Upfront
Vertis Closes New York Plant
SAUGERTIES, NY—Vertis Communications' advertising inserts plant here was scheduled to close just after the first of the year, the Times Herald-Record reported, leaving its 150 employees out of work. The company cited economic conditions in its notice sent to the New York State Department of Labor, according to the newspaper.
Quad Wins $135M Accord
SUSSEX, WI—Quad/Graphics Inc. has signed a multiyear agreement with Minneapolis-based Bluestem Brands, a multichannel retailer best known for its growing Fingerhut and Gettington.com properties. The agreement, which will exceed $135 million over the contract term, covers all printing, paper procurement, premedia and page layout and production services.
Execs Face Criminal Charges
SAN FRANCISCO—The owner and pressroom manager of Digital Pre-Press International (DPI) are to be arraigned on criminal charges this month for the 2008 death of a pregnant woman who was crushed by a machine while prepping it for a job. Sanjay Sakhuja, DPI owner, and pressroom manager Alick Yeung face up to four years in prison and $250,000 in fines for the death of Margarita Mojica. The machine that killed her was allegedly not locked out.
Pemcor Makes Two Deals
LANCASTER, PA—Pemcor Printing has completed a pair of deals, acquiring Pittsburgh-based Typecraft Press and Laser Imaging Systems of York, PA, according to the York Daily Record. Terms of the deals were not disclosed, but both facilities will remain open. Typecraft Press (annual sales of $5.5 million) specializes in coldset web and sheetfed printing, while Laser Imaging Systems (annual sales of $6 million) provides data processing and programming, billing and payment schedules.
Donnelley Nets IMG Contract
CHICAGO—Windy City printer RR Donnelley has been awarded a new multiyear multimillion-dollar agreement by IMG, a global sports, fashion and media business. Under the terms of the agreement, IMG will utilize (among other things) RR Donnelley's domestic and international platform for digital and interactive initiatives.
Merger Creates WildfireXM
DALLAS—PrintComm Inc. CEO Chuck Dickinson and Image Reproductions CEO Greg Wood have signed a binding letter of intent to merge their operations into a newly formed company, WildfireXM. The companies plan to merge operations into a single facility during the first quarter of 2012. Dickinson will serve as CEO, Wood as CFO.
Goss Buys Vits Print Assets
DURHAM, NH—Goss International has acquired the assets of Vits Print GmbH. The acquisition adds various sheeting and specialized finishing components that complement the Goss portfolio of web offset printing production solutions. VITS-America Inc., located in Blauvelt, NY, is not part of the acquisition. Vits Print GmbH products will be marketed and supported by VITS-America Inc. in the United States.
New Owners for Com-Pak
MOORESTOWN, NJ—An investment group, Riverside Acquisition Group, which is managed by Maidstone Capital, has acquired the assets of Com-Pak Services, based here. Riverside is comprised of strategic, financial and direct mail industry investors. Com-Pak will maintain its current facility.
Neenah Adds Wausau Brands
ALPHARETTA, GA—Neenah Paper recently signed a definitive agreement to purchase certain premium brands, including Astrobrights and Royal, from Wausau Paper. The purchase will reportedly be financed through existing credit facilities and operating cash flows. PI
