BIGFOOT INTERACTIVE SECURES STRATEGIC INVESTMENT AND INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP WITH MITSUI
Company Continues to Accelerate Growth of Its Vertical Market Solutions and Client Base
NEW YORK and TOKYO – August 13, 2002 – Bigfoot Interactive, the leading provider of strategic, ROI-focused email communications technology and services, today announced that Mitsui & Co. (USA) Inc. and its parent company Mitsui & Co., Ltd., one of the world`s largest international trading companies and a catalyst for global business development, have made a strategic investment in the company. In addition, the new relationship also includes a partnership that enables Mitsui to provide email communication services powered by Bigfoot Interactive`s market-leading technology.
The new capital funding and partnership completes another record half-year period for Bigfoot Interactive that also included the addition of more than 30 blue-chip clients and the successful launch of a series of vertical market tool kits and automated technology solutions for the financial services, automotive and publishing industries.
"Bigfoot Interactive`s demonstrated leadership has not only attracted us to invest, but to also extend our relationship so that Mitsui can offer premier email communications technology to our subsidiaries, business units and other customers in Japan," said Andrew Van Etten, Senior Director, Electronics & Information Business Division of Mitsui USA. "We are extremely excited about our relationship with Bigfoot Interactive, which has quickly proven its unique value proposition to the marketplace by combining exceptional technology, professional services and vertical market expertise to create a total solution for major corporations and organizations."
As the initial member of the Bigfoot Interactive International Partner Program, Mitsui Tokyo`s Electronics & Information Business Unit will tap Bigfoot Interactive`s best-of-breed technology for use by a new email communications solutions unit. The utilization and reselling of Bigfoot Interactive`s technology platform will allow Mitsui to provide email communications services internally to its numerous divisions, subsidiaries and portfolio companies, as well as externally to its clients and any other companies seeking to drive revenues, improve customer relationships and increase operational efficiencies. Mitsui & Co. was recently ranked the thirteenth largest company in the world on the FORTUNE Global 500 list.
Bigfoot Interactive`s International Partner Program empowers its members and their clients to create, execute and analyze highly targeted, cost efficient and effective email communication programs. Program members can quickly offer advanced email communications services and expertise without incurring the significant costs of developing in-house operations.
"Mitsui`s investment in our company and utilization of our technology reinforces Bigfoot Interactive`s vision to provide full-service email communications solutions that meet the critical needs and challenges of our clients and partners," said Al DiGuido, CEO of Bigfoot Interactive. "The additional funding also accelerates our momentum in the marketplace as we look to advance our industry leadership as well as expand the development of our industry-focused automated technology solutions, client services and sales efforts."
About Bigfoot Interactive
Bigfoot Interactive (www.bigfootinteractive.com) is the leading provider of strategic, ROI-focused email communications technology and services. Through its combination of innovative technology, professional services and vertical market expertise, Bigfoot Interactive helps marketers acquire, grow and retain profitable customer relationships through highly relevant and personalized email communications. The company`s end-to-end suite of industry-specific products and services includes scalable email delivery technology, strategic consulting, database management and integration, and creative expertise to produce email programs that generate measurable results throughout the customer lifecycle. Since 1997, Bigfoot Interactive has developed successful permission-based email programs for more than 150 top companies, including MCI Worldcom, The Washington Post/Newsweek Interactive, World Wildlife Fund, Alitalia and TIME Magazine. The company also works closely with key strategic and channel partners, including Acxiom® Corporation, Grey Direct and Vertis. Privately held and based in New York, the company`s investors include JPMorgan Partners, Flatiron Partners, Hudson Ventures, Grey Ventures, HPJ Media Ventures and Syndicat Technologies.
About Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
Mitsui & Co. is Japan`s largest sogo shosha, or general trading company. The company has two principal roles: to facilitate its clients` international trade-related activities by offering its substantial information, human, financial and other resources, and to create new trade flows, new enterprises and new industries around the world.
About Mitsui & Co., (USA) Inc.
Mitsui USA is the largest subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., Ltd., incorporated in 1966 in New York. The company has ten Business Divisions and operates 100 plus consolidated subsidiaries across the U.S. Specializing in global trading and project development, Mitsui USA serves as a Comprehensive Business Engineer to make optimum use of cutting-edge IT, FT and LT in problem solving and value creation for its clients.
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