Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Merrill Corporation Acquires Fine Arts Engraving Company
Acquisition Expands Merrill’s Brand Management Solution Offering for Professional Services Organizations

St. Paul, Minn. - Merrill Corporation today announced the acquisition of Chicago-based Fine Arts Engraving Company (FAE), a leading privately held provider of stationery and global brand management services to law firms and other professional services organizations. The acquisition deepens Merrill’s brand management solutions offering in these market segments and adds a substantial new sales channel and customer base for FAE’s products. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Fine Arts Engraving is a premier engraved stationery supplier with more than 120 employees and a reputation for providing high-quality global brand management services. The company operates four U.S. plants and 42 engraving presses to produce high-end products such as business cards, letterhead, invitations and presentation folders. Merrill plans to maintain the well-known Fine Arts Engraving brand name and fully support FAE’s existing employees, clients and product lines.

“This acquisition supports our strategies for overall diversification and rapid growth in the professional services market segment,” said John Castro, CEO, Merrill Corporation. “And the synergies we’ll achieve by combining the two companies and their respective customers will be unparalleled in this market space.”

Mark Rossi, president of Merrill’s brand management lines of business, added: “FAE’s award-winning products complement and expand our existing solution portfolio, and will enable us to fully satisfy the complete brand and identity needs of law firms and other professional services customers.”

“Merrill’s global reach, like-minded business culture and ability to invest in our growth makes this a compelling match,” said Joseph L. Fontana, president, Fine Arts Engraving Company. “The acquisition enhances our solutions and broadens our client base so we can focus on growing market share.”

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