Quad partners will global printer HGI

Posted: March 2, 2010

Quad/Graphics announced this week it will partner with HGI Company, an award-winning, full-service, multi-faceted commercial printer to provide clients with an enhanced product and service offering globally.

HGI, www.hgicompany.com, is comprised of four operating divisions - Hi-Liter Graphics, Plus Digital Print, Inland Graphics and Tempt. HGI is a full-service multi-faceted commercial printing, grand format, binding and distribution corporation. HGI produces a wide range of catalogs, publications, books, marketing collateral and POP materials for some of the country's largest corporations, agencies and publishers. HGI Company is headquartered in Burlington, 40 miles southeast of Milwaukee, employing 245 full-time associates between its three facilities located in Southeast Wisconsin. Sales of the company are $45 million in 2009.

Under the partnership agreement, Quad/Graphics will purchase a minority interest in HGI, providing HGI with additional financial resources to continue its aggressive investment and product diversification strategy, and to further its goal of enhancing, expanding and replicating its commercial platform. Craig C. Faust will retain majority ownership of the Burlington, Wisconsin-based HGI and will continue to lead the company as its President and CEO.

Both entities will share best practices in manufacturing, management, customer service, procurement and more, while creating numerous advantages and opportunities for clients, employees and shareholders.

"We are proud to be partnering with an aggressive, forward-thinking company like HGI, which shares our same commitment to advancing the effectiveness of print in a multi-channel media world," said Joel Quadracci, Chairman, President & CEO of Quad/Graphics. "Craig and his management team have expertly guided the strategic growth of HGI, assembling a group of distinctively branded companies that serve diverse but complementary markets, and that provide an incredible range of commercial print services. Our investment will serve as an important springboard to its growth."

Quad/Graphics also announced last month that it is now the exclusive printer of clothing retailer, Talbots, catalogues as well as becoming the exclusive provider for photography in L.L. Bean catalogues.