GM Reviews European Media Biz

NEW YORK General Motors has placed its $700 million pan-European media business into review, according to sources.
 
Aegis Media won the account after a review in 2006, beating the incumbents, Initiative and Universal McCann, both units of Interpublic Group.
 
Aegis took over effective January '07 with a three-year contract that expires at the end of this year, per sources. London-based Aegis, parent of media shops Carat and Vizeum, is expected to defend. Company officials could not be reached for comment.
 
The assignment includes buying and planning for brands such as Vauxhall, Opel, Chevrolet and Saab.
 
It was not clear what other shops would compete for the business.
 
The European pitch is the first media review for the "new GM," which emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month.
 
The timing of the competition is intriguing, given that GM is in the midst of talks to sell those operations. If a sale goes through, it's conceivable the new owner would also want to review media chores.
 
Also unknown at present is whether the client plans to review its media accounts in other markets worldwide.

In the U.S. GM conducted its last review in 2005. That was a consolidation pitch pitting the client's main planner, GM Planworks, a unit of Publicis Groupe, against its primary buyer, GM Mediaworks, a unit of Interpublic. The Publicis contingent won that contest.
 
GM reps did not immediately respond to requests for comment.