Business Management - M&A

Océ, an international leader in digital document management and delivery solutions, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Converting Solutions Inc. (CSI) to purchase Océ Imaging Supplies’ media converting assets and assume Océ’s wide format media distribution center activities in the U.S. This extension of CSI’s role in supplying quality media products for Océ wide format customers will result in increased geographical coverage and the ability to offer a wider range of custom media sizes.

BALTIMORE—A former American Color Graphics printing plant in Medina, OH, which had been scheduled to be shut down this summer, has been spared from the chopping block for now. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, parent company Vertis Communications felt that changing business conditions warranted allowing the facility to stay open through the middle of 2010.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI—Gilson Graphics has purchased certain assets of Integra Inc., creating a company with projected annual sales of $30 million. Gilson is now able to offer its customers products and services such as offset and digital printing (including large formats), perfect binding, UV coating, aqueous coating and diecutting. Creative and mailing services are among the other capabilities garnered in the acquisition.

MONTREAL—Transcontinental Inc. has acquired Conversys Inc., a Canadian print-to-Web provider that specializes in the seamless transformation of print marketing materials such as flyers and catalogs into rich, interactive Web content that is user-friendly and brand-consistent across multiple channels. The acquisition complements Transcontinental's existing print and interactive communications offering to major retailers.

WAUKEGAN, IL—The Visual Pak Cos., based here, has completed a deal to acquire Norka Inc., of Appleton, WI. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Norka will continue to operate in its Appleton facility and will provide Visual Pak with specialty packaging, commercial printing and custom paper conversion.

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ—East Coast Media, based here, has merged with The Printing Co., of North Brunswick, NJ. The combined company will operate under the East Coast Media name. East Coast Media provides large-format printing, digital duplication, binding and mailing services, as well as graphic and Website design. The Printing Co. specializes in commercial printing, promotional products and forms.

HOLLYWOOD, FL—Wayne Angstrom, chairman and CEO of St Ives U.S., is heading the management-led buyout of the division from St Ives plc of London. The deal is valued at $39 million, of which $34 million in cash will be paid upon completion. The consideration also includes a $5 million secured promissory note. The deal is expected to be completed January 21.

FARGO, ND—Knight, the parent company of Knight Printing, announced it has acquired Cook Sign, also of Fargo, the Bismarck Tribune reported. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The combined company will have more than 110 employees. Knight CEO Rich Slagle told the paper that the deal allows the companies to expand their products for new clients.

Two trusted names in the graphic communications industry – Clifton-based Premium Color Graphics, Inc. and Carlstadt-based Hand Pack, Inc – have merged to form Premium Color Group LLC (www.premiumcolor.com).  The merger was the logical evolution of an alliance going back over eight years. All three principles, Mark Fitzgerald and John Watson of Premium Color Graphics and Andrew Griffin of Hand Pack, are Managing Partners of the new Premium Color Group.

RR Donnelley is consolidating the assets of its Minnesota plants in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen under one roof in order to reduce cycle times and minimize handoffs between facilities. The workflow will be re-engineered in a newly configured footprint at Chanhassen, allowing the printer to better meet customers’ transactional marketing communications needs in major metropolitan areas.