Kardex AG: Kardex sells Stow division to Averys
8 May 2013, Company News
Kardex AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous 08.05.2013 06:50 Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 KR --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Media information Zurich, 8 May 2013 Kardex sells Stow division to Averys Kardex Stow and Averys, specializing in static racks and storage systems, announce their plans to join forces. The French-based Averys Group will acquire the Stow division from the Kardex Group. The two companies are a good fit, both geographically and product wise. Thanks to its wide distribution network and production sites in France, Germany, Belgium, Poland, the Czech Republic, Turkey and China, the combined group will become one of the leading European providers in the industry with annual sales of around EUR 350 million. Over the past 15 months the Board of Directors of Kardex Ltd. has assessed all strategic options in order to achieve a stronger market position for the Kardex Stow division. Thanks to its highly automated plant in Belgium, an efficient facility for labour-intensive tasks in the Czech Republic and an established site in Shanghai, Kardex Stow is well placed in terms of cost, productivity and quality. Its products enjoy an excellent reputation in the market. This has also led to increased demand from global OEM customers. However, the final product's high transportation cost has so far limited the division's geographic expansion. The acquisition has to be approved by the relevant competition authorities. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2013. The transaction's total proceeds including the repayment of the intercompany debt to Kardex AG will be in the range of EUR 75-80 million and will be paid in cash. The parties have agreed not to disclose further details of the purchase agreement. Felix Thöni, Executive Director of the Kardex Group, comments as follows: 'We are convinced that the combination of Kardex Stow and Averys makes sense in the industry. In this new environment Kardex Stow has the possibility to continue to develop and grow successfully'.Contact for media and investors: Edwin van der Geest Investor Relations investor- relations@kardex.com Tel. +41 44 419 44 79 Tel. +41 79 330 55 22 www.kardex.com Calendar of events: 22 August 2013 2013 half-year closing, publication of 2013 Interim Report 13 March 2014 2013 year-end-closing, publication of 2013 Annual Report 2014 media and analysts' conference 24 April 2014 2014 Annual General MeetingKardex Group - Corporate Profile The Kardex Group is a leading supplier of static and automated storage solutions and materials handling systems. It consists of three divisions, Kardex Remstar, Kardex Stow and Kardex Mlog. Kardex Remstar develops, produces and maintains shuttles and dynamic storage and retrieval systems. Kardex Stow designs and manufactures static storage systems, pallet shuttles and automated mobile shelving systems. Kardex Mlog offers integrated materials handling systems and automated high-bay warehouses. All divisions are partners for their customers over the entire life cycle of a product or solution. This begins with the assessment of customer requirements and continues through planning, realization and maintenance of customer-specific systems. It ensures a high level of availability combined with low total cost of ownership and operation. More than 2'000 employees in over 30 countries work for the Kardex Group. Disclaimer This communication contains statements that constitute 'forward-looking statements'. In this communication, such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to our financial condition, results of operations and business and certain of our strategic plans and objectives. Because these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual future results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors which are beyond Kardex's ability to control or estimate precisely, such as future market conditions, currency fluctuations, the behavior of other market participants, the actions of governmental regulators and other risk factors detailed in Kardex's past and future filings and reports and in past and future filings, press releases, reports and other information posted on Kardex Group companies' websites. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only of the date of this communication. Kardex disclaims any intention or obligation to update and revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 08.05.2013 News transmitted by EquityStory AG. The issuer is responsible for the contents of the release. EquityStory publishes regulatory releases, media releases on the capital market and press releases. The EquityStory Group distributes authentic and real-time financial news for over 1'300 listed companies. The Swiss news archive can be found at www.equitystory.ch/news --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Kardex AG Thurgauerstrasse 40 8050 Zürich Switzerland Phone: +41 (0)44 419 44 79 Fax: E-mail: investor-relations@kardex.com Internet: www.kardex.com ISIN: CH0100837282 Swiss Security Number: A0RMWK Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin, München, Stuttgart; Frankfurt in Open Market ; SIX End of Announcement EquityStory News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------