Multi-Color sells packaging services to NFI Industries

Multi-Color Corp. (Cincinnati, OH) completed the sale of its packaging services division, Quick Pak LLC (Sharonville, OH), to NFI Industries, a provider of transportation, fulfillment, and technology solutions, on July 2. BMO Capital Markets initiated the transaction, assisted in negotiations, and served as exclusive financial advisor to Multi-Color and Quick Pak, according to a news release from BMO.

Doug Lawson, managing director for BMO Capital Markets (Chicago), said that the synergy between NFI Industries and Quick Pak “is more the logistics play on contract manufacturing.” NFI Industries’ family of companies include IFI National Freight, OTR, and dedicated transportation and expedited and premium intermodal railroad services; NFI National Distribution Centers distribution and warehousing services; and NFI Interactive Logistics transportation management, dedicated fleets, and real estate.

“When [BMO and Multi-Color] were getting our buyer list together,” Lawson explained, “we looked at several logistics companies as potential buyers. Quick Pak is essentially a pick-and-pack operation where items are picked from shelves, placed in a basket, and shipped to a central distribution location. A lot of logistics companies are looking at these types of contract-manufacturing companies to expand their business opportunities, and like NFI, to have a full suite of offerings for customers.”

Quick Pak offers high-volume promotional items, packaging, custom assembly, and turnkey project management. The company’s services include promotional design, turnkey assembly, shrink banding, shrink sleeving, shrink wrapping, display assembly, labeling, and distribution. Customers include major health and beauty brands, consumer product manufacturers, and national retailers. It employs approximately 100.

Multi-Color one of the world’s largest producers of in-mold labels (IMLs), also produces heat-transfer labels and is a major manufacturer of cut-and-stamp and pressure-sensitive labels and shrink sleeves. The company has nine manufacturing locations in the U.S., and its products are shipped to more than 650 customers in the North, Central, and South America.—[email protected]