Contacts:
Harry Reid, FCB International, 44-0207-947-8002
Scott Hollingsworth, FCB Latin America, 305-373-2519
Kathryn Woods, True North, 212-727-5582
Stuart C. Ross, FCB Worldwide, 212-885-3162

TRUE NORTH COMMUNICATIONS ACQUIRES U.K. AND BRAZIL CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MARKETING FIRMS

OPUS GROUP (U.K.) AND DATAMIDIA (BRAZIL) JOIN FCB'S WORLDWIDE INTERACTIVE NETWORK

ACQUISITIONS CONTINUE GLOBAL EXPANSION OF FCBi's DIGITAL AND DATABASE MARKETING CAPABILITIES

CHICAGO September 26 – True North Communications today announced the acquisition of two leading marketing services firms – The Opus Group in the U.K., and Datamidia in Brazil – on behalf of FCBi, the global interactive marketing arm of FCB Worldwide. The acquisitions follow the March 2000 acquisition and integration of DataAnswers, a U.K. database marketing company, into FCBi, and will significantly strengthen FCBi's interactive marketing capabilities around the world. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

"We are indeed fortunate to bring two of the leading interactive marketing firms in their markets into the FCBi network," said Brendan Ryan, CEO of FCB Worldwide. "By integrating these firms into FCBi, we dramatically accelerate the process of building our global interactive and customer relationship marketing capability. The creation and expansion of FCBi is already paying enormous dividends for both our global and local clients."

FCB Worldwide launched FCBi in June 2000 through the combination of FCB Direct and FCB Digital to build the agency's growing customer relationship management (CRM) practice. Prior to the acquisitions, FCBi already ranked as a top ten worldwide direct and interactive agency operation, with more than 850 employees in 33 offices in 27 countries. The acquisitions bring in an additional estimated 100 people in three offices.

In the U.K., FCBi was created through the integration of the existing FCB Direct operation with the March acquisition of DataAnswers, a database, analytics and CRM company. DataAnswers has since been rebranded as Analytici/UK and added 25 specialists and a number of proprietary and relationship management tools.

The acquisition of Opus Group will dramatically increase the size of FCBi/U.K. and its ability to offer clients truly pan-European interactive marketing services. The Opus Group, founded in 1989 by Chairman Tim Beadle, is one of the U.K.'s leading customer relationship marketing firms, with a strong business-to-business focus in the technology and telecommunications sectors. Offering direct and database marketing, technical market research and media relations services for technology-based businesses, Opus has over 50 employees and is based in Basingstoke, 40 miles southwest of London. Major clients across Europe include Compaq Computer Corporation (also a top FCB Worldwide client), Citrix, The Gartner Group and TSI.

In Latin America, FCBi delivers digital, database and direct marketing services and consulting in eight cities across the region. Key markets include Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela. Since mid-1998, FCBi has served regional and multinational clients in banking, telecommunications, travel industries, electronics, automotive and consumer goods.

Datamidia is one of the largest database, direct and digital communications companies in Brazil. Led by Aurelio Lopes, and growing at over 40% per year, they now rank third in the market, up from sixth last year. Datamidia operates in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Pôrto Alegre and Brasilia, with expansion planned for additional key markets in Brazil and other Latin American countries. Currently Datamidia has over 75 professionals in the organization serving over 20 clients.

Datamidia has managed over 27 loyalty marketing programs, including the longest running one in Brazil (for Shell), and the largest one in Latin America (capturing over 2.7 million names for Varig Smiles). Datamidia's growth is also fueled by strong digital marketing capabilities that have resulted in many new clients and deeper relationships with existing ones.

"The FCBi strategy is based on providing the complete range of communication and consulting services that enrich the value of our clients' customer base," said Scott Meadow, Senior Vice President and Latin American Regional Director for FCBi. "The global delivery of our data-driven marketing processes is greatly enhanced by our acquisition of Datamidia. Their proven capabilities in all aspects of customer relationship marketing, second to none in Latin America, are truly world-class. For the last two years, we have had an outstanding working relationship with Datamidia; we are now taking it to new heights."

FCB Worldwide is the largest advertising agency in the U.S., and the fifth largest worldwide, with 1999 billings of $8.8 billion. With more than 200 offices servicing clients in 92 countries, FCB Worldwide's client roster includes S.C. Johnson, DaimlerChrysler, Compaq, Amazon.com, AT&T, Avaya and Beiersdorf. FCB is the largest agency brand of True North Communications Inc. (NYSE:TNO), one of the world's leading advertising and communications holding companies.

True North is one of the world's leading advertising and communications holding companies. True North has three major global brands: FCB Worldwide, advertising; BSMG Worldwide, public relations; and Marketing Drive Worldwide, marketing services. The company also has a strong roster of other advertising brands, including Bozell Group, New America Strategies Group including Don Coleman Associates, Temerlin McClain, Tierney & Partners, and TN Media, among them. Its digital portfolio includes R/GA Interactive and SixtyFootSpider. Based in Chicago, True North had 1999 revenues of approximately $1.4 billion and annual billings of more than $14 billion.

Cautionary Statement
Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E(i)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause True North's actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by these statements. Such factors include the following: general economic and business conditions, the ability of True North to continue to improve its cost management, the ability to maintain current and attract new clients, the ability of True North to integrate acquisitions or complete future acquisitions, dependence upon and availability of qualified personnel and changes in government regulation. In light of these and other uncertainties, the forward-looking statements included in this document should not be regarded as a representation by True North that True North's plans and objectives will be achieved.