Global consolidation Scan to see the Phone 800.728.0154 or visit www.mcspro.com today! Eagle in action. raising stakes for Eagle UV Inkjet System converters

BLAIGE & COMPANY shares findings from its 12-year study of consolidation among the top 50 US label converters Finally, an inkjet system designed for Since the turn of the century, the global if consolidation has such a dramatic deals in the segment. expansion of the converting supply effect on the largest and strongest Four of the largest label deals in flexographic and printers. chain, the rapid growth of equity capital players (‘leaders’), its impact on the history have occurred in the last two availability, the increased scarcity of midsize and small-cap players is more years, which is the indication of how FOR NUMBERING, BARCODING, GRAPHICS & SERIALIZATION credit and the increased activity in extreme (‘followers’ and ‘others’). If consolidation M&A is transforming mergers, acquisitions, divestitures these niche players want to survive the competitive landscape of the label SOLID 4.25" OR 8.5" PRINT HEADS and recapitalizations have materially and thrive, they will need to develop a industry: transformed the competitive landscape mergers and acquisitions strategy and • Suitable for multiple lanes of small or large barcodes, numbering or graphics - for label converters. The need to start developing the ability to operate in • 2011: Multi-Color (USA) acquired York without “stitching”. accommodate the increased scope a more institutional environment like their Label Group for a price of $356 million • Large print area – Print heads can be combined for a total width up to 25" and scale required by customers has larger counterparts. in assumed debt, stock and cash for a generated a need for converters to fund The label segment continues to be turnover of $240 million, 12 plants and • Supports Data Matrix and HarvestMark capability. investments in technology and capacity, one of the most active components of 1,200 employees. in many cases requiring owners to packaging M&A. Blaige & Company • 2012: Fuji Seal (Japan) acquired HIGH QUALITY ‘double down’ or ‘bet the farm’ just to proprietary research indicates the Pago Holding AG for $124.3 million in • True Native 600 DPI quality. keep up, while larger, well-capitalized number of and specialty / 2012 to increase its global presence competitors have access to record levels converting M&A transactions in 2013 to as a supplier of sleeves, labels and HIGH SPEED of institutional capital only available to be consistent with its 10 year average flexible packaging, as well as sleeve • 600X400 DPI at 250 feet per min. their select group. (41 transactions per year). Although the application and labelling technology. • 600X300 DPI at 333 feet per min. Blaige & Company recently completed forecast activity for label M&A is slightly • 2013: Constantia Flexibles Group a 12-year study of the consolidation below last year’s pace, there were (Austria), a leading flexible packaging SMALLER DOTS among the top 50 label converters. several noteworthy acquisitions in the group, announced the acquisition of The study shows that approximately year of 2013 that highlighted growing Spear Group, a leading manufacturer • Higher resolution – 2550 nozzels per print head! 52 percent of the top 50 US label trends in the segment. of labels globally. Spear has sales of • Adjustable drop sizes: 6, 7, 11 and 14 pl as well as oversized drop capability. converters have either been eliminated Global consolidators accounted for approximately $195 million with 650 or changed ownership (merged or sold) 44 percent of all labels deals in the first employees located at four facilities in SIMPLICITY since 2000. Among the top 50 label half of 2013. However, since half the North America, and plants in the UK • The MCS Eagle UV is designed to be easy to use, highly reliable, and very flexible. converters that have not yet merged or financial buyers completed add-on deals, and South Africa. Purchase price was sold (survivors/consolidators), those almost 67 percent of all label deals were not disclosed. With 23 transactions • Takes less than 5 minutes to set up. with access to private equity, public strategically driven. Of the total deal completed since 2003, Constantia is • Choice of UV-Curable or Water-based inks; including spot color. markets or corporate capital are an volume projected for 2013, 55 percent of expected to undertake an IPO in the average of 3.4 times larger than their the deals include a non-US participant. near term. MCS EAGLE AMS OPTION counterparts. The Darwinian forces of Cross border activity remained strong • 2013: CCL Industries (Canada) the market have segmented businesses accounting for 45 percent of the total acquired Avery Dennison Corp’s office • Automated maintenance system. into three categories: leaders, followers deal volume and in the first half of 2013 and consumer products and designed • Automatically wipes, purges and caps with commands from the MCS Raptor Software. and others. The key take-away is that represented some of the most prominent and engineered solutions business Over 50 percent of top 50 label converters have sold/merged in last 12 years for $500 million at 4.5 times EBITDA. This acquisition is the largest in CCL's Sector Eliminated Sold Total history and takes the company's pro-forma annual revenue above $2 3644 YM0 3614 1897 1 OF 2 48% 22% 70% billion for the first time. 1 LBS Hang Tag

John Doe 5432 Any Street West Injection Molding 56% 12% 68% Townsville, ST 54321-1234 John Sample 12345 Main St Send Considering the impact of consolidation To: Gaithersburg, MD 20879 Pipe, Profile & Tubing 36% 26% 62% UT 841 1-43 on these industry leaders, Blaige & 009 1

Name Company believes the impact will Space Film & Sheet 44% 18% 62%

Make Express1Z 123 456 78 9123 4567 009 Claim Check Tracking# be even more significant for smaller, 009 Thermoforming 44% 10% 54% privately held label converters. Labels 40% 12% 52% This recent activity accentuates the Adhesives & Sealants 18% 18% 36% importance of establishing a detailed, 12345678912 strategic plan for the future. Average 41% 17% 58% STRATEGIES FOR LABEL competitors is considered a value- to consistently probe and verify that CONVERTERS OF ALL SIZES TO enhancing activity. Showing evidence you are the top deal in the ‘system’ is CONSIDER INCLUDE: of a successful acquisition program will invaluable, and will result in a higher • ‘Institutionalization’, ‘professionalizing impress. transaction value. the organization,’ and the picking of • On the M&A side, securing • Businesses ‘For Sale by Owner’ ‘low-hanging fruit’ have been strategies professional representation and are perceived as less sophisticated historically reserved to professional preparing a credible business plan, a and less competitive, signaling financial and corporate buyers. polished management presentation ‘discount pricing’ to the most capable Understanding and adopting these and a virtual (online) data room are institutional market buyers. If a processes will give owners of small to expected. Despite having firsthand confidential memorandum and data midsized businesses an advantage, experience in selling businesses, room are not prepared in advance, not only when dealing with these private equity investors bring in many investors will jump to the next buyers, but also as they become specialists to handle the sale process deal in which the investment has been sophisticated buyers themselves. as it has been proven to be a key made to provide a methodical process • Meaningful, robust budgeting element to maximizing results in a with organized data. Sellers are in processes, management succession transaction, the absence of which can competition with many other potential in place, detailed competitive analysis, result in a 10-30 percent reduction of deals, so creating a quality work and profitability management to the sale price. product describing the uniqueness • While private equity investors, as of your business is imperative. Many Converters with access to private equity, a rule, avoid selling on a one-off private equity firms receive multiple public markets or corporate capital are basis, they go to great lengths to find deal books weekly. Those that are 3.4 times larger than counterparts one-on-one deals to purchase directly well prepared and tell a great story are 600 from an owner as600 they represent one perceived as attractive businesses and of the most, if not the most, profitable are put on the top of the pile. Others acquisition strategies. Fundraising never get reviewed at all. You may be 500 500 $505 pitch books prepared for potential fund told that the lack of a ‘book’ and data investors identify the ‘proprietary deal room are actually preferred, however $432 billion flow’ pipeline as a core value-creation this is very unlikely to be the 400 400 strategy. Further, both private equity where a premium price will be offered. and strategic buyers keep multiple • Finally, it is important to involve a ‘irons in the fire’. They look at and professional adviser early as someone 300 300 266 visit dozens of companies yearly, and to share the ups and downs252 of the while they make offers on several, the business with.204 Together the business 200 average middle-market200 equity fund owners and the advisor can formulate 147 completes only one to three deals per an M&A142 strategy that will have very 113 year. Thus, a deal, its price, terms and valuable long-term benefits even if they 100 $147 90 100 other characteristics100 are compared79 to decide not to pursue a transaction in 56 51 the universe of opportunities available44 the end. The decisions will have been at a given moment and decisions made strategically for the business 0 are made to proceed0 as planned, and not as a reaction to short-term Limited access Greater access 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012F to Capital to Capital abort, or to proceed at a different influences. (typically discounted) price. Since the incorporate product-line pricing and landscape of opportunities is dynamic, These are just a few examples of how costing models are important. the position of a company on the to secure and maximize the value of a • Identifying complementary acquisition buyer’s priority scale also changes. label converting business. Owners spend targets and keeping in touch with Having professional representation a tremendous amount of time and energy on procuring raw materials, attending 12-year study of the consolidation among the top 50 label converters global trade shows to procure capital equipment, and cultivating customer 600 600 relationships. It is likely that most owners will need to re-evaluate their priorities 500 500 if they desire to make it all worth it at $505 the end of the day. This applies to the $432 billion vast majority of label converters as they 400 400 fall into one of the three categories the market dictates. While leaders and followers whose destiny is largely 300 300 266 fixed, make up only 20-40 percent 252 of the universe, the ‘others’ have the 204 opportunity to learn and incorporate 200 200 the strategies being used by large 142 147 113 consolidators, allowing them, too, to 100 $147 90 100 100 79 become ‘leaders’. They have a choice to 56 44 51 seize the opportunity.

0 0 Limited access Greater access 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012F to Capital to Capital