Puerto Rico - Keller-Crescent Co., a Clondalkin Group Co., has acquired Lehigh Press located in Juncos, Puerto Rico. Lehigh Press manufactures labels, inserts, outserts and other packaging components, mainly for the pharmaceutical and healthcare markets.

According to Keller Crescent's CEO Bill Mitchell, "This is a great acquisition for us as the Lehigh Press specializations in labels, inserts and outserts are a great fit with our existing Vega Alta operation in Puerto Rico, which has cartons as its core product. Combining these product offerings significantly expands our Puerto Rican customer service proposition."

Mitchell went on to state, "Integration of the two businesses, including the management, operations and sales functions, will be carried out to streamline our service delivery to our customers. The acquisition reinforces our existing healthcare strategy, which is to provide a full range of packaging solutions from top class and well placed facilities, in those markets which are key to our customers. We have ambitious expansion plans in Puerto Rico. Acquiring Lehigh Press will help fast track the realization of these plans."

Ron Salzano, President of Lehigh Press said, "All of us at Lehigh Press are excited about joining the Keller Crescent/Clondalkin organization because of the opportunities it presents to our clients and employees."

"Keller Crescent's addition of the Juncos facility strengthens our position as the leading supplier of secondary packaging products in North America and Puerto Rico," states Joe Moynihan, CEO of Clondalkin Group North America, which is the parent company of Keller Crescent. "Our strength in pharmaceutical and healthcare secondary packaging is unrivaled. This acquisition complements our growth strategy; it is a clear signal of our commitment to our customers that we will service them in their local markets."

Peter Schaefer of New Direction Partners represented Lehigh Press of Puerto Rico in this transaction.