WESTMONT, IL As the recession continues to increase print company pressures, The Open Approach is helping providers regain value, expand growth opportunities, preserve credit lines, and ultimately protect their investments. Part of its Value Enhancement services, the firm’s Workouts & Turnarounds Program gives mid- to upper-market companies new means to weather the threatening economy.

“Today’s situation has made it difficult for even the finest enterprises to survive,” explained Tom Playford, Partner. “It’s no longer a matter of ‘ramping up sales’ or rolling out new services. To sustain, businesses require novel and tactical strategic plans that explore all possible avenues.”

“Today’s situation has made it difficult for even the finest enterprises to survive. It’s no longer a matter of ‘ramping up sales’ or rolling out new services. To sustain, businesses require novel and tactical strategic plans that explore all possible avenues.”

—Tom Playford, Partner
The Open Approach

Tailored to each unique company’s objectives, The Open Approach’s Workouts & Turnarounds Program spans restructurings, recapitalizations, business turnarounds, mergers and acquisitions, division divestitures, strategic alliances, and other solutions. And as an investment banker, The Open Approach often acts on customers’ behalf in renegotiating terms and ensuring lines of credit— a crucial consideration as banks continue to tighten lending. All inquiries and engagements are handled in complete confidence and secured by non-disclosure agreements.

Operating exclusively in the graphic arts industry, The Open Approach has developed a number of successful turnaround programs since its founding in 2001. Recent results include repositioning a struggling enterprise into growth markets, spearheading value-driving mergers and sale transactions for companies facing imminent closures, devising cost-containment initiatives yielding as much as 40% savings, and driving annual revenue improvements of up to 330%. Because of the firm’s nationwide contact network to needed resources, it has achieved these milestones in as little as 90 days.

“We’re seeing great companies go from highly profitable to the verge of bankruptcy in just months,” added Tam Steele, Partner. “To maximize opportunities, we recommend consulting with us at the first sign of trouble. Print owners have tremendous pride in their businesses—as they should. Waiting till a bank mandate, however, will eliminate many viable options.”

The venture will be funded by Huron Capital, a leading private equity firm with significant investment experience and success in the graphic arts industry.

The Open Approach is an accomplished M&A firm that operates exclusively in the graphic arts industry. Comprised of former print CEOs, COOs, sales leaders, turnaround specialists, and marketers, the firm spearheads initiatives that drive company value. In addition to workouts and turnarounds, the firm offers comprehensive M&A and investment banking services, exit strategy timing and planning, due diligence, and other solutions that positively impact print enterprises’ top- and bottom-line growth. Because of its industry-leading reputation and proven track record, it has been named the exclusive M&A partner of Printing Industries of America and Independent Printers Worldwide. The Open Approach is based in Westmont, Illinois, and has offices in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Toronto.

For more information about The Open Approach, call 630-323-9700, email: info@theopenapproach.net, or visit www.theopenapproach.net.