UPFRONT
Quad Workers Nailed in Scam
HARTFORD, WI—Two former employees at Quad/Graphics’ magazine printing plant here were arrested and charged in connection with an international insider trading scheme that generated $6.7 million, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Former temporary employee Nickolaus Shuster and recently terminated Quad worker Juan Renteria were charged with being sources of illegal insider information, the newspaper reported. Supplying investor tips from an investment feature that appears in BusinessWeek in advance of the street date allegedly netted more than $345,000 in profits.
Aurand, Vista Buying Outlook
NEENAH, WI—Led by former Banta CEO Calvin Aurand, Vista Group Holdings is acquiring Outlook Group for $13.50 per share. The move will make Outlook Group a privately held company. The deal is expected to be completed this summer. Investors in the Vista holding company include Aurand, Milestone Partners and affiliates of John Hancock Life Insurance company.
Public Printer James Retiring
WASHINGTON, DC—Public Printer Bruce James has informed President Bush of his intention to retire from his post as head of the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO). James will step down from the position when a new Public Printer is selected. He took over the role in 2002.
Competing Offer for Amazys
REGENSDORF, SWITZERLAND—Eichhof Holding AG has thrown its hat in the ring to acquire Amazys Holding, parent company of GretagMacbeth, via a competing tender offer. In late January, X-Rite announced it would pay $280 million for the outstanding registered shares of Amazys Holding, plus 2.11 shares of X-Rite Inc. stock per share. Amazys develops, markets and supports hardware, software and services to measure and communicate color under the GretagMacbeth brand.
Hatteras Consolidates Facilities
TINTON FALLS, NJ—Hatteras Press has relocated its headquarters to an 85,000-square-foot facility here. The move allowed the company to combine its printing, direct mail, fulfillment and administrative operations under one roof. As part of the move, Hatteras installed new equipment including a six-color, 40˝ Heidelberg Speedmaster perfector, a five-color Kodak NexPress 2100 digital press and two monochrome Kodak Digimaster E125s.
SMART Papers Files Chapter 11
HAMILTON, OH—Paper manufacturer SMART Papers has filed for Chapter 11 protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. SMART Papers anticipates it will continue manufacturing and marketing its line of 12 cast-coated, matte-coated and uncoated writing text and cover brands while fulfilling orders, providing pay and benefits to employees, and paying its suppliers during the Chapter 11 process.
Donnelley Acquiring OfficeTiger
CHICAGO—RR Donnelley has signed an agreement to acquire business process outsourcing specialist OfficeTiger in an all-cash transaction for $250 million. New York-based OfficeTiger will operate as an independent business unit of Donnelley, maintaining the OfficeTiger brand.
Deluxe Names Schram CEO
ST. PAUL, MN—Deluxe Corp. has named Lee Schram CEO, succeeding interim chief executive Ronald Eilers, who served in that capacity since November. Lee, who took over May 1, was previously a senior vice president for technology firm NCR Corp.
Expansion Slated for Etheridge
DALLAS—Etheridge Printing has signed a long-term lease that calls for 26,000 square feet of additional space, bringing the size of the total facility to 81,000 square feet. The addition will provide extra production, warehouse and fulfillment space. It will help accommodate Etheridge’s new six-color, 40˝ Heidelberg Speedmaster CD 102 with coater, as well as a new Stahl B26 folder, Polar 115X cutting system and an MBO 15-pocket gathering machine.
Intergraphx Obtains AGI Digital
CHARLOTTE, NC—Intergraphx, based here, has acquired AGI Digital Imaging, a large-format display company specializing in trade shows, point-of-purchase and advertising graphics. The acquisition will add wide-format display graphics, 3-D rendering and lenticular printing to Intergraphx’s existing capabilities of traditional offset printing, digital on-demand printing, one-to-one marketing and direct mail.
Journal Register Nets New Web
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI—The Journal Register has acquired a four-color MAN Roland Geoman press for its Michigan newspaper cluster, based here. The press, with three eight-couple towers and four reelstands, will also feature a double folder. The installation is prompting an expansion with a 15,000-square-foot pressroom bay.
Dow Jones Reduces WSJ Width
NEW YORK—Dow Jones & Co. has selected Goss International for a web-width reduction project to support the changing product size of its flagship publication, The Wall Street Journal, at eight of its printing plants. Goss will make adjustments to 10 Metro-Offset and Metroliner presses at eight Dow Jones production sites. Providing parts, engineering and installation services, Goss will reduce the widths from 60˝ to 48˝ on each press. The new format begins in January.
PI Among Top Trade Magazines
PHILADELPHIA—PRINTING IMPRESSIONS magazine ranked 63rd in BtoB magazine’s Top 100 trade publications list based on 2005 revenues. The listing, featured in BtoB’s March 13th issue, based PI’s revenue on 932 advertising pages. PRINTING IMPRESSIONS and Packaging Digest (ranked 88th) were the only printing industry-related publications on the list.
