UPFRONT

Dallas Printers Agree to Merge

DALLAS—Impression Graphics and Ussery Printing have agreed to merge, with the company operating under the name of Ussery Printing. The combined companies have 76 employees and roughly $11.7 million in annual sales. The company will be able to produce small- and large-format printing.

Quad/Graphics Signs Extension

SUSSEX, WI—Quad/Graphics will become the exclusive printer for U.S. News & World Report in January 2005 after the two parties reached an accord on a contract extension. Quad will print 2.2 million weekly copies of the publication for distribution throughout the United States. The work will be produced entirely at Quad facilities in Saratoga Springs, NY, and at Oklahoma City.

Mail-Well Settles Lawsuit

ENGLEWOOD, CO—Mail-Well Inc. has settled a lawsuit brought forward by a former employee contesting the termination of his employment. A jury in California Superior Court awarded the employee a $5.3 million judgment, and Mail-Well decided to avoid the expense and risk of further litigation by settling. Due to the settlement, Mail-Well will absorb a charge of $3.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2003, which reflects the costs of litigation and settlement net of tax effects.

RRD, Moore Wallace Deal Official

CHICAGO—The merger between Windy City printing king RR Donnelley and Moore Wallace is official, creating the largest printing services provider in North America. Under terms of the agreement, all outstanding shares of Moore Wallace common stock will be exchanged for shares of RR Donnelley common stock based on a fixed exchange ratio of 0.63 of an RR Donnelley share for each Moore Wallace share. Additionally, Donnelley announced it was changing its trading symbol from DNY to RRD.

Allegra Facility Adds Printmaster

ORLANDO, FL—Franchise printer Allegra Print & Imaging, based here, has taken a step toward commercial-quality work with the installation of a Heidelberg Printmaster 52 press. It is being touted as the first machine of its kind installed in the United States. The unit will help Allegra Print & Imaging, a member of the Allegra Network, churn out marketing materials, annual reports, posters and brochures.

Jury Awards $15M in Book Trial

ST. LOUIS—A federal jury has ordered three defendants to pay $15 million for patent infringement to the company that created the concept. According to the Associated Press, Lightning Source, of La Vergne, TN, and its parent, Nashville, TN-based Ingram Industries, along with Amazon.com of Seattle, will appeal the judgment in favor of On Demand Machine Corp., whose founder, the late Harvey Ross, won a patent for on- demand books printed in minutes. A lawyer for On Demand Machine said that consumers who've ordered such books online may be infringing on the patent, as well.

Publishing Pioneer Seybold Dies

HAVERFORD, PA—John W. Seybold, 88, who was credited with inventing many of the concepts now used to create, edit, format and manipulate text information for print or electronic distribution, died March 14 of heart failure. Seybold's Rocappi (Research on Computer Applications in the Printing and Publishing Industries) and his work with other technology innovators helped shape the print publishing industry.

Webb Installs Bravo-T Stitcher

WILLIAMSPORT, PA—Commercial and publication printer Webb Communications has installed a Muller Martini Bravo-T saddle stitching system to its finishing and fulfillment operations. The stitcher allows Webb to output finished books at a rate of 11,000 cycles per hour. Webb Communications specializes in tabloid format and mailed publications.

Von Hoffmann Releases Results

ST. LOUIS—Educational and commercial printer Von Hoffmann posted net sales of $377.1 million for 2003, which includes $6.7 million contributed by Lehigh Lithographers, which it acquired last October. Net sales slipped 0.6 percent from the $379.4 million realized the previous year. Net sales for the fourth quarter were $71.8 million, down 6.4 percent from the same period in 2002.

Quebecor World Redeems Notes

MONTREAL—Quebecor World announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Quebecor World US, has redeemed all of the 73⁄4 percent senior notes callable on or after Feb. 15, 2004, that were not tendered as part of the tender offer process concluded November 12, 2003, for a total consideration of $33 million. The redemption was funded by a portion of the proceeds from the $600 million of senior notes recently issued by another Quebecor World subsidiary, Quebecor World Capital Corporation.

FedEx Completes Kinko's Deal

NEW YORK—Equity investment firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) announced it has completed the sale of Kinko's Inc. to FedEx Corp. for $2.4 billion in cash. Funds managed by CD&R owned approximately 75 percent of Kinko's outstanding shares as a result of several staged investments. Kinko's generates about $2 billion in annual revenues from its 1,200 worldwide locations.

Creo Opts for Equity Financing

VANCOUVER, BC—Creo Inc. announced it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by RBC Capital Markets for the issue of 5 million common shares at C$13.39 per common share (US$10 per share). Total gross proceeds are C$67 million (US$50 million based on current exchange rates).

MeadWestvaco Acquires Line

STAMFORD, CT—SMART Papers has agreed to sell its All Purpose Litho (APL) product line, brand and formulas to MeadWestvaco. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. SMART Papers will continue manufacturing APL through April.