Outsourced Print Provider's Sale Provides Boost

Affinity Express's management team, in partnership with Live It Solutions, has acquired 100 per cent of the Delaware-incorporated company.

Affinity Express's management team, in partnership with Live It Solutions, the holding company for Ayala Corporation's investments in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, has acquired 100 per cent of the Delaware-incorporated company.

Affinity Express is a provider of outsourced graphic and design services for more than 3,000 clients worldwide in several industries, including newspapers, direct mail, quick printing, commercial printing and business forms and the promotional products industries.

Ayala Corporation was established in 1834 and is a Philippines conglomerate.

Ayala and its listed subsidiaries have a combined market capitalisation of approximately US$15 billion.

Live It invested US$28 million in Affinity Express by acquiring the existing shares of the company's investor group, which includes four US-based investment funds, Flagship Ventures, Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Ticonderoga Capital and Coop Securities, as well as injecting a significant amount of expansion capital in to the company, said Affinity Express.

Affinity Express provides turnkey systems to clients, including workflow process consulting, technology consulting for performance and reliability, development, integration and deployment of workflow, order management and online design systems, as well as business process outsourcing to committed service levels.

The company said that the combination of technology focus and dedication to quality helps clients effect improvements in their businesses and profitability.

Based in Chicago, Illinois (USA) Affinity Express employs more than 800 people worldwide, with project management and implementation teams in Texas, Ohio, Florida, Connecticut and New York, as well as a production centre in Pune (India).

The company said it plans to launch a second production centre in Manila (Philippines) in the first half of this year, with the assistance of Live It.

Fred Ayala, chief executive officer of Live It, said: "We are very pleased to be investing in an industry-leading innovator like Affinity Express and delighted that the entire management team, which led the company to over 40 per cent revenue growth this year, whilst providing high service quality, will remain with the company.

With our investment, we believe that the company now has the optimal combination of people, expertise, market traction and capital that will enable it to continue to set the pace for the global outsourced graphic and design services industry." Affinity Express founder David Grant, commented: "We have focused for 13 years on the reliable delivery of outsourced graphic and design services.

As a result of this focus, we have achieved a level of success that captured the attention of Ayala, a fine firm with extensive resources and experience.

Now this relationship will enable Affinity Express to maximise our opportunity for continued success." According to James R Daleen, president and chief executive officer Affinity Express, the new funding will be used to expand the company's operations, accelerate technology deployment and support its international expansion.

Daleen explained: "Our substantial increase in resources will enable us to invest in the systems, staffing and capabilities required to meet the expanding needs of our marketplace, whilst continuing to improve the quality of the service we provide our clients today." Ayala, who has joined the Affinity Express board of directors as chairman, said: "In an environment of increasing costs, changing technology, staff turnover and competition from new media, market leaders recognise that the outsourcing of graphic and design services enables them to focus on their core competencies, as well as improve profitability and reduce investments.

Live It is thrilled to partner with Affinity Express in bringing these benefits to its clients.".

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