EFI to focus on Fiery and inkjet; sells MIS
EFI has completed sale of its eProductivity Software (EPS) packaging and print productivity software business into a standalone venture, with the division acquired by private equity house Symphony Technology Group and renamed eProductivity Software.
13 Jan 2022 | By Noel D'Cunha
This realignment allows EFI to accelerate investment into its inkjet and Fiery business units. The main aim is to capitalise on the growth opportunities available in existing segments the company serves, as well as drive expansion into markets that are beginning the transformation toward digital.
An analyst, PrintWeek spoke to said, "In a nutshell there will be more focus on business for each unit, more nimble decision-making and easier to get investments into modernisation and driving next gen tech agenda." For India, it would mean much needed focus into emerging markets for the software business.
EFI has built its MIS and ERP business into a substantial operation over the years and has made a swathe of global acquisitions in the MIS space, including UK developers Technique and Shuttleworth. The unit also includes the MarketDirect StoreFront web-to-print solution.
EPS’ new owner, STG, is a leading private equity firm that focuses on investing in software, data analytics, and software-enabled technology services companies, and will support EPS to deliver enhanced value to its packaging and print customers and accelerate global growth.
STG completed this acquisition on 30 December, 2021. The price and terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Jeff Jacobson, EFI CEO and executive chairman, said the group is excited about the opportunity in the industrial inkjet markets and its ability to capitalise on Fiery technology.
Jacobson said EFI would "continue to drive the analogue-to-digital transformation in all high-value segments of imaging – while increasingly serving new adjacencies including e-commerce, direct-to-garment, and other rapidly growing segments". He added, "We are making significant investments to continue to be the clear leader in the packaging and corrugated, display graphics, textile, and building materials/decor markets."
EFI's Fiery business unit is the world’s premier DFE provider, across many vertical markets including packaging, signage and commercial print. The Fiery DFEs are bundled on most cut-sheet and wide- to superwide-format presses across the world, and allows users to control all Fiery servers, either local or remote, to gain operational efficiencies and increase productivity.
EFI, which is based in Silicon Valley, specialises in digital printing technology. Formerly located in Foster City, California, the company is now based in Fremont. On 15 July, 2019. Siris acquired EFI for approximately USD1.7 billion.