julian Herbstein.

Caio Tulio Costa is a journalist with a doctorate in communication sciences. After 21 years with the Folha Group, he became one of the founders of UOL, where he served as CEO until 2002 and led the company to the market leadership. He subsequently served as CEO of IG until 2009 where he was responsible for creating a new business model. “We have identified strong synergies between people and services in the companies of our group, which will allow us to provide unique and comprehensive solutions for organizations around the world,” declared @titude Global’s new Chairman of the Board.

As a result of the merger, MVL Comunicacao will take control of BRIC Integrated Corporate Communications and will be headed by Nilson de Oliveira, an MVL Comunicacao partner since 2005. All of MVL and BRIC’s client service teams will remain unaltered. “There is growing worldwide demand for convergent solutions that eliminate the need to manage several unrelated suppliers, heralding an era of long-term strategic relationships,” explained Nilson. A journalist and social scientist, Nilson de Oliveira headed the communications program for Marina Silva‘s presidential candidacy in 2010 – the most successful case to date of media and relationship convergence, which took a little-known candidate and made her the third most voted in the country’s history, with nearly 20 million votes.

According to Mauro Lopes, founding partner of MVL, “this merger is taking place at a historic moment when communications and relationships are no longer accessories but essential core activities of any organization: the new civilizing paradigm demands dialogue between individuals and companies.”

The leaders of @titude Global’s other business units in will remain in place: Tereza Kaneta, Enzo Villani and Kevin Yu will continue as Presidents of MZ Group (investor relations and applied technology) in Latin America, North America and Asia-Pacific, respectively. Erik Pineda remains President of LEAD (boards of directors, business intelligence and IPO journeys) and Ricardo Merzvinskas and Flavio Machado will continue to head Pixit (video campaigns and interactive solutions).

“@titude Global will continue to consolidate its position as an independent powerhouse, with the technological expertise and infrastructure to develop integrated programs involving strategic positioning, branding, and communications with all stakeholders,” concluded Rodolfo Zabisky.

For further information:
Amanda Munhoz
Phone: 1 (212) 813-2975
info@attitude-global.com
www.attitude-global.com

SOURCE @titude Global