TA Associates Announces Investment in Onlineprinters GmbH

BOSTON --(Business Wire)--

TA Associates, a leading global growth private equity firm, today announced it has completed an investment in Onlineprinters GmbH, one of Europe's largest online printing companies. Terms of the investment were not disclosed.

Founded in 2004, Onlineprinters is one of the largest web-to-print providers in Europe. Also operating under the brand DieDruckerei, the company provides cost-efficient, on-demand printing of marketing materials primarily for small and medium size businesses and marketing agencies. Customers place orders, upload electronic data files and submit payments online, with delivery of printed materials typically within one week. Onlineprinters operates a centralized production facility, utilizing offset and digital print technology to produce myriad materials, including brochures, business cards, catalogs, flyers, folders, leaflets, postcards, posters and stationery. The company offers Dutch, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish language web portals. Onlineprinters serves 30 countries across Europe and is headquartered in Neustadt an der Aisch, Germany.

"Onlineprinters' on-demand model is transforming the business printing market with extremely low prices and a reputation for quality and reliability," said Dietrich Hauptmeier, a Senior Vice President at TA Associates (UK), LLP, who will join the company's Advisory Board. "Onlineprinters' large customer base and strong pan-European brands have led to a ten-fold increase in revenues over the last eight years under Walter Meyer's leadership."

"We are very pleased to welcom TA Associates as the first institutional investor in Onlineprinters," said Walter Meyer, CEO, Onlineprinters GmbH. "TA is an attractive partner for a number of reasons, including its proven management-friendly approach and experience as a successful investor in the e-commerce sector. TA has relevant experience internationalizing successful business models and we will leverage TA's financial support, guidance and contacts as we seek to further expand our position among the top online print shops in Europe."

According to Onlineprinters, European printing is an €88 billion market of which approximately €15 billion is relevant to the company. The market is served by approximately 120,000 local printing firms.

"The business-to-business printing market continues to move online, driven by the low cost, on-demand offering of companies such as Onlineprinters," said Jonathan W. Meeks, a Managing Director at TA Associates (UK), LLP, who will also join the company's Advisory Board. "Growth is significant in Germany, but even more so in other countries in Europe, where online printing is expanding rapidly. We see continued significant opportunities for Onlineprinters across European markets."

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP provided legal counsel to TA Associates. Onlineprinters was advised by Altium Capital AG as financial advisor and Linklaters LLP as legal counsel.

About Onlineprinters GmbH

Founded in 2004, Onlineprinters is one of the largest online print shops in Europe. The company serves 25 countries in the European Union as well as Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway and Switzerland. Onlineprinters offers a range of products via its online shop, including business cards, stationery, flyers, postcards, posters, adhesive bound catalogues, stitched brochures and large-format advertisement systems. All products are produced in PSO-certified production in premium offset quality and flexible digital print. Onlineprinters is headquartered in Neustadt an der Aisch, Germany. For more information, please visit www.onlineprinters.com.

About TA Associates

Founded in 1968, TA Associates is one of the largest and most experienced middle-market growth private equity firms. The firm has invested in over 425 companies globally and has raised $18 billion in capital. With offices in Boston, Menlo Park, London, Mumbai and Hong Kong, TA Associates leads buyouts and minority recapitalizations of profitable growth companies in the technology, financial services, business services, healthcare and consumer industries. More information about TA Associates can be found at www.ta.com.