UPFRONT
Merrill Corp. Staying Private
NEW YORK—It looks like financial printing specialist Merrill Corp. isn’t going public again after all. At least not in the foreseeable future. Merrill withdrew its Initial Public Offering (IPO) registration statement, reported the Associated Press. Citing Merrill’s Securities and Exchange Commission filing, it said the printer’s change of heart was due to “adverse market conditions.”
Tapella Named Public Printer
WASHINGTON, DC—Robert Tapella has been confirmed as the nation’s 25th Public Printer by President Bush. Tapella will oversee more than 2,200 employees at the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO). Tapella has been instrumental in the GPO’s transformation into a profitable digital printing operation over the past five years in his roles as Deputy Chief of Staff, then Chief of Staff.
Ennis Rounds Up Companies
MIDLOTHIAN, TX—Business forms printer Ennis Inc. has acquired certain assets of Phoenix-based B&D Litho, as well as some assets and related real estate of Skyline Business Forms of Denver. The B&D Litho deal does not include B&D Litho California of Ontario, CA. The combined sales of the purchased operations were $25 million during the most recent 12-month period. Both companies will retain their trading identities as B&D Litho of Arizona and Skyline Business Forms.
Waldman Takes CGX Helm
DALLAS—Laura Waldman, a 10-year company veteran and a graduate of Consolidated Graphics’ Leadership Development Program, has been named president of CGX’s The Graphics Group. Waldman is one of 19 CGX company presidents who have graduated from its Leadership Development Program. She joined the company in 1997 after graduating from Texas A&M University.
Xerox Nets Navy Accord
STAMFORD, CT—Xerox and the U.S. Navy have agreed to terms of a five-year, $93 million contract that sees Xerox provide document support for the Navy’s fleet of 283 ships. As part of the deal, Xerox will provide installation, custom mounting, training, supplies and dedicated service worldwide for nearly 3,000 multifunction and production devices, as well as printer software. The Xerox Deployable Support Group, comprised of 51 Xerox personnel, will serve 260 surface ships and submarines docked in ports worldwide.
Williams Joins Compass Capital
EXTON, PA—Tom Williams, a longtime printing industry management and financial services provider, has joined Compass Capital Partners as a partner. Williams also boasts executive experience with PhoenixCor, GE Commercial Finance, U.S. Concord and P.C. Leasing. Compass Capital, which provides valuation, investment banking and advisory services to the industry, recently advised PhotoCraft of Portland, OR, when it was purchased by the IGH Solutions Business Unit of Taylor Corp.
Pizzeria Cooks Up Bad Dough
DOBBS FERRY, NY—Apparently a pizzeria owner here was cooking more dough than any of his customers could have imagined. Frank Donato was arrested by local police and charged with 16 counts of forgery as police seized $6,000 in fake $50 bills, according to The Journal News. Police also found printing equipment and cutting devices in a back office of The Brick Oven Pizza Shop. Donato posted bail the following day. His case was postponed until this month.
Gumpert Adds LEX Print
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Frank Gumpert Printing (FGP) has acquired LEX Print On-demand, a digital printer in Beltsville, MD. The deal enables FGP to expand its sheetfed capabilities to include short-run, digital and color copying services. FGP serves clients in the Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC, region.
Open Call for WOA Awards
SEWICKLEY, PA—The Web Offset Association (WOA), a special interest group of PIA/GATF, is seeking entries for its 2008 WOA Annual Print Awards competition. The awards showcase the “best of the best” in the web offset printing arena. First place winners receive a free WOA conference registration and a night’s stay at the host hotel, along with a trophy and other prizes. Deadline for entries is January 11, 2008. For more information, visit www.woaprintcompetition.org or call contest manager Teresa Rees at (412) 259-1804.
Hinderliter Resigns from WCTC
PEWAUKEE, WI—Hal Hinderliter has resigned from the post of executive director of the Harry V. Quadracci Printing and Graphics Center at Waukesha County Technical College, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Interim management of the facility was given to Mike Shiels, dean of management technologies, and Ron Nash, a vice president with Quad/Graphics, the paper said.
Digital Presses for Direct Group
PENNINGTON, NJ—Direct Group, a fully integrated direct marketing solutions provider, has acquired two new Canon ImagePress C7000 digital color presses. The equipment is designed to support just-in-time, short-term printing runs and fulfillment; highly targeted, variable print-on-demand campaigns; and Web-to-print solutions for Direct Group clients. The Canon gear complements an existing HP Indigo digital press at the company’s Robbinsville, NJ, facility.
Sears Wish Book Returns
HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL—After a 14-year hiatus, the Sears Wish Book catalog—a faithful companion for past generations of holiday gift seekers—is back. The old-school favorite, pared down to 188 pages, was celebrated with a coming-out party on November 19, when renowned wish granter Ty Pennington, star of TV’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” unveiled a king-sized Wish Book catalog in Times Square, NY. The catalog is currently available in print and online.
