DeWese--Something to Say About M&A

The answer is, "Rarely to never." The big companies depend on local management to keep running the company as before.

But then you say, "Well, I've heard that they raise prices, and our prices were already too high."

You've heard wrong. In fact, most of the consolidator companies have national buying contracts and programs for buying paper, ink, plates, film, equipment and employee benefits. These cost savings are very significant, and it enables the acquired company to be even more competitive and certainly more profitable.