hotline

A H&R Block Down to 6 in Review for $100 Mil. Biz LOS ANGELES--H&R Block has narrowed its search for an agency to handle its $100 million account to six contenders: Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, Boston; Campbell Mithun Esty, Minneapolis; DDB, Chicago and San Francisco; Lowe Lintas & Partners and Publicis, both New York; and The Richards Group, Dallas. Incumbents are Young & Rubicam and Impiric, both Chicago; and The Bravo Group, Nicholson Interactive and The Media Edge, all New York. Select Resources International, Los Angeles, is handling. A decision is expected in June. A Della Femina/Jeary in Talks with Grace & Rothschild NEW YORK--Diane Rothschild, president of Grace & Rothschild here is in talks to join forces with Della Femina/Jeary & Partners to form an agency called Della Femina Rothschild Jeary, sources said. "We've been talking to Diane and Roy and to a lot of people," said Jerry Della Femina. "It would be a wonderful association if something like that would come to pass. There's nothing imminent." Grace & Rothschild recently lost its signature Land Rover account. A Federal Ad Dollars Up, Minority Media Down WASHINGTON, D.C.--A study by the General Accounting Office reported that more than 90 percent of the $388 million the federal government spent on advertising in 1998 went to large agencies, leaving small minority-owned shops with a tiny piece of the pie. The American Advertising Federation is preparing a list of good practices to be completed in June, following a Federal Communications Commission report last year accusing advertisers of racism in their media buying practices. A Snyder Revenue Up, Net Income Down BOSTON--Arnold Communications parent company Snyder Communications reported first-quarter revenue of $157 million, an 18 percent increase over the same period last year. Net income for the period fell to $9.6 million from $15.2 million. Snyder's stock was trading at around $23 per share at press time on Friday. Paris-based Havas Advertising announced in February that it would acquire Snyder in a pure stock deal valued at $2.1 billion; the deal has cleared federal regulatory hurdles and is expected to close in June or July. A Martin out of $114 Mil. Army Review CHICAGO--The Martin Agency, Richmond, Va., has dropped out of the pitch for the U.S. Army's $114 million account. Remaining in the hunt: Leo Burnett, Chicago, and Campbell Ewald, Warren, Mich. Presentations are scheduled for mid-May. Chicago consultancy Jones-Lundin Associates is handling. A SelectQuote Launches Media Search LOS ANGELES--Online insurance provider Select-Quote Insurance Services has launched a review for its $8-10 million media buying business, sources said. The San Francisco company is said to be talking to media shops in the West and Midwest. Incumbents are Carat, Los Angeles, and Eicoff & Associates, Chicago. (Continued on page 86

Brand Marketing

hotline

Adweek Staff

About

Subscriptions

Events

Publications

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

Adweek Staff