News Release

DALLAS, TX – The M&A Advisors has honored Safeguard Business Systems, Inc., an affiliate of the Deluxe Corporation and the provider of products, services and expertise designed to help businesses run and grow, as the winner of the 16th annual M&A Advisor Awards Professional Services Deal of the Year for its 2017 divestiture of Brand Advantage Group by Safeguard. Safeguard faced stiff competition among other nominees for the award, including industry giants like Cahill Gordon & Reindel, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Ernst & Young LLP, Generational Equity, Golub Capital, L Catterton, Raymond James, S&P Global Market Intelligence and others who completed landmark M&A transactions between August 1, 2016 to July 31, 2017. The divestiture strategy was developed and led by Safeguard’s Business Acquisitions and Mergers (BAM) team.

Brand Advantage Group, based in Minneapolis, MN, was created by Safeguard following its 2014 acquisitions of independent businesses Team MHC and QBF. Both companies were recognized leaders in integrated marketing, supply chain management and brand execution across the United States. Since the creation of the Brand Advantage Group, Safeguard had operated the business through its company-operated division, under the guidance and management of former QBF executives David Daoust and Tom Lyngdal. Safeguard sold the business to a new company entity created by Daoust and Lyngdal, who now lead the Brand Advantage Group by Safeguard enterprise as an independently-operated franchised distributorship within the Safeguard network. The complexity behind the deal helped to earn Safeguard the prestigious honor from the M&A Advisor.

“This recognition as M&A Advisor’s Deal of the Year is a major milestone for Safeguard, particularly when you examine the other transactions nominated along with us,” said R. Scott Sutton, Safeguard Vice President and leader of the BAM team. “We’re honored that the hard work and dedication of so many has been recognized by a leading organization in the M&A space.”

“The completion of the sale of Brand Advantage Group allowed for (Daoust and Lyngdal) to achieve their dream of business ownership while also providing the continuity needed by the business to achieve even greater success,” Sutton continued. “If you look across the universe of companies like ours – both inside and outside our industry – you’ll be hard-pressed to find another organization more focused on making smart investments that support franchise growth and America’s entrepreneurial spirit.”

Safeguard’s BAM team has quickly become the most decorated strategic growth team in the printing, promotional products, apparel and business services industries. The team has completed more than 150 strategic transactions since 2008 and was also honored in 2017 with a bronze Stevie® American Business Award as the “Best Support Team.” In addition, the Safeguard BAM team was recognized as a “Dealmaker of the Year” award winner in 2014 by Franchise Times® magazine.

“Safeguard has taken an aggressive but supportive approach to new growth and those efforts are resulting in landmark transactions like the divestiture of Brand Advantage Group,” said Safeguard President J.J. Sorrenti. “The BAM team’s unique approach provides end-to-end solutions for distributors and continues to set Safeguard apart.”

More than 280 nominees representing more than 650 companies were named as finalists for this year’s M&A Advisors awards. An independent judging committee of 29 top M&A industry experts determined the winners, who were revealed at the 16th Annual M&A Advisor Awards Gala, held on November 13th at the Metropolitan Club in New York City.

“These award recipients represent the finest in the M&A industry in 2017 and earned these honors by standing out in a group of extremely impressive finalists,” said David Fergusson, Co-CEO and President of The M&A Advisor. “From lower middle market to multi-billion dollar deals, we are recognizing the leading transactions, firms and individuals that represent the highest levels of achievement.”

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 emerged as the most decorated strategic growth team in the industry. 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 by Safeguard, its affiliates, distributors and franchisees to complete complex transactions across multiple business channels. The BAM team has completed more than 150 total transactions since its inception, earning accolades at the highest levels. In 2017, the BAM team won an M&A Advisors Deal of the Year award in the Professional Services (B-to-B) category as well as a bronze Stevie® American Business Award as Support Team of the Year. In 2014, the BAM team won 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.

ABOUT THE M&A ADVISOR
The M&A Advisor was founded in 1998 to offer insights and intelligence on mergers and acquisitions through the industry’s leading publication. Today, the firm is recognized as the world’s premier “think tank” and leadership organization for m&a, restructuring and financing professionals, providing a range of integrated services including: M&A Advisor Forums and Summits; M&A Advisor Market Intelligence; M&A.TV.; M&A Advisor Live; M&A Advisor Awards; and M&A Advisor Connects. For additional information about The M&A Advisor’s leadership services visit www.maadvisor.com