ADVANCE PLANNING AND MANNING, SELVAGE & LEE MERGE
By Adnews Staff
New York-based public relations firm Manning, Selvage & Lee has acquired Toronto-based communications agency Advance Planning & Communications Inc. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Advance Planning has been the Canadian affiliate for MS&L for the past five years, servicing a number of MS&L clients. Consequently, the merger will cause no conflicts. The merged company will operate under the Advance Planning/MS&L banner. It will continue to be led by Paul Curley, president and CEO of Advance Planning. Curley also joins the management board of MS&L. Advance Planning has a staff of 26 employees and billings of $4.3 million. The firm specializes in public and investor relations, marketing communications and public affairs. "This is an ideal opportunity for us to expand our business in Canada and formalize a working relationship that has already been very successful," said Louis Capozzi, chairman and CEO of MS&L. MS&L, which is a member of the B Com3 Group of companies, has 89 global offices and affiliates.