Checkpoint Systems, Inc. ha anunciado que ha alcanzado un acuerdo definitivo por el cual la empresa es adquirida por una filial de CCL Industries, Inc, líder mundial en etiquetaje especializado y soluciones de packaging para corporaciones globales, pequeña industria y consumidores, por 10.15 $ por acción en metálico en una transacción valorada aproximadamente en 443 M$.

El precio de la adquisición representa una prima del 29% sobre el precio de la acción a 1 de marzo de 2016 y de un 50% sobre su cotización bursátil en los últimos treinta días. La transacción está sujeta a las condiciones propias de la oferta, incluyendo su aprobación por la mayoría de accionistas de Checkpoint.

El comité de dirección de Checkpoint ha aprobado por unanimidad este acuerdo y recomienda a sus accionistas que aprueben la operación. Checkpoint espera que en la junta extraordinaria los accionistas respalden dicho acuerdo. Detalles sobre la fecha, hora y lugar serán anunciados oportunamente.

“Esta transacción representa un gran atractivo para los accionistas de Checkpoint”, afirma el Presidente y CEO de Checkpoint Systems George Babich. “CCL es un líder global reconocido en etiquetado y packaging. Checkpoint, como nueva división de CCL, tendrá más capacidad de inversión y podrá potenciar sus soluciones de hardware, software y consumibles para crear una única oferta de gestión global del inventario destinada a grandes retailers y minoristas”.

Han ejercido para Checkpoint como asesores financieros en esta transacción Morgan Stanley & Co LLC y como consultores legales Latham & Watkins LLp y Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young.

Toda la documentación relativa a la operación ha sido comunicada al organismo regulador Securities and Exchange Commision.

• Highly strategic opportunity leveraging CCL’s deep capabilities in labels
• Checkpoint shareholders to receive US$10.15 per share in cash
• Transaction value of $556 million1 including the assumption of $44 million of net cash
• Up to $40 million in highly realizable synergies
• Meaningful earnings accretion

CCL Industries Inc. (“CCL”), a world leader in specialty label and packaging solutions for global corporations, small businesses and consumers, announced today that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement whereby CCL will acquire Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (NYSE:CKP) (“Checkpoint”) for US$10.15 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $556 (us$411,8) million, including net cash. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close in mid-2016.

The US$10.15 per share in cash represents a premium of approximately 29% to the closing price on March 1, 2016, the last trading day prior to the signing of the definitive merger agreement.

Geoffrey T. Martin, President and Chief Executive Officer of CCL, said, “We have admired Checkpoint for many years as they built a unique, leading global position providing technology-driven label solutions to the retail & apparel industry. We are very pleased to welcome their deeply experienced people to CCL where they will continue to focus on this important industry for emerging ‘smart label’ technologies.”

Checkpoint is a leading manufacturer of technology-driven, loss prevention, inventory management and labeling solutions, including RF and RFID-based, to the retail & apparel industry. The business has operations in 29 countries including 46 go-to-market units and 21 manufacturing facilities. For the last twelve months ended September 27, 2015, Checkpoint generated net revenue of approximately $820 million and Adjusted EBITDA (before synergies) of $83 million, resulting in an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 10.2%.

Transaction Rationale
The transaction represents a compelling and unique opportunity for CCL to enhance breadth and scale, while creating an opportunity to realize meaningful synergies, and earnings accretion as follows:

• Leading technology-driven label solutions provider to the retail and apparel sector
• Long-standing, blue-chip customer base of top global retailers and apparel brands
• Attractive ‘smart label’ product portfolio including radio-frequency identification (“RFID”) solutions
• Global sales footprint spanning 29 countries serving all major retail markets
• Expands CCL’s international operating platform, especially in Asia
• Identified annual synergies of up to $40 million
• Asset-light business model and improved working capital efficiency could accumulate significant free cash flow to drive rapid de-leveraging
• Meaningful and immediate earnings accretion

CCL intends to finance the transaction entirely with its existing US$1.2 billion revolving syndicated credit facility.

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[¹] All figures in the press release are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted. The exchange rate used was 1.35 C$ / US$.