Who is Buying Printing Companies

I just spent a day with a new client who is buying a printing company. The guy in the photo who is in good shape is the client, I'm the guy next to him with the blue tie.

What makes this "news" in my little world is that this guy is coming out of corporate America. He is an "individual buyer" in a sea of "strategic buyers".

You would think that individual buyers have played a role in many of the printing industry M&A assignments that I've been involved with over the past 18 years. Actually, there's just been a handful of entrepreneurs. It's been nearly all Strategic Buyers, mostly privately-held businesses, many family-owned, who are seeking to  grow by Acquisition and/or survive by Merger.

Here's the breakdown of who has been buying printing companies:

Strategic Buyers: 95%
Individual Buyers: 2%
Financial Buyers: 2%
Not Sure: 1%

More on this topic down the road.