Quebecor World


Quebecor World Inc. was a printing subsidiary of Quebecor Inc. based in Montreal, Quebec. It comprised a number of small and large print shops throughout the world. In 2010, Quebecor World was acquired by Wisconsin-based Quad/Graphics.

History

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 Midland, 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.

Merger with World Color Press

In 1999, Quebecor Printing merged with World Color Press in a US$2.7 billion deal to create Quebecor World.

Financial struggles

Quebecor entered a difficult period in the early 2000s as the market has gradually shifted focus to digital media. In response, the company's Board of Directors named Wes Lucas President and CEO, replacing Pierre Karl Péladeau, and announced a reorganization of its American book and magazine platforms, closing plants in Kingsport, TN, Phoenix, Arizona and Brookfield, WI
Quebecor World Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on January 21, 2008 at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, as well as for protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangements Act at the Superior Court of Québec at Montreal. At the time of bankruptcy the company's clients included printing publications for Time, Parade and also catalogs for Victoria's Secret.
In May 2009, Chicago-based printer RR Donnelley tendered an unsolicited bid to purchase Quebecor World, which was rejected as the company emerged from creditor protection in July.
On July 2, 2010, Sussex, Wisconsin-based printer Quad/Graphics purchased Worldcolor.

Locations

Quebecor had facilities in the United States, Canada, Brazil, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Spain, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, and India.
Former QW plant in Richmond Hill, Ontario was shuttered in early 2009, but the Aurora, Ontario location was acquired by Quad/Graphics and since sold to TC Transcontinental in 2013.