Chanhassen, Minn. - IWCO Direct, a leading, U.S.-based privately held provider of direct marketing solutions has announced it has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Transcontinental Direct's US operations, a high-volume direct mail organization with a network of facilities throughout the United States. Transcontinental Direct's parent company, Transcontinental, is the largest printer in Canada and Mexico and Canada's leading consumer magazine publisher. This acquisition positions IWCO Direct's platform as an unrivaled solution in the industry for the optimization, execution, and delivery of direct marketing campaigns. Terms of the deal are not yet disclosed; the transaction is expected to close in the spring of 2010.

"We are pleased to combine the strengths of these organizations to provide a robust national total package footprint for our customers seeking innovative and cost effective programs for customer acquisition, loyalty and engagement programs anchored by powerful strategy development," said Jim Andersen, IWCO Direct president and CEO. "The IWCO Direct team is looking forward to working with our new colleagues from Transcontinental to create exceptional direct marketing programs for our customers."  

"Combining the production technology and world-class manufacturing techniques and processes of Transcontinental Direct's US operations with IWCO Direct's exceptional campaign execution will provide tremendous opportunities for our customers and employees," said François Olivier, Transcontinental's President and Chief Executive Officer.

IWCO Direct will acquire Transcontinental Direct's US operations in Warminster and Hamburg, Pa., Downey, Calif. and Ft. Worth, TX. The acquisition will further IWCO Direct's position as one of the largest service providers of paper-based and digital marketing programs in North America.