{"id":46878,"date":"2021-10-07T11:04:27","date_gmt":"2021-10-07T18:04:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/?p=46878"},"modified":"2021-10-07T11:04:28","modified_gmt":"2021-10-07T18:04:28","slug":"m-xerox-and-armor-group-swing-deals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/feature-articles\/2021\/10\/m-xerox-and-armor-group-swing-deals\/","title":{"rendered":"M&A Roundup: Visual Edge Expands MIT Footprint; Xerox and ARMOR Group Swing Deals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Industry megadealer Visual Edge made a big M&A splash this week by obtaining Brayton Associates of Southington, Connecticut. Xerox also tapped into the New England IT market as well in acquiring Competitive Computing, while ARMOR Group and International Imaging Materials (IIMAK) merged to form a $400 million provider in the thermal transfer space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visual Edge Technology expanded its managed IT services footprint in New England with the acquisition of Brayton Associates, a 40-year veteran of the computer industry. Brayton Associates brings a broad base of expertise not only to the New England territory but to the national Visual Edge IT brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy joining forces with Visual Edge, Brayton Associates will have full access to an expanded portfolio of technology solutions, equipment and services, allowing us to move further into client accounts and to help support the entire Visual Edge IT Eastern Region,\u201d shared Bruce Brayton, owner and president of Brayton Associates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brayton Associates has grown its business from the break\/fix model of the 1980s into a total managed IT services organization that guides and supports clients\u2019 technology needs. Brayton has invested in technology solutions and expertise to provide fast, reliable, and secure technology services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Austin Vancheieri, Visual Edge <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBrayton adds to our extensive technology capabilities serving our markets,\u201d said Austin Vanchieri, chairman and CEO of Visual Edge Technology. \u201cContinuing our managed services growth both organically and through acquisitions demonstrates our bold approach in North America.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visual Edge has nearly 90 locations across the country that provide secure technology solutions for IT and print\/copy to its customer base. With the acquisition of Brayton Associates, the Visual Edge IT brand not only increases its pool of expertise but continues to boost its reach with managed IT services and security solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ARMOR Group-IIMAK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ARMOR Group acquired IIMAK (International Imaging Materials, Inc.) and the combined thermal transfer activity will be called ARMOR-IIMAK, with consolidated revenues of more than $400 million. The union firmly establishes ARMOR-IIMAK as the global market leader in the design and production of thermal transfer ribbons for the printing of variable traceability data on labels and flexible packaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hubert de Boisredon, ARMOR Group<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cConvinced of its strategic importance, I have actively pursued this merger and am especially proud today to be able to announce this acquisition,\u201d said Hubert de Boisredon, chairman and CEO of the ARMOR Group. \u201cOur main objective will be to unify our strengths in order to benefit our customers, partners and employees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a history for both companies dating back to the 1980s through a shared license from the Japanese company Fujicopian until 1998, ARMOR has enjoyed strong growth in Europe, with IIMAK similarly benefiting in the US. ARMOR-IIMAK now has 1,650 employees producing over 2.5bn m\u00b2 of thermal transfer ribbon. CEO Christian Lefort, who only recently joined the ARMOR Group, will be leading the entity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe paths of our two companies, both historic market leaders in thermal transfer technology, cross once again and will now be irrevocably united,\u201d Lefort said. \u201cThis merger will benefit all our customers and external partners, as well as our employees. I am both delighted and honored to lead this merger with the full support of everyone at IIMAK and ARMOR.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doug Wagner, CEO of IIMAK, has been appointed president of ARMOR-IIMAK Americas. He will play a key role in the integration process and in the realization of the synergies within the new entity, especially in the Americas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Doug Wagner, ARMOR-IIMAK<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am pleased we were able to make this historic merger a reality,\u201d Wagner said.  The combination of our two companies results in a strong global organization which will create new value for our customers and new opportunities for our employees. We are excited to be part of this new journey as ARMOR-IIMAK.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It should also be stressed that the two complementary companies are joining forces with multiple objectives, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n