Quad Acquires UniGraphic, Promotes Executives

SUSSEX, WI—Quad/Graphics Inc. announced that it has acquired UniGraphic Inc., one of the largest commercial printers in the Boston metro area. The acquisition fortifies Quad/Graphics’ commercial and specialty printing, in-store marketing, and digital and fulfillment solutions for businesses on the East Coast. It also strengthens Quad/Graphics’ ability to service national retailers’ large-format and in-store marketing needs, adding an East Coast presence to Quad’s existing Midwest and West Coast locations.

“UniGraphic is a premier print solutions company that has earned customer loyalty through superior quality, flexibility and reliability,” said Joel Quadracci, Quad/Graphics chairman, president and CEO. “We are excited to build on UniGraphic’s success on the East Coast, serving clients in a wide range of industries from arts and entertainment to education, financial, food, health care, mass media, pharmaceutical and retail. This acquisition expands our commercial and specialty and in-store marketing footprint to both coasts, as well as the Midwest, and supports our vision to grow in markets where we can create value for clients and shareholders alike.”

Craig Faust, Quad/Graphics president of commercial and specialty, added, “We look forward to welcoming UniGraphic’s employees to our family and leveraging their experience and expertise in high-impact, quick-turn solutions. UniGraphic serves the East Coast from two strategically located facilities featuring leading-edge capabilities such as Web-to-print and on-demand services for static and variable print, as well as the latest technology for producing large-format signs and point-of-purchase displays. This is an ideal platform on which we can better service our existing client base, as well as grow by providing a more robust national footprint.”

Bob Quinlan, owner and president of UniGraphic, will remain with the company along with the rest of his management team and employees.

UniGraphic employs approximately 190 employees between two facilities: a 91,000-square-foot plant in Woburn, MA, just north of Boston, and a 27,000-square-foot plant in Long Island City, NY, strategically located across the East River from Midtown Manhattan.

In other company news, Quad/Graphics announced several executive-level promotions to support its strategic business initiatives. The promotions are effective March 1. They are:

• John Fowler has been promoted to vice chairman and executive vice president, responsible for global strategic planning and business development. He will continue to be intimately involved in day-to-day operations, but with a concentrated focus on overall business strategy and investment opportunities that will drive the company’s long-term success.

• David Honan has been promoted to vice president and CFO, responsible for overseeing accounting, finance, treasury, tax, risk and investor relations for Quad/Graphics. Currently, Honan is the company's vice president, controller and chief accounting officer.

• Thomas Frankowski has been promoted to COO, responsible for leading the company's U.S. magazine, catalog, retail insert, book and directory business units. Building on his current role as executive vice president of manufacturing operations, Frankowski will continue to oversee manufacturing and distribution operations while also taking on responsibility for revenue-generation, cost management and overall profitability of these business units. He also remains president of Quad/Graphics Europe.

• David Blais has been named executive vice president of Global Procurement & Platform Strategy. In this role he will be responsible for overseeing all corporate purchasing functions worldwide, including paper and other consumables. Additionally, he will direct the company’s efforts to maximize the effectiveness and competitiveness of its total platform, especially as Quad/Graphics pursues additional acquisitions.

• Steven Jaeger has been promoted to an executive vice president of Quad/Graphics, reflecting his substantial leadership role at the company. Jaeger will continue in his role as president of Direct Marketing & Media Solutions and chief information officer.

• Kelly Vanderboom, vice president and treasurer, has expanded his responsibilities to include executive responsibility for the company’s logistics business as president of Logistics. In this role, Vanderboom succeeds David Riebe, who has announced his retirement from the company after 29 years of service. Riebe will remain with the company through December 2014 to ensure a seamless transition of responsibilities.

• Anthony Staniak has expanded his responsibilities as executive director—financial controller to include chief accounting officer. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing Quad/Graphics' public financial filings with the SEC and executing the Sarbanes-Oxley process.