Industry M&A Activity : Deals Are in Full Bloom

“Companies of all sizes are pursuing M&A,” he says. “Companies under $2 million in sales are increasingly interested in becoming part of a company with greater capabilities. Owners are facing the reality that most strategic buyers aren’t interested in taking on a going concern—only customers.”

Judging printers by the types of vertical markets in which they serve, Hyde feels those who address the pharmacy and health care markets are in advantageous positions. Conversely, companies that thrive on state and federal government printing—perceived as “printing without a soul” because of the bid-only, relationship-less environment—or cyclical work such as political printing, can be a difficult sell, according to Hyde. It’s not to say that government and political work aren’t profitable or sustainable, but they are lacking in certainty from a buyer’s perspective.