$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