APPLETON, WI (June 8, 2018) – Pacon Corporation, a portfolio company of private equity firm Mason Wells, announced today that it was acquired by F.I.L.A. (Fabbrica Italiana Lapis ed Affini S.p.A.), an Italian industrial enterprise.

Jim Schmitz, Pacon’s current President and CEO, will lead all North American F.I.L.A. business which includes twelve operations, seven which are located in the Fox Valley, Wisconsin area. Pacon Corporation employs approximately 500 people at its US, Canadian, and UK locations.

“The partnership of the Pacon team with Mason Wells over the past several years clearly raised the business to a new level,” said Schmitz. “Through the development and execution of a refined long-term marketing and growth strategy, in combination with five strategic acquisitions that included expansions into new markets and adjacent product categories, the Company is well positioned for continued success in the future. Mason Wells brought disciplined processes and resources that allowed the business to reinvest in new capital projects including the purchase and implementation of SAP.”

In addition, noted Schmitz, “We are excited about entering the next Pacon chapter with F.I.L.A. Their ownership signals a bright future for our organization.  It provides excellent growth opportunities for our employees, our customers, and the business.”

The Pacon acquisition expands the breadth of F.I.L.A.’s portfolio in the North American art and craft sector. F.I.L.A’s outstanding lineup of brands includes Dixon Ticonderoga, Prang, Canson, Daler-Rowney, Maimeri, DAS, and LYRA. As a result of the acquisition, F.I.L.A. will grow to have 29 production facilities on five continents with more than 9,000 employees.

“The combined Pacon and F.I.L.A. team is determined to deliver excellent customer service and exceptional product quality to ensure we satisfy our new and existing customers,” Schmitz said.

 

About F.I.L.A.

Founded in 1920, F.I.L.A. is a highly consolidated, dynamic, and innovative Italian industrial enterprise. F.I.L.A. is a global icon of Italian creativity through its coloring, drawing, modelling, writing, and painting tools. F.I.L.A. has grown over the last twenty years and has accomplished a series of strategic acquisitions, including Adica Pongo, Dixon Ticonderoga, LYRA, Lapiceria Mexicana, Lycin, Daler-Rowney Lukas, and Canson. F.I.L.A. is headquartered in Milan, Italy.

 

About Pacon Corporation

Pacon, based in Appleton, WI, provides a wide range of educational aids, paper products, and art and craft materials for the school, retail, and online channels. The company operates eight production facilities in the US, Canada and the UK and has a product range of 8,500 items.  Since 1951, teachers, students, parents, and artists have relied on Pacon products to help them teach, learn, and create. From children’s art and craft materials to fine art papers, Pacon is committed to offering innovative products to enable and inspire teachers, students, and artists to be their best.

 

About Mason Wells

Mason Wells is a leading Midwest-based private equity firm with approximately $1.0 billion in assets under management across its current private equity funds. Since Mason Wells was formed in 1998, its buyout funds have invested in four specific industry sectors: Consumer Packaged Goods, Outsourced Business Services, Engineered Products & Services, and Packaging Materials & Converting. Mason Wells is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Appleton, Wis., (Jan. 17, 2018)—Pacon Corporation, the parent company of Strathmore Artist Papers™, announces today the acquisition of Princeton Artist Brush Co.™ The New Jersey-based company manufactures and distributes worldwide and is the number-one supplier of fine art brushes in North America.

Princeton Artist Brush Co.™ will remain in New Jersey under the oversight of its founder, Howard Kaufman. The company representatives, marketing and technical experts, and warehouse will also remain with Princeton Artist Bruch Co.

“This is about bringing two respected brands together with Strathmore Artist Papers and Princeton Artist Brush. Howard has done an amazing job of building a premier company known throughout the artist community for its iconic fine art brushes. We look forward to working with Howard as he continues to deliver exceptional artist brushes with a focus on outstanding customer service and innovation,” said Jim Schmitz, president and CEO of Pacon Corporation. “The mission and vision of our two brands align perfectly,” continued Schmitz.

Princeton Artist Brush began as a small brush business in the basement of Kaufman’s home in Princeton, New Jersey more than 25 years ago.

According to Kaufman, the timing is right. “This was a good time for me to do what’s best for both my family and the business. And, I get to do what I love by continuing to oversee Princeton Artist Brush and taking care of our customers,” said Kaufman. “Strathmore has an excellent reputation and is highly regarded in the industry. They are a perfect fit for Princeton. We are synergistic when it comes to principles and values such as innovation, listening to and inspiring the artist community.”

About Pacon Corporation

Pacon provides a wide range of educational aids, paper products, and art and craft materials. Since 1951, teachers, students, parents, and artists have relied on Pacon products to help them teach, learn, and create. From children’s art and craft materials to fine art papers, Pacon is committed to offering innovative products to enable and inspire teachers, students, and artists to be their best.

Strathmore Artist Papers™, one of the businesses of Pacon Corporation headquartered in Appleton, Wis., has been a supplier of fine art papers for more than 125 years. Strathmore provides artists of all levels with the ideal surface for producing beautiful works of art.

About Princeton Artist Brush Co.™

More than 25 years ago, Howard Kaufman began a small brush business in the basement of his home in Princeton, New Jersey. Previously the president of one of the world’s largest art supply manufacturers, Howard gained a vast knowledge of brush-making and an understanding of the needs and desires of artists. He believed that by focusing on innovation, value, and the best service, he would always have an appreciative audience for his products. 

Princeton Artist Brush Co.™ exists within the walls of a warehouse situated near its roots in Princeton, New Jersey. Howard and his family along with a team of dedicated representatives and experts continue to invent tools that move paint and deliver them to the arts community with a passion for both the tools themselves and the artists who use them.

APPLETON, WI (Oct. 26, 2017) – Pacon Corporation, a leading global supplier of education, art, and craft products, announced today that it acquired certain assets of CPP International, LLC’s Arts and Crafts Division. Under the terms of the agreement, Pacon acquired CPP’s Ghostline® and UCreate™ branded product lines.

CPP (Carolina Pad and Paper) serves the retail market with a variety of art and craft products under the popular Ghostline® and UCreate™ brands, including construction paper, art pads, and poster board. In addition, CPP is well known for its Studio C® brand, a line of fashion-forward notebooks, binders, planners, backpacks, and accessories. CPP will continue to manufacture and market the Studio C® line of products.

With this acquisition, Pacon now offers customers an even more extensive line of art and craft products, strengthening its ability to be a single-source supplier for educational aids, paper products, and art and craft materials.

“We are excited to expand our art and craft category through this acquisition,” said Jim Schmitz, President & CEO of Pacon Corporation. “The addition of Ghostline® and UCreate™ products supports our mission to engage, inspire, and empower teachers, students, and artists to be their best by providing them superior educational and art products. CPP has many loyal customers. The entire Pacon team is determined to deliver excellent customer service and exceptional product quality to ensure we earn and sustain their trust.”

CPP’s arts and crafts business will be moved to Pacon’s facilities in Appleton, Wisconsin. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Pacon Corporation
Pacon provides a wide range of educational aids, paper products, and art and craft materials. Since 1951, teachers, students, parents, and artists have relied on Pacon products to help them teach, learn, and create. From children’s art and craft materials to fine art papers, Pacon is committed to offering innovative products to enable and inspire teachers, students, and artists to be their best.

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