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Advent Nears Sale of Business Services Firm Williams Lea to RRD

(Bloomberg) -- Buyout firm Advent is nearing a deal to sell business services firm Williams Lea to RRD, people with knowledge of the matter. 

An agreement could be announced as soon as this week, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. The transaction may value Williams Lea at several hundred million dollars, according to the people. 

Williams Lea’s research teams and creative talent help banks and law firms design pitchbooks and gather information for presentations. It also provides legal document reviews, mailroom services, marketing support and other administrative functions. The company, which started as a London print house about 200 years ago, serves clients in 20 countries and has 7,000 employees worldwide, according to its website. 

RRD, formerly known as R. R. Donnelley & Sons Co., was taken private by Chatham Asset Management in a deal completed in 2022. The company provides business communication and marketing services to more than 90% of the Fortune 100. 

Representatives for Advent and RRD didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. 

Advent acquired Williams Lea Tag from Deutsche Post AG in 2017. It split the business two years later, with Williams Lea focusing on providing business support to professional services firms and Tag acting as a marketing production partner to brands and advertising agencies. Advent sold Tag last year to Dentsu Group Inc.

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