The Allied Group Acquires DES Printing with Sights Set on Growth in New England

CRANSTON, RI—February 10, 2015—The Allied Group, New England’s leading provider of printing, kitting, mailing and fulfillment services based in Cranston, RI, has announced the acquisition of DES Printing, a full-service, commercial printer located in Providence, RI.

DES Printing, led by President and CEO Rich Halladay, has been a leading full-service, commercial printer offering sheetfed, digital, wide-format and Web-to-print capabilities. Effective immediately, DES Printing will be operating as a division of The Allied Group.

"We saw an excellent opportunity to join forces with another well-known and well-respected printer," commented Robert Clement, CEO of The Allied Group. "We have a progressive attitude and approach to growing our business which is critical to maintaining and increasing our relevance in the Rhode Island and New England marketplace. We must have the resources and manpower to provide the new technology that our clients demand. Actions like this play a large role toward accomplishing that strategic goal."

DES Printing is The Allied Group’s seventh acquisition since 2000. With this most recent acquisition, The Allied Group anticipates that its annual sales will top $20 million in 2015 and that the company will include 150 employees.

The Allied Group was assisted in this transaction by New Direction Partners, the leading investment banking firm serving the printing and packaging industry throughout the country.

As a result of the acquisition, The Allied Group will add numerous new clients to its customer base, as well as a significant number of existing DES employees. The Allied Group will also now offer wide-format printing and a feature-rich, enhanced Web-to-print solution that enables users to create, manage and distribute printed materials on their own.

"We are excited for the opportunity to join forces with The Allied Group! Our existing customers will continue to benefit from the same high quality products and exceptional customer service that they have been accustomed to receiving from DES," commented Halladay. "Also, they can take advantage of the wide range of additional products and services that Allied currently provides."

About The Allied Group
The Allied Group, headquartered in Cranston, RI, is New England’s leading provider of printing, kitting, mailing and fulfillment programs. The company is ISO 13485:2003 and ISO 9001:2008 certified and has over 65 years of experience working with clients in the industries of healthcare, life science, higher education, finance and insurance.

Source: The Allied Group.