<PAGE>
[TRUE NORTH COMMUNICATIONS INC. LETTERHEAD]
Date: September 6, 2000
Contact: Kathryn Woods: 212/727-5582 NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TRUE NORTH COMMENTS ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER
ADVERTISING REVIEW
CHICAGO--True North Communications Inc. (NYSE: TNO) confirmed today that
DaimlerChrysler Corporation has asked its agency FCB Worldwide to participate
in a review with BBDO to reduce the costs of global advertising and media for
its Chrysler Group brands, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep-Registered Trademark-.
David Bell, Chairman and CEO of True North Communications Inc., made the
following comments:
"We support DaimlerChrysler's action. And we see the consolidation of
Chrysler Group's advertising and media as a huge opportunity for us--for a
number of reasons.
"The work--for years and years we have produced the most awarded work in
Detroit and work that has done a tremendous job in selling Chrysler and
Jeep-Registered Trademark-. Our work and our dealer organization are the envy
of the industry, widely imitated and benchmarked.
"We are already handling global advertising for DaimlerChrysler and, through
our True North family of companies, we provide them with a full range of
services. FCB Worldwide--a powerhouse agency with major momentum--handles
advertising for DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler and Jeep-Registered Trademark-
brands globally and is responsible for spot media buying for dealers in the
U.S. market. Don Coleman Advertising, the nation's leading multicultural
agency and part of True North since last year, handles advertising to the
African-American market for Chrysler Group; they are unaffected by the review.
-Continued-
<PAGE>
2/TRUE NORTH COMMENTS
"In the past year, FCB expanded our relationship with DaimlerChrysler. We
were awarded international media buying and planning for DaimlerChrysler in
all markets except NAFTA and Germany through our DaimlerChrysler Media
Alliance, a joint venture with CIA Medianetwork; this includes media for all
Mercedes products as well as Smart Car.
"Overall, our commitment to DaimlerChrysler is longstanding and unparalleled.
Not only are we the only agency ever to have had all of the Chrysler
advertising business (1973-1984), but we're also the only agency ever to have
turned it all down. Ironically, we helped Chrysler select BBDO as the second
agency after Chrysler got back on its feet in the early 80's. Then, when
Chrysler approached us again in 1989 and asked us to handle all of their
entire account, we said that it was in their best interest to have two
agencies.
"Today, however, DaimlerChrysler's needs and challenges are different. We
fully believe that there's strong value for them in gaining the synergies of
consolidating advertising work for Chrysler Group brands, just as they have
done in the consolidation of media buying and planning over the past year.
"We think our chances of being selected for the consolidated business are
excellent. We've already very successfully integrated agencies on
DaimlerChrysler's behalf. We managed the consolidation of Campbell Mithun
Esty Detroit and the resultant change from two dealer organizations to one.
We combined the Detroit and international Bozell offices with FCB last year
while continuing to produce outstanding work for them. FCB has no automotive
conflicts and clearly are capable of integrating the consolidated business
seamlessly with our DaimlerChrysler Global Operations in place in over 50
countries.
"Looking back over our long relationship, we've been through many wars
together with our client. Each time we've focused on doing what's right for
Chrysler, it's ended up being what's right for us. Looking ahead, we welcome
the chance to put on our helmets for them again as they meet the challenges
of the global marketplace."
-Continued-
<PAGE>
3/TRUE NORTH COMMENTS
End Notes:
FCB Worldwide (www.fcb.com) is the largest advertising agency brand in the
United States, and the fifth largest agency brand worldwide, with 1999
billings of more than $8.8 billion. With more than 200 offices servicing
clients in 92 countries, FCB Worldwide's client roster includes AT&T,
Beiersdorf, Compaq, Coors, DaimlerChrysler, Quaker Oats, S.C. Johnson, and
other leading companies. FCB is the global advertising brand of True North
Communications Inc. (NYSE: TNO).
True North is one of the world's leading advertising and communications
holding companies. True North has three major global brands: FCB Worldwide,
advertising; BSMG Worldwide, public relations; and Marketing Drive Worldwide,
marketing services. The company also has a strong roster of other advertising
brands, including Bozell Group, New America Strategies Group including Don
Coleman Advertising, Temerlin McClain, Tierney & Partners, and TN Media,
among them. Its digital portfolio includes R/GA Interactive and
SixtyFootSpider. Based in Chicago, True North had 1999 revenues of
approximately $1.4 billion and annual billings of more than $14 billion. True
North's revenue from DaimlerChrysler is approximately $140 million.
Cautionary Statement:
Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E(i)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause True
North's actual results to be materially different from any future results
expressed or implied by these statements. Such factors include the
following: general economic and business conditions, the ability of True
North to continue to improve its cost management, the ability to maintain
current and attract new clients, the ability of True North to integrate
acquisitions or complete future acquisitions, dependence upon and
availability of qualified personnel and changes in government regulation. In
light of these and other uncertainties, the forward-looking statements
included in this document should not be regarded as a representation by True
North that True North's plans and objectives will be achieved.
###
