MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS 37 www.printmonthly.co.uk November / December 2024 - Issue 351 Diversification, growth, and expansion were just some of the exciting terms thrown about by speakers at the Knowledge Zone at The Print Show in September. Clearly, there is a need for companies to look outside of their existing remit and move into new areas if they are to continue to succeed and grow. One way of expanding is to merge with a company or even buy out another business. Doing this allows you to link up with new, knowledgeable staff, take ownership of specialist kit, or even acquire an additional premises – all of which will support your move into new areas. In this article, we take a closer look at some recent merger and acquisition deals in the print sector, analyse the thinking behind them, and consider how it will benefit each business moving forward. Manufacturing a New Future One of the largest deals in recent months saw Epson acquire Fiery, a provider of digital front ends (DFEs) and workflow solutions. Epson is purchasing Fiery from Siris Capital Group for the small matter of $591m (£443m), with the agreement set to combine Fiery’s software, server, and workflow solutions with Epson’s range of print devices and applications. At the time of writing, the deal is yet to officially complete, though both parties expect the acquisition to go through before the end of the year. Fiery will become part of the Epson group but retain its name and organisational structure and continue to operate from its existing offices. According to Epson, the purchase means Fiery will be “better positioned to scale, drive innovation, and continue delivering cutting-edge solutions to its customers while maintaining its independence in areas where the company excels”. Fiery chief executive, Toby Weiss, says: “Epson’s acquisition of Fiery showcases the uniquely important role the company plays in enabling success across the entire print industry. “Fiery has a demonstrated track record of empowering original equipment manufacturer partners to deliver the best possible results for its customers, and it looks forward to building upon this legacy with Epson and our valued partners.” Another manufacturer making moves in recent months is Screen, which in May added CGS ORIS of Germany to its group of companies. CGS is primarily focused on the development and sales of colour technology products, including colour management and digital proofing. Incidentally, Screen has been working with CGS since 1991, when the two companies cooperated on the development of colour technologies for scanner and recorder systems, including the provision of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) products. Kunio Muraji, who has led the development of various flagship products created by Screen, including its Truepress JET 520HD printing system, has taken on the role of chief operating officer at CGS. “Going forward, the partners will work to integrate CGS’s colour technologies with the core colour management systems used in Screen’s Truepress series of digital inkjet presses and workflow products,” Screen says, adding: “This is expected to drive significant new innovations in intuitive, high-function printing technologies. EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES Merging with or acquiring other businesses in the print industry offers an effective way of expanding your services. Here, we analyse some of the latest deals in the market and how they will benefit those involved ► Epson recently acquired Fiery, a provider of digital front ends and workflow solutions
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