Quebecor World

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Quebecor World Inc. TSX: IQW is a subsidiary of Quebecor Inc. based in Montréal, Quebec. It comprises a huge number of small and large print shops throughout the globe and claims to be the largest commercial and industrial printer in the world. In 1999, Quebecor Printing merged with World Color Press in a US$2.7bn deal to create Quebecor World, a name meant to reflect the global stature of the company. These two companies shared a similar history of growth through mergers and acquisitions.

World Color Press was founded in 1904 in St. Louis, MO. It was known as the World's Fair Printer. World Color pursued major expansions in 1996 and 1997, purchasing Ringier America and Rand McNally's Book Services Group.

Quebecor Printing started in 1954 with a single printing press. It began its expansion outside of Canada in 1985, when it bought Pendell Printing, a Michigan-based company. In 1988, it purchased the printing plants of Bell Canada Enterprises. This was followed by the 1990 purchase of Maxwell Graphics' shops. These acquisitions made Quebecor the first truly North American printer.

Over the years, Quebecor has amassed a global empire, with facilities in the United States, Canada, Brazil, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Spain, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Mexico and India.

Quebecor has struggled lately as the market has shifted its focus to digital media. Quebecor's Board of Directors recently named Wes Lucas as the new President and CEO, replacing Pierre Karl Péladeau. As part of its long-term plan to address the changing market, Quebecor announced a reorganization of its US Book and Magazine Platforms, closing plants in Kingsport, TN and Brookfield, WI. The Brookfield plant began as a Ringier America-owned facility.