- Bic Graphic Acquires Norwood
- Distributor Merger Announcement
- Third Annual Stormtech Cares Outerwear Donation
- Energizer Pushes Power Play in NHL Sponsorship
- Fersten Worldwide Announces License Agreement with Fila
In a deal involving two of the largest industry suppliers, BIC Graphic USA (asi/40480) has announced it will acquire Norwood Promotional Products. To complete the sale, BIC will pay $125 million plus approximately $37.5 million in assumed liabilities. "The management expertise and strategic combination of BIC Graphic and Norwood will give us the opportunity to lead the growth of the industry," said BIC Group CEO Mario Guevara, in a statement.
Iain Walker, President, Stincor Specialties Ltd. and Clive Van Wert, President, Van-Smith Enterprises Ltd. are pleased to announce the merger of their companies into a new corporation Stincor VanSmith Marketing, a promotional products and loyalty marketing organization to be based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Stormtech Performance Apparel has once again partnered with several missions to distribute over 2,000 pieces of outerwear to people in need in the Vancouver and Toronto areas. The clothing donations began mid December and ran through the 18th - arriving just in time for the first real cold snap of the winter.
Energizer plans a power play themed Stanley Cup sweepstakes as part of its new sponsorship as official battery of the National Hockey League and its players' association in Canada.
- Distributor Merger Announcement
- Third Annual Stormtech Cares Outerwear Donation
- Energizer Pushes Power Play in NHL Sponsorship
- Fersten Worldwide Announces License Agreement with Fila
Bic Graphic Acquires Norwood
In a deal involving two of the largest industry suppliers, BIC Graphic USA (asi/40480) has announced it will acquire Norwood Promotional Products. To complete the sale, BIC will pay $125 million plus approximately $37.5 million in assumed liabilities. "The management expertise and strategic combination of BIC Graphic and Norwood will give us the opportunity to lead the growth of the industry," said BIC Group CEO Mario Guevara, in a statement.
BIC outbid the presumed purchase front-runner, Aurora Resurgence, which had made an initial offer to buy the Indiana-based supplier six weeks ago. Norwood filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May, maintaining that its debt could not be restructured. "I have had many years of experience with BIC and I am pleased to have them as our partner for the long-term," said Paul Lage, Norwood president and CEO. "We intend to set a new standard for quality, service, safety and the ease of doing business."
For 2008, Norwood reported North American ad specialty sales of $314 million, while BIC reported North American ad specialty revenues of $191 million. With the deal, BIC will become the largest supplier, based on revenue, in the ad specialty industry.
Distributor Merger Announcement
Iain Walker, President, Stincor Specialties Ltd. and Clive Van Wert, President, Van-Smith Enterprises Ltd. are pleased to announce the merger of their companies into a new corporation Stincor VanSmith Marketing, a promotional products and loyalty marketing organization to be based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Stincor (founded in 1981) and Van Smith (founded in 1975) are two of Canada's top 100 distributors. The combination of these firms creates a new company with sales approaching $9,000,000 Cdn, with 20 sales representatives in Toronto, Southwest Ontario and Montreal.
Stincor VanSmith Marketing provides traditional promotional products, company store operations, safety and service award recognition and business to business loyalty programs to both national and international corporations from its head office in Toronto. Combined, the two companies will be able to offer a wider range of services, particularly in the area of Custom Loyalty Programs for major corporations in North America.
Hults Consultants is pleased to have advised Van Smith Marketing in this merger.
Third Annual STORMTECH Cares Outerwear Donation
Stormtech Performance Apparel has once again partnered with several missions to distribute over 2,000 pieces of outerwear to people in need in the Vancouver and Toronto areas. The clothing donations began mid December and ran through the 18th - arriving just in time for the first real cold snap of the winter.
Since its inception three years ago, over 6,000 jackets, fleeces and blankets have been individually wrapped, and labelled by company volunteers - the company's gifts have totalled over $650,000. The "STORMTECH CARES" campaign is one of the company's ongoing community support initiatives, which include individual employee sponsorship of children in developing countries through World Vision Canada. STORMTECH donates regularly to local charities and events and provides athletic sponsorships through the company's TEAM STORMTECH initiative.
Energizer Pushes Power Play in NHL Sponsorship
Energizer plans a power play themed Stanley Cup sweepstakes as part of its new sponsorship as official battery of the National Hockey League and its players' association in Canada.
The battery maker also plans to introduce a new product during the NHL All-Star Weekend, observing the centennial of the Montreal Canadians on January 23-25. The Energizer Max and lithium batteries are the main product drivers in the hockey marketing plans.
The sweepstakes are to be launched in March and will offer two tickets to the Stanley Cup finals. Fans participating in the contest will be asked to predict which players will accumulate the most points on power plays during the regular season, and will also be challenged with a game of skill to win the tickets.
"We're looking at elements to appeal to a hardcore hockey fan," said Kent Hatton, brand group director of Energizer Canada, who indicated tech-savvy males aged 18 to 45 were the prime target for the sweepstakes.
Energizer will have signage on the rink boards during the NHL All-Star Game. It will also have three 30-second spots on Jumbotron scoreboards and LED ribbon signage in Canadian NHL arenas. The deal gives Energizer rights to use the NHL logo on products sold in Canada.
Fersten Worldwide Announces License Agreement with Fila Luxembourg S.a.r.l.
for Golf and Corporate Sales
Champlain NY, January 26th, 2009 - Fersten Worldwide (FW) announced today
that it has entered into a license agreement with Fila Luxembourg S.a.r.l.,
owner of the global brand FilaR, under which it will manufacture and sell
apparel and headwear products for the golf and the corporate promotional
sales channels in the United States and Canada. FW will execute all Fila
branded apparel and headwear design, manufacturing, distribution and
marketing for the United States and Canada. Unlike other major apparel brand
companies in the corporate promotional sales industry, FW will have FilaR
branded inventory available all year so that the performance wear styles
will be readily available to customers for immediate fulfillment.
FW is booking orders for Fila Golf products for delivery in Spring 2009 to
the green grass market. FW's Fila Golf line will be introduced at all
national and regional corporate promotional products trade shows throughout
2009. This arrangement provides Fila with the opportunity to further expand
into the golf and corporate markets and increase the brand's North American
presence.
Recognized as part of the industry's top Corporate Wear and Headwear
supplier by Corporate Logo Magazine in 2006, 2007 & 2008, FW began as a
headwear supplier to the corporate promotional market and introduced apparel
into its product line more than eight years ago and has seen substantial
growth ever since. FW has also aggressively grown its in-house decoration
department offering customers value added services and quality products. As
a full service supplier, FW offers innovative customization options
including 3D embroidery, pewter emblems, and overseas custom programs.
Fila has a long and distinguished heritage in sport and the brand is
currently endorsed by elite athletes around the world such as, the LPGA
Tour's Hee Won Han, the WTA Tour's Svetlana Kuznetsova and Agnes Szavay,
Olympic skiing legend Alberto Tomba, the ATP Tour's Marin Cilic and Dmitry
Tursunov. Fila is also the sponsor of the Sony Ericsson Open, Indian Wells
Tennis Open, the Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships and the
Italian Ski Federation and has a footwear licensing relationship with the
Championships at Wimbledon.
"FW's strong industry commitment, solid customer base, extensive supply
chain, three North American distribution centers, and unparalleled customer
service made us an attractive licensee for Fila", says Mitchell Fersten,
President of Fersten Worldwide.
ABOUT FERSTEN WORLDWIDE
FW is the leading full service supplier of decorated Apparel, Headwear and
Accessories to the promotional products and golf industries across North
America. With over 350 Apparel and Headwear styles available for
customization, customers can decorate any style with a multitude of in house
and overseas decoration options, including Embroidery, Pewter, Rubber, High
Frequency and Liquid Metal. The delivery of superior quality products and
value added services is guaranteed. www.fersten.com
Champlain NY, January 26th, 2009 - Fersten Worldwide (FW) announced today that it has entered into a license agreement with Fila Luxembourg S.a.r.l., owner of the global brand FilaR, under which it will manufacture and sell apparel and headwear products for the golf and the corporate promotional sales channels in the United States and Canada. FW will execute all Fila branded apparel and headwear design, manufacturing, distribution and marketing for the United States and Canada. Unlike other major apparel brand companies in the corporate promotional sales industry, FW will have FilaR branded inventory available all year so that the performance wear styles will be readily available to customers for immediate fulfillment.
FW is booking orders for Fila Golf products for delivery in Spring 2009 to the green grass market. FW's Fila Golf line will be introduced at all national and regional corporate promotional products trade shows throughout 2009. This arrangement provides Fila with the opportunity to further expand into the golf and corporate markets and increase the brand's North American presence.
Recognized as part of the industry's top Corporate Wear and Headwear supplier by Corporate Logo Magazine in 2006, 2007 & 2008, FW began as a headwear supplier to the corporate promotional market and introduced apparel into its product line more than eight years ago and has seen substantial growth ever since. FW has also aggressively grown its in-house decoration department offering customers value added services and quality products. As a full service supplier, FW offers innovative customization options including 3D embroidery, pewter emblems, and overseas custom programs.
Fila has a long and distinguished heritage in sport and the brand is currently endorsed by elite athletes around the world such as, the LPGA Tour's Hee Won Han, the WTA Tour's Svetlana Kuznetsova and Agnes Szavay, Olympic skiing legend Alberto Tomba, the ATP Tour's Marin Cilic and Dmitry Tursunov. Fila is also the sponsor of the Sony Ericsson Open, Indian Wells Tennis Open, the Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships and the Italian Ski Federation and has a footwear licensing relationship with the Championships at Wimbledon.
"FW's strong industry commitment, solid customer base, extensive supply chain, three North American distribution centers, and unparalleled customer service made us an attractive licensee for Fila", says Mitchell Fersten, President of Fersten Worldwide.
ABOUT FERSTEN WORLDWIDE
FW is the leading full service supplier of decorated Apparel, Headwear and Accessories to the promotional products and golf industries across North America. With over 350 Apparel and Headwear styles available for customization, customers can decorate any style with a multitude of in house and overseas decoration options, including Embroidery, Pewter, Rubber, High Frequency and Liquid Metal. The delivery of superior quality products and value added services is guaranteed. www.fersten.com