Leading Brand Licensing Agency to Represent Iconic Music Lifestyle Brand

June 17 2013, London, U.K., – Iconic American music lifestyle brand, Fender, today announced plans to expand its licensing footprint in Europe, working with prominent global brand licensing agency, Beanstalk. Building on Fender’s iconic identity as pioneers of all things music, including the rock-n-roll revolution, Beanstalk will seek to secure agreements with best-in-class licensing partners to create high quality, music-centric products that reflect consumers’ passion for music and the Fender brand.

Fender has defined the signature sound of modern music since 1946. Its products, including the Stratocaster® and Telecaster® electric guitars and the pioneering Precision® and Jazz® basses, have touched and transformed music worldwide in nearly every genre. Today, Fender-branded instruments are world leaders in sales, and they continue to be the instruments of choice of many of music’s biggest acts. The popularity of the brand has transcended sales of instruments to musicians and has led to a successful lifestyle-licensing program that includes dozens of world-class licensed partners, including Volkswagen (automotive), Panasonic (premium car audio) and Uniqlo (fashion).

Building on Fender’s strong emotional connection with consumers across Europe, Beanstalk’s initial emphasis will focus on key lifestyle categories that embody the brand’s influence on music.

“We’re very proud to be working with Beanstalk in Europe,” said Fender licensing director, Jeff Quinn. “Europe represents a key growth area for Fender licensing. Decades of strong instrument sales, high brand visibility among leading musicians and a successful licensing program in other parts of the world create an exciting opportunity for licensing in Europe. It was crucial that we find the right partner who understands our brand and what we’re trying to accomplish in Europe. Beanstalk is that partner.”

Ciarán Coyle, President of Beanstalk Europe and Asia Pacific, said, “Fender has played such a legendary part in American and music history. They are perfectly in tune with the demand in the European market for brands with a strong lifestyle image and a contemporary music connection. The company has a unique history and design DNA that has created a strong emotional connection with consumers, from professional players to brand admirers and music lovers of all ages. The partnership with Fender is especially exciting for Beanstalk as we continue to grow our client portfolio with a focus on world-class lifestyle brands.”

About Fender® Fender is the world’s leading guitar and musical instrument amplifier brand and a name that is synonymous with popular music since its inception in Southern California in 1946. Fender instruments, such as the Telecaster®, Precision Bass®, Stratocaster® and Jazz Bass® guitars, and Bassman®, Twin Reverb® and Deluxe Reverb® amplifiers, are known worldwide as the instruments that started the rock ‘n’ roll revolution, and they continue to be highly prized by today’s musicians and collectors alike. For more information, visit www.fender.com.

About Beanstalk Beanstalk, a global brand licensing agency and consultancy, extends brands through the strategic and creative development of licensed products. The company works with corporate brands, celebrities, entertainment properties, and other high-profile clients to leverage licensing as a strategic tool to enhance brand awareness, increase consumer touch-points, and generate revenue. Beanstalk also offers a breadth of additional licensing services including direct-to-retail program management, license acquisition for manufacturers and royalty auditing. The company is headquartered in New York, with offices in London, Los Angeles, Miami, and Hong Kong, and affiliates throughout the world. For more information, please visit www.beanstalk.com. Beanstalk is a part of Diversified Agency Services, a division of Omnicom Group Inc.

About Diversified Agency Services Diversified Agency Services (DAS), a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), manages Omnicom's holdings in a variety of marketing communications disciplines. DAS includes over 200 companies, which operate through a combination of networks and regional organizations, serving international and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.

About Omnicom Group Inc. Omnicom Group Inc. (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.