A statement released by US-headquartered multichannel marketing and business services group RRD (R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company) today (20 December) said Williams Lea will join RRD’s Digital, Creative and Business Support Services segment “to further strengthen and expand its position as a transformation partner for business support and productivity solutions”.
It said the investment also complements the segment’s digital marketing capabilities that include a suite of full-funnel media, measurement, and proprietary marketing technology offerings.
The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, pending regulatory clearance and customary closing conditions.
Williams Lea will maintain its brand name as part of RRD, which said Williams Lea clients will benefit from RRD’s “client-centric approach, global reach and focus on leading technology”.
Tom Quinlan, president and CEO of RRD, said: “This acquisition closely aligns with RRD’s growth strategy as we look to build upon our business support offerings and achieve the vision of our Digital, Creative and Business Support Services segment.
“Together, our capabilities coupled with our collective industry acumen and scale will provide clients with an even greater ability to maximise their own customer engagement strategies and streamline their business operations.”
Clare Hart, CEO of Williams Lea, added: “As the world grows increasingly digital and businesses embrace advanced technologies, integrating Williams Lea’s innovative products and solutions with RRD’s extensive expertise in technology, marketing and communications enhances the services we provide to clients and creates new opportunities for all of our 7,000 employees worldwide.”
Nicolas Osio, assistant director at Advent, also commented: “We are delighted to have worked closely with Clare and the team at Williams Lea to transform the business into a leading global provider of tech-enabled skilled business-critical support services to financial, legal and professional services firms.
“We wish the company all the best in the next chapter of its growth journey in partnership with RRD.”
The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of the parties and is subject to receipt of US antitrust regulatory clearance and customary closing conditions.
Canson Capital Partners acted as the financial advisor to RRD and Evercore acted as financial advisor to Advent in relation to the transaction.
BakerHostetler and Pinsent Masons served as legal counsel for RRD and Weil, Gotshal & Manges served as legal counsel for Advent in relation to the transaction.
Advent acquired Williams Lea Tag from Deutsche Post DHL in 2017. It split the business up into Williams Lea and Tag in 2019 and Tag was sold by Advent to Dentsu Group Inc. in 2023.
Meanwhile, Chatham Asset Management bought RRD in a deal completed in 2022.
Five years ago the original RR Donnelley business sold its European BPO business, formerly Astron, to Paragon.
RRD employs more than 30,000 people across 26 countries, while Williams Lea, which started as a London printer just over 200 years ago, serves clients in 20 countries across four continents.
