Potential acquisition of the business of Pelikan Hardcopy
Potential acquisition of the business of Pelikan Hardcopy
The Board of Directors of Pelikan International Corporation Berhad (formerly known
as Diperdana Holdings Berhad) ("Pelikan International" or "the Company") wishes to
announce the Company's potential acquisition of the business of Pelikan Hardcopy.
Pelikan Hardcopy Holding AG, incorporated in Switzerland, the holding company of Pelikan
Hardcopy group is the largest independent non OEM ("Original Equipment Manufacturer")
manufacturer and distributor of imaging supplies and printer accessories in Europe
with a recognized brand name. These products include inkjet, toner, thermal transfer,
office media and impact cartridges etc. Pelikan Hardcopy operates primarily in Europe
and partly in Asia. The operational headquarter of Pelikan Hardcopy is in Switzerland
and the main subsidiaries and branches are located in Switzerland, Germany, Scotland,
Czech Republic and China.
The hardcopy business was split from Pelikan Holding AG (a subsidiary of Pelikan International)
through a restructuring exercise more than 10 years ago. Since then, Pelikan Hardcopy
has been holding a license for the use PELIKAN brand name from Pelikan Holding AG
Group. This license has been given for a period of 50 years allowing Pelikan Hardcopy
to distribute and/or sell hardcopy and print media products exclusively under the
PELIKAN brand name in all territories except in the United States of America, Canada
and Mexico.
Pelikan Hardcopy's core competence is the development of ink, toner power, impact
ribbons, thermal transfer ribbon products and the corresponding cartridges as replenishment
kits for the different printer types. These products are currently manufactured in
4 different facilities located in Switzerland, Czech Republic, Scotland and China.
Net revenue of the group for the financial year ended 30 September 2005 was approximately
EUR116million (approximately RM522million). The combined revenue with Pelikan International
Group will therefore be more than RM1billion per annum.
Pelikan International wishes to commence negotiating a written agreement with the
relevant parties providing for the potential acquisition. The Company will make further
announcement to Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad ("Bursa Securities") pursuant to
Bursa Securities' Corporate Disclosure Policy in respect of any new developments relating
hereto.
The potential acquisition of Pelikan Hardcopy will result in the re-consolidation
of the PELIKAN brand name more than 10 years after the disposal of hardcopy division
by Pelikan Holding AG. Following the potential acquisition, the enlarge group will
have sturdy footing as both businesses are international businesses that can be further
built up with stronger financial backing based on the established PELIKAN brand name.
The re-consolidation will create new development opportunities for mutual development.
Besides market expansion through sharing of resources and mutual tapping of sales
and distribution networks, the potential acquisition will also result in increased
product ranges which are complimentary of each others. The potential acquisition of
Pelikan Hardcopy by Pelikan International is expected to yield synergies and common
costs savings that will increase efficiency and overall competitiveness in the long
term. These factors are likely to enhance the enlarged group's overall profitability
in the future.
Announcement Bursa Malaysia
03/02/2006
