$9m contract win

4imprint Group PLC 17 December 2001 Press Release 17 December 2001 4imprint Group plc wins $9m contract for ING North America 4imprint Group plc, the leading global distributor of imprinted promotional products, today announces that its US Corporate Programmes division has won the Company's largest US corporate programme contract to date with ING North America. This contract is estimated to be worth $9m over the next three years. ING North America, a subsidiary of ING Group, the global financial institution of Dutch origin, has contracted 4imprint to provide a unique 'one-stop shop' of web-based and print catalogue solutions. The agreement includes the provision of a bespoke range of corporate items such as writing instruments, drinkware, apparel, bags, folders, golf items, trade show give-aways, desktop items, key rings and a selection of Lands' End apparel. ING North America consists of 172 individual businesses that have come together under the ING name, servicing around 12 million customers and employing some 12,000 people. 4imprint is uniquely positioned to service ING nationwide through its Adventures in Advertising (AIA) franchise network. Commenting on the North American ING contract win, Dick Nelson, CEO of 4imprint Group plc, said: 'ING initially considered 51 different companies for this North American contract and we are extremely pleased to have been chosen to be the sole supplier for this significant corporate programme. ING businesses throughout the USA will be able to utilise the creative resources of our AIA independent franchise network for custom decorated products. 'At the same time, 4imprint will service the fulfilment needs of pre-printed ING merchandise from our Oshkosh, Wisconsin, warehouse. Through our franchise network, web-based initiatives and print catalogue solutions, 4imprint offers the most complete corporate programme solution in the industry and this offering is quickly gaining recognition in the marketplace.' - Ends - For further information, please contact: 4imprint Group plc Dick Nelson, CEO Tel: +00 1 920 236 7270 Email: dnelson@4imprint.com Issued by: Bankside Consultants Limited Henry Harrison-Topham / Russell Elliott Tel: +44 (0) 20 7444 4141 Email: henry.ht@bankside.com Notes to editors: 4imprint Group plc The 4imprint Group plc is a leading international network of wholly owned companies in the highly fragmented $30 billion promotional products industry. Globally, the Company is the largest direct marketer of imprinted promotional products, and the fourth largest distributor. The Company's blue-chip roster of clients includes BT, British Airways, Microsoft, BMW, DaimlerChrysler UK, Hitachi Data Systems, Crawford, Amec, Raley's and Saturn and other leading companies who use promotional products to build their brand and increase customer loyalty. The Company operates in four distribution channels: direct marketing, corporate programmes, premium and incentive promotions and partner services. The Group headquarters is in Manchester with other UK facilities in Woking, Whitefield, Vauxhall and Bristol. The 4imprint US offices are located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and Quincy, Massachusetts. In addition, 4imprint has operations in France, Germany, Canada and China. 4imprint has worked closely with clients for over 25 years in the use of branded promotional products to support customers' marketing and branding efforts. The Company offers the only global solution in the industry in the areas of product sourcing and services. The Company has developed proprietary systems that provide the easiest way to order imprinted promotional products. Its full e-commerce enabled online solutions provide customers with 24/7 access. 4imprint has 700 highly trained employees and currently provides services to more than 200,000 customers, including all of the Fortune 100(R) companies. 4imprint is traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol FOUR. The company has established an American Depositary Receipts (ADR) programme in the US for US-based investors. Website: www.4imprint.com www.4imprint.co.uk www.4imprint.com/canada ING ING Group is a global financial institution of Dutch origin, active in the field of banking, insurance and asset management in 65 countries with more than 100,000 employees. In its first decade, ING achieved a 16-fold increase in market capitalisation from Euro 5 billion in 1991 to Euro 80 billion at the end of 2000. More than 70% of ING's shares are held outside the Netherlands today. ING seeks to provide a wide range of financial services to private, corporate and institutional clients through a variety of distribution channels, giving them the freedom to choose the option which best suits their individual needs. North America has always been one of ING's most important markets. Before 1900 the insurance operations already had agents in the US. In the United States, ING is concentrating on selling life insurance, pension and investment products. After the acquisition of Equitable of Iowa in 1997, and ReliaStar and Aetna financial Services in 2000, ING became one of the top 10 life insurers in the US. In Canada, ING is the second largest non-life insurer of the country. Most of ING's non-life companies sell their products through independent insurance advisers. Website: www.ing.com
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