Vertis Lands Major Acquisition in ACG

BALTIMORE—Vertis Communications has signed a letter of intent to merge with American Color Graphics (ACG) of Brentwood, TN. ACG will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Vertis.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Mike DuBose, chairman and CEO of Vertis, will lead the combined company. Steve Dyott, ACG’s CEO, is expected to remain with the company to help with the transition and integration process.

The acquisition of ACG is a significant one for Vertis. ACG, which specializes in premedia and printing for (among others) the retail, direct mail, catalog and publication sectors, posted revenues of $445 million in its latest fiscal year ending March 31 and ranked 23rd on the PRINTING IMPRESSIONS 400. It boasts eight printing locations and six regional premedia centers.

Sales for the combined companies total just under $1.9 billion.

“This combination will allow us to better address today’s advertising insert and premedia services marketplace, as well as further complement Vertis’ direct marketing, media services, technology and creative services business,” DuBose said in a statement.

“Vertis will now have a significantly larger footprint to better serve existing and future clients.”