NEW YORK and CHESTER, NJ, May 15, 2001 - Today, R.R. Donnelley Financial, the worldwide financial printer and customized communications solutions (CCS) company and Grafica.eCRM Corp., the original enterprise customer relationship management (eCRM) advertising agency, launched a first-of-its-kind strategic alliance. The alliance will provide companies with a total communications solution, ranging from multi-channel, integrated marketing and advertising to customized, variable data printing with one-to-one and on-demand capabilities. Initially, the alliance will focus on providing end-to-end marketing solutions to financial services, investment and healthcare companies. A united marketing and sales team will plan and implement CRM solutions among each ally's existing client base, as well as prospective clients seeking ongoing, one-to-one relationships with their customers. "There has been a lot of talk about 'closing the marketing loop'," said Paul Masterton, president, R.R. Donnelley Financial. "This alliance puts that talk into action. With Grafica providing creative and data mining services and R.R. Donnelley Financial providing a range of options for customized communications, we can now help our clients maximize the return on their communications dollars by delivering integrated solutions, from front-end communications programs to response tracking." "Last century's business practices will not meet the challenges of this century's economy -- an economy that puts customers in charge of how companies communicate with them, which is at the core of effective CRM," said Debra Taeschler, president of Grafica.eCRM Corp. "Together Grafica.eCRM Corp. and R.R. Donnelley Financial will advance marketing communications and printing services beyond the limitations of yesterday's technology by delivering true CRM from touchpoint to bottom line." Through this alliance, Grafica.eCRM will provide strategic advertising and marketing consulting; database reporting and analytics; and integrated campaign execution and ongoing management via every medium -- broadcast, direct mail, email, wireless and the Web. R.R. Donnelley Financial completes this effective targeted communications circle, offering information and database management; content management and assembly; and digital output in a range of delivery solutions from traditional to Web-based, to ensure effective targeted communications within a closed loop process. "On the one hand, you have the undisputed leader in printing and communications services for the financial and healthcare industries looking to enhance their new service offering, and on the other hand, an innovative advertising agency looking for more dynamic production capabilities," said Peter Levy, partner in charge, Sobel & Associates. "I'd say this will be a business model soon to be emulated, except there are no other two companies that can offer such a complete CRM solution."