Promotion body merger talks axed
Merger talks between promotional merchandise bodies Promota and the British Promotional Merchandise Association have been terminated after discussions broke down.
The two groups had been officially discussing a merger between Promota, the UK’s leading body representing members of the promotional merchandise industry and the association since late last year.
Promota blamed the move on the lengthy, protracted nature of the talks, which failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion about finding a way forward towards a potential merger with the BPMA.
Rod Duncan, chairman of Promota, says: “Unfortunately, it has become abundantly clear that the BPMA’s idea of a trade association was different to ours. Accordingly, the Board has terminated discussions with the BPMA Board and will now focus solely on the International Promota Show 2010 and on what we do best – concentrating on serving our members.”
Members of Promota were informed last week by letter that negotiations with the BPMA had been terminated. The group’s board says all efforts will now be focused on developing and promoting the International Promota Show, which takes place in March next year.
Duncan adds: “Over the past few months there have been a series of negotiations and exchanges of information in respect of a potential merger with the BPMA. Regrettably, as part of that process, the BPMA have not provided all the necessary information to enable a positive decision to be taken. That has resulted in long, drawn-out discussions which, eventually but after much perseverance on our part, led us to the conclusion that to continue merger talks was simply not tenable.”
He added the body had done “all in its power” to try and move the talks forward over a period of several months, including offering alternative solutions and proposals at various times during the talks. However, the response from the BPMA had been “inadequate and dilatory.”
In a statement, the BPMA, says: “Merger talks have been going on for some time, all with the aim from the BPMA side of moving the industry forward and offering an even better service to members. Unfortunately Promota do not seem to agree with the concept of one industry one voice.”
Last month, The4imprint Group merged three of its promotions companies to form a marketing communications agency called Brand Addition.
