Outsourced Graphic Services Firm Buys Delaware

Affinity Express, in partnership with Live It Solutions, has acquired 100 per cent of the Delaware company.

Affinity Express, 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 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, as well as promotional products.

Ayala Corporation was established in 1834 and is a Philippine 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 expansion capital in to the company.

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

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 plans to launch a second production centre in Manila (Philippines) in the first half of 2007, 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." The new funding will be used to expand the company's operations, accelerate technology deployment and support its international expansion.

Ayala, who joins the Affinity Express board 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 helping them to improve profitability and reduce investments.".

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