Empresas y finanzas

Avery Dennison to Acquire Paxar for $1.3 Billion or $30.50 Per Share



    Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE: AVY) and Paxar Corporation
    (NYSE: PXR) today announced that their boards of directors have
    unanimously approved a definitive agreement for Avery Dennison to
    acquire all outstanding shares of Paxar for $30.50 per share in a cash
    transaction valued at approximately $1.34 billion. The transaction is
    expected to enhance Avery Dennison's ability to compete and grow in
    the fragmented, expanding $15 billion-plus global retail information
    and brand identification market.

    "This combination is a terrific strategic fit," said Dean A.
    Scarborough, president and chief executive officer of Avery Dennison.
    "Paxar's highly complementary capabilities advance our strategy to
    deliver exceptional products and superior service to customers at
    every level of the global retail supply chain, and to increase
    efficiency and reduce costs in a rapidly changing and increasingly
    competitive global marketplace. In addition, this acquisition will
    allow us to invest in product innovation and services that will serve
    our existing customers even better."

    Avery Dennison's Retail Information Services (RIS) business
    represents one of its fastest-growing units. RIS provides brand
    identification and supply chain management solutions primarily for
    manufacturers and retailers, including tag and label design and
    printing; inventory and shipment tracking; and data management
    systems.

    "This combination will give us the capabilities, products and
    geographic reach to pursue new segments of the global retail
    information and brand identification market. These segments include
    retailers and manufacturers serving local customers in India and
    China," said Mr. Scarborough.

    "Combining with Avery Dennison provides substantial benefits to
    our customers while delivering compelling value to Paxar
    shareholders," added Rob van der Merwe, chairman, president and chief
    executive officer of Paxar Corporation. "In particular, the broader
    capabilities of the combined Company will better meet customer demands
    for improved quality, product innovation and speed of delivery.
    Although we understand that some jobs will be affected through the
    integration of our businesses, employees of the combined Company will
    have expanded opportunities as part of a larger organization."

    Customer Benefits

    In this evolving marketplace, it is increasingly important to be
    close to the local manufacturing clusters, the two companies said.
    With their complementary geographic footprints, in particular with
    Paxar's greater focus on Europe, the acquisition improves the combined
    Company's ability to serve customers in Europe, Latin America, the
    Middle East and Asia.

    "Lower-cost production - and higher levels of quality and speed of
    delivery - will be crucial for winning against the local and regional
    competition we face at the buying office and factory levels," said Mr.
    Scarborough. "This combination will benefit the factories that
    purchase our tickets and tags as well as the retailers and the brand
    owners they supply."

    Financial Terms

    Under the terms of the agreement, Avery Dennison will purchase
    each common share of Paxar for $30.50. Based upon Paxar's closing
    price of $24.03 on Thursday, March 22, 2007, this represents a premium
    of 27 percent. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. has committed $1.35 billion
    in acquisition financing and will also arrange long-term financing.

    Cost Savings/Accretion

    Avery Dennison expects approximately $90 to $100 million in annual
    cost savings, with similar infrastructure enabling the elimination of
    redundant production costs and reductions in selling, general and
    administrative expenses, including corporate overhead and back office
    support. Avery Dennison currently estimates that there will be
    integration costs, including restructuring and asset impairment
    charges ranging from $100 to $125 million, plus information technology
    (IT) integration costs and other IT investments of at least $50
    million. Excluding these costs, the transaction is expected to turn
    accretive to earnings per share within one year following the close of
    the transaction. Avery Dennison management has a successful track
    record of integrating international acquisitions and achieving
    significant cost synergies. Avery Dennison expects to realize its
    targeted savings within 24 months following the close of the
    transaction.

    Integration

    The two companies will develop an integration plan that retains
    the best systems and people from both organizations.

    "While there will be a reduction in overlapping positions,
    employees will be part of a stronger, more rapidly growing global
    business," said Mr. Scarborough. "We plan on retaining top-notch
    talent to ensure that we are the best in the industry."

    Closing Terms and Conditions

    The transaction is expected to close by year-end and is subject to
    Paxar shareholder approval, as well as regulatory approvals in the
    U.S. and other countries.

    J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. acted as exclusive financial advisor
    to Avery Dennison, and Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz and Latham &
    Watkins LLP acted as legal advisors. Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as
    exclusive financial advisor to Paxar, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted
    as legal counsel.

    Web Cast of Conference Call

    Avery Dennison and Paxar will host a Web cast to discuss this
    announcement. The Web cast will be held Friday, March 23 at 8:30 a.m.
    Eastern Daylight Saving Time (EDT). A web cast of the call will be
    accessible on Avery Dennison's website
    (www.investors.averydennison.com) and Paxar's website (www.paxar.com).

    The web cast and handout will be archived on Avery Dennison's
    website.

    About Avery Dennison Corporation

    Avery Dennison is a global leader in pressure-sensitive labeling
    materials, office products and retail tag, ticketing and branding
    systems. Based in Pasadena, Calif., Avery Dennison is a FORTUNE 500
    Company with 2006 sales of $5.6 billion. Avery Dennison employs more
    than 22,000 individuals in 49 countries worldwide who apply Avery
    Dennison's technologies to develop, manufacture and market a wide
    range of products for both consumer and industrial markets. Products
    offered by Avery Dennison include Avery brand office products and
    graphics imaging media, Fasson brand self-adhesive materials,
    peel-and-stick postage stamps, reflective highway safety products,
    labels for a wide variety of automotive, industrial and durable goods
    applications, brand identification and supply chain management
    products for the retail and apparel industries, and specialty tapes
    and polymers.

    About Paxar Corporation

    Paxar is a global leader in providing identification solutions to
    the retail and apparel industry, worldwide. Paxar's leadership in
    brand development, merchandising, information services and supply
    chain solutions enables Paxar to satisfy customer needs around the
    world.

    "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation
    Reform Act of 1995:

    This news release contains forward-looking statements within the
    meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities
    Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about Avery
    Dennison's anticipated acquisition of Paxar and statements about
    projected future financial and operating results. These statements are
    based on current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number
    of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual
    results to differ materially from those described in the
    forward-looking statements.

    All statements other than statements of historical fact are
    statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements.

    Risks, Uncertainties and Assumptions - Avery Dennison

    Risks, uncertainties, and assumptions pertaining to Avery Dennison
    include, but are not limited to, the impact of economic conditions on
    underlying demand for the Company's products; the impact of
    competitors' actions, including expansion in key markets, product
    offerings and pricing; the degree to which higher raw material and
    energy-related costs can be passed on to customers through selling
    price increases (and previously implemented selling price increases
    can be sustained), without a significant loss of volume; potential
    adverse developments in legal proceedings and/or investigations,
    including those regarding competitive activities, and including
    possible fines, penalties, judgments or settlements; the ability of
    Avery Dennison to achieve and sustain targeted cost reductions; credit
    risks; ability to obtain adequate financing arrangements; changes in
    governmental regulations; foreign currency exchange rates and other
    risks associated with foreign operations; impact of war, terror,
    natural disasters and epidemiological events on the economy and Avery
    Dennison's customers and suppliers; successful integration of
    acquisitions; financial condition and inventory strategies of
    customers; changes in customer order patterns; loss of significant
    contract(s) or customer(s); timely development and market acceptance
    of new products; fluctuations in demand affecting sales to customers;
    and other matters referred to in Avery Dennison's SEC filings.

    Risks, Uncertainties and Assumptions - Paxar

    Risks, uncertainties and assumptions pertaining to Paxar include,
    but are not limited to, the ability of Paxar to achieve and sustain
    targeted cost reductions, for example, those related to its global
    apparel realignment plan and other restructuring/reorganization
    initiatives; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; political or
    economic instability in Paxar's major markets; the impact of
    competitive products and pricing; fluctuations in cost and
    availability of petroleum-based raw materials; fluctuations in retail
    and apparel industry demand affecting sales to customers; and other
    matters referred to in Paxar's SEC filings.

    Risks, Uncertainties and Assumptions - The Transaction

    Forward looking statements pertaining to Avery Dennison's
    acquisition and integration of Paxar include statements relating to or
    of expected synergies, cost savings, accretion, timing, industry size,
    execution of integration plans and management and organizational
    structure. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions pertaining to the
    transaction include the possibility that the market for and
    development of certain products and services may not proceed as
    expected; that the Paxar acquisition does not close or that the
    companies may be required to modify aspects of the transaction to
    achieve regulatory approval; that prior to the closing of the proposed
    acquisition, the businesses of the companies suffer due to uncertainty
    or diversion of management attention; that the parties are unable to
    successfully execute their integration strategies, or achieve planned
    synergies and cost reductions, in the time and at the cost anticipated
    or at all; acquisition of unknown liabilities; effects of increased
    leverage; and other matters that are referred to in the parties' SEC
    filings.

    For a more detailed discussion of these and other factors, see
    "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of
    Operations and Financial Condition" in Avery Dennison's and Paxar's
    reports on Form 10-K both of which were filed on February 28, 2007
    with the SEC.

    Forward-looking statements included in this news release are made
    only as of the date of this news release, and the companies undertake
    no obligation to update the forward-looking statements to reflect
    subsequent events or circumstances except as may be required by law.