NEW YORK, NY, June 9, 2003 – Investment firm W. P. Carey & Co. LLC (NYSE: WPC) was the recipient of the coveted 2003 Bronze Anvil Award, sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). The award, which recognizes creative tactics in a public relations campaign, was presented to W. P. Carey & Co. during its annual awards ceremony in New York City. W. P. Carey was one of just 37 entries, out of 1,074 total entries, to receive this award.
W. P. Carey & Co. received the Bronze Anvil Award for its "Don't Throw The Baby Out With The Bathwater – Making the Case For Off-Balance Sheet Financing" in the Media Relations /Business to Business category. As the preeminent provider of corporate net-lease financing, W. P. Carey faced a potential backlash after certain forms off-balance sheet financing were scrutinized by the media following the Enron accounting scandal. W. P. Carey’s Communications Department utilized this increased interest by promoting and educating the media and the public about the Company’s financing capabilities and differentiating these processes from those used by Enron and others. Through coordinated strategic media interviews, speaking engagements and the utilization of corporate surveys and direct advertising, W. P. Carey was able to take advantage of this increased media attention, building its brand name and promoting its financing capabilities. In 2002, W. P. Carey completed a record $1.1 billion in corporate financing transactions, the most in its 30-year history.
“We offer our congratulations to W. P. Carey for being this year’s Bronze Anvil winner,” said Gerard F. Corbett, APR, Fellow PRSA, chairman, Honors & Awards Committee and vice president & general manager, Hitachi America, Ltd. “Their exceptionally inspired tactical solutions to a public relations challenge set them apart from the more than 1,074 very worthy entries received in this competition.”
The Bronze Anvil Awards were created by PRSA more than 33 years ago to recognize outstanding public relations tactics, the individual teams or components or campaigns. They are awarded in 39 categories and subcategories.
About W. P. Carey & Co. LLC
Founded in 1973, W. P. Carey & Co. specializes in corporate real estate financing through the corporate net lease or sale-leaseback structure. The firm and its affiliates continue to be leading lessors of net-leased corporate real estate. The largest publicly traded limited liability company in the world, W. P. Carey owns and/or manages more than 550 commercial and industrial properties throughout the United States and Europe comprised of more than
75 million square feet.
About PRSA
The Public Relations Society of America (www.prsa.org) based in New York City, is the world's largest professional organization for public relations professionals helping to advance the profession and the professional, with nearly 20,000 members with 17 Professional Interest Sections and 116 chapters nationwide who represent business and industry, counseling firms, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations.
PRSA Contact:
Libby M. Roberge
PRSA
212- 460-1495
libby.roberge@prsa.org
