Street furniture provider and outdoor advertiser Wall AG is entering the bicycle rental sector by taking a 25, 1% stake in nextbike. Thus, Wall AG responds to the Europe-wide growing interest in sustainable traffic solutions for cities.

"When tendering for advertising rights in the public space, we will make the service of nextbike a part of our offer", Daniel Wall, Chief Executive Officer of Wall AG, explained on occasion of the acquisition of shares, which was accompanied by a strategic agreement of cooperation between both companies. "nextbike is a successful bicycle rental system, distinguished by its functionality and efficiency." Both partners agreed not to disclose the price of shares acquired by Wall AG.

nextbike GmbH was founded in 2004. Today, the company is present in 20 cites in New Zealand, Austria, and Germany, amongst them Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Leipzig. nextbike's bicycle rental system is funded entirely by rental fees and the marketing of advertising spaces on bicycles. nextbike's services include production and mounting, as well as the logistics of advertising spaces.

"Wall AG is the perfect partner for our company. The portfolio of outdoor advertiser Wall is enlarged with a customer friendly bicycle rental system, and in return nextbike has won a strong and competent marketing partner," Ralf Kalupner, managing director of nextbike GmbH points out. nextbike's services are filling a gap in the transports- and advertising market: Its bicycles offer an environmental-friendly means of transportation, while at the same time bringing mobile advertising to inner cities. In 2009 nextbike aims at continuing its expansion strategy, establishing its presence in further metropolises as well as in smaller towns and tourist resorts.

nextbike's state-of-the-art bicycles are to be found at centrally located rental points. By calling nextbike's service-hotline, the customer obtains a code for the bicycle's lock, and is immediately on the road. To return the bicycle, the customer informs nextbike's hotline about its new location within the area of service. The rent-a-bike service is available 24 hours daily, and can be paid by credit- or debit card.

Wall Group: Key-Facts:

• International street furniture supplier and outdoor advertiser in six countries and more than 50 cities, amongst others Berlin, Boston, Budapest, Düsseldorf, Istanbul and Sofia

• Innovative street furniture in highest-quality design; 28 different design-lines

• Made to measure solutions provided by in-house research and development unit

• Production, maintenance, and cleaning from one single source ensure highest quality standards

• Intelligent outdoor advertising on 54.500 advertising spaces with highest frequencies of exposure, and on 3.459 means of transportation such as tramways, busses, underground trains and trucks

• National and international sales team with 10 sales-offices, providing outstanding marketing expertise

• Marketing-portfolio in Germany: 27 cities, AirportNet, ShoppingNet, Leipzig Central Station, Berlinale Film-Festival, bluespot, RollAd on highways, transit advertising in Berlin, including all underground stations

• Owner operated, medium sized enterprise; majority of shares family owned; turnover 2007: 152, 4 m. euro; number of employees: 723