East Rutherford, N.J. - The Standard Group, headquartered in Reading, Pa., has announced the acquisition of Donald Blyler Offset (DBO) of Lebanon, Pa. Both companies have deep roots in the printing industry, while also demonstrating success at growing, changing, and expanding to meet the full service and value-added needs of today's customers.

John Hyde, NAPL Senior Vice President, who along with the NAPL M&A Consulting Practice facilitated the acquisition said, "This transaction speaks volumes about the consolidation trend in the printing industry."

Scott Vaughn, CEO of the $25 million Standard Group said, "Our mission is to simplify the art of communication for our customers, clients, and partners, and Donald Blyler Offset fits squarely into achieving that mission."

Added Vaughn, "We've admired the company, the way it treats its customers and employees, and the high quality of products it produces for a long time. The addition of DBO to the Standard Group is a great fit."

Donald Blyler, Owner of DBO echoed Vaughn's comments. "Over the years I have turned down many opportunities for a sale or merger with very good printing companies because they were not the right partner for us. However that all changed when I toured The Standard Group, met their key people and had the chance to learn about the future direction of the company. Through that meeting and several others in which NAPL's Consulting Team played a major role, I accepted an offer from The Standard Group. This offer represented an excellent opportunity for my clients, sales team, employees, my family, and The Standard Group. I'm excited about the future for all concerned."

Hyde, who has been involved with mergers and acquisitions in the printing industry for nearly 20 years, sums up the deal in this way: "One company is seeking growth through strategic acquisition as a way to build long term shareholder value, while the other side is planning an exit strategy to move from ownership toward retirement. The dynamics exemplified by The Standard Group and Donald Blyler Offset reflect careful ownership considerations about growth and succession planning, and we commend them both for their strategic planning and management."

DBO, which over the years has received several prestigious honors including the Silver Award for Printer of the Year from SAPPI North America and the Top Businessman Award from the Small Business Association of Eastern Pennsylvania, will continue to operate as a stand-alone organization for the foreseeable future, according to Vaughn.