News Release

DIX HILLS, NY – Safeguard Marketing Solutions USA (SMUSA) is pleased to announce its recent acquisition of Dix Hills, New York-based L.A.M. Enterprises, (L.A.M.) from Safeguard Acquisitions, Inc. L.A.M. is a recognized leader in diversified marketing products, services and brand management in the hospitality and education verticals across the United States. The addition of L.A.M. to the Safeguard network is the latest transaction involving some of the largest and most recognized enterprises in the industry.

New franchise owners Ian Barrie and Mike Gommerman have been involved with Safeguard as distributors in Canada for more than a decade and had been searching for an opportunity to combine forces to enter the U.S. market.

“This exciting new partnership with Safeguard allows us to further align our businesses in the United States and Canada while maintaining our focus on the niche market that has helped us thrive in this space,” said Barrie. “Prior to the acquisition, Mike and I operated – and continue to operate – two separate businesses in Canada. This partnership allows us to come together on specific clients, collaborate and work together to manage the business and the accounts.”

Founded in 1986 as a business forms company, L.A.M. Enterprises, Inc. initially marketed specifically to organizations in the hospitality sector. As its client base evolved and grew, L.A.M. shifted its focus to commercial print products where the brand quickly established itself as an expert in college and university marketing. Today, L.A.M. services many of the finest universities in America, as well as luxury hotels and prestigious clubs.

“Our vision was a North American model where we could be a provider to fulfill customer requests on both sides of the border,” said Gommerman. “When the opportunity came up for us to look at North American prospects for businesses that were being transitioned under the Safeguard umbrella, we looked at the L.A.M. opportunity and knew this was a good time for us to jump in. I am eager to heighten our growth capabilities both nationally and internationally and know we are in good hands with Safeguard.”

The acquisition was completed through Safeguard’s Business Acquisitions & Mergers (BAM) Team. With more than 100 years of collective experience in franchising, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, the BAM Team has completed more than 150 strategic transactions since 2008. For its work in helping drive company and distributor growth through the completion of strategic transactions, the BAM team was recently honored as a Stevie® Award for “Best Support Team” of 2017. In 2014, the Safeguard BAM team was also recognized as a “Dealmaker of the Year” award winner by Franchise Times® magazine.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better transition into the Safeguard family,” said Barrie. “The BAM team really focused on ensuring we had a smooth onboarding into Safeguard’s US network, which allowed us to jump right in and get focused on growth and success.”

In addition to L.A.M. Enterprises, Inc., the BAM team also completed the divestiture of Minneapolis, MN based Brand Advantage Group by Safeguard. Brand Advantage Group by Safeguard was created by merging together two companies acquired by Safeguard in 2013. The combined business was operated by Safeguard’s company-operated business unit before being sold to former Safeguard employees and Brand Advantage Group by Safeguard leaders David Daoust and Tom Lyngdal.

“We worked closely with Ian Barrie and Mike Gommerman to help them achieve their goal of operating a Safeguard business within the United States,” said R. Scott Sutton, Vice President and leader of the BAM team at Safeguard. “Having Ian and Mike at the helm as owners of the L.A.M. business will help the team uncover additional, solutions-based opportunities to provide to our customers.”

ABOUT SAFEGUARD
For more than 60 years, Safeguard, through its network of distributors, has been providing the products, services and expertise needed by business owners to help their businesses grow. Through innovation, dedication and a commitment to quality and integrity, Safeguard has transformed itself from a small check printing business to a fully diversified business solutions enterprise. To learn more about Safeguard, please visit www.gosafeguard.com, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/safeguardgrowth.

ABOUT SAFEGUARD BAM
Since 2008, Safeguard’s award-winning Business Acquisitions and Mergers (BAM) Team has been providing growth-focused merger, acquisition and divestiture services to Safeguard, its affiliates, distributors and franchisees across multiple business channels. With more than 100 years of collective experience in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, business strategy and financial performance assessment, the BAM Team possesses the “know how” needed to complete complex transactions in ways that are efficient, effective and rewarding for sellers and buyers alike. The BAM team has completed more than 150 total transactions since its inception, earning accolades at the highest levels, including a bronze Stevie® American Business Award as Support Team of the Year and a coveted Dealmaker of the Year award, presented by Franchise Times® Magazine. To learn more about the BAM Team, please visit safeguardbam.com, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/safeguardgrowth.