Corporate Express Acquires Incentive Group of Companies Ltd.
News Release
Contact:
Van Hindes
Vice President Corporate Communications
303.664.3989
Corporate Express Acquires Incentive Group of Companies Ltd.
Acquisition Expands Corporate Express's European Promotional Marketing Business
Broomfield, Colorado, December 21, 2006 — Corporate Express, Inc., a Buhrmann company (NYSE: BUH), announced today that its promotional marketing division, Corporate Express Promotional Marketing, has acquired The Incentive Group of Companies Ltd. located in London, England.
Corporate Express is one of the world's largest business-to-business suppliers of essential office, facilities, furniture, and computer products and services, with 2005 sales of approximately $4.6 billion in North America. Corporate Express Promotional Marketing is the leading global supplier of brand merchandise programs to large corporations and organizations.
The Incentive Group is a privately owned company with a long and successful history of providing promotional products and services to customers in the United Kingdom. The company will be merged with Corporate Express Promotional Marketing's existing European business. Corporate Express Promotional Marketing will continue to bring The Incentive Group's customers the same product selection and commitment to service that they have come to expect, with the additional resources of Corporate Express's global business.
"We are very excited about this acquisition and proud to welcome our new associates and customers to Corporate Express," said Mark Hoffman, President and CEO of Corporate Express North America. "Not only will Incentive Group's customers continue to receive the same great sales support and customer service they are accustomed to, but this acquisition will also enhance our ability to provide additional services and products in Europe."
"We are extremely pleased to join the Corporate Express family," said Tony Cohen, Managing Director of The Incentive Group. "Customers of both Incentive Group and Corporate Express Promotional Marketing will benefit from the depth of products and services that our companies offer."
This acquisition expands Corporate Express' presence in the European promotional merchandise market, a key component in its broad product offering.
Corporate Express Promotional Marketing is Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.
About Corporate Express
Corporate Express, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Buhrmann, NV (AEX: BUHR; NYSE: BUH), an international business services and distribution group. Buhrmann is a leading global supplier of office products, paper, and graphic systems for the business market. Corporate Express' product offering includes office and computer supplies, imaging and computer graphics supplies, office furniture, facility supplies, document and print management, desktop software, promotional products, and other similar products. Corporate Express has operations in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Company's Web site address is
www.CorporateExpress.com.
About Corporate Express Promotional Marketing
Corporate Express Promotional Marketing is a wholly-owned division of Corporate Express, Inc. and specializes in creating brand merchandise programs for large organizations. Its services include company store programs, custom order, and performance solutions such as incentive, recognition, consumer promotion, and corporate gift programs. Corporate Express Promotional Marketing has operations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, China, and Australia.
