DLA Piper represented Cimpress N.V. (Nasdaq:CMPR), the world leader in mass customization, in its agreement to acquire National Pen Co. LLC, a leading manufacturer and marketer of custom writing instruments for small and medium businesses, for US$218 million in cash. The acquisition was finalized today.

The deal allows Netherlands-based Cimpress to enhance its technology and supply chain capabilities for promotional products, apparel and gifts, including customized pens. Cimpress has made customized products, including business cards and stationery, for more than 20 years. This acquisition supports Cimpress' strategy to build competitively differentiated supply chain capabilities that the company makes available via its mass customization platform and brings to market with a portfolio of brands including Vistaprint and many others.

National Pen, based in San Diego, will continue to go to market through its primary sales channel, a combination of direct mail and telesales. Cimpress expects to further National Pen’s emerging e-commerce presence and introduce National Pen products into its Vistaprint and Upload and Print e-commerce brands.

The DLA Piper team representing Cimpress was led by partner Jeremiah J. Sullivan (Boston) and included partners William L. Bartow (Philadelphia), Bryan C. Connolly (Boston), Michael W. Hardgrove (Boston), Julia T. Kovacs (Washington, DC), Ute Krudewagen and Nate McKitterick (both of Silicon Valley), Paolo Morante and Bruce J. Wein (both of New York) and Gina Zawitoski (Baltimore); of counsel Cathryn Le Regulski (Northern Virginia), associates Tyler E. Barnett, Tim Fuhriman, Alexandra Klingenstein and George Lilov (all of Boston), Priya Narahari (Philadelphia), Witold Jurewicz (New York) and Lily Zheng (Silicon Valley); and attorney Noah Oberlander (Northern Virginia). The team was also assisted by DLA Piper colleagues in Mexico, Canada and France.