Business Management - M&A

Peter Schaefer, a partner with printing industry M&A and investment banking firm New Direction Partners, describes the recent Cenveo Chapter 11 bankruptcy announcement and how it will impact the company, its suppliers and future contracts.

WS Packaging Group, based in Green Bay, Wis., has been acquired by Platinum Equity. The company was previously part of J.W. Childs Associates, L.P. WS Packaging provides labels and packaging solutions for the food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, and pharmaceutical markets.

After several weeks of speculation, Xerox Corp. and Fujifilm Holdings announced a $6.1 billion transaction to combine Xerox and their longstanding Fuji Xerox joint venture, creating an $18 billion company. Fujifilm will own a controlling 50.1% of the combined company, marking the end of Xerox as an independent company dating back to its founding.

After weeks of speculation, Xerox has confirmed that Japan’s Fujifilm Holdings will take over the office copier pioneer, ending Xerox's 115 years as an independent company. The $6.1 billion deal will combine Xerox with its longstanding Fuji Xerox joint venture.

Flexible packaging manufacturer ProAmpac has announced its acquisition of Oregon-based Bonita Pioneer Packaging Products, which specializes in a variety of paper packaging products.

Fort Dearborn Company has completed its acquisition of NCL Graphic Specialties, Inc. The combination enhances Fort Dearborn’s leadership position in the decorative label and packaging marketplace by broadening the company’s geographic footprint, capacity and capabilities.

Great Northern Corp. has announced its acquisition of United Displaycraft, a Chicago-based manufacturer of promotional retail display solutions. The acquisition expands Great Northern's product line in the in-store display market.

Steven Label Corporation has acquired Robinson Printing of Temecula, Calif., which specializes in printing product instructions-for-use and folding cartons that accompany medical devices, pharmaceuticals and other complex products.

Fort Dearborn Company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire NCL Graphic Specialties, Inc. The transaction is subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions and is expected to close by the end of the year. NCL Graphic Specialties is a printer and converter of cut and stack labels and flexible packaging.

In what’s arguably the hottest segment in the printing related industries, flexible packaging, TC Transcontinental has announced the acquisition of Flexipak, a Montreal-based flexographic printer of bags and stand-up pouches.