HA-LO Acquires Hogberg International A.S. European

Promotional Products Company NILES, Ill. (PROTEXT) - HA-LO Industries, Inc. (NYSE: HMK),the nation's leading provider of promotional and premiumadvertising products, announced today the acquisition of HogbergInternational A.S., a privately owned promotional productscompany headquartered in Ulset, Norway. Terms of the transactionwere not disclosed. Hogberg International A.S. Hogberg is a twenty-five year old company that has offices inNorway, Finland, United Kingdom, Germany and Russia. Its keyclients are The Coca-Cola Company, Nokia and Nintendo. Hogberghas projected 1999 revenue of $11 million. CEO Lou Weisbach Comments Lou Weisbach, HA-LO's president and chief executive officer,stated, "The acquisition is a continuation of our strategy ofacquiring promotional products companies that deepen and addcustomer relationships and extend geographic reach. Thisacquisition will significantly strengthen our existingrelationship with one of our major customers. Additionally itwill broaden our service and sales capability in Western Europe,Scandinavia and Russia as we build to become the leadingpromotional products company in Europe." About the Company HA-LO Industries, a brand marketing organization, is thenation's leading provider of promotional and premium products andhas established a continuum of brand marketing services includingpromotion marketing (UPSHOT), brand strategy and identity (LAGA),presence marketing (HA-LO Sports and Events by HA-LO) andrelationship marketing (Market USA). HA-LO's extensive clientroster includes such global leaders as Abbott Labs, Anheuser-Busch, The Coca-Cola Company, Ford, General Electric, GeneralMills, Glaxo Wellcome, Procter & Gamble and J.E. Seagram & Son. Forward Looking Statements Statements in this press release regarding the expectedsuccess of HA-LO's acquisition strategy, the ability of HA-LO toeffect additional promotional product and marketing serviceacquisitions on economically feasible terms and HA-LO'santicipated sales and profitability growth in 1999 are forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks anduncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from thoseimplied by such forward-looking statements as a result of variousfactors, including without limitation the following: There can beno assurance that suitable acquisition candidates will beavailable on favorable terms or that HA-LO can successfullyintegrate acquired businesses into its existing operations orrealize the intended benefits of such acquisitions or realizebenefits from joint marketing opportunities. HA-LO's common stockhas been subject to wide price fluctuations in response to avariety of factors, some of which have been unrelated to HA-LO'soperating performance. Readers are encouraged to review HA-LO'sAnnual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q forthe first quarter of 1999 for other important factors that maycause actual results to differ materially from those implied inthese forward -- looking statements. ots Original Text Service:HA-LO Industries, Inc. Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.deContact: Michael P. Nemlich, Vice President Financial Relationsof HA-LO, 847-647-4777 Company News On-Call:http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/129926.html or fax, 800-758-5804,ext. 129926 Web site: http://www.ha-lo.com

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