Leading yearbook and scholastic affinity company, Jostens, Inc., and American Achievement Group Holding Corp. jointly announced that they have signed a definitive agreement under which Jostens will acquire American Achievement, a premier provider of commemorative jewelry and recognition products such as class rings, yearbooks, letter jackets and other jewelry, including military and family products. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory review, is expected to close not later than the second quarter of 2014, and to be accretive to the company's free cash flow in the first year of combined operations.
Jostens is a wholly owned subsidiary of Visant Corporation. American Achievement's products and brands include Balfour, Taylor, ArtCarved and Keepsake. Fenway Partners, American Achievement's majority stockholder, purchased the company in 2004.
Credit Suisse has provided committed loan financing to Visant in connection with the proposed transaction and is acting as sole lead arranger and bookrunner for the debt financing. KKR Capital Markets LLC assisted in placing the financing. Ropes & Gray LLP and Wilmer Hale LLP have acted as legal advisors to American Achievement and Fenway. Goldman, Sachs & Co. has acted as financial advisor to American Achievement in connection with the proposed transaction. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP has acted as legal advisor to Visant and Jostens in connection with the proposed transaction.
Marc Reisch, CEO and President of Visant, commenting on the transaction, stated, "American Achievement is an excellent company. Bringing American Achievement and Jostens together will enhance the combined business' core capabilities and create a great platform to even better serve our customers, in addition to generating significant operating efficiencies for the company."
Jim Simpson, CFO of Jostens, added, "The transaction brings together the talents of the two great companies and will enhance our opportunities to continue to provide the best products and services to our industry."
Minneapolis-based Jostens supports schools and educators through a variety of products, programs and services that help people tell their stories, celebrate important traditions and recognize achievements. The company's products include school yearbooks and other memory book products, scholastic products such as class rings and graduation products, and products for athletic champions and their fans.
American Achievement provides products that forever mark the special moments of people's lives. As the parent company of brands such as ArtCarved®. Balfour®, Keepsake® and Taylor Publishing, American Achievement's legacy is based upon the delivery of exceptional, innovative products, including class rings, yearbooks, graduation products, achievement publications and affinity jewelry through in-school and retail distribution. American Achievement's products are available through a variety of distribution methods, including direct sales to students in high schools and college, national jewelry retailers, independent jewelry stores and mass merchandisers.
Visant Corporation is a leading marketing and publishing services enterprise servicing the school affinity, direct marketing, fragrance and cosmetics sampling and packaging and educational publishing markets. Visant is controlled by affiliates of KKR and DLJ Merchant Banking.
Fenway Partners is a middle-market private equity firm based in New York with approximately $2.1 billion in originally committed capital. With significant knowledge and success investing in the branded consumer product and specialty distribution industries, Fenway has built a strong reputation for its hands on approach to supporting portfolio companies.