Cincinnati-based Multi-Color has paid $27 million cash to acquire labelmaker NorthStar Print Group, Milwaukee. With annual sales of $60 million and 275 employees, NorthStar operates three manufacturing locations: Watertown, WI, Green Bay, WI and Norway, MI. The purchase is Multi-Color's seventh in six years.

NorthStar provides label and decorating solutions to major beverage and consumer-products companies worldwide. It specializes in gravure labels and flexo pressure-sensitive labels. The company offers electronic prepress, cylinder engraving, printing in up to 10 colors, finishing, inventory management and fulfillment. Among its customers: Miller Brewing, Prestone, Exxon/Mobil, Arizona Beverages, Kraft, Hershey Foods, Clorox, Reckitt Benkiser and Procter & Gamble. NorthStar is the principal producer of labels for Miller Brewing.

Multi-Color CEO Frank Gerace does not anticipate significant changes in NorthStar's operations.

"Adding NorthStar's capabilities to Multi-Color brings important new dimensions to our product and market mix and further increases our leadership position as a full-service decorating solutions business," Gerace says. "We expect NorthStar will become a very important contributor to the success of Multi-Color going forward."