Label, Packaging Industry Prepares For Inaugural LOUPE BY GREG KISHBAUGH When the label and package printing industry descends upon Rose- mont, Illinois, from September 15-17, 2026, the destination will feature a new name: LOUPE Americas. Formerly known as Labelexpo, the global event series has rebranded to LOUPE to encompass all the markets impacting label and package printers.
MCC Announces Major Recapitalization
Multi-Color Corporation (MCC) has an- nounced a major financial restructuring de- signed to strengthen its balance sheet and position the company for long-term growth and investment. The global label producer has reached an agreement with lenders holding approximate- ly 70 percent of its secured first-lien debt, along with its equity sponsor Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), to implement a comprehen- sive restructuring plan. Once completed, the transaction is expected to reduce MCC’s net debt from approximately $5.9 billion to about $2.0 billion, significantly lowering the compa- ny’s leverage. As part of the restructuring, MCC’s annu- al cash interest expense is projected to drop from roughly $475 million to about $140 mil- lion in 2026, creating more than $330 million in annual savings. The company will also ex- tend its long-term debt maturities to 2033 and receive an $889 million investment in new common and preferred equity to support fu- ture growth initiatives. Following completion of the transaction, MCC expects to maintain more than $500 million in available liquidity.
LOUPE will continue to focus on its core brand of labels, but it will do so with a widened lens that includes the flexible packaging and folding carton sectors. LOUPE stands for Labels & OUter Packaging Embellishment “There won’t be a huge difference walking into LOUPE Americas,” said Tasha Ventimiglia, Group Director, Americas, Informa Markets. “La- bels are still the fundamental core. We’re targeting disruption in the carton and flexible packaging market that has been taking place over the last 10 years. There has been a flexible packaging ecosystem with wider presses that we’ve seen built up inside Labelexpo. And we antic- ipate that with folding carton.” A Global Event Those familiar with the Labelexpo Global Brand Series will still enjoy eight global events branded under LOUPE. LOUPE does not intend to become a general print show, according to Andy Thomas-Emans, Strategic Director, Informa Markets. In fact, it seeks to meet demand that has been burgeoning throughout the label and packaging industry for years. “We’re not aiming to compete with drupa and be a general pack- aging show,” says Thomas-Emans. “We’re taking the agility from the
To carry out the restructuring, MCC has launched a prepackaged Chapter 11 process that already has the backing of key lenders and CD&R. The company emphasized that the filing is a financial reorganization and not an operational restructuring. MCC said business operations will con-
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