Quad/Graphics to acquire World Color Press for about $1.4 billion
27 Jan 2010
The largest privately held printer in the US, Quad/Graphics, Inc, said yesterday that it would acquire Canadian rival World Color Press Inc for approximately $1.3 - $1.4 billion to become the second-biggest commercial printer in North America.
Wisconsin-based Quad/Graphics is the fourth largest commercial printer in North America having 11,000 employees in 11 print-production facilities in the US and several overseas, with annual sales of approximately $2 billion.
It provides services ranging from front-end design and photography through digital imaging, printing, finishing, mailing / distribution, and has more than 1,000 clients including The Economist, BusinessWeek, Newsweek, Time, Sports Illustrated and Vogue, among others.
World Color Press, based in Montreal, Canada, is the third largest commercial printer in North America employing 20,000 people in approximately 90 printing and related facilities in the US, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.
World Color Press, whose clients include publishers such as Hearst, Primedia, Time and Cosmopolitan along with retailers such as Kohl's, Sears, RONA, and Wal-Mart. Quebecor World, filed for bankruptcy in 2008 and emerged from bankruptcy protection under the new name World Color Press.
Although both printers did not disclose the value of the acquisition, the deal is expected to be worth $1.3 - $1.4 billion.
