BALTIMORE—Vertis Communications has secured commitments for $380 million in debtor-in-possession financing and $650 million in exit financing, in accordance with its plan to merge with American Color Graphics. Vertis executed a $380 million debtor-in-possession financing facility commitment letter with GE Commercial Finance, a $250 million Senior Secured Revolving Credit exit facility commitment letter with GE,…
BALTIMORE—Vertis and American Color Graphics have commenced a solicitation of votes for their prepackaged plans of reorganization from their note holders. Mike DuBose, chairman and CEO of Vertis, pointed out that throughout the solicitation process, trade creditors, suppliers and employees will continue to receive amounts owed to them in the ordinary course of business. In…
Adam Garwolinski has been promoted to pressroom foreman with the recent installation of a fourth Komori press at Elk Grove Village, IL-based Quality Color Graphics. Dalim Software Users Organization—which offers an unbiased collaborative channel of communications between Dalim Software users, staff and resellers—has elected new officers at the 2008 North American Dalim Software Users Organization (DUO) Annual Meeting at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Brent Kantola, prepress manager at Rogers Printing, and Stephen White, specialist, Integrated Manufacturing, at Vertis Communications, were elected president and vice president, respectively. Thomas Kern, former director of operations for Transcontinental Direct’s facility in
BALTIMORE—M&A negotiations, like fishing, can sometimes take more patience than most people are willing to demonstrate. That wasn’t the case in the nearly year-long saga between Vertis Communications and American Color Graphics. It takes a little patience and knowledge in both M&A negotiations and the nuances of reorganizational laws to follow the deal Vertis finally hammered down with Brentwood, TN-based American Color Graphics. The companies announced merger and comprehensive restructuring plans that will strengthen their finances, expand their North American footprint and improve their respective product and service offerings. Both companies have struggled in the time since they originally signed a Letter of
THERE WILL come a day, sometime soon, when print buyers will come to respect the value that direct mail printers bring to the table in a consulting capacity. As for now, many printers have to be scratching their heads and wondering, “Where’s the love?” Or, better yet, why the lowball? This ain’t a commodity, pal. “I had a client who told me that my printing price was a little higher than the competition’s,” notes Paul Nichols, president of Tulsa, OK-based CP Solutions, a Consolidated Graphics company. So Nichols made the customer a tongue-in-cheek offer: He would print and mail the job for the price
Perfecting Press Doubles Production BRAINTREE, MA—A six-color, 40˝ Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102 perfector press with aqueous coater has been added at G.H. Dean Printing, and it has been twice as productive as the older press it replaced, reports CEO Ken Michaud. The new machine, which is the second six-color SM 102 perfector at G.H. Dean, is turning a lot more jobs in a shorter time due to the high degree of automation. Founded in 1889, the all-Heidelberg shop is a third-generation, family owned commercial printing and direct mail business that serves a regional clientele comprised of advertising agencies, marketing, financial services and healthcare companies,
‘Green Printer’ Criteria Determined INDIANAPOLIS—The Sustainable Green Printing (SGP) Partnership revealed at the recent National Environmental Health and Safety (NEHS) conference the criteria on how to become a sustainable, green printer. Printers that meet these requirements and are verified will be listed on the SGP Partnership Registry Website. There are two categories of SGP registration. The first is Candidate Pending Verification (CPV), which will give a facility a 12-month timeframe in which to meet all criteria for becoming an SGP Printer. Facilities that already meet the crieria can bypass the CPV category and apply for recognition under the SGP Printer category. Among other requirements,
BALTIMORE—Vertis Communications has achieved the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2000 certification at its Bellmawr, NJ, becoming the seventh Vertis facility to gain the distinction. Its Chalfont, PA, direct mail branch is marking the 10th anniversary of its ISO 9001:2000 certification.
To help solidify branding and enhance name recognition, the Goodway Group of Companies, headquartered in Philadelphia, announced that its Massachusetts plant has changed its name from Goodway Graphics to Goodway Group of Massachusetts. Their sister facility near Washington, DC, has changed to Goodway Group of Virginia. In other company news, both the Massachusetts and Virginia plants are now FSC certified. The Print Council announced that GLS Companies, Brooklyn Park, MN; The Hickory Printing Group, Hickory, NC; Jet Inc., Downers Grove, IL; and Lake County Press, Waukegan, IL, have joined the organization. As new members, the companies will work in concert with other member companies
Themed Sales Contest Adds Political Spin STUART, FL—Southeastern Printing recently hosted an annual awards dinner and kick-off contest for its sales, production and management personnel. After awards were given out to several sales representatives, guests gathered in the parking lot to see who was arriving inside a black stretch limousine adorned with presidential seals and escorted by a police car. Out emerged President George W. Bush impersonator John Morgan, with two “Secret Service” agents by his side. After addressing the crowd and singing a few songs, the “President” announced the theme of Southeastern’s new contest, called “Decision ’08—You Can Make A Difference,” and
