UPFRONT
Donnelley, HMH Reach Pact
CHICAGO—RR Donnelley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) Publishing have agreed on an $875 million, multiyear print management contract extension. The deal expands on the previous relationship between North America’s largest printer and the publisher. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a leading worldwide educational publisher of instructional materials for pre-K through grade 12 schools.
PIA Reassigns Some Territories
PITTSBURGH—Printing Industries of America and the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) has reassigned its Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming territories to PIA Inc. of Arizona (PIAZ) following the disaffiliation earlier this summer of Printing and Imaging Association of the Mountain States (PIAMS). The newly created organization will be called Printing Industries of Colorado and will be run by the current CEO of PIA Inc. of Arizona, Sandi Neuman.
ABG Obtains Holden Graphic
MIRA LOMA, CA—ABG Marketing and Business Communications has acquired Holden Graphic Services of Arlington, TX. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Holden Graphic Services specializes in producing custom printed business documents. ABG is a $36 million print management, digital imaging, direct mail and fulfillment solutions company.
Arcade Consolidates Operations
CHATTANOOGA, TN—Arcade Marketing is consolidating some print production operations here into its Dixon, IL, facility later this year, according to Chattanoogan.com. The move will result in the loss of about 150 jobs. Visant Corp. is the parent company of Arcade Marketing, which specializes in packaging solutions for the cosmetics market.
Ramsey, Clients Forge Deal
MAHWAH, NJ—Ramsey Press and clients Earth Enterprise, Green Earth Enterprise and Priority Enterprise have forged a partnership. The deal sees Earth Enterprise, a fourth-generation, New York-based commercial printer, making a substantial investment in Ramsey Press. According to Patrick Pagani, vice president and COO of Ramsey Press, the partnership will also provide greater consultive opportunities for Ramsey with its clients.
FedEx Scales Back Worldwide
MEMPHIS, TN—FedEx Office is laying off 200 people in the United States and another 450 worldwide. The move was done to increase the company’s long-term success, a spokesperson for the company told the Dallas Business Journal. A company-wide realignment sees about 20 stores being closed domestically, with another 17 locations around the world also to be shuttered. The latter move will eliminate FedEx Office stores in Mexico, Australia and The Netherlands, according to the paper.
New Owner for Evergreen
BELLMAWR, NJ—Evergreen Printing has been acquired by Carmen Pinto, who assumes the role of company president. Pinto’s executive team features Jack Ricciuti, COO; John Dreisbach, vice president of sales and marketing; Steve Weissman, vice president of production; and Melissa Smith, vice president of administration.
Fire Strikes Trade Printer
LOS ANGELES—A fire at Systems Trade Printing caused an estimated $3.8 million in damages, with most of the damage being done to equipment and contents, KNBC-TV reported. One woman was taken to a nearby hospital with an undisclosed injury. According to KNBC, it took 125 firefighters 40 minutes to extinguish the blaze.
FSI Acquires Signal Franchise
MISSION VIEJO, CA—Franchise Services (FSI) has completed the acquisition of Signal Graphics, a printing franchise that operates 34 locations in 15 states. The Signal Graphics brand will become the fourth entity under the FSI umbrella, joining Sir Speedy, PIP and MultiCopy. FSI operates 600 locations in 13 countries.
M-real Sells Paper Business
METSA, FINLAND—M-real Corp., a subsidiary of MetsÃliitto Group, has signed an agreement to sell its graphic papers business to Sappi Limited for an enterprise value of 750 million euros. The deal consists of 500 million euros in cash and assumed debt, 200 million euros in a vendor loan note from Sappi to M-real and 50 million euros worth of newly issued shares in Sappi.
MEGTEC Switches Ownership
DEPERE, WI—Private equity firm Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners and the management team at MEGTEC Systems have acquired MEGTEC from parent company Sequa Corp. The deal includes all MEGTEC businesses, including the Printing Products Group and the Industrial and Environmental Products Group. MEGTEC will become a stand-alone company with no major change in management structure or day-to-day business operations.
Heidelberg Sells 100th XL 105
PORTLAND, OR—Image Graphics and Litho has purchased the 100th Speedmaster XL 105 sheetfed press sold in the United States, a five-color model with coater. Image Graphics is a general commercial shop that was founded in 1975.
Printers Receive Sappi Awards
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA—Continental Colorcraft, of Monterey Park, CA, was one of nine worldwide printers honored October 3 at the Sappi 2008 International Printers of the Year awards gala, held here and sponsored by Sappi Limited. Continental brought home a cast-bronze elephant trophy in the brochures category. Also honored in the magazines category was Transcontinental’s Yorkville-O’Keefe facility, based in Toronto.
