Acquisition
International Greetings PLC
07 April 2006
7 April 2006
INTERNATIONAL GREETINGS SNAPS UP ALLIGATOR BOOKS
International Greetings PLC ('International Greetings' or 'the Group') (AIM:
IGR), the leading designer and manufacturer of private label greetings products,
wrapping paper, Christmas crackers and film and television character based
licensed stationery, today announces the acquisition of Alligator Books Limited,
a publisher and distributor of children's books and stationery.
An initial consideration of £2.5 million is payable, of which £2.25 million will
be paid in cash and £250,000 paid by the issue of 62,703 new ordinary shares.
Further payments may become payable, depending on the level of profitability for
the year ended 31 March 2007, these payments being a mixture of cash and shares.
Alligator Books' founders and current management team will remain in place after
the acquisition.
Alligator Books creates and publishes children's licensed and generic products.
They distribute an extensive range of fiction and non-fiction books ranging from
much-loved children's classics such as Noddy, Thomas the Tank Engine and Postman
Pat, to characters from TV shows such as Scooby Doo, together with a selection
of generic reference, colouring, activity and early learning books. Alligator
recently acquired the children's book division of Chrysalis, which includes the
world-wide publishing rights for 80 non-fiction illustrated reference books.
Alligator Books' turnover and profit before tax for the 12 months to 30 April
2005 were £5.5 million and £440,000 respectively.
Application for the admission of the new ordinary shares to AIM has been made
and it is expected that this will be effective on or around 12 April 2006. The
new ordinary shares will rank pari passu in all respects with the Company's
existing ordinary shares.
Joint Chief Executive, Nick Fisher, commented: 'This bolt-on deal not only met
all our acquisition criteria, particularly from a product and licensed character
perspective, but has also introduced us into the mainstream book publishing
sector via the lucrative children's category. Being part of the IG group of
companies will ensure that Alligator is in a position to develop its business
rapidly both in the UK and in the global market place'.
'Our strategy of acquiring this type of business is helping to counter the
slowdown in the UK retail sector and reinforces our commitment to developing new
product categories in the UK, whilst also providing a further platform for
overseas development.'
'This deal is a great start to our new financial year, and our ever increasing
spread of activities gives us confidence for the future'.
- Ends -
For further information:
Nick Fisher, Joint Chief Executive, International Greetings plc: 01707 630 602
Jeremy Carey, Rachel Drysdale, TavistockCommunications: 020 7920 3150
Notes to Editors:
International Greetings PLC is a leading designer and manufacturer of private
label wrapping paper, greetings products and film and television character based
licensed stationery. It currently has over 1,000 employees and produces gift
wrapping paper, gift tags, ribbons, Christmas crackers, greeting cards and other
decorative accessories.
The Group provides wrapping paper and gift products to most of the major high
street retailers and holds the licences to produce merchandise for most of the
well-known family blockbusters, including the Harry Potter series, Robots, and
the recently released Batman Begins.
International Greetings was founded by Anders Hedlund in 1979 and has successful
operations in the United States, Hong Kong and, as part of its continued
worldwide expansion, has recently opened facilities in China and Latvia. The
Company has a strong platform for growth in Europe, through its Dutch based
Hoomark subsidiary and, in May 2005, it acquired Anker International, an
international design, import and distribution business with interests in the UK,
Holland and Hong Kong for a consideration of £35.5 million. Anker International
supplies a wide assortment of greetings, festive, stationery and photographic
gift products, which both complement and add to the Group's existing ranges.
International Greetings listed on AIM in 1995 and is currently capitalised at
about £185 million.
Further information is available at www.internationalgreetings.co.uk
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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