The French firm HAMELIN (consolidated turnover of FF 2.2 bn in 1999, with a workforce of some 2000 and some fifteen companies specialised in school and office stationary) has taken over two new companies both manufacturing office stationary. These are the Italian BANZATO (turnover of some 6 million euro in 1999) and the German LANDRE (HERLITZ group; turnover of some 35 million euro in 1999, with a workforce of 180).