Zumba® fitness is one the world’s most popular forms of exercise. Around 12 million people participate in Zumba® fitness classes weekly all over the world. In October 2011 Coast Communications in Denmark successfully carried out a PR assignment for the company when Zumba® fitness creator, Beto visited Copenhagen to teach a Zumba Master Class. The result opened the possibility for Coast Communications to become the Nordic Agency for Zumba Fitness.

Coast Communications’ Nordic team consists of Zoë Mutami, Swedish project manager and Nordic coordinator, Päivi Holmqvist, project manager Finland, Christina Rytter, project manager Denmark and Linda Thorud, project manager Norway.

“We have composed a Nordic team that is particularly suitable for Zumba Fitness. Not only are the project managers skilled PR people with excellent professional track records, but they are also physically active individuals with an appreciation and understand of the passion for dance and health that Zumba Fitness stands for”, says Karl Rickhamre, managing director at Coast Communications.

The Zumba Fitness brand also consists of exercise wear, DVDs, a health magazine and video games under its brand. Zumba Fitness has also created a charity platform to raise money for breast cancer and ALS awareness and regularly arranges charity events for these causes. Coast Communications Nordic PR will cover all of these aspects and aims to increase awareness of and interest in Zumba Fitness in the Nordic countries.

For more information, please contact
Karl-G. Rickhamre, Managing Director Coast Communications

+ 8 46 402 98 85, + 46 709 54 91 09

kg.rickhamre@coast.se

Zoë Mutami, account director
+ 46 8 402 98 86, + 46 765 36 34 46                           
zoe.mutami@coast.se

www.coast.se

www.prgn.com

For current coverage of Zumba Fitness’ business concept, please see Miami Herald 12 February 2012:   

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/12/v-fullstory/2637647/sweat-equity-zumba-on-the-move.html

Photos available at Mynewsdesk: http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/pressroom/coast_communications_ab/image/list

Coast Communications has recently completed an extensive report for a global American company on how social media can be developed further in the company’s external communications.

“It is ideal to start our collaboration with the Swedish Prosecution Authority with this type of review. Social media is definitely in focus and has taken communications to a whole new level during the last couple of years”, says KG Rickhamre, MD, Coast Communications. “Social media now plays an important part both in our advisory role as well as in our media training sessions and in the production of communication plans.”

For several years, Coast Communications has periodically supplied communications support to Swedish authorities, such as the Swedish Economic Crime Authority and the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority.

“We are pleased with the outcome. Coast Communications has extensive experience of Swedish authorities and we will also contribute with our model based way of working. The collaboration in our international network PRGN intensified considerably over the past five years and today we can rely on powerful resources in terms of both experience and methods”, says KG Rickhamre.

For more information

KG Rickhamre, MD Coast Communications; + 46 8 402 98 85, + 46 709 54 91 09  

kg.rickhamre@coast.se

www.coast.se
www.prgn.com

Twitter @coastcomm

Coast Communications was founded in 2001 and has its own operations in Stockholm and Copenhagen with affiliates in Oslo and Helsinki. The agency focuses on strategic communications, public relations, public affairs, crisis communications and investor relations.  Coast Communications was voted “Best Agency” in Sweden by its clients in the country’s leading trade magazine, Resume, year 2008 and nominated to public affairs award Columbi Egg together with Bates in Copenhagen for its CSR work for Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle year 2009. Since May 2006 Coast is a proud member of PRGN, the global network for independent agencies by invitation only celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Headed by President and CEO C.L. Conroy, APR alongside Vice President Jorge Martinez, The Conroy Martinez Group is a bilingual, full-service public relations, marketing and social media agency.  During its 21 years in business, the agency has conducted Public Relations campaigns for clients such as Coca-Cola, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami Seaquarium, Fisher Island and many others. The agency has served clients in a variety of industries, including health care, corporate communications, banking, service industry firms, entertainment, travel and tourism, business, real estate and retail.

“The Conroy Martinez Group is proud to be selected as the Florida agency for PRGN,” said Jorge Martinez, Vice President of Conroy Martinez Group. “We look forward to developing business with our new network partners and working with other like-minded public relations agencies around the globe that share our commitment to superior service and attention to detail.”

For further details, please contact:

Zoë Mutami
Coast Communications for Public Relations Global Network
+ 46 8 402 98 86
zoe.mutami@coast.se
www.coast.se, www.prgn.com

Coast Communications

Coast Communications was founded in 2001 and has its own operations in Stockholm and Copenhagen. The agency focus on Public Affairs and Investor Relations and was voted “Best Agency” in Sweden by its clients in the country’s leading trade magazine, Resume, year 2008. Since 2006 Coast is a proud member of PRGN, the global network for independent agencies by invitation only.

Public Relations Global Network, Connected Thinking. Globally.   

More than 1,000 clients across six continents depend on the combined resources of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) to deliver targeted public relations campaigns in more than 80 markets around the world.  With revenues of more than $110 million (U.S.D.), PRGN is among the world’s top four international public relations networks.  PRGN harnesses the resources of 41 independent public relations firms, 65 offices and more than 900 communications professionals to connect international companies and organizations with individual and culturally diverse markets globally.  Visit PRGN online at:  www.prgn.com.

“It’s great that an employer can offer the possibility of working at different offices in the world. The fact that Coast Communications is a small specialized agency working within a global network is one of the main reasons why I chose Coast as my workplace. I very much look forward to the challenges ahead if me in Brussels,” says Zoë Mutami.

Zoë Mutami has a Masters of Laws degree from Uppsala University and studied Masters courses in international relations at Science Po. Paris. She has been with Coast since 2010. She was previously at the Swedish Embassy in Harare, where she has her roots and where her parents reside.

For more information, please contact:
Zoë Mutami, Coast Communications
Tel +46 8 402 98 80, Cell +46 765 36 34 46
zoe.mutami@coast.se

or

KG Rickhamre, MD Coast Communications
Tel +46 8 402 98 85, Cell +46 709 54 91 09
kg.rickhamre@coast.se

Coast Communications was founded in 2001 and has its own operations in Stockholm and Copenhagen. The agency focus on Public Affairs and Investor Relations and was voted “Best Agency” in Sweden by its clients in the country’s leading trade magazine, Resume, year 2008. Since 2006 Coast is a proud member of PRGN, the global network for independent agencies by invitation only.

70 PERCENT OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATORS EXPECT TO HAVE A GLOBAL MARKETING FUNCTION AT THEIR ORGANIZATION WITHIN FIVE YEARS, PRGN SURVEY REVEALS

The survey of 206 communications professionals at agencies, corporations and non-profits across six continents reveals that more than four in 10 (43 percent) say their organizations already have a formal global marketing function. Of those without one, more than half expect to have one in the next five years.

"One of the interesting findings of the survey is that even organizations that are not operating globally today said that they expect to have a global marketing communications function in the future," said Francine Robbens, PRGN president and partner at Brussels-based PRP-Public Relations Partners. "Communications professionals see clear benefits in fostering global relationships."

Other key findings include:

Half of the executives surveyed regularly develop relationships with marketing/communications professionals in other countries. About 30 percent interact at least once a month; 20 percent interact three to four times a year.

Similar percentages said they establish global connections with external clients or customers of their organizations, and with representatives of other organizations.

The industries from which corporate communicators were most likely to connect globally were: manufacturing (27 percent); commercial and professional services; media; food / beverage; and tobacco (each cited by 20 percent of respondents or more). Respondents who engaged in regular global contact said the benefits were:

Increased awareness of their organization's brand (50 percent)

A more positive attitude toward their organization (49 percent)

Increased support of their organization's business objectives and strategies (44 percent).

The biggest barriers to global communication were culture and language, each cited by more than 40 percent of respondents.

"This last finding underscores the value of communications networks such as PRGN, which enables our clients to partner with local agencies in international markets to help address differences in culture and language and communicate more effectively to specific audiences in other countries," said Robbens.

The online survey was conducted in March by the LCWA Research Group, a division of Chicago-based L.C. Williams & Associates, a PRGN member.

PRGN is among the world's largest public relations networks. It harnesses the resources of 42 independent public relations firms, 65 offices and more than 900 communications professionals to connect international companies and organizations with individual and culturally diverse markets globally.

For further information please contact:

KG Rickhamre, CEO Coast Communications

Tel + 46 8 402 98 80, mobile + 46 709 549 109

kg.rickhamre@coast.se

www.coast.se

Stockholm - 28 February, 2011 - Coast Communications has been assigned by Swedish Water and Wastewater Association (SWWA) to lead its strategic training in external communication by the Swedish Water and Wastewater Association, SWWA. The first training sessions have already taken place, with the participants giving Coast Communications the highest possible score in an evaluation.

SWWA represents the municipal water boards and their contractors. The members of SWWA deliver fresh water and receive wastewater from over 8 million individuals. This makes them one of Sweden's most important foodstuff providers and nature conservationists.

"Our members' duties are of utmost importance to the society as a whole", says Ulrika Engvall, Manager of Education and Training SWWA. "It is therefore crucial that we provide them with the best possible support and training in their external communication. We have chosen Coast Communications to lead this training mainly due to our prior positive experiences of working with Coast Communications."

Energy saving, recycling, water quality and bottled water are hot topics in media and the public debate. It is therefore important that the member organizations are well equipped to discuss these topics the public.

"We are both pleased and proud to be delivering complex and prestigious strategic communication training within such an important area," says Karl Rickhamre, CEO of Coast Communications. "The issues that these organizations deal with are of everyone's concern. Enabling a good dialogue between the organizations and the public is therefore primordial".

Amongst the member organizations that have taken part in the training so far are the municipalities of Karlstad, Örebro and Norrtälje, as well as the contractors Ragn-Sells (Malmö) and Gryaab (Gothenburg) to mention a few.

The training sessions will continue throughout 2011.

For more information, please contact:

Zoë Mutami media desk, Coast Communications
Tel +46 8 402 98 80, cellphone +46 765 36 34 46
zoe.mutami@coast.se

Ulrika Engvall, SWWA, Manager of Education and Training
Tel +46 8 506 002 12, cellphone +46 702 54 15 17
ulrika.engvall@svensktvatten.se

In addition to fellowship and love for cars, responsible motoring is also at the heart of The Royal Swedish Automobile Club's activities. The club strives to develop sound motoring trends with a strong environmental focus. During the last couple of years, the club has rapidly developed and attracted racing drivers such as Marcus Ericsson, GP2 and Kenneth Hansen from the world of rally cross.

The Club owns 10 percent of Rally Sweden AB, which is arranging the first round of this year's FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in Karlstad. Karl G Rickhamre was recently elected deputy board member of Rally Sweden AB. FIA's president, Jean Todt visited Karlstad to open this year's WRC.

Since 2006, Coast Communications - the communications firm - has been running a sister company, BCR which is solely dedicated to driver development. In 2006, BCR's driver qualified to FIA World Cup InterContinental Karting (KF2) in Angerville south of Paris and in 2009 BCR's driver won the Swedish Renault Junior Cup championship and became the country's SSK champion. In 2010, BCR's driver became Rookie of the Year in Junior STCC.

For further information, please contact:

Camilla Englund, Coast Communications

Tel + 46 8 402 98 80; camilla.englund@coast.se

www.coast.se

www.prgn.com

Caption: Karl G Rickhamre founder, Coast Communications, enters board of Royal Automobile Club in Sweden, KAK and board of Swedish Rally AB - arranger of The Swedish Rally a part of WRC series.

Coast Communications was founded in 2001 and has its own operations in Stockholm and Copenhagen. The agency focus on Public Affairs and Investor Relations and was voted "Best Agency" in Sweden by its clients in the country's leading trade magazine, Resume, year 2008. Since 2006 Coast is a proud member of PRGN, the global network for independent agencies by invitation only.

- Our DVL team is looking forward to moving our offices to this vibrant location in The Gulch, said DVL CEO John Van Mol. While our location may be changing, our focus will not change - to produce great results for our great clients.

The PRGN member will occupy nearly 2000 square meters of the fourth and highest floor for commercial tenants, with the right to expand into the remaining available space on that floor in the future. DVL's logo will also adorn the building's exterior.

DVL works with more than 40 clients including Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, Tractor Supply Company, Bridgestone Americas and two brands of the J. Mesy. Smucker Company, Martha White and White Lily.

DVL is a full service public relations and advertising agency. Founded in 1980, the agency is a founding member of the Public Relations Global Network - PRGN - a group of 40 independently owned agencies in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Contact:

For further information, contact:

Ronald Roberts, DVL + 1615-244-1818

Camilla Englund, Coast + 46 8 402 98 80

www.prgn.com

www.coast.se

Coast Communications was founded in 2001 and has its own operations in Stockholm and Copenhagen. The agency focus on Public Affairs and Investor Relations and was voted "Best Agency" in Sweden by its clients in the country's leading trade magazine, Resume, year 2008. Since 2006 Coast is a proud member of PRGN, the global network for independent agencies by invitation only.

Joining the ranks of PRGN are Perfect Relations in India, and CROS Public Relations and Public Affairs in Moscow, expanding the network's global reach and capabilities in two of the world's fastest growing economies.

"We are thrilled to welcome Perfect Relations and CROS into our fold," said PRGN president Patricia Pérez of VPE Public Relations in Los Angeles, CA. PRGN focus next year will be to market our regional scope and make it convenient for companies to work with us whether they are looking for representation in one country or one continent." 

"We are happy with our new colleagues from India and Russia. We know that they will prove to be valuable members of PRGN," commented Karl G Rickhamre, CEO Coast Communications. Especially our PRGN Russia agency, CROS, can be of great importance in the Nordics since they have a desk with Swedish speaking consultants."

PRGN India: Perfect Relations

www.perfectrelations.com

Perfect Relations has a large network of offices spread across 18 locations with 408 employees handling clients in such vertical industries as automobiles, technology, financial services and infrastructure. The agency specializes in public relations, public affairs, content and collateral development, media and crisis management workshops, investor relations, CSR programs and digital PR. Key clients of the agency include Fortune 500 giants and Indian super brands such as Coca Cola, Tourism New Zealand, AIG, Franklin Templeton, Diageo, Mercedes Benz, Fiat, Skoda, Godrej Group, Marico, Google, Ebay and Shoppers Stop.

PRGN Russia: CROS

www.cros.ru

CROS Public Relations & Public Affairs founded in Moscow in 1997. CROS has provided its services to over 500 Russian and foreign companies, state and public institutions.

CROS has established long-standing partnerships with many businesses, state structures and public institutions in Russia. These relationships facilitate the resolution of extremely complex and wide-ranging tasks in public relations. Drawing on cooperation with leading Russian and western mass media, research institutes and advertising agencies, CROS is able to leverage the resources required to effectively implement effectively federal, regional and international projects.

PRGN: www.prgn.com

PRGN Sweden: www.coast.se

For further information

Karl G Rickhamre, MD Coast Communications

+468 402 98 85; +46709549109

- Our DVL team is looking forward to moving our offices to this vibrant location in The Gulch, said DVL CEO John Van Mol. While our location may be changing, our focus will not change - to produce great results for our great clients.

The PRGN member will occupy nearly 2000 square meters of the fourth and highest floor for commercial tenants, with the right to expand into the remaining available space on that floor in the future. DVL's logo will also adorn the building's exterior.

DVL works with more than 40 clients including Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, Tractor Supply Company, Bridgestone Americas and two brands of the J. Mesy. Smucker Company, Martha White and White Lily.

DVL is a full service public relations and advertising agency. Founded in 1980, the agency is a founding member of the Public Relations Global Network - PRGN - a group of 40 independently owned agencies in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Contact:

For further information, contact:
Ronald Roberts, DVL + 1615-244-1818
Camilla Englund, Coast + 46 8 402 98 80

www.prgn.com
www.coast.se

Coast Communications was founded in 2001 and has its own operations in Stockholm and Copenhagen. The agency focus on Public Affairs and Investor Relations and was voted "Best Agency" in Sweden by its clients in the country's leading trade magazine, Resume, year 2008. Since 2006 Coast is a proud member of PRGN, the global network for independent agencies by invitation only.

It is an astonishingly strong result. Anton Abele became a household name when at 15 years of age he organized an anti-violence manifestation which was attended by 10 000 people and generated 100 000 members in his anti-violence Facebook group.

Since summer 2009 Anton Abele worked together with Coast Communications as his pro bono advisor throughout the intense pre-election campaign. The areas closest to Anton's heart are school, employment and social security.

Coast's decision to support Anton Abele was based on his impressive work against street violence and his commitment to his goal of being a spokesperson for youths on the public arena.

For further details, please contact:

info@coast.se

www.coast.se

www.twitter.com/coastcomm

- I am honoured to take the helm of this premiere communications network, said Pérez. In an increasingly connected and multicultural world, the ability to share knowledge and resources across the globe is a huge advantage for clients. I am excited to help facilitate the exchange of ideas among PRGN's talented, experienced members as we grow our network and define trends in the public relations industry.

VPE has been part of PRGN since the organization's second meeting in 1993. As Principal at VPE, Pérez oversees the agency's social marketing efforts which include social engagement, public education, and community outreach campaigns. The agency is one of the United States' largest Latino-owned public relations firms and serves the needs of corporate, governmental and non-profit clients seeking to reach the growing U.S. Latino and other multicultural markets. VPE's clients include McDonald's, Disneyland, Nestlé, First 5 LA, and The California Wellness Foundation.

PRGN has also named Francine Robbens, Partner and Consultant at Brussels-based PRP / Public Relations Partners, as president-elect. Robbens has extensive expertise in media relations and crisis communications for telecom, health and lifestyle clients, and has coordinated several pan-European programs and implemented international strategies in the Belgian and Benelux markets. She is currently part of the Executive Committee of PRGN.

Public Relations Global Network:

Connected Thinking. Globally.

More than 1,000 clients across six continents depend on the combined resources of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) to deliver targeted public relations campaigns in more than 80 markets around the world. With revenues of more than $100 million (U.S.D.), PRGN is among the world's top five public relations networks. PRGN harnesses the resources of 40 independent public relations firms, 50 offices and more than 800 communications professionals to connect international companies and organizations with individual and culturally diverse markets globally. Visit PRGN online at: www.prgn.com.

For further information please contact:

KG Rickhamre, CEO Coast Communications

Tel + 46 8 402 98 80, mobile + 46 709 549 109

kg.rickhamre@coast.se

www.coast.se

Promt Communications continues in a news statement: When consumers were asked which method they used most frequently to communicate, 37 percent said SMS followed by Facebook and the phone at 28 percent. Respondents feel that email is now less important than social media, but only 20 percent said they could live without it entirely.

"Facebook is the most popular social network in the world, with over 350 million users, so it should come as no surprise to discover that people are using it as a primary tool for communication," said Hazel Butters, CEO of Promt Communications

However the survey results also show that people are still using more established methods of communication, from the phone to email.

Many people have concerns about their employers seeing their personal information, with 73 percent worried that their bosses will view their profiles on social networks. People overall believe that advances in technology have created a negative effect on their lives and interpersonal communications. More than half (60%) believe communication relies too much on technology, while 71 percent feel social media is making communication less personal.

Further information

Coast Communications

+46 8 402 98 80

PRGN (www.prgn.com), the international network of leading independent public relations agencies, today announced the addition of two new members in Germany and Canada. The worldwide network now numbers 40 independently-owned investor and public relations agencies on six continents. The PRGN members approved the new agencies at its meeting in New York in November.  

Joining the ranks of PRGN are Cometis AG, a financial services and corporate communications consultancy in Frankfurt; and public relations agency Fantail Communications from Toronto, Canada.

Coast Communications, with offices both in Stockholm and Copenhagen, is the sole representative of PRGN in Scandinavia. Founded in 2001, Coast offers a highly professional, creative, multicultural team that manages successfully Nordic clients.

For further information please contact:

KG Rickhamre, CEO Coast Communications

Tel + 46 8 402 98 80, mobile + 46 709 549 109

kg.rickhamre@coast.se

www.coast.se

www.prgn.com

- The prize comes in a time when the whole business keeps its breath ahead of fear for a recession. Now quality is at stake and this comes as a receipt of the high standards in our work, says KG Rickhamre.

Top PR Agencies of the Year, Rating

1. Coast Communications

2. Westander

3. Newsroom

Coast Communications works with public relations, investor relations, crisis communication materials and public affairs. In 2005, Coast was ranked third in Sweden's Best Agency survey in the "best newcomer" category for PR companies with earnings of up to MSEK 10. Coast has its own offices in Copenhagen with Christina Rytter as Managing Director and is a member of the exclusive global network PRGN with 50 agencies throughout the world and a turn-over exceeding $100 million.

For further information please contact:

KG Rickhamre, CEO Coast Communications

Tel + 46 8 402 98 80, mobile + 46 709 549 109

kg.rickhamre@coast.se

www.coast.se

www.prgn.com

The SPA Way (London) and Xenophon Strategies (Washington, D.C.) join PRGN

Network now has 40 member agencies on six continents with combined revenues in excess of $100 million (U.S.)

Joining the ranks of PRGN are:

The SPA WAY (http://www.thespaway.com)

The SPA Way is a London-based agency with the motto, "We get what others can't, we do what others won't." Founded by Sara Pearson in 1991 and now with a staff of 28, The SPA Way combines considerable experience and a proven track record in delivering high level, targeted and strategic public relations across all media. The agency's key differentiating factor is that it is the only United Kingdom public relations agency to guarantee levels of coverage against its fee. In addition to media relations, The SPA Way also has teams specializing in complementary functions such as public affairs, digital, crisis and reputation management and financial public relations.

Xenophon Strategies (Washington, D.C.) (www.xenophonestrategies.com)

Xenophon Strategies is a full service public relations firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. Xenophone has practice areas in corporate communications, public affairs, crisis communications, government affairs and government services. Among Xenophon's clients are an impressive list of organizations to which the firm acts as Agency of Record, including Airbus North America, The Salvation Army, Midwest ISO and The Air Transport Association.

CEO and President David Fuscus said, "We are honored to have been chosen by the Public Relations Global Network to join an outstanding team of global PR firms. PRGN is the world's leading network of independent public relations firms and membership will allow Xenophon Strategies to offer our clients the highest levels of professional service worldwide."

PRGN President Frank Cullen, of Cullen Communications in Ireland (www.cullencommunications.ie) commented, "For quite some time, PRGN has been identifying the appropriate strategic partners in both Washington, D.C. and London. Our overarching priority is to enhance the network's expertise to provide clients with effective and strategic counselors in both the governmental capital of the United States and Europe's largest metropolitan and financial center. With The SPA Way and Xenophon Strategies, our network is poised to address those needs with locally-grown, independent agencies that know and understand the market better than our multi-national competitors."

Founded in 1996, PRGN now has a presence in 22 of the world's top 30 GDP-ranked countries. Agency members are independent, owner-operated public relations and communications agencies that share expertise and resources, while providing broad-based comprehensive communications strategies to clients worldwide.

Coast Communications is the Scandinavian PRGN member affiliate.

For more information and a list of all PRGN member agencies, please visit PRGN online at: www.prgn.com.

For further information please contact:

KG Rickhamre, MD Coast Communications

kg.rickhamre@coast.se

Public Relations Global Network, the international network of leading independent public relations agencies, today announced a major expansion to its roster with the addition of three new agencies in Singapore, India and The Netherlands. The worldwide network now numbers 38 independently-owned public relations agencies on six continents.

Joining the ranks of PRGN are:

PRGN - Singapore - Mileage Communications

Mileage Communications, headed by Boh-Tiong Yap, is Singapore's biggest independent public relations agency with 8 regional offices in India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. The agency services blue-chip clients in the healthcare, financial, technology, consumer & lifestyle, shipping and sports sectors and also is the leading regional player in crisis management.

PRGN - Holland Evident PR

Evident PR is among The Netherland's top independent public relations agencies and specializes in the areas of home & lifestyle, well-being, food and business-to-business (B2B). Managing Director/Owner Coen A. Staal and his team of experts oversee the diverse array of clients, which include: Bosch, Bowers & Wilkins, Cadac, Candy/Hoover, Dr. Oetker, Enia Carpets, Georgia Pacific, Henkel Laundry & Home Care, Kneipp and Wolf-Garten.

PRGN - India Aspire Communications

Based in Pune, with offices in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, Aspire communications is headed by Varsha Marathe. Key practice areas include: media relations, corporate management, investor relations, crisis management and brand management. Clients include Sony Pictures, Harbinger Group, Petonia, Wipro, Bank of Maharashtra, Greaves and more.

New PRGN President Named

Frank Cullen, chief executive of PRGN - Ireland has taken over as President of the network.

"It's a tremendous honour to have been elected President of PRGN and I will do my best to continue the good work," Mr. Cullen said. "The network is in a period of rapid expansion."

Founded in 1996, PRGN now has a presence in 22 of the world's top 30 GDP-ranked countries. Agency members are independent, owner-operated public relations and communications agencies sharing expertise and resources and providing broad-based comprehensive communications strategies to clients worldwide.

"We're very happy to welcome our new colleagues from India, Singapore and the Netherlands. We know that they will prove to be valuable members of our network," commented KG Rickhamre, CEO Coast Communications. "We are systematically adding specialities to our range and expanding our global reach, and that is good news for our collective client base."

Coast Communications is the Scandinavian PRGN member affiliate.

www.prgn.com

Contact

KG Rickhamre, CEO Coast Communications
+46 709 549 109
kg.rickhamre@coast.se

- We are very pleased, almost overwhelmed, says KG Rickhamre, MD of Coast Communications. As consultants, how our customers rate the work we do is the only thing that really counts in the long run.

All together, 121 agencies, each with a minimum net revenue of 12 million crowns for 2007, took part in the competition. The country's top ten public relations agencies were as follows:

PR Agencies of the Year, Rating

1. Gullers Grupp, 9.07

2. Westander PR, 8.90

3. GCI, 8.57

4. Effektiva Media, 8.56

5. Prime PR, 8.49

6. Coast Communications, 8.48

7. Aspekta, 8.39

8. Springtime, 8.31

9. Jung, 8.29

10. Sund Kommunikation, 8.23

- This encourages us to work even harder to help our customers identify a good communications mix tailored to their individual needs in any conceivable circumstances, says KG Rickhamre.

For further information please contact:

KG Rickhamre, MD Coast Communications

Tel + 46 8 402 98 80, mobile + 46 709 549 109

kg.rickhamre@coast.se

www.coast.se

- This is an important milestone because with the addition of HWB Communications, the PRGN group now has representation in Europe, Australia, Asia, the Americas and Africa, said KG Rickhamre, president of Coast Communications.

A total of 36 firms now comprise the group of independently-owned agencies. Coast Communications now has a network of national and international clients that it supports with PR, investor relations, advertising, promotions and other communication activities globally.

- Through PRGN, we can serve our clients in an increasing number of locations and draw on a wide range of specialties such as research, creative design and industrial expertise," said KG Rickhamre.

IdentiaPR is the first Argentinean member of PRGN. Based in Buenos Aires, the company offers a full range of PR services including crisis prevention and management, media relations, public affairs and internal communications. IdentiaPR is headed by Dominique Biquard and Agustin Stellatelli.

HWB Communications, based in Cape Town, South Africa, offers PR, marketing and strategic communications services, including crisis management. In addition to reputation- and risk management, the company specializes in corporate communications, financial services, leisure, tourism and hospitality. HWB Communications was founded in 1996 by Evelyn John Holtzhausen and Ann Wallis-Brown.

For further information please contact

KG Rickhamre, MD Coast Communications

Tel +46 8 402 98 80, mobile +46 709 549 109,

kg.rickhamre@coast.se

www.coast.se

Scott Hanson, President PRGN Group (Photo)

President HMA Public Relations, Arizona

Tel +1 602 957 88 81, shanson@hmapr.com

www.prgn.com

- We had a good network solution in Copenhagen, but the time had come for us to set up our own agency, says KG Rickhamre, MD Coast Communications. Christina Sørensen is someone we have worked very well with both through network agencies and as a client. We have strong mutual trust right from the outset. Coast Communications Denmark's offices will be located at Havnegade in Copenhagen and has plans to employ three to four consultants within two years.

- The Copenhagen market is exciting and Coast Communications is already involved in several projects here, says Christina Sørensen, Managing Director Coast Communications Denmark. With our special expertise within technology and strategic media support, we have the opportunity to build a strong Copenhagen-Stockholm axis. This will also make us a much stronger partner for our international clients who want a single point of contact in Scandinavia.

Coast Communications Denmark's first customer of its own is Printguiden - a web-based print media resource. Collaboration has also been initiated with Tellio, a leader within broadband telephony in the Nordic area. The agency will open 1 September 2007.

For more information please contact:

KG Rickhamre, MD Coast Communications, Tel: +46 8 402 98 80, Mobile: +46 709 54 91 09,

kg.rickhamre@coast.se

Christina Sørensen, MD Coast Communications Danmark ApS, Mobile: +45 23 96 77 33,

christina.sorensen@coast.se

Photos available at:

Newsdesk

www.coast.se

- As a PRGN agency, Coast Communications gains a 50-strong PR partner in Tokyo, and one where we already know the management, says KG Rickhamre, MD Coast Communications, who participated in the voting process in Philadelphia last week. We are very pleased with this development, as we are about having gained a strong representative in Shanghai last spring.

Cosmo was named Asia Agency of the Year in 2003 by the leading industry magazine PR Week. The agency has a strong position within public affairs with strong and well-established relationships within the power centres of Japan.

- PRGN continues to grow without compromising quality, says Anne Buchanan, chairperson at PRGN. Now that we, after an intensive search and a tough qualification process, have created a good solution in Tokyo, we are setting out sights on the Indian market, where we hope to find a solution during the course of next year.

Coast Communications is PRGN's only Nordic member. The network is represented by independent, owner-operated and specially selected communications agencies in the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada as well as Central and South American.

For further information please contact:

KG Rickhamre, MD Coast Communications

Tel +46 8 402 98 80, mobile +46 709 549 109

kg.rickhamre@coast.se

www.coast.se

www.prgn.com

- It's very gratifying and well deserved considering how hard our team worked in 2005, says KG Rickhamre, MD Coast Communications. Our high ranking is in part also a result of Coast Communications' long-term relationship with its customers. Sixty percent of the customers from our first year of operations are still with us. That kind of trust, built up over time, is really made clear in this kind of survey.

Sweden's Best Agency 2005 was conducted by Resumé in collaboration with Easyresearch. The core of the survey consisted of two sections comprising twenty-one questions where customers were asked to judge what factors they felt were important when choosing an agency, and to rate the agency in question.

The twenty-one questions were divided into ability, expertise, business value, and organisation. There was also a further section with questions dealing with value for money, expectations and recommendations. The survey concluded with open questions about what was good versus bad about the agency.

The results from the drop-out analysis indicate that there is no reason to suspect that the drop-outs represent a different point of view than the one exhibited by the respondents. The reason behind most of the drop-outs was simply lack of time.

Agencies with less than five respondents have not been included in the official ranking.

kg.rickhamre@coast.se

- PRGN is the global partner of large agencies that Coast Communications has searched for for a long time, said Karl G. Rickhamre, MD Coast Communications. We are very pleased about the collaboration and have ongoing project in Germany. Also we have already carried out media trainings in Washington, London and the Middle East.

Since Coast Communications first started operating in 2001, it has grown into a full-service agency and today employs 12 people. The company works both nationally and internationally and has assignments within the IT, finance, consumer, healthcare and public sectors. Coast Communications currently handles assignments coming predominantly from large companies and government authorities with high expectations in terms of strategic and analytical capacity as well as creative and effective execution.

- We have been following Coast Communications during the past year and we are very impressed by the company's determination, professionalism and positive attitude, said Anne Buchanan, PRGN's chairperson. Coast Communications has exactly what we are looking for in terms of expertise, creativity and experience from international collaboration.

Coast Communications is PRGN's only member in the Nordics. The network is also represented in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, Central and South America. In addition to Coast Communications, this year one of the leading agencies in Shanghai became a member of PRGN.

For further information contact:

Karl G. Rickhamre, Coast Communications AB

+46 8 402 98 80, +46 709 549 109

kg.rickhamre@coast.se

www.coast.se

www.prgn.org