Flagship Press acquires Eagle Communications
Includes $3.5 million in sales from Eagle Tribune Publishing commercial print division
Flagship Press of North Andover, Mass., has acquired Eagle Communications, the commercial printing division of the Eagle Tribune Publishing Company of Lawrence. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Flagship has acquired $3.5 million in annual sales, nine Eagle employees from sales, customer service and production, and added some ancillary equipment. The unwanted equipment is being sold, as is the Haverhill, Mass. building that housed Eagle Communications for the past five years. The acquisition is Flagship’s fifth since 1994.

“We are always on the lookout for the correct acquisition — profitable businesses which can be combined into our current plant facility; businesses with good personnel and an attractive customer list,” said Charles Poor, president and owner of Flagship Press.

Poor approached Eagle Tribune’s president and publisher Irving E. “Chip” Rogers III in January and negotiations had progressed since then. The acquisition was completed June 9. Rogers’ grandfather, Irving Rogers Sr., started the commercial print business in 1948.

All telephone calls and e-mails to Eagle Communications were forwarded to Flagship beginning June 10 to ensure no interruption of service to printing clients.

Rogers cited Flagship’s commercial-printing strength — and also noted Eagle-Tribune Publishing’s expanded focus on newspapers.

“The best opportunities for growing Eagle Communications resided with an owner solely dedicated to commercial printing — and an owner with the base of sales and technology to be successful in today’s marketplace,” Rogers said.

When the opportunity to merge Eagle Communications with Flagship presented itself, the deal made business sense, Rogers said. “We deliberately opted to pursue a deal with Flagship because it’s a local, family-owned business with strong community connections,” he said.

Flagship employs approximately 125 people and operates a 63,000 square foot plant near the junctions of Route 114 and 125 in North Andover, a short drive from the Eagle Tribune building. One of the largest privately-owned commercial printing companies north of Boston, Flagship specializes in multi-color offset printing and digital duplication. The company has been the long-time printer of New England Printer & Publisher magazine.

Three Eagle Communications employees who did not join Flagship accepted new positions at Eagle Tribune Publishing. Several employees opted to leave the industry while some returned to school.

“We were anxious to absorb more employees,” said Daniel J. Griffin, vice president of marketing at Eagle Tribune Publishing. “Every employee who was affected by the sale was invited to apply for positions here. All veteran employees at Eagle have jobs, either with Flagship or with us. Those who did lose their jobs have received severance packages.”

Tony Gallo Jr., who was general manager at Eagle Communications, was one of the employees to join Flagship. “He brings to Flagship a vast amount of experience about Eagle and its clients,” Griffin said. “His knowledge of Eagle’s clients will be of great value to Flagship.”

Gallo, who started at Eagle in 1976 when it was called Eagle Offset, followed in his father’s footsteps. His father, Tony Gallo Sr., ran the print operation for nearly 50 years.

Griffin said Eagle Tribune Publishing had considered selling its commercial printing operation for a while, but Rogers wanted a local buyer.

“If this had been put on the open market, it would have sold easily, but Mr. Rogers was interested in keeping the acquisition local to preserve jobs.”

Flagship has retained some prepress equipment such as Macintosh work stations, computer servers, a proofer, a small QuickMaster press, and some mailing equipment.

“The acquisition will accelerate our entry into the mailing business,” Poor said, “while complementing our printing and fulfillment service packages.”

The majority of Eagle’s work was two-color printing for clients throughout the Merrimack Valley and elsewhere on the North Shore and southern New Hampshire. Eagle printed alumni magazines, newsletters, office products, posters, invitations and more for institution clients such as schools.

Griffin said Eagle and Flagship shared many of the same customers.

“In many cases, Eagle — which was primarily a two-color shop — was doing the two-color work for clients who were getting their four-color and digital print needs serviced by Flagship,” he said.

Griffin added that Eagle Tribune Publishing has been a client of Flagship’s for its own printing needs and that will continue.

“Flagship is strengthened by Eagle’s long history of quality and customer service in this area,” Poor said, “and Eagle’s clients gain an around-the-clock array of digital and offset printing options near home.”