Epson Acquires Fiery

Fiery LLC, a provider of digital front ends (DFEs) and workflow software for the printing industry, announced that Fiery’s ownership has entered into an agreement with Seiko Epson Corporation (Epson) whereby Epson will acquire Fiery from Siris Capital Group  — Siris, together with its affiliates, including Electronics for Imaging, Inc. (EFI) — in a transaction valued at approximately $591 million.

According to the companies, Fiery’s software, server, and workflow solutions will complement Epson’s strategic vision and hardware leadership to drive growth across a broad range of print devices and applications.

By joining Epson, Fiery is said to be in a better position to scale, drive innovation, and continue delivering solutions to its customers while maintaining its independence in areas where the company excels.

Following the consummation of the transaction, Fiery will continue to operate as an independent provider of DFEs and workflow solutions.

“Epson’s acquisition of Fiery showcases the uniquely important role we play in enabling success across the entire print industry,” said Toby Weiss, CEO of Fiery. “Fiery has a demonstrated track record of empowering OEM partners to deliver the best possible results for its customers, and we look forward to building upon this legacy with Epson and our valued partners. I’d also like to thank Frank and the entire Siris team for their invaluable guidance and expertise.”

“We are delighted to welcome Fiery into the Epson Group. We are confident that this agreement will not only drive further growth in our commercial and industrial printing businesses but also accelerate the digital transformation of the analog printing market in an innovative way,” stated Yasunori Ogawa, president and representative director of Epson. “Together with Fiery, we remain committed to contributing to our customers’ success and enhancing corporate value as we pursue new opportunities in the evolving printing landscape.”

Siris acquired Fiery as part of Siris’s take-private acquisition of EFI in 2019. Under Siris’ ownership, Fiery separated from EFI in 2021 to become an independent company.

“Under our ownership, Toby and the Fiery team accelerated investments in innovative technologies and expanded the product portfolio for the benefit of their OEM partners,” said Frank Baker, a co-founder and managing partner at Siris. “Epson is the ideal partner for Fiery’s next chapter, and we look forward to seeing how Fiery builds upon its leading position within the print industry moving forward.”

DC Advisory and UBS Investment Bank acted as exclusive financial advisors to EFI in connection with the sale of its interests in Fiery to Epson. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals and is expected to close within 2024.

Fiery Acquisition FAQ

All answers were provided by Fiery in a press release.

Q: Will this include any layoffs or restructuring of Fiery?

A: We are not planning any layoffs or restructuring as part of this acquisition. Fiery
CEO Toby Weiss will continue to lead Fiery under Epson’s larger corporate
management structure, alongside the rest of Fiery’s management team.

Q: What will Fiery’s role be within Epson’s larger strategy?

A: Fiery’s software, server, and workflow solutions will complement Epson’s strategic
vision and hardware leadership to drive growth across a broad range of print
devices and applications.

Q: How will this impact Fiery’s existing partnerships?

A: Fiery’s partnerships with OEM and dealer partners are a key part of our business
model and success. This acquisition will not interfere with our existing
partnerships, which remain a core focus of our strategy. Importantly, Fiery will
maintain strict confidentiality regarding partner data, roadmaps, and product
information, ensuring that our partners can feel secure in our ongoing
commitment to mutual success.

Q: How will this affect Fiery’s strategy and product roadmap?

A: We will continue with our existing partner-focused strategy and product roadmap
focused on innovative, customer-valued DFE and workflow solutions across
virtually all segments of the print industry.