ENVOY GOES NORTH AMERICAN
By Adnews Staff
Toronto-based Envoy Communications Group has bought Hampel Stefanides of New York, giving the firm its first step in becoming a worldwide agency. "Envoy's acquisition of Hampel Stefanides gives us access to U.S. markets and companies," Envoy president and CEO Geoff Genovese says in a release. "The trend today is for integrated communications services in a global marketplace and that's what this acquisition is all about." The deal gives Hempel Stefanides access to such services as Web site design, direct and database marketing, event marketing, corporate identity and graphic design. The deal is still subject to due diligence and regulatory approval. It is expected to close Oct. 31. Hampel Stefanides client list includes: Castrol Motor Oil, CDnow, National Discount Brokers, BASF Corp., Cox Interactive Media, CyberShop, Altec Lansing Technologies, The Industry Standard magazine, Simon Property Group, Steve Madden, Inktoni and NEC Computer Systems. Envoy is the parent company of The Communiqué Group of Toronto. Its client list includes A&W Food Service Canada, adidas, Benjamin Moore Paints, Bermuda Telephone Company, Bridgstone/Firestone Canada, Canada Life, Canadian Olympic Association, Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Microsoft Canada, Toshiba of Canada, Toronto Transit Commission and United Distillers.