Mergers and Acquisitions
To expand their line of business, on October 31, 1996 the company acquired Lagasse Bros., Inc., a wholesaler of janitorial and sanitation supplies.
As competition in the late 1980s intensified within the office products industry, consolidation at all levels of the industry became commonplace. In June 1992, United Stationers acquired Stationers Distributing Company, a $425 million office products wholesaler in Fort Worth, Texas. This transaction made the Company a $1.5 billion wholesale distributor.
In March 1995, the Company merged with Associated Stationers, a $475 million general line wholesaler.
On April 3, 1998, United Stationers acquired Azerty, a $350 million wholesaler of computer consumables. Azerty was founded in April 1983 by Marvin Frackt as the US subsidiary of Inter City Papers Limited of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Bill Dueger was the first manager of Azerty, reporting to Marvin Frackt. Subsequently, the company's MicroUnited division was merged into Azerty. In July 2000, United Stationers increased its geographic penetration in Canada by purchasing Azerty Canada, a $115 million computer consumables business. The company was renamed Azerty/United Canada after merging the Azerty and United operations.
To broaden the Lagasse division's reach, the company completed the acquisition of Peerless Paper, a $75 million wholesaler in the janitorial/sanitation industry, in January 2001.
In May 2005, Lagasse completed the purchase of Sweet Paper, a $250 million distributor of janitorial/sanitation, paper and food service products. This acquisition expanded Lagasse's product line and enhanced its scale and infrastructure in key markets.
On March 31, 2006, United Stationers decided to sell its Canadian division. In June 2006, the company completed the sale of certain assets associated with its Canadian division.
To diversify and expand its product and customer base, United Stationers acquired ORS Nasco, a $285 million wholesale distributor of industrial supplies, on December 21, 2007.
On March 1, 2010 United Stationers successfully acquired their first technology company, privately owned MBS Dev, a Colorado-based software provider. A Microsoft Certified Partner, MBS Dev will retain its name and operate as a separate unit within the larger company. MBS Dev specializes in implementing Microsoft Dynamics AX software for wholesale distribution companies in vertical markets and was named one of Inc. Magazine's 500 Fastest Growing Companies in 2009.
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