Resources
Selling Your Business
- Why Investing in Technology is Key to Selling a Packaging Business
By Thomas J. Williams - New Direction Partners Finds Buyer for Smith-Edwards-Dunlap Company
- Gerald Printing and the Purpose Group Join Forces
By Cary Sherburne - Found by a Search Fund: Good Fortune for a Seller
By Peter J. Schaefer - Sandy Alexander Turns to New Direction Partners for Acquisition Advice
- Industry Knowledge is Critical in Selecting Print/Packaging M&A Advisors
- Achieving Goals and Setting New Ones
- M&A Trends on the Way to 2021: What We Can See from Here
By James A. Russell - Luminer Turns to New Direction Partners for Advice, Guidance
- Seller’s Compensation: How Much, When, and Why
By Paul V. Reilly - Strategic Buyers and Financial Buyers: Do You Know the Difference?
By Peter J. Schaefer - A Perfect Match: The TGI Direct Story
- Thinking About Selling? Start Early and Hire an Expert!
- Ten Years of Enabling Life-Changing Events for Print Business Owners
- Fundamentals of Valuation for Sellers and Buyers
By Thomas J. Williams - Working with an M-A Professional Adds Value Beyond the Deal
- All in the Family: a Strategy for Selling Closely Held Businesses
- How to Tell When It’s Time to Sell
By Randolph W. Camp & Albert J. Reijmer - How New Direction Partners Helped Al and Linda Hutchison Follow Their Dream
- Valuation vs. Terms in a Business Sale
Compliments of Axial Forum - Concerning Sale as a Going Concern, and Its Alternative
- By Albert J. Reijmer and Paul V. Reilly
- Identifying and Approaching M&A Targets
By Peter J. Schaefer - Red Flags for a Bear Market to Come — How Sellers Should Respond
Compliments of Axial Forum - When Is the Right Time to Exit?
Compliments of Axial Forum - Are You Still Here?
By James A. Russell - 3 Reasons an M&A Advisor Is Worth the Cost
Compliments of Axial Forum - Fair to Middling Marvelous
By Peter J. Schaefer - Why Your Business Shouldn’t Need You
Compliments of Axial Forum - For Sellers, There’s No Time Like the Present?
By Randolph W. Camp - Five Red Flags for Sell-It-Yourselfers
By Joseph Polanco - When It’s Time, It’s Time
By Jim Tepper - Avoid These 7 Mistakes When Selling Your Business
Compliments of Axial Forum - Everything’s Negotiable–Are You?
By Frank D. Steenburgh - The Satisfactions of Strategy?
By Jim Tepper - Why Six is the Number That Counts in Successful M&As
By Peter J. Schaefer - Live and Learn – Making the Right Decision in M&A
By Randolph W. Camp - What Part of “Yes” Don’t They Understand?
By Tom Williams - Don’t Close Your Door
By Paul Reilly - One Size Does Not Fit All
By Al Reijmer - The Last Hurrah
By Al Reijmer - Another Cup of Joe
By Patrick Henry - Benefits of a Tuck In
By Peter Schaefer - Show Me the Money
By Patrick Henry - Strategizing Acquisition
By Patrick Henry - A Merger Going Right!
Authored by Jim Russell and Paul Reilly. Published by Printing Industries of Michigan
Acquiring a Business
- Walker 360 Benefits from New Direction Partners Expertise in Starkey Printing Acquisition
- Power Print Group Acquires Wallis Graphics
- A Checklist for Giving Due Diligence Its Due
By James A. Russell - Finding Sources of Funds for Financing Acquisitions
By Thomas J. Williams - Back to Books: John Edwards Works with New Direction Partners to Re-Enter the Book Printing Business with the Acquisition of NGS
- A Perfect Match: The TGI Direct Story
- Ten Years of Enabling Life-Changing Events for Print Business Owners
- Following the American Dream
- How to Approach an Acquisition Target
- Drummond Press Turns to New Direction Partners for Regional Expansion
- Mining Sources of Capital for Growth by Acquisition
By Peter J. Schaefer and Jim Tepper - 3 Keys to Success for Infrequent Acquirers
Compliments of Axial Forum - Identifying and Approaching M&A Targets
By Peter J. Schaefer - The Anatomies of Acquisition: A Primer
By James A. Russell and Jim Tepper - Geographic Expansion: Being Two Places at Once
By Frank D. Steenburgh - Trust, but Verify
By Albert J. Reijmer - Everything’s Negotiable–Are You?
By Frank D. Steenburgh - Ready, Aim, Acquire: Identifying Your M&A Target
By James A. Russell - Why Six is the Number That Counts in Successful M&As
By Peter J. Schaefer - You Closed the Deal
By Patrick Henry - Benefits of a Tuck In
By Peter Schaefer - A Merger Going Right!
Authored by Jim Russell and Paul Reilly. Published by Printing Industries of Michigan
Valuation
- Why and How to Make the Most of Trade Show Opportunities
By Thomas J. Williams - Private Equity, Up Close and Personal
By Peter J. Schaefer - Understanding How EBITDA and EBITDA Multiples Are Calculated
By James A. Russell - Investment in Technology: A Distinction with a Difference
By Paul Reilly & James Russell - How To Use EBITDA For the Valuation of Your Small Business
Compliments of Axial Forum - What Part of “Yes” Don’t They Understand?
By Tom Williams - Don’t Close Your Door
By Paul Reilly - Return to Profitability
By Paul Reilly - What Drives Value
By Paul Reilly - Highly Predictive of Profits
- Investing in the Future
By Al Reijmer - Growing Market Share
By Paul Reilly - Having Fun Yet?
By Patrick Henry - Building Value in Your Company
Presented by Peter Schaefer - Building Value
Authored by Peter Schaefer. Published by IPA - GCW Greensheet – June, 2009
By Peter Schaefer
M&A Trends
- Inside the Thinking of Strategic Buyers and Search Funds
By James A. Russell - Reports of an M&A Slowdown Are Off the Mark – Here’s Why
By Peter J. Schaefer - Financial Buyers: Keeping the Pace of Acquisitions Brisk
By Peter J. Schaefer - Trade Shows: A Learning Experience for the M&A-Minded
By Peter J. Schaefer - 6-Step Guide to Successful M&As (Part 2)
By James A. Russell - A Six-Step Guide to Successful M&As (Part 1)
By Peter J. Schaefer - Feel That? It’s Momentum, and It Will Continue to Drive M&As in 2023
By Peter J. Schaefer - Eukalin Corporation Turns to New Direction Partners to Facilitate North American Expansion
- M&As: Where We’ve Been, and Where We (Probably) Are Headed
By Peter J. Schaefer - As Business Climate Stabilizes, M&A Marketplace Plays to Its Strengths
By Peter J. Schaefer - Year-End M&A Wrap-up: Enthusiasm, Energy, and Continuity
By Peter J. Schaefer - Update: the M&A Outlook for Printing and Packaging in 2021
By Paul V. Reilly and Peter J. Schaefer - M&A Trends on the Way to 2021: What We Can See from Here
By James A. Russell - M&A Recap and Forecast: No Better Time to Act than Now
By Peter Schaefer & Thomas Williams - Fundamentals of Due Diligence
By James A. Russell and Thomas J. Williams - The State of the M&A Marketplace: Recap and Forecast
By Paul Reilly and Peter J. Schaefer - A Post-Closing Checklist for Successful Integration
By Paul Reilly - Trends in Mergers & Acquisition
By Paul Reilly - A Merger of Equals
By Al Reijmer - M&A in the Printing Industry
By Peter Schaefer and Jim Tepper - GCW Greensheet
By Peter Schaefer - M&A Mythbusting
By Patrick Henry - Trend of Mergers & Aquisitions in the Printing Industry
Presented by Peter Schaefer
Succession Planning
- Download our free white paper on Succession Planning, sponsored by Canon
- How to Reduce Owner Dependence Before a Sale
Compliments of Axial Forum - Making the Money Decisions
By Paul Reilly
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Seeking a New Direction Partner Speaker
NAPCO hosted a webinar “How The “Haves” Are Transforming The Printing And Packaging Industries”, presented by Jim Russell and Peter Schaefer.
The printing industry continues to transform into what New Direction Partners commonly refers to as the “haves” and the “have nots.” During this webinar you will learn what the “haves” are doing today to position themselves for growth and profitability…and increase the value of their businesses for the long-term. The “haves” have reinvented themselves to become fully integrated communications companies, providing a wide array of products and services beyond print that inspire customer loyalty and “stickiness.”
During this webinar, you will learn:
- The common characteristics found among these successful companies
- What the “haves” are doing to build brand loyalty and higher profit margins
- Ways to build intrinsic value for your printing or packaging business
- Watch Here
As President, Jonathan Shapiro was charged with selling the company by its elderly family owners. He started the process in 2015 but ran into barriers including the requirement that employees and the building be protected, as well as its union status. In the end, patience won out, and New Direction Partners Peter Schaefer found the perfect buyer. It’s a great story. Enjoy! Watch the full story here.
NAPCO hosted a recent webinar “M&A Road Ahead in 2024 and Beyond”, presented by Jim Russell and Tom Williams.
In this session, New Direction Partners experts will share their thoughts on the current state of mergers and acquisitions in the broader printing and packaging industry as well as provide an outlook for the M&A environment as we move into 2024. It includes important advice for both buyers and sellers preparing for the future. By attending the live streamed session, you will be able to ask questions of these experts. In this session, you will learn:
- How 2023 shaped up in terms of industry M&A activity.
- What the future of M&A looks like for the balance of 2023 and into 2024, including any anticipated barriers or opportunities.
- A summary of the types of buyers active in the market and the difference between them.
- Insight into how to increase company valuation in preparation for a sale.
- The importance of an up-to-date succession plan.
- Watch Here
NAPCO hosted a recent webinar “The Inside Scoop On Buyers Interested In Print And Packaging”, presented by James Russell and Peter Schaefer.
Mergers & Acquisitions in the Printing & Packaging Industry remain strong with activity being fueled by strong private equity (PE) and strategic interest. While PE has been active in the packaging space for a number of years, with multiple buyers engaged in significant roll-ups, both large and small, they are also active in commercial print and other industry segments. In this webinar, you will learn:
- Who some of the more active PE and strategic acquirors are
- What they find attractive and how they differ
- How to increase the value of your business to make it more attractive
- Watch Here
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Recent Reimagining M&A in These Unprecedented Times Webinars
In these educational sessions, New Direction Partners experts presented an update on current printing and packaging industry trends, and how the M&A market is shifting due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A key result is an expectation that we will see more tuck-ins as we come out of this crisis, which has placed significant stress on many businesses in our industry. For many of these businesses, finding a buyer who is willing to do a tuck-in is much preferable to simply closing their doors. During this session, you will:
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- Learn about the tuck-in process and various ways of configuring tuck-ins
- Gain a general overview of the M&A environment in what is likely to be our new normal
- Better understand if COVID-19 will impact your company valuation
- In partnership with NAPCO
- In partnership with PIAlliance, GAA, PINE
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- SEG Systems worked with Peter Schaefer of New Direction Partners to find a buyer that fit culturally with their business and could help spur further growth for the company. SEG Systems President Reid Johnson explains his experience in working with New Direction Partners and how they helped him find the perfect partner in TENEX Capital/Orbus. Watch Here.
- Leading printing company Sandy Alexander recently announced that Snow Peak Capital has made a majority investment in the company. In this video discussion, CEO Mike Graff explains the value working with New Direction Partners delivered to both buyer and seller in bringing this transaction to completion, including the importance of their industry knowledge and M&A expertise. Watch Here.
- NAPCO hosted a recent webinar “A Creative Approach to Selling Your Business: Capitalizing on the Latest M&A Trends”, presented by Peter Schaefer and Jim Russell.
Are you thinking about selling your printing, packaging or display graphics company? As M&A experts in the printing, packaging and display graphics industries, Peter Schaefer and Jim Russell of New Direction Partners will be discussing the steps potential sellers need to be taking as they plan for a sale. With many years of experience in this area and having facilitated more than 300[CS1] industry mergers and acquisitions, New Direction Partners has its finger on the pulse of the latest trends, opportunities and barriers in what is arguably one of the most dynamic M&A environments we have seen in many years. In this session, you will learn:- The steps potential sellers should be taking to prepare their companies for sale;
- The different types of buyers who are active in M&A in the printing, packaging and display graphics industries;
- The types of deals we are seeing and how they are structured; and
- How best to translate all of this to your decision-making process.Even if you don’t see a sale on your immediate horizon, this session will provide you with valuable information and insight about the best ways to position your company so you are better prepared if and when that time comes. View presentation here.
- NAPCO hosted a webinar, “2021 – The Best Time In Over A Decade To Sell Your Company”, presented by Peter Schaefer and Paul Reilly.
The combination of a robust economic recovery out of Covid and pending capital gain tax rate increases, coupled with rising interest rates, makes 2021 the best time in many years to evaluate the sale of your business. Peter Schaefer and Paul Reilly of New Direction Partners, two of the most experienced investment bankers in the printing and packaging industries, will guide you through the complexities of today’s M&A world. They will explain how pending capital gains tax increases can wipe away any improvements that might be achieved by waiting for your profits to increase, as well as how rising interest rates will impact the ability of buyers to complete acquisitions.
In this session you will learn about:- The latest M&A trends in the printing and packaging industry
- How the proposed legislative and regulatory changes are likely to affect overall mergers & acquisitions in the printing and packaging industry
- What printing and packaging businesses should think about when considering a sale
- The perspective of potential buyers in this environment
- View Presentation Here
- GAA hosted a webinar, “Successful Succession Planning…Is the Future of Your Business Secure?”, presented by Peter Schaefer.
One of the most often overlooked aspects of strategic planning is succession planning. When you are looking for an exit strategy, area ready to hand off the business to other family members and head for the beach, or face unforeseen circumstances, having a strong succession plan in place is critical. And it can take several years to execute on that succession plan. In this session, participants will learn about the key elements of the plan to successfully transfer leadership and ownership of a printing and packaging firm, typical timelines, and strategies for ensuring optimum valuation.
The program focused on:- Key elements of a succession plan.
- Exit strategy timelines.
- Leadership and Ownership changes.
- Ensuring bench strength.
- Valuation methods.
- View Presentation Here
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- GAA and PIAlliance hosted a webinar “10 Attributes of High-Growth Companies” presented by Peter Schaefer.In a highly competitive industry, printers must focus on two things to succeed: efficiency and growth. The first delivers a better bottom line; the second produces a more robust top line. In this session, New Direction Partners experts shared what they have found to be the 10 attributes of high growth printing companies, providing insight to owners and managers about how they can ensure high growth in their own businesses. This includes:Ensuring the right sales and sales management strategies.
Putting in the time and effort to create and execute on actionable business plans.
Ensuring accountability within the organization for achievement of strategic and tactical goals.
The role of mergers and acquisitions
… and more
View presentation here. - John Edwards speaks about how working with New Direction Partners helped him re-enter the book printing business. Watch the Video Here.
- Mittera has been on a roll with acquisitions, including the acquisition of Trend Offset. In this video, Mittera President Todd Nelson talks about working with New Direction Partners to get this significant acquisition done. Watch the Video Here.
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A Three-Pronged Route to Post-Pandemic Business Recovery
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In this session, Paul Reilly and Tom Williams shared their perspective on how best to achieve post-pandemic business recovery. Taking the right actions now can leave a printing business in better shape for the future than it would be if the need for change hadn’t been as urgent.
During this session, you will:-
Learn how to keep employees safe in accordance with some of the guidance that has been provided by PRINTING United Alliance;
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Gain insight on how to safeguard and strengthen the health of your business;
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Hear how to use — and not use — PPP loans and other resources provided by the CARES Act
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- Peter Schaefer discusses the recent acquisitions of Creel Printing and Trend Offset Printing by industry consolidator Mittera, as well as the overall state of M&A activity in the commercial printing and packaging industries.
- RPI Print CEO Rick Bellamy talks about the importance of qualified professional help during the M&A process.
- Industry Veteran John Lacagnina Shares M&A Experiences
- Paul Reilly discusses the state of the industry as we work through the pandemic, including increasing activity in mergers and acquisitions.
- Monica Weaver and Doug Bacon Discuss Value of NDP in Transition of TGI Direct Ownership.
- Analysis on Printing Industry Leaders Cenveo, RR Donnelley and Its Spinoffs, Quad and InnerWorkings
- April Webinar “Calculating Ownership Costs and ROI”
- Commentary: Peter Schaefer on Cenveo Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing
- Succession Planning: Is the Future of Your Business Secure (Webinar)
- Paul Reilly talks to WhatTheyThink about business valuation
- Calculating Ownership Costs and ROI by Joe Polanco
- TiE Catalyzing, Paul Reilly (1-hour presentation with advice for presenting to P/E groups)
- Year-End Recap and Mega Trends in the Printing & Packaging M&A Market
- RR Donnelley President and CEO Thomas J. Quinlan III Reveals Corporate Growth Strategy and His Vision for Overall Industry Opportunities on PI Xchange Live
- New Direction Partners Discusses RRD’s Acquisitions of CGX and Courier Corp.
- NDP Indices: Peter Schaefer on the Printing and Packaging Stock Index
- NDP Indices: Printing and Packaging EBITDA Trend Chart
- Peter Schaefer, of NDP, Discusses M&A Trends in Printing and Packaging
- NDP’s Paul Reilly on the 5 Steps Required to Complete a Merger
- NDP’s Paul Reilly on the 5 Best Reasons to Hire an Investment Banker (Video)
- NDP’s Paul Reilly on the Five Most Important Actions That Increase M&A Value
- NDP’s Paul Reilly on the Five Actions a Seller Should Take After Signing an LOI
- NDP’s Paul Reilly on the Five Actions a Buyer Should Take After Signing an LOI
- NDP: (Re)Interest from PE Buyers
- NDP: Multiples & Hot Segments