RRD to Acquire Williams Lea, Strengthening Business Support Services and Complementing Marketing Capabilities Globally

RRD, a global provider of marketing, packaging, print and supply chain solutions, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Advent to acquire Williams Lea, a provider of tech-enabled business support services to financial, legal and professional services firms worldwide. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, pending regulatory clearance and customary closing conditions.

Through the acquisition, 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. This investment also complements the segment’s digital marketing capabilities that include a suite of full-funnel media, measurement and proprietary marketing technology offerings.

Williams Lea is trusted by global clients to transform business processes in complex and highly regulated environments. Williams Lea clients will benefit from RRD’s client-centric approach, global reach and focus on leading technology. Williams Lea will maintain its brand name as part of RRD.

“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,” said Tom Quinlan, President and Chief Executive Officer of RRD. “Together, our capabilities coupled with our collective industry acumen and scale will provide clients with an even greater ability to maximize their own customer engagement strategies and streamline their business operations.”

Clare Hart, Chief Executive Officer of Williams Lea, said, “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, said, “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 U.S. 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.

About RRD

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (RRD) is a global provider of marketing, packaging, print and supply chain solutions. The company delivers end-to-end solutions, effectively targeting and transforming customer touchpoints into moments of impact. With over 30,000 employees across 26 countries, RRD offers a global network of resources, creative execution, proprietary technologies, and measurable media that influences engagement across the entire customer journey. For more information, please visit www.rrd.com.

About Williams Lea

Williams Lea is the global provider of tech-enabled skilled business-critical support services to financial, legal and professional services firms, connecting people, processes and technology to streamline key business and administrative functions and helping companies adapt to a more virtual and digital workplace. Built on a strong heritage, great client relationships and a talented team, Williams Lea is the trusted global outsourcing provider to clients in highly regulated environments. Williams Lea serves clients in 20 countries across four continents and has 7,000 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit www.williamslea.com.

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