Guthy-Renker Acquires Lieberman Productions

Guthy-Renker Acquires Lieberman Productions

Acquisition Unites Two of the Biggest Powerhouses in the Direct Response Industry

PALM DESERT, Calif., Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's largest direct response television company, Guthy-Renker today announced that it has acquired Lieberman Productions, the San Francisco-based marketing and direct response production company behind many of Guthy-Renker's major brand successes including Proactiv Solution, Principal Secret and Sheer Cover, among others. The deal, a culmination of a 20-year relationship between Guthy-Renker principals Bill Guthy and Greg Renker and Lieberman CEO Lenny Lieberman, is set to close on December 31, 2007. Following the closing of Guthy-Renker's purchase of Lieberman, Lenny Lieberman will join the ownership group at Guthy-Renker and will be appointed to the company's Board of Directors.

The deal will give way to a closer collaboration between two of the biggest powerhouses in the direct response industry. Guthy-Renker is known for delivering quality products through award-winning shows that feature some of today's biggest stars while Lieberman's shows have been a critical factor in helping create billions in sales for multiple clients and projects.

"We hope that the deal will collapse barriers between two independent companies so that we can work together to build brands faster and more profitably," said Renker. "By matching the creative brainpower of Lieberman's core team with Guthy-Renker's outstanding marketing team, we anticipate that our new partnership will have an immediate positive impact on our business and will improve all areas of our television marketing and strategic brand planning." In addition, the deal will provide a platform for growth in that Lieberman will not only support Guthy-Renker's international strategy, but also maintain an aggressive show delivery schedule.

For Lieberman, the deal will provide the necessary resources for continued growth and expansion of its facilities, staff and worldwide operations. "We look forward to immediately accelerating our international productions, adding creative staff to expand our output, and continuing to deliver winning shows and spots," said Lieberman.

While Lieberman Productions will continue to operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary, the company brings with it a strong management group: Lenny Lieberman will remain as CEO; Lynn Pearson, the company's premiere Executive Producer for 10 years, has been named President; Mick Diener, the architect of many of GRC/Lieberman's most successful shows, is named Chief Creative Officer; long-time Executive Producers Marty Balogh and Barbara Parker remain on staff; Sean Baenen, leading marketing and media strategist, will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer and has been charged with growing the company's international production group; Evan Stewart is Chief Technology Officer, architect for the company's production facilities and now in charge of all IT, MIS and post-production. Newly hired are Cara Brennan as the company's Director of Human Relations, and Mollie Allen, former producer of the Oprah Show as Director of Production.

About Lieberman Productions Lieberman Productions is a strategic marketing, advertising firm, production house and direct response television company. Lieberman produces high-concept, highly successful infomercials and television spots, featuring celebrities like Vanessa Williams, Cindy Crawford, Susan Lucci, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jessica Simpson, and many more. Its headquarters are in San Francisco, CA with satellite operations in Germany, Australia, and China

About Guthy-Renker

Established in 1988, Guthy-Renker is one of the world's largest direct response television companies with annual sales of $1.5 billion. It is known as the leading producer of high-quality infomercials and products designed for direct response television sales, with offices in Palm Desert, CA; Santa Monica, CA; London; Beijing; Tokyo; New Zealand; and Sydney, Australia. Guthy-Renker has a superior track record of customer satisfaction for 18 years.

Originally launched as a television direct marketer by Co-CEOs Bill Guthy and Greg Renker, the independently-owned, vertically-integrated company has since broadened its focus into every area of electronic retailing, making quality products available to U.S. and international consumers through broadcast television, cable and satellite, as well as internet, telemarketing, direct mail and retail channels.

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Source: Guthy-Renker

CONTACT: Shannon Keller or Elizabeth Kurz, +1-310-854-4800,
skeller@bncpr.com, both of BNC for Guthy-Renker

Web site: http://www.bncpr.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment