Mesirow Financial Advises StratusGroup, Inc. on Its Sale to R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mesirow Financial acted as exclusive financial advisor to StratusGroup, Inc. ("Stratus" or the "Company") in its sale to R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company ("R.R. Donnelley"), a publicly traded global provider of integrated communications.

Stratus is a full-service designer and manufacturer of pressure sensitive labels and paperboard packaging for customers in several high-value industries, including the pharmaceutical, medical, health and beauty, personal care, food and beverage markets. The Company maintains extensive state-of-the-art printing, finishing and inspection capabilities, including digital, UV flexographic, rotary screen, security tagging and digital inspection, to service customers with sophisticated label and folding carton needs. Stratus operates a full-service production facility in West Chester, Ohio.

Curt Curran, owner and vice president of Stratus, commented, "Mesirow Financial was instrumental in identifying a strong group of strategic and financial prospective buyers and conducting an effective transaction process. Our clients and employees will both benefit as R.R. Donnelley and Stratus join forces to provide an expanded product line and geographic reach. Mesirow Financial’s advice throughout the process resulted in a successful outcome for all parties involved."

Bill Hornell, managing director of Mesirow Financial, said, "We are proud to have served as financial advisor to Stratus in this highly strategic and complementary transaction."

The transaction represents another successful assignment completed by Mesirow Financial’s Investment Banking group. Mesirow Financial is one of the most active advisors in the paper, plastics, packaging and specialty printing sectors, having completed more than 80 packaging transactions in recent years.

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company

R.R. Donnelley & Sons is a leading publicly traded global provider of integrated communications. Founded more than 147 years ago, the company works collaboratively with more than 60,000 customers worldwide to develop custom communications solutions that reduce costs, enhance ROI and ensure compliance. Drawing on a range of proprietary and commercially available digital and conventional technologies deployed across four continents, the company employs a suite of leading Internet-based capabilities and other resources to provide premedia, printing, logistics and business process outsourcing services to leading clients in virtually every private and public sector.

About Mesirow Financial

Mesirow Financial is a diversified financial services firm headquartered in Chicago. Founded in 1937, it is an independent, employee-owned firm with approximately 1,200 employees globally. The firm is well capitalized and has been consistently profitable, with capital of $302 million, revenues totaling $510 million for fiscal 2011 and $59.1 billion in assets under management, of which $31 billion are in currency and commodities as of September 30, 2011. With expertise in Investment Management, Global Markets, Insurance Services and Consulting, Mesirow Financial strives to meet the financial needs of institutions, public sector entities, corporations and individuals. For more information about Mesirow Financial, visit our website at mesirowfinancial.com.

Mesirow Financial
Cara Mooses, 312-595-8217

Source: Mesirow Financial