Multi-Color Acquisition, Valuation, Funding & Investors

Multi-Color was acquired by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in July 2021.

Multi-Color acquisition price

Undisclosed

Acquired by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice · Jul 2021

Cumulative funding Multi-Color raised

$889M

across 1 funding round

Key investors in Multi-Color

  • Clayton, Dubilier & Rice

Multi-Color Overview

About Multi-Color

Multi-Color Corporation is a global manufacturer of label solutions including pressure-sensitive, in-mold, heat transfer, shrink sleeve, and cut-and-stack labels, along with promotional items like scratch-off coupons and holographic films. It supports producers in home care, beverages, food, healthcare, and consumer products across North and South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and China. Headquartered in Batavia, Ohio, the company was established in 1916 and offers graphic design, pre-press, and printing via flexographic, lithographic, rotogravure, and digital methods. Acquired by Platinum Equity in 2019, it rebranded to MCC in 2023.


Founded

1916

HQ

United StatesChicago, IL

Status

Acquired

Customer focus

B2B

Revenue model

Product sales

Multi-Color Acquisition

Multi-Color was acquired by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice for an undisclosed price on 2 July 2021.

Before the acquisition Multi-Color had raised $889M across 1 funding round.

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) announced a definitive agreement on July 2, 2021, to acquire Multi-Color Corporation (MCC), a global leader in label solutions, from Platinum Equity, and simultaneously acquire Fort Dearborn Company from Advent International. The two companies were combined to create the world's largest label solutions provider serving consumer packaged goods companies worldwide across categories like wine and spirits, food and beverage, beer, and home and personal care. MCC specializes in label manufacturing with a global footprint, while Fort Dearborn provides various label technologies including cut and stack, pressure-sensitive, roll-fed, and shrink-sleeve labels using digital, flexographic, offset lithographic, and rotogravure printing. The transaction closed on November 1, 2021, subject to customary regulatory approvals. At the time of the announcement, MCC had annual revenues of $1.7 billion and EBITDA of $272 million. The combined entity was expected to generate approximately $3 billion in annual revenue, creating a diversified platform across label technologies, end markets, geographies, and customers. CD&R's strategy focused on enhancing operational execution, global scale, and growth, with David Scheible, former CEO of Graphic Packaging, appointed as chairman of the combined company.

Multi-Color acquisition details
AcquirerDateType
  • Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
2 Jul 2021PE buyout

Multi-Color Funding History

Multi-Color has raised a total of $889M across 1 funding round.

Multi-Color funding rounds

Multi-Color funding rounds
DateStageInvestorsRaisedDeal Summary
May 2026Undisclosed stageClayton, Dubilier & Rice (lead)$889MMulti-Color Corporation completed a prepackaged Chapter 11 reorganization on May 11, 2026, emerging with $889 million in new common and preferred equity investment from CD&R and a group of existing secured lenders. CD&R provided $454 million of the new money, including $550 million in liquidity for operations. The restructuring eliminated approximately $3.8 billion in funded net debt and reduced annualized cash interest expense by more than $330 million, extending long-term debt maturities to 2033. More than 99% of voting stakeholders approved the plan, which paid non-funded general unsecured creditors in full. CD&R remains MCC's majority owner post-restructuring, joined by certain existing lenders as minority equity holders. The investment supports MCC's long-term growth and operations following the financial overhaul. The plan resulted from good-faith negotiations among MCC, CD&R, and the Secured Ad Hoc Group. Multi-Color Corporation operates as a label solutions provider. CD&R has been the majority owner prior to and following the restructuring. The company filed prepackaged Chapter 11 cases in the District of New Jersey on January 29, 2026.

Who has invested in Multi-Color?

1 investor has backed Multi-Color across its funding rounds, including Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.

Lead investors include Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.


Multi-Color Investors

Investors in Multi-Color by funding rounds participated
InvestorHQRoundsRoleFirst check

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Benchmark 350K+ Funding Rounds and Disclosed VC Valuation Multiples

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Acquisitions by Multi-Color

Multi-Color has acquired 16 companies to date.

Last acquisition by Multi-Color was on October 4th 2024. Multi-Color acquired Starport Technologies for undisclosed valuation.


Latest Acquisitions by Multi-Color

Starport Technologies
Korsini
Lux Global Label
Hexagon Holdings
Description
Starport Technologies is an RFID solutions provider supplying asset tracking tags, metal-mountable labels, thermal printers, readers, antennas, and encoding services. Located in Lawrenceville, Georgia, the firm serves logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors with custom portals, pallet applicators, and process re-engineering. Starport conducts RFID testing and integration for supply chain visibility.
Korsini is a manufacturer of in-mold labeling solutions for plastic packaging in the consumer goods sector. The company produces IML films, molds, and injection systems for containers used in dairy, food, and personal care products. Based in Italy, Korsini supplies automated production lines to brands across Europe and supplies pre-printed labels compatible with high-speed molding machines.
Lux Global Label is a pressure-sensitive label manufacturer with facilities in the United States and Asia. The company produces shrink sleeves, booklet labels, and tamper-evident solutions for beverage, pharmaceutical, and consumer packaged goods brands. Equipped with digital and flexographic printing, Lux serves clients requiring variable data printing and sustainable substrates.
Hexagon Holdings was an Australasian pressure-sensitive label printing group formed through the combination of Kiwi Labels, Rapid Labels, Hally Labels and Adhesif Labels. At the time of its sale in 2021 it employed approximately 500 to 510 staff across eight manufacturing sites in Auckland, Christchurch, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide. It was the leading independent label printer in Australia and New Zealand.
HQ CountryUnited StatesTurkeyUnited StatesNew Zealand
HQ City
Kansas City, MO
İzmir
Philadelphia, PA
Auckland
Deal Date4 Oct 20246 Apr 202312 Dec 20221 Oct 2021
Valuationundisclosedundisclosedundisclosed$289M
EV/Revenue
EV/EBITDA

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Multi-Color Competitors

Multi-Color competitors include listed companies like Ableprint, Dai Nippon Printing, Matthews International and Avery Dennison, and private ones like Zume and Loscam.

Public and private companies comparable to Multi-Color
CompanyHQStatusRevenueEBITDAValuationRevenue Multiple
AbleprintTaiwanTaiwanPublicly listed$72M$36M$2.2B19.6x
Dai Nippon PrintingJapanJapanPublicly listed$9.7B$1.4B$8.2B0.9x
Matthews InternationalUnited StatesUnited StatesPublicly listed$1.5B$151M$629M1.2x
Avery DennisonUnited StatesUnited StatesPublicly listed$8.9B$1.4B$13B1.8x
ZumeUnited StatesLos Angeles, CAPrivate--$1.9B-
LoscamHong KongHong KongPrivate--$1.7B-

Multi-Color Public Comps

Multi-Color is no longer listed, but its public comps include Daicel, Verallia, Ableprint, Ardagh Metal Packaging, Viscofan, LINTEC, Graphic Packaging, Cimpress, SKC and Winpak.

Last FYEV/RevenueEV/EBITDA
RevenueEBITDALast FYLTM2027ELast FYLTM2027E
Daicel$3.7B$462M1.1x1.0x8.6x7.2x
Verallia$3.8B$721M1.2x1.2x6.6x6.0x
Ableprint$72M$36M28.6x19.6x57.9x35.1x
Ardagh Metal Packaging$5.5B$653M1.3x1.2x10.7x9.0x
Viscofan$1.4B$310M2.2x2.1x10.3x9.3x
LINTEC$2.1B$266M0.9x0.9x6.9x6.3x
Graphic Packaging$8.6B$1.3B1.0x1.0x6.3x7.3x
Cimpress$3.7B$410M1.0x1.0x8.8x7.6x

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Common questions about Multi-Color

When was Multi-Color founded?Multi-Color was founded in 1916.
Where is Multi-Color headquartered?Multi-Color is headquartered in Chicago, IL, United States.
Is Multi-Color publicly listed?No, Multi-Color was acquired by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in July 2021.
Who acquired Multi-Color?Multi-Color was acquired by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in July 2021.
How much funding has Multi-Color raised?Multi-Color has raised $889M across 1 funding round.
What was Multi-Color's last funding round?Multi-Color's last funding round was a $889M undisclosed-stage round in May 2026, led by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.
Who are Multi-Color's investors?Multi-Color's investors include Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.
Which companies are comparable to Multi-Color?Companies comparable to Multi-Color include Ableprint, Dai Nippon Printing, Matthews International, Avery Dennison, Zume and Loscam.
How many companies has Multi-Color acquired?Multi-Color has acquired 16 companies, including Starport Technologies, Korsini, Lux Global Label, Hexagon Holdings and Constantia Flexibles (labels unit).
What was the largest acquisition by Multi-Color?The $1.3B acquisition of Constantia Flexibles (labels unit) in July 2017 is the largest acquisition Multi-Color has made to date.

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