MONTREAL, QUEBEC--Essaim Group and Transcontinental Group today announced that they have signed an eight-year contract valued at about $30 million that will see Transcontinental provide turnkey service to handle the design, prepress, printing and distribution of 775,000 flyers per week for approximately 200 Essaim-affiliated drug stores in Quebec, the Atlantic provinces and Northern Ontario. "This long-term commitment shows the solid foundation of our business relations with Transcontinental Group, which have always been based on mutual respect and trust,'' said Guy-Marie Papillon, founder and President of Essaim Group. "The importance of the agreement signed today will most definitely increase the strength of our partnership. Since dealings in the past are usually a good gauge of those in the future, there is no doubt that this contract will profit both Essaim Group and Transcontinental.'' Remi Marcoux, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Transcontinental Group, is very happy with the new agreement: "It's notevery day that two businesses announce the signing of an eight-year contract. I am very proud to do so today. It shows the depth of the business relationship we've established with Essaim since 1994, one that is based on trust and the best interests of our companies, both of which are leaders in their respective markets. About 60% of Transcontinental's printing revenues are now secured by contracts of 3 to 15 years with our customers.''