RR Donnelley

CHICAGO—RR Donnelley has signed a definitive agreement to acquire The Astron Group, a U.K.-based provider of integrated, end-to-end document business process outsourcing (BPO) solutions, for $990 million in cash. The deal, subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close this summer. The Astron Group provides transactional print and mail services, data and print management, document production and marketing support services. Its BPO expertise meshes with Donnelley's global customer relationships. "We are pleased to deliver on our commitment to grow our document-based outsourcing business," noted Mark Angelson, CEO of Donnelley. "The Astron Group broadens our diverse printing and service capabilities in Europe, provides us with a strong

Stitcher Added to Get Competitive Edge INDEPENDENCE, MO—Post Press Specialties recently purchased a Vijuk 321-T saddlestitcher from Vijuk Equipment. Owner Andy Humble, plant manager Jacob Bagnell and estimator Bowen Griffitt believe the new stitcher will help them become more competitive in the Kansas City market. Equipment Makes the Cut in Reno RENO, NV—Employees at Registered Ink gather in front of their new Polar-Mohr System 2+ automated cutting system. The medium-sized commercial printer has more than doubled in size, sales volume and capacity since owners Bill and Melissa Gillis purchased the former Herth Printing in 1999. The shop's bindery also features a new Polar PM4-ABV automatic pile

CHICAGO—RR Donnelley and American Media have reached terms on a $175 million, multi-year contract that will see the Windy City printer produce a number of health and fitness magazine titles. Beginning in the first quarter of 2006, Donnelley will produce Shape, Men's Fitness, Fit Pregnancy, Natural Health, Muscle & Fitness, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Flex and Looking Good Now magazines. In an unrelated deal, RR Donnelley has been awarded a multi-year contract with Wiesner Publishing to provide prepress, printing and logistics services for 16 of its magazine titles. Terms of that deal were not disclosed. Wiesner, based in Centennial, CO, publishes a line of homes and lifestyles,

To paraphrase a quote from legendary Green Bay Packers head football coach Vince Lombardi, Stephanie Streeter is not remotely interested in being "just good." The commercial printing industry's most powerful woman is adhering to the philosophy that while perfection may be out of reach for her company, Banta Corp., the relentless pursuit of it will produce an enterprise that can attain its personal best. FROM THE LEFT: Dave Engelkemeyer, VP, worldwide operations; Dennis Meyer, VP, marketing and planning; Geoff Hibner, CFO; Stephanie Streeter, chairman, president and CEO; Mike Allen, president, printing services sector; Frank Rudolph, VP, human resources; Sara Armbruster, director of business development;

RRD Names Richter New CFO CHICAGO—Glenn Richter, former CFO for Sears, Roebuck and Co., has been named to fill the same role for RR Donnelley effective April 1. Richter replaces Kevin Smith, executive vice president and CFO. Richter brings big-name corporate experience to the Donnelley fold. Prior to joining Sears, he held several senior financial positions with Dade Behring Holdings. He also served various roles with PepsiCo Inc. and was a consultant with McKinsey & Co. Times Taps Goss for Controls NEW YORK—Six New York Times printing facilities are slated to receive press controls and digital inking as part of a phased press upgrade initiative. The enhancements

Banta to Sell Healthcare Group MENASHA, WI—Banta Corp. has reached an agreement to sell the assets of single-use healthcare products subsidiary Banta Healthcare Group to an affiliate of Fidelity Capital Investors for $67 million in cash. The deal is expected to close by the end of the first quarter. Fidelity is a private equity investment division of Boston-based Fidelity Strategic Investments. In a separate deal related to the divestiture, Banta sold its warehouse in Rialto, CA, to a California real estate investment company for $7 million. Phoenix Color Closes Division CHICAGO—Phoenix Color has authorized the closure of its Book Technology Park division and the sale of its

Fala Direct Marketing, Farmingdale, NY, announced that James Stumpf has joined the company as vice president of sales. Marc Hacker has been named director of data processing. Also, Perry Fernandes has been promoted to the position of vice president and general manager of mailing operations. Richard Hastings has joined Service Web Offset, based in Chicago, as director of new business development. For the past 13 years, Hastings was vice president of sales and marketing for CJK, Print Possibilities. Rapid Solutions Group (RSG), a New York-based digital communications company, announced that it has combined its offset and digital sales teams. This change is part of the company's overall

GCIU to Merge with Teamsters WASHINGTON, DC—A majority of the Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU) voted to merge with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT). The GCIU became an autonomous conference of the IBT effective January 1. The Teamsters has 1.4 million members, according to GCIU President George Tedeschi, who believes the merger will "breathe new life" into the printing workers union. New Headquarters for RRD CHICAGO—RR Donnelley is preparing to relocate to its new worldwide corporate headquarters in an office tower at 111 South Wacker Drive in the heart of the Windy City. The company will occupy 110,000 square feet. Donnelley, which is currently located at

The Research & Engineering Council of the National Association for Printing Leadership has named Scott Repa, pressroom operations manager at Brown Printing, East Greenville, PA, its third Pressroom Operations Manager of the Year. Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA, has appointed Kevin Cooper, former executive with RR Donnelley, as an assistant professor in the Graphic Communication Department. Cooper comes to Cal Poly with more than 20 years of executive-level experience in the graphic communication industry. His teaching assignments will include strategic management, human resources, supervision and web printing technologies. Also, Michael Cunningham, founder and former CEO and president of Cunningham Graphic International has joined Cal

RIVERHEAD, NY—The eight-week trial of Daniel Pelosi ended in a guilty verdict for the 2001 murder of Theodore R. "Ted" Ammon, the former non-executive chairman of then-Moore Corp. The jury found Pelosi guilty of second-degree murder, having been convinced he was after Ammon's estimated $80 million fortune, the New York Times reported. Pelosi, a Long Island electrician, was portrayed as a hardscrabble thug who engaged in a romantic affair with Ammon's estranged wife, Generosa, according to the Times. He and Generosa Ammon were married three months after the October 2001 slaying of her ex-husband. The stormy relationship between Pelosi and Ammon didn't last long, and