0000215419-11-000037.txt : 20110504 0000215419-11-000037.hdr.sgml : 20110504 20110503173134 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000215419-11-000037 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20110327 FILED AS OF DATE: 20110504 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20110503 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000215419 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, NEC [3669] IRS NUMBER: 221895850 STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 1225 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-11257 FILM NUMBER: 11807249 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE COMMERCE SQUARE STREET 2: 2005 MARKET STREET, SUITE 2410 CITY: PHILADELPHIA STATE: PA ZIP: 19103 BUSINESS PHONE: 856-848-1800 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE COMMERCE SQUARE STREET 2: 2005 MARKET STREET, SUITE 2410 CITY: PHILADELPHIA STATE: PA ZIP: 19103 10-Q 1 form10-q.htm CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. FORM 10-Q form10-q.htm





FORM 10-Q

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

R
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 27, 2011

OR

 
£
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from
 
to

Commission File No. 1-11257

CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Pennsylvania
 
22-1895850
(State of Incorporation)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
     
One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 2410, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 
19103
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
     
 
856-848-1800
 
 
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
 
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes R No £
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.05 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes R No £
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer þ
 
Accelerated filer o
 
Non-accelerated filer o
 
Smaller reporting company o
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes £ No R

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

As of April 28, 2011, there were 40,087,972 shares of the Company’s Common Stock outstanding.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 

CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
FORM 10-Q
Table of Contents
   
 
Page
   
 
 
3
4
5
6
7
8-21
22-30
31
31
32
32
32
32
32
32
33
34
35
 Master Purchase Agreement dated January 28, 2011 by and among Checkpoint Systems, Inc. and Shore to Shore, Inc., Shanghai WH Printing Co. Ltd., Wing
     Hung (Dongguan) Printing Co., Ltd., Wing Hung Printing Co., Ltd., Adapt Identification (China) Garment Accessories Trading Co., Ltd., Lau Shun Keung
     aka John Lau, Yeung Mei Kuen, Lau Shun Man, Lau Shun Wah, Howard J. Kurdin and Lau Wing Ting aka Shirley Lau
 
 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Robert P. van der Merwe, President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Raymond D. Andrews, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 


 
 
 
 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)

(amounts in thousands)
 
March 27,
 2011
December 26,
2010*
ASSETS
   
CURRENT ASSETS:
   
Cash and cash equivalents
$    188,646
$    173,802
Restricted cash
386
140
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $10,056 and $10,472
169,538
178,636
Inventories
120,876
106,974
Other current assets
33,439
32,655
Deferred income taxes
20,077
20,622
Total Current Assets
532,962
512,829
REVENUE EQUIPMENT ON OPERATING LEASE, net
2,276
2,340
PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT, net
123,387
121,258
GOODWILL
241,597
231,325
OTHER INTANGIBLES, net
89,722
90,823
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
52,930
52,506
OTHER ASSETS
25,669
24,192
TOTAL ASSETS
$ 1,068,543
$ 1,035,273
     
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
   
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
   
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt
$      21,824
$      22,225
Accounts payable
64,601
63,366
Accrued compensation and related taxes
34,574
29,308
Other accrued expenses
47,913
47,646
Income taxes
4,395
Unearned revenues
20,971
12,196
Restructuring reserve
8,000
7,522
Accrued pensions — current
4,623
4,358
Other current liabilities
25,617
23,019
Total Current Liabilities
228,123
214,035
LONG-TERM DEBT, LESS CURRENT MATURITIES
121,365
119,724
ACCRUED PENSIONS
80,971
75,396
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
30,623
30,502
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
11,613
11,325
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
   
CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
   
Preferred stock, no par value, 500,000 shares authorized, none issued
Common stock, par value $.10 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized, issued
         44,078,715 and 43,843,095
4,408
4,384
Additional capital
411,707
407,383
Retained earnings
224,011
233,322
Common stock in treasury, at cost, 4,035,912 and 4,035,912 shares
(71,520)
(71,520)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
27,242
10,722
TOTAL CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
595,848
584,291
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
$ 1,068,543
$ 1,035,273

   * Derived from the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements at December 26, 2010.
      See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
3
 
 

CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)
Quarter ended
March 27,
2011
March 28,
2010
     
Net revenues
$ 184,673
$ 187,456
Cost of revenues
114,299
106,905
Gross profit
70,374
80,551
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
74,569
69,802
Research and development
4,789
4,692
Restructuring expense
1,597
436
Operating (loss) income
(10,581)
5,621
Interest income
966
668
Interest expense
1,642
1,600
Other gain (loss), net
110
266
(Loss) earnings before income taxes
(11,147)
4,955
Income taxes
(1,836)
1,518
Net (loss) earnings
(9,311)
3,437
Less: (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
(69)
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
$  (9,311)
$     3,506
     
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per Common Shares:
   
     
Basic (loss) earnings per share
$     (0.23)
$         .09
     
Diluted (loss) earnings per share
$     (0.23)
$         .09

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


 
4
 
 

CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(Unaudited)

(amounts in thousands)
 
Checkpoint Systems, Inc. Stockholders
   
 
Common Stock
Additional
Retained
Treasury Stock
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Noncontrolling
Total
 
Shares
Amount
Capital
Earnings
Shares
Amount
Income
Interests
Equity
Balance, December 27, 2009
43,078
$ 4,307
$ 390,379
$ 205,951
4,036
$ (71,520)
$   28,603
$   834
$ 558,554
Net earnings
     
27,371
     
(116)
27,255
Exercise of stock-based compensation and awards released
765
77
5,945
         
6,022
Tax benefit on stock-based compensation
   
133
         
133
Stock-based compensation expense
   
8,751
         
8,751
Deferred compensation plan
   
2,112
         
2,112
Repurchase of noncontrolling interests
   
63
       
(755)
(692)
Amortization of pension plan actuarial losses, net of tax
           
103
 
103
Change in realized and unrealized gains on derivative hedges, net of tax
           
679
 
679
Recognized loss on pension, net of tax
           
(3,405)
 
(3,405)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
           
(15,258)
37
(15,221)
Balance, December 26, 2010
43,843
$ 4,384
$ 407,383
$ 233,322
4,036
$ (71,520)
$   10,722
$     —
$ 584,291
Net loss
     
(9,311)
       
(9,311)
Exercise of stock-based compensation and awards released
236
24
1,198
         
1,222
Tax benefit on stock-based compensation
   
100
         
100
Stock-based compensation expense
   
2,827
         
2,827
Deferred compensation plan
   
199
         
199
Amortization of pension plan actuarial losses, net of tax
           
(256)
 
(256)
Change in realized and unrealized gains on derivative hedges, net of tax
           
(1,819)
 
(1,819)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
           
18,595
 
18,595
Balance, March 27, 2011
44,079
$ 4,408
$ 411,707
$ 224,011
4,036
$ (71,520)
$   27,242
$     —
$ 595,848

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


 
5
 
 

CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited)

(amounts in thousands)
Quarter ended
March 27,
2011
March 28,
2010
Net (loss) earnings
$ (9,311)
$      3,437
Amortization of pension plan actuarial losses, net of tax
(256)
84
Change in realized and unrealized gains on derivative hedges, net of tax
(1,819)
1,552
Foreign currency translation adjustment
18,595
(15,235)
Comprehensive income (loss)
7,209
(10,162)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
(82)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
$   7,209
$ (10,080)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


 
6
 
 

CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

(amounts in thousands)
Quarter ended
March 27,
2011
March 28,
2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
   
Net (loss) earnings
$    (9,311)
$       3,437
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
   
Depreciation and amortization
8,361
8,656
Deferred taxes
123
(92)
Stock-based compensation
2,827
2,323
Provision for losses on accounts receivable
17
Excess tax benefit on stock compensation
(532)
(951)
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
42
51
(Increase) decrease in current assets, net of the effects of acquired companies:
   
Accounts receivable
16,656
15,117
Inventories
(10,316)
(14,151)
Other current assets
(2,078)
1,815
(Decrease) increase in current liabilities, net of the effects of acquired companies:
   
Accounts payable
(1,369)
1,984
Income taxes
(3,532)
(4,316)
Unearned revenues
7,919
(8,134)
Restructuring reserve
278
(1,776)
Other current and accrued liabilities
1,898
(8,408)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
10,983
(4,445)
Cash flows from investing activities:
   
Acquisition of property, plant, and equipment and intangibles
(4,335)
(3,083)
Change in restricted cash
(243)
Other investing activities
2
87
Net cash (used in) investing activities
(4,576)
(2,996)
Cash flows from financing activities:
   
Proceeds from stock issuances
1,222
3,161
Excess tax benefit on stock compensation
532
951
Proceeds from short-term debt
5,411
Payment of short-term debt
(337)
(3,923)
Net change in factoring and bank overdrafts
(691)
(934)
Proceeds from long-term debt
4,118
Payment of long-term debt
(3,183)
(1,491)
Net cash provided by financing activities
1,661
3,175
Effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents
6,776
(5,212)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
14,844
(9,478)
Cash and cash equivalents:
   
Beginning of period
173,802
162,097
End of period
$   188,646
$   152,619

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


 
7
 
 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

Note 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICES

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Checkpoint Systems, Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the Company). All inter-company transactions are eliminated in consolidation. The Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes are unaudited and do not contain all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in annual financial statements. Refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2010 for the most recent disclosure of the Company’s accounting policies, except for the revisions to the Revenue Recognition Policy in Item 2 Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates.
 
The Consolidated Financial Statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to state fairly our financial position at March 27, 2011 and December 26, 2010 and our results of operations for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010 and changes in cash flows for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010. The results of operations for the interim period should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

Restricted Cash

We classify restricted cash as cash that cannot be made readily available for use. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or company statements of intention with regard to particular deposits. As of March 27, 2011, the unused portion of a grant from the Chinese government of $0.4 million (RMB 2.5 million) was recorded within restricted cash in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Internal-Use Software

Included in fixed assets is the capitalized cost of internal-use software. We capitalize costs incurred during the application development stage of internal-use software and amortize these costs over their estimated useful lives, which generally range from three to five years. Costs incurred related to design or maintenance of internal-use software is expensed as incurred.

During 2009, we announced that we are in the initial stages of implementing a company-wide ERP system to handle the business and finance processes within our operations and corporate functions. The total amount of internal-use software costs capitalized since the beginning of the ERP implementation as of March 27, 2011 and December 26, 2010 were $15.2 million and $13.1 million, respectively. As of March 27, 2011, $0.4 million was recorded in machinery and equipment related to supporting software packages that were placed in service. The remaining costs of $14.8 million and $12.7 million as of March 27, 2011 and December 26, 2010, respectively, are capitalized as construction-in-progress until such time as the ERP system has been placed in service.

Noncontrolling Interests

On July 1, 1997, Checkpoint Systems Japan Co. Ltd. (Checkpoint Japan), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, issued newly authorized shares to Mitsubishi Materials Corporation (Mitsubishi) in exchange for cash. In February 2006, Checkpoint Japan repurchased 26% of these shares from Mitsubishi in exchange for $0.2 million in cash. In August 2010, Checkpoint Manufacturing Japan Co., LTD. repurchased the remaining 74% of these shares from Mitsubishi in exchange for $0.8 million in cash.

We have presented net income attributable to noncontrolling interests separately on our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 28, 2010.

Warranty Reserves

We provide product warranties for our various products. These warranties vary in length depending on product and geographical region. We establish our warranty reserves based on historical data of warranty transactions.

The following table sets forth the movement in the warranty reserve which is located in the Other Accrued Expenses section of our Consolidated Balance Sheets:

(amounts in thousands)
Quarter ended
March 27,
2011
Balance at beginning of year
$   6,170
Accruals for warranties issued
1,692
Settlements made
(1,959)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
180
Balance at end of period
$   6,083


 
8
 
 

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-13, “Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements, (amendments to ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition)” (ASU 2009-13) and ASU 2009-14, “Certain Arrangements That Include Software Elements, (amendments to ASC Topic 985, Software)” (ASU 2009-14). ASU 2009-13 requires entities to allocate revenue in an arrangement using estimated selling prices of the delivered goods and services based on a selling price hierarchy. The amendments eliminate the residual method of revenue allocation and require revenue to be allocated using the relative selling price method. ASU 2009-14 removes tangible products from the scope of software revenue guidance and provides guidance on determining whether software deliverables in an arrangement that includes a tangible product are covered by the scope of the software revenue guidance. ASU 2009-13 and ASU 2009-14 are effective on a prospective basis for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, which for us was December 27, 2010, the first day of our 2011 fiscal year. The adoption of these standards did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

In April 2010, FASB issued ASU 2010-13 "Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Effect of Denominating the Exercise Price of a Share-Based Payment Award in the Currency of the Market in Which the Underlying Equity Security Trades" (ASU 2010-13). Topic 718 is amended to clarify that a share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity's equity securities trades shall not be considered to contain a market, performance, or service condition. Therefore, such an award is not to be classified as a liability if it otherwise qualifies as equity classification. The amendments in this standard are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010, which for us was December 27, 2010, the first day of our 2011 fiscal year. The guidance should be applied by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings for all outstanding awards as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which the amendments are initially applied. The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

In December 2010, FASB issued ASU 2010-28 “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350)” (ASU 2010-28). Topic 350 is amended to clarify the requirement to test for impairment of goodwill. Topic 350 has required that goodwill be tested for impairment if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. Under ASU 2010-28, when the carrying amount of a reporting unit is zero or negative an entity must assume that it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, perform an additional test to determine whether goodwill has been impaired and calculate the amount of that impairment. The modifications to ASC Topic 350 resulting from the issuance of ASU 2010-28 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2010, which for us was December 27, 2010, the first day of our 2011 fiscal year. The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-29 “Business Combinations (Topic 805) - Disclosure of Supplementary Pro Forma Information for Business Combinations” (ASU 2010-29). This standard update clarifies that, when presenting comparative financial statements, SEC registrants should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the current period business combinations had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The update also expands the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings. ASU 2010-29 is effective prospectively for material (either on an individual or aggregate basis) business combinations entered into in fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2010, which for us was December 27, 2010, the first day of our 2011 fiscal year. The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

New Accounting Pronouncements and Other Standards

In January 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-01 “Deferral of the Effective Date of Disclosures about Troubled Debt Restructurings in Update No. 2010-20” (ASU 2011-01). This standard update defers the effective date of new disclosure requirements for troubled debt restructurings prescribed by ASU 2010-20, "Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses." ASU 2011-01 will be effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2011. We do not expect the adoption of the standard to have a material impact on our Consolidated Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

In April 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-02 “A Creditor’s Determination of Whether a Restructuring Is a Troubled Debt Restructuring” (ASU 2011-02). The amendments to Topic 310 (Receivables) clarify the guidance on a creditor’s evaluation of whether a debtor is experiencing financial difficulties and when a loan modification or restructuring is considered a troubled debt restructuring. In determining whether a loan modification represents a troubled debt restructuring, an entity should consider whether the debtor is experiencing financial difficulty and the lender has granted a concession to the borrower. ASU 2011-02 is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after June 15, 2011, and should be applied retrospectively to the beginning of the annual period of adoption. We do not expect the adoption of the standard to have a material impact on our Consolidated Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 
9
 
 

Note 2. ACQUISITIONS

On January 28, 2011, the Company entered into a Master Purchase Agreement (“Master Purchase Agreement”) by and among the Company and Shore to Shore, Inc., Shanghai WH Printing Co. Ltd., Wing Hung (Dongguan) Printing Co., Ltd., Wing Hung Printing Co., Ltd., Adapt Identification (China) Garment Accessories Trading Co., Ltd., Lau Shun Keung aka John Lau, Yeung Mei Kuen, Lau Shun Man, Lau Shun Wah, Howard J. Kurdin and Lau Wing Ting aka Shirley Lau.

The Master Purchase Agreement outlines the general terms and conditions pursuant to which the Company agreed to acquire, through the acquisition of equity and/or assets, a retail apparel and footwear product identification business which designs, manufactures and sells tags and labels and brand protection and EAS solutions/labels. The aggregate initial purchase price to be paid is $67.95 million less any debt of the selling entity that the Company is required to discharge at closing. The purchase price is subject to adjustment based upon the aggregate net working capital of the acquired business at closing, with a portion of the purchase price to be paid at closing deposited into escrow. The purchase price is subject to contingencies of up to an additional $18.75 million based on the performance of the acquired business in 2010 as well as the successful migration of specified business accounts to the Company following the acquisition. The acquisition has not yet been settled as the closing of the acquisition is contingent upon certain criteria which have not yet been met.

Note 3. INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of the following:

(amounts in thousands)
 
March 27,
2011
December 26,
2010
Raw materials
$   25,470
$   21,976
Work-in-process
6,028
5,416
Finished goods
89,378
79,582
Total
$ 120,876
$ 106,974

Note 4. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

We had intangible assets with a net book value of $89.7 million and $90.8 million as of March 27, 2011 and December 26, 2010, respectively.

The following table reflects the components of intangible assets as of March 27, 2011 and December 26, 2010:

(dollar amounts in thousands)
   
March 27, 2011
 
December 26, 2010
 
Amortizable
Life
(years)
Gross
Amount
Gross
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Gross
Amount
Gross
Accumulated
Amortization
Finite-lived intangible assets:
           
  Customer lists
6 to 20
$   82,111
$   44,510
 
$   79,696
$   41,226
  Trade name
3 to 30
31,039
17,864
 
29,148
16,634
  Patents, license agreements
3 to 14
62,693
48,003
 
60,410
45,048
  Other
3 to 6
10,750
8,634
 
10,701
8,320
Total amortized finite-lived intangible assets
 
186,593
119,011
 
179,955
111,228
             
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
           
  Trade name
 
22,140
 
22,096
Total identifiable intangible assets
 
$ 208,733
$ 119,011
 
$ 202,051
$ 111,228

Amortization expense for the three months ended March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010 was $2.6 million and $3.1 million, respectively.

Estimated amortization expense for each of the five succeeding years is anticipated to be:

(amounts in thousands)
2011
$ 10,592
2012
$   9,796
2013
$   8,645
2014
$   8,143
2015
$   7,971


 
10
 
 

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows:

(amounts in thousands)
 
Shrink
Management
Solutions
Apparel
Labeling
Solutions
Retail
Merchandising
Solutions
Total
Balance as of December 27, 2009
$ 171,878
$   4,300
$ 67,884
$ 244,062
     Acquired during the year
467
467
     Purchase accounting adjustment
(1,077)
(1,077)
     Translation adjustments
(6,554)
225
(5,798)
(12,127)
Balance as of December 26, 2010
$ 165,324
$   3,915
$ 62,086
$ 231,325
     Translation adjustments
5,653
145
4,474
10,272
Balance as of March 27, 2011
$ 170,977
$   4,060
$ 66,560
$ 241,597

The following table reflects the components of goodwill as of March 27, 2011 and December 26, 2010:

(amounts in thousands)
 
March 27, 2011
 
December 26, 2010
 
Gross
Amount
Accumulated
Impairment
Losses
Goodwill,
Net
 
Gross
Amount
Accumulated
Impairment
Losses
Goodwill,
Net
  Shrink Management Solutions
$ 225,362
$   54,385
$ 170,977
 
$ 219,771
$   54,447
$ 165,324
  Apparel Labeling Solutions
23,811
19,751
4,060
 
23,102
19,187
3,915
  Retail Merchandising Solutions
140,207
73,647
66,560
 
130,486
68,400
62,086
  Total goodwill
$ 389,380
$ 147,783
$ 241,597
 
$ 373,359
$ 142,034
$ 231,325

In July 2009, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase the business of Brilliant, a China-based manufacturer of woven and printed labels, and settled the acquisition on August 14, 2009 for approximately $38.3 million, including cash acquired of $0.6 million and the assumption of debt of $19.6 million. The transaction was paid in cash and the purchase price includes the acquisition of 100% of Brilliant’s voting equity interests. Acquisition costs incurred in connection with the transaction are recognized within selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and approximate $0.2 million during the first three months of 2010 without a comparable charge in 2011.

We perform an assessment of goodwill by comparing each individual reporting unit’s carrying amount of net assets, including goodwill, to their fair value at least annually during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Future assessments could result in impairment charges, which would be accounted for as an operating expense.

Note 5. DEBT

Short-term Borrowings and Current Portion of Long-term Debt

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt as of March 27, 2011 and December 26, 2010 consisted of the following:

(amounts in thousands)
March 27,
2011
December 26,
2010
Line of credit
$   1,844
$   1,808
Full-recourse factoring liabilities
13,266
13,065
Term loans
4,612
4,950
Revolving loan facility
385
386
Current portion of long-term debt
1,717
2,016
Total short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt
$ 21,824
$ 22,225

On December 30, 2009, we entered into a new Hong Kong banking facility. The banking facility includes a trade finance facility, a revolving loan facility, and a term loan. The maximum availability under the facility is $7.9 million (HKD 61.6 million). The banking facility is secured by all plant, machinery, fittings and equipment. The book value of the collateral as of March 27, 2011 is $8.1 million (HKD 63.5 million). The banking facility is subject to the bank’s right to call the liabilities at any time, and is therefore included in short-term borrowings in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Trade Finance Facility – The trade finance facility is a full-recourse factoring arrangement that has a maximum borrowing limit of $3.2 million (HKD 25.0 million) and totaled $2.0 million (HKD 15.6 million) at March 27, 2011. The interest rate on this arrangement is HIBOR + 2.5%. The trade finance facility is secured by the related receivables.

Revolving Loan Facility – The revolving loan facility has a maximum borrowing limit of $0.4 million (HKD 3.0 million). The interest rate on this arrangement is Hong Kong Best Lending Rate + 1.0%. As of March 27, 2011, the revolving loan facility is $0.4 million (HKD 3.0 million) and is fully drawn.

Term Loan – On March 18, 2010, the Company borrowed $5.4 million (HKD 42.0 million). The interest rate on this arrangement is HIBOR + 2.5% and matures in March 2015. As of March 27, 2011, $4.3 million (HKD 33.6 million) was outstanding.

 
11
 
 


Included in Term loans is a $0.3 million (RMB 2.0 million) term loan maturing in May 2012. The term loan is subject to the bank’s right to call the liabilities at any time, and is therefore included in short-term borrowings in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In October 2009, the Company entered into a $12.0 million (€8.0 million) full-recourse factoring arrangement. The arrangement is secured by trade receivables.  Borrowings bear interest at rates of EURIBOR plus a margin of 3.00%. At March 27, 2011, the interest rate was 4.09%. At March 27, 2011, our short-term full-recourse factoring arrangement equaled $11.3 million (€8.0 million) and is included in short-term borrowings in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets since the agreement expires in December 2011.

As of March 27, 2011, the Japanese local line of credit is $1.8 million (¥150 million) and is fully drawn. The line of credit matures in November 2011.

Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt as of March 27, 2011 and December 26, 2010 consisted of the following:

(amounts in thousands)
 
March 27,
2011
December 26,
2010
Senior secured credit facility:
   
     $125 million variable interest rate revolving credit facility maturing in 2014
$   44,674
$   42,687
Senior Secured Notes:
   
     $25 million 4.00% fixed interest rate Series A senior secured notes maturing in 2015
25,000
25,000
     $25 million 4.38% fixed interest rate Series B senior secured notes maturing in 2016
25,000
25,000
     $25 million 4.75% fixed interest rate Series C senior secured notes maturing in 2017
25,000
25,000
Full-recourse factoring liabilities
1,736
1,740
Other capital leases with maturities through 2016
1,672
2,313
Total
123,082
121,740
Less current portion
1,717
2,016
Total long-term portion
$ 121,365
$ 119,724

Revolving Credit Facility

The Senior Secured Credit Facility includes an expansion option that will allow us to request an increase in the Senior Secured Credit Facility of up to an aggregate of $50.0 million, for a potential total commitment of $175.0 million. As of March 27, 2011, we did not elect to request the $50.0 million expansion option.

The Senior Secured Credit Facility contains a $25.0 million sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit of which $1.4 million, issued under the Secured Credit Facility, are outstanding as of March 27, 2011. The Senior Secured Credit Facility also contains a $15.0 million sublimit for swingline loans.

All obligations of domestic borrowers under the Senior Secured Credit Facility are irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by our domestic subsidiaries. The obligations of foreign borrowers under the Senior Secured Credit Facility are irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by certain of our foreign subsidiaries as well as the domestic guarantors. Collateral under the Senior Secured Credit Facility includes a 100% stock pledge of domestic subsidiaries and a 65% stock pledge of all first-tier foreign subsidiaries, excluding our Japanese sales subsidiary.

Pursuant to the terms of the Senior Secured Credit Facility, we are subject to various requirements, including covenants requiring the maintenance of a maximum total leverage ratio of 2.75 and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.25. The Senior Secured Credit Facility also contains customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, notice provisions and events of default, including change of control, cross-defaults to other debt, and judgment defaults. Upon a default under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, including the non-payment of principal or interest, our obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facility may be accelerated and the assets securing such obligations may be sold. Certain wholly-owned subsidiaries with respect to the Company are guarantors of our obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facility. As of March 27, 2011, we were in compliance with all covenants.

 
12
 
 

Senior Secured Notes

The Senior Secured Notes Agreement provides that for a three-year period ending on July 22, 2013, we may issue, and our lender may, in its sole discretion, purchase, additional fixed-rate senior secured notes (the “Shelf Notes”); together with the 2010 Notes, (the “Notes”), up to an aggregate amount of $50.0 million. As of March 27, 2011, we did not issue additional fixed-rate senior secured notes.

All obligations under the Senior Secured Notes are irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by our domestic subsidiaries. Collateral under the Senior Secured Notes includes a 100% stock pledge of domestic subsidiaries and a 65% stock pledge of all first-tier foreign subsidiaries, excluding our Japanese sales subsidiary.

The Senior Secured Notes Agreement is subject to covenants that are substantially similar to the covenants in the Senior Secured Credit Facility Agreement, including covenants requiring the maintenance of a maximum total leverage ratio of 2.75 and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.25. The Senior Secured Notes Agreement also contains representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, notice provisions and events of default, including change of control, cross-defaults to other debt, and judgment defaults that are substantially similar to those contained in the Senior Secured Credit Facility, and those that are customary for similar private placement transactions. Upon a default under the Senior Secured Notes Agreement, including the non-payment of principal or interest, our obligations under the Senior Secured Notes Agreement may be accelerated and the assets securing such obligations may be sold. Certain of our wholly-owned subsidiaries are also guarantors of our obligations under the Senior Secured Notes. As of March 27, 2011, we were in compliance with all covenants.

Full-recourse Factoring Arrangements

In December 2009, we entered into new full-recourse factoring arrangements. The arrangements are secured by trade receivables. The Company received a weighted average of 92.4% of the face amount of receivables that it desired to sell and the bank agreed, at its discretion, to buy. At March 27, 2011 the factoring arrangements had a balance of $1.7 million (€1.2 million), of which $0.4 million (€0.3 million) was included in the current portion of long-term debt and $1.3 million (€0.9 million) was included in long-term borrowings in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets since the receivables are collectable through 2016.

Note 6. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock-based compensation cost recognized in operating results (included in selling, general, and administrative expenses) for the three months ended March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010 was $2.8 million and $2.3 million ($2.0 million and $1.6 million, net of tax), respectively. The associated actual tax benefit realized for the tax deduction from option exercises of share-based payment units and awards released equaled $1.0 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010, respectively.

Stock Options

Option activity under the principal option plans as of March 27, 2011 and changes during the three months ended March 27, 2011 were as follows:
 
 
Number of
Shares
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(in years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(in thousands)
Outstanding at December 26, 2010
2,745,796
$ 19.11
5.32
$ 8,731
Granted
82,503
22.52
   
Exercised
(95,933)
12.25
   
Forfeited or expired
(4,413)
14.63
   
Outstanding at March 27, 2011
2,727,953
$ 19.46
5.26
$ 9,641
Vested and expected to vest at March 27, 2011
2,673,867
$ 19.45
5.19
$ 9,514
Exercisable at March 27, 2011
2,214,210
$ 19.62
4.62
$ 7,777

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the first quarter of fiscal 2011 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on March 27, 2011. This amount changes based on the fair market value of the Company’s stock. The total intrinsic value of options exercised for the three months ended March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010 was $0.9 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

 
13
 
 

As of March 27, 2011, $1.9 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.9 years.

The fair value of share-based payment units was estimated using the Black Scholes option pricing model. The table below presents the weighted-average expected life in years. The expected life computation is based on historical exercise patterns and post-vesting termination behavior. Volatility is determined using changes in historical stock prices. The interest rate for periods within the expected life of the award is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

The following assumptions and weighted-average fair values were as follows:

Quarter ended
March 27,
2011
 
March 28,
2010
 
Weighted-average fair value of grants
$   10.17
 
$   7.39
 
Valuation assumptions:
       
Expected dividend yield
0.00
%
0.00
%
Expected volatility
49.82
%
48.11
%
Expected life (in years)
4.96
 
4.93
 
Risk-free interest rate
2.257
%
1.893
%

Restricted Stock Units

Nonvested service based restricted stock units as of March 27, 2011 and changes during the three months ended March 27, 2011 were as follows:

 
Number of
Shares
Weighted-
Average
Vest Date
(in years)
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Nonvested at December 26, 2010
630,244
0.81
$ 20.48
Granted
176,142
 
$ 22.52
Vested
(146,669)
 
$ 21.56
Forfeited
(4,230)
 
$ 13.41
Nonvested at March 27, 2011
655,487
1.27
$ 21.00
Vested and expected to vest at March 27, 2011
593,025
1.22
 
Vested at March 27, 2011
1,340
 

The total fair value of restricted stock awards vested during the first three months of 2011 was $3.2 million as compared to $1.6 million in the first three months of 2010. As of March 27, 2011, there was $4.9 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to nonvested restricted stock units. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.3 years.

Other Compensation Arrangements

On March 15, 2010, we initiated a plan in which time-vested cash unit awards were granted to eligible employees. The time-vested cash unit awards under this plan vest one-third each year over three years from the date of grant. The total amount accrued related to the plan equaled $0.1 million at March 27, 2011, of which $0.1 million was expensed during the first three months of 2011. The total amount accrued related to the plan equaled $8 thousand at March 28, 2010, of which $8 thousand was expensed during the first three months of 2010. The associated liability is included in Accrued Compensation and Related Taxes in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Note 7. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

Cash payments for interest and income taxes for the three months ended March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010 were as follows:

(amounts in thousands)
Quarter ended
March 27,
2011
March 28,
 2010
Interest
$   2,234
$ 1,300
Income tax payments
$   2,164
$ 6,434


 
14
 
 

Note 8. EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following data shows the amounts used in computing earnings per share and the effect on net earnings from continuing operations and the weighted-average number of shares of dilutive potential common stock:

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)
Quarter ended
March 27,
2011
March 28,
2010
Basic (loss) earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. available to common stockholders
$ (9,311)
$   3,506
     
Diluted (loss) earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. available to common stockholders
$ (9,311)
$   3,506
     
Shares:
   
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding
39,896
39,185
Shares issuable under deferred compensation agreements
435
404
Basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding
40,331
39,589
Common shares assumed upon exercise of stock options and awards
501
Shares issuable under deferred compensation arrangements
12
Dilutive weighted-average number of common shares outstanding
40,331
40,102
     
Basic (loss) earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share
$     (.23)
$       .09
     
Diluted (loss) earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. per share
$     (.23)
$       .09

Anti-dilutive potential common shares are not included in our earnings per share calculation. The Long-term Incentive Plan restricted stock units were excluded from our calculation due to the performance of vesting criteria not being met.

The number of anti-dilutive common share equivalents for the three month periods ended March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010 were as follows:

(amounts in thousands)
Quarter ended
March 27,
2011
March 28,
2010
Weighted-average common share equivalents associated with anti-dilutive stock options and restricted stock units excluded from the computation of diluted EPS(1)
1,936
1,638

(1)  
Adjustments for stock options and awards of 564 shares and deferred compensation arrangements of 3 shares were anti-dilutive in the first three months of 2011 and therefore excluded from the earnings per share calculation due to our net loss for the quarter.

Note 9. INCOME TAXES

The effective tax rate for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2011 was 16.5% as compared to 30.6% for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2010. The decrease in the first quarter 2011 tax rate was due to the mix of income between subsidiaries.

In accordance with ASC 740, “Accounting for Income Taxes”, we evaluate our deferred income taxes quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required or should be adjusted. ASC 740 requires that companies assess whether valuation allowances should be established against their deferred tax assets based on all available evidence, both positive and negative, using a “more likely than not” standard. In the assessment for a valuation allowance, appropriate consideration is given to all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax assets. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, the Company's experience with loss carryforwards not expiring and tax planning alternatives. The Company operates and derives income across multiple jurisdictions. As the geographic footprint of the business changes, we may encounter losses in jurisdictions that have been historically profitable, and as a result might require additional valuation allowances to be recorded against certain deferred tax asset balances. At March 27, 2011 and December 26, 2010, the Company had net deferred tax assets of $61.1 million and $61.5 million, respectively.

During 2010 negative evidence arose in the form of cumulative losses in two material jurisdictions with net deferred tax assets of $41.8 million and $10.0 million, respectively. The Company considered all available evidence and was able to conclude on a more likely than not basis that the effects of our commitment to specific tax planning actions provided a sufficient amount of positive evidence to support the continued benefit of the jurisdictions’ deferred tax assets. The Company is committed to implementing tax planning actions, when deemed appropriate, in jurisdictions that experience losses in order to realize deferred tax assets prior to their expiration. The effective tax rate for the thirteen weeks ended March 27, 2011 includes the effect of tax planning actions to be implemented in 2011.

The total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate was $13.2 million and $12.8 million at March 27, 2011 and December 26, 2010, respectively. Penalties and tax-related interest expense are reported as a component of income tax expense. During the three months ended March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010 we recognized an interest and penalties expense of $0.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively, in the statement of operations. At March 27, 2011 and December 26, 2010, the Company had accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits of $3.9 million and $3.6 million, respectively.

 
15
 
 


We file income tax returns in the U.S. and in various states, local and foreign jurisdictions. We are routinely examined by tax authorities in these jurisdictions. It is possible that these examinations may be resolved within twelve months. Due to the potential for resolution of federal, state and foreign examinations, and the expiration of various statutes of limitation, it is reasonably possible that the gross unrecognized tax benefits balance may change within the next twelve months by a range of $3.2 million to $4.6 million.

We are currently under audit in the following major jurisdictions: United States 2007 – 2008, Germany 2002 – 2005, Finland 2008 – 2009, and Sweden 2007 – 2009.

Note 10. PENSION BENEFITS

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010 were as follows:

(amounts in thousands)
Quarter ended
March 27,
2011
March 28,
2010
Service cost
$    237
$    223
Interest cost
1,081
1,132
Expected return on plan assets
38
(16)
Amortization of actuarial loss (gain)
12
(6)
Amortization of transition obligation
32
32
Amortization of prior service costs
1
1
Net periodic pension cost
$ 1,401
$ 1,366

We expect the cash requirements for funding the pension benefits to be approximately $5.1 million during fiscal 2011, including $1.4 million which was funded during the three months ended March 27, 2011.

Note 11. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT, FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

Fair Value Measurement

We utilize the market approach to measure fair value for our financial assets and liabilities. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities.

The fair value hierarchy is intended to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures. The fair value hierarchy is based on inputs to valuation techniques that are used to measure fair value that are either observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources while unobservable inputs reflect a reporting entity’s pricing based upon their own market assumptions.

The fair value hierarchy consists of the following three levels:
     
 
Level 1
Inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
     
 
Level 2
Inputs are quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable and market-corroborated inputs which are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.
     
 
Level 3
Inputs are derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or value drivers are unobservable.

Because the Company’s derivatives are not listed on an exchange, the Company values these instruments using a valuation model with pricing inputs that are observable in the market or that can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. The Company’s methodology also incorporates the impact of both the Company’s and the counterparty’s credit standing.

 
16
 
 

The following tables represent our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 27, 2011 and December 26, 2010 and the basis for that measurement:

(amounts in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Total Fair
Value
Measurement
March 27,
2011
Quoted Prices
In Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Foreign currency revenue forecast contracts
$      18
$ —
$      18
$ —
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts
107
  — 
107
  — 
Total assets
$    125
$ —
$    125
$ —
         
Foreign currency revenue forecast contracts
$ 1,169
$ —
$ 1,169
$ —
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts
65
65
Total liabilities
$ 1,234
$ —
$ 1,234
$ —

(amounts in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Total Fair
Value
Measurement
December 26,
2010
Quoted Prices
In Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Foreign currency revenue forecast contracts
$ 938
$ —
$ 938
$ —
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts
27
27
Total assets
$ 965
$ —
$ 965
$ —
         
Foreign currency revenue forecast contracts
$ 278
$ —
$ 278
$ —
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts
20
20
Total liabilities
$ 298
$ —
$ 298
$ —

The following table provides a summary of the activity associated with all of our designated cash flow hedges (foreign currency) reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income for the three months ended March 27, 2011:

(amounts in thousands)
 
March 27, 2011
Beginning balance, net of tax
$       377
Changes in fair value gain, net of tax
(2,043)
Reclassification to earnings, net of tax
224
Ending balance, net of tax
$ (1,442)

We believe that the fair values of our current assets and current liabilities (cash, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other current liabilities) approximate their reported carrying amounts. The carrying values and the estimated fair values of non-current financial assets and liabilities that qualify as financial instruments and are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 27, 2011 and December 26, 2010 are summarized in the following table:

(amounts in thousands)
March 27, 2011
 
December 26, 2010
 
Carrying
Amount
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Carrying
Amount
Estimated
Fair Value
Long-term debt (including current maturities and excluding capital leases and factoring) (1)
         
Senior secured credit facility
$ 44,674
$ 44,674
 
$ 42,687
$ 42,687
Senior secured notes
$ 75,000
$ 75,750
 
$ 75,000
$ 75,787

 
The carrying amounts are reported on the balance sheet under the indicated captions.

Long-term debt is carried at the original offering price, less any payments of principal. Rates currently available to us for long-term borrowings with similar terms and remaining maturities are used to estimate the fair value of existing borrowings as the present value of expected cash flows.

 
17
 
 

Financial Instruments and Risk Management

We manufacture products in the U.S., the Caribbean, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region for both the local marketplace and for export to our foreign subsidiaries. The foreign subsidiaries, in turn, sell these products to customers in their respective geographic areas of operation, generally in local currencies. This method of sale and resale gives rise to the risk of gains or losses as a result of currency exchange rate fluctuations on inter-company receivables and payables. Additionally, the sourcing of product in one currency and the sales of product in a different currency can cause gross margin fluctuations due to changes in currency exchange rates.

Our major market risk exposures are movements in foreign currency and interest rates. We have historically not used financial instruments to minimize our exposure to currency fluctuations on our net investments in and cash flows derived from our foreign subsidiaries. We have used third-party borrowings in foreign currencies to hedge a portion of our net investments in and cash flows derived from our foreign subsidiaries. A reduction in our third party foreign currency borrowings will result in an increase of foreign currency fluctuations on our net investments in and cash flows derived from our foreign subsidiaries.

We enter into forward exchange contracts to reduce the risks of currency fluctuations on short-term inter-company receivables and payables. These contracts are entered into with major financial institutions, thereby minimizing the risk of credit loss. We will consider using interest rate derivatives to manage interest rate risks when there is a disproportionate ratio of floating and fixed-rate debt. We do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes. We are subject to other foreign exchange market risk exposure resulting from anticipated non-financial instrument foreign currency cash flows which are difficult to reasonably predict, and have therefore not been included in the table of fair values. All listed items described are non-trading.

The following table presents the fair values of derivative instruments included within the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 27, 2011 and December 26, 2010:

 (amounts in thousands)
March 27, 2011
 
December 26, 2010
 
Asset Derivatives
Liability Derivatives
 
Asset Derivatives
Liability Derivatives
 
Balance
Sheet
Location
Fair
Value
Balance
Sheet
Location
Fair
Value
 
Balance
Sheet
Location
Fair
Value
Balance
Sheet
Location
Fair
Value
                   
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
                 
Foreign currency revenue forecast contracts
Other current
assets
$   18
Other current
liabilities
$  1,169
 
Other current
assets
$  938
Other current
liabilities
$  278
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments
 
18
 
1,169
   
938
 
278
                   
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
                 
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts
Other current
assets
107
Other current
liabilities
65
 
Other current
assets
27
Other current
liabilities
20
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
 
107
 
65
   
27
 
20
Total derivatives
 
$ 125
 
$ 1,234
   
$ 965
 
$ 298


 
18
 
 

The following tables present the amounts affecting the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010:

(amounts in thousands)
March 27, 2011
 
March 28, 2010
 
Amount of 
Gain (Loss)
Recognized
in Other
Comprehensive
Income on
Derivatives
Location of
Gain (Loss)
Reclassified
From
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income into
Income
Amount of 
Gain (Loss)
Reclassified
From
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income into 
Income
Amount of
Forward
Points
Recognized
in
Other Gain
(Loss), net 
 
Amount of 
Gain (Loss)
Recognized
in Other
Comprehensive
Income on
Derivatives
Location of
Gain (Loss)
Reclassified
From
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income into
Income
Amount of 
Gain (Loss)
Reclassified
From
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income into 
Income
Amount of
Forward
Points
Recognized
in
Other Gain
(Loss), net 
                   
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
                 
Foreign currency revenue forecast contracts
$  (2,371)
Cost of sales
$  (218)
$  19
 
$  1,104
Cost of sales
$  (372)
$  (15)
Interest rate swap contracts
Interest expense
 
171
Interest expense
(159)
Total designated cash flow hedges
$ (2,371)
 
$ (218)
$ 19
 
$ 1,275
 
$ (531)
$ (15)


(amounts in thousands)
March 27, 2011
 
March 28, 2010
Quarter ended
Amount of
Gain (Loss)
Recognized in
Income on
Derivatives
Location of
Gain (Loss)
Recognized in
Income on
Derivatives
 
Amount of
Gain (Loss)
Recognized in
Income on
Derivatives
Location of
Gain (Loss)
Recognized in
Income on
Derivatives
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
         
Foreign exchange forwards and options
$ (338)
Other gain
(loss), net
 
$ 165
Other gain
(loss), net

We selectively purchase currency forward exchange contracts to reduce the risks of currency fluctuations on short-term inter-company receivables and payables. These contracts guarantee a predetermined exchange rate at the time the contract is purchased. This allows us to shift the effect of positive or negative currency fluctuations to a third party. Transaction gains or losses resulting from these contracts are recognized at the end of each reporting period. We use the fair value method of accounting, recording realized and unrealized gains and losses on these contracts. These gains and losses are included in other gain (loss), net on our Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of March 27, 2011, we had currency forward exchange contracts with notional amounts totaling approximately $13.7 million. The fair values of the forward exchange contracts were reflected as a $0.1 million asset and $0.1 million liability and are included in other current assets and other current liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets. The contracts are in the various local currencies covering primarily our operations in the U.S., the Caribbean, and Western Europe. Historically, we have not purchased currency forward exchange contracts where it is not economically efficient, specifically for our operations in South America and Asia, with the exception of Japan.

Beginning in the second quarter of 2008, we entered into various foreign currency contracts to reduce our exposure to forecasted Euro-denominated inter-company revenues. These contracts were designated as cash flow hedges. The foreign currency contracts mature at various dates from April 2011 to March 2012. The purpose of these cash flow hedges is to eliminate the currency risk associated with Euro-denominated forecasted inter-company revenues due to changes in exchange rates. These cash flow hedging instruments are marked to market and the changes are recorded in other comprehensive income. Amounts recorded in other comprehensive income are recognized in cost of goods sold as the inventory is sold to external parties. Any hedge ineffectiveness is charged to other gain (loss), net on our Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of March 27, 2011, the fair value of these cash flow hedges were reflected as an $18 thousand asset and a $1.2 million liability and are included in other current assets and other current liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The total notional amount of these hedges is $35.6 million (€26.0 million) and the unrealized loss recorded in other comprehensive income was $1.4 million (net of taxes of $0.2 million), of which $1.3 million (net of taxes of $0.2 million) is expected to be reclassified to earnings over the next twelve months. During the three months ended March 27, 2011, a $0.3 million expense related to these foreign currency hedges was recorded to cost of goods sold as the inventory was sold to external parties, respectively. The Company recognized no hedge ineffectiveness during the three months ended March 27, 2011.

 
19
 
 

Note 12. PROVISION FOR RESTRUCTURING

Restructuring expense for the three months ended March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010 was as follows:

(amounts in thousands)
Quarter ended
March 27,
2011
March 28,
2010
SG&A Restructuring Plan
   
Severance and other employee-related charges
$ 1,585
$    96
Other exit costs
32
Manufacturing Restructuring Plan
   
Severance and other employee-related charges
(9)
295
Other exit costs
(11)
45
Total
$ 1,597
$  436

Restructuring accrual activity for the three months ended March 27, 2011 was as follows:

(amounts in thousands)
 
Accrual at
Beginning of
Year
Charged to
Earnings
Charge
Reversed to
Earnings
Cash
Payments
Exchange
Rate Changes
Accrual at
3/27/2011
SG&A Restructuring Plan
           
Severance and other employee-related charges
$ 6,660
$ 1,593
$   (8)
$ (1,228)
$ 351
$ 7,368
Other exit costs(1)
32
(32)
Manufacturing Restructuring Plan
           
Severance and other employee-related charges
719
(9)
(78)
632
Other exit costs(2)
143
(11)
(132)
Total
$ 7,522
$ 1,625
$ (28)
$ (1,470)
$ 351
$ 8,000

 
During the first three months of 2011, there was a net charge to earnings of $32 thousand due to a one-time payment related to a lease modification for an operating facility.
(2)  
During 2010, lease termination costs of $0.6 million were recorded due to the closing of a manufacturing facility which were partially offset by a deferred rent charge of $0.1 million previously incurred in prior periods for the manufacturing facility. During the first three months of 2011, there was a net increase to earnings of $11 thousand due to lower than estimated lease termination costs.

SG&A Restructuring Plan

During 2009, we initiated a plan focused on reducing our overall operating expenses by consolidating certain administrative functions to improve efficiencies. The first phase of this plan was implemented in the fourth quarter of 2009 with the remaining phases of the plan expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2011.

As of March 27, 2011, the net charge to earnings of $1.6 million represents the current year activity related to the SG&A Restructuring Plan. The anticipated total costs related to the plan are expected to approximate $20 million to $25 million, of which $11.4 million have been incurred. The total number of employees currently affected by the SG&A Restructuring Plan were 204, of which 114 have been terminated. Termination benefits are planned to be paid one month to 24 months after termination.

Manufacturing Restructuring Plan

In August 2008, we announced a manufacturing and supply chain restructuring program designed to accelerate profitable growth in our Apparel Labeling Solutions (ALS) business, formerly Check-Net®, and to support incremental improvements in our EAS systems and labels businesses. For the three months ended March 27, 2011, there was a net increase to earnings of $20 thousand recorded in connection with the Manufacturing Restructuring Plan. This net increase was primarily due to lower than estimated severance accruals and other exit costs associated with the closing of manufacturing facilities.

The total number of employees currently affected by the Manufacturing Restructuring Plan was 418, of which 383 have been terminated. As of March 27, 2011 the implementation of the Manufacturing Restructuring Plan is substantially complete, with total costs incurred of $4.2 million. Termination benefits are planned to be paid one month to 24 months after termination.

Note 13. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND SETTLEMENTS

We are involved in certain legal actions, all of which have arisen in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that the ultimate resolution of such matters is unlikely to have a material adverse effect on our Consolidated Results of Operations and/or Financial Condition, except as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2010 for which there have been no material changes.

 
20
 
 

Note 14. BUSINESS SEGMENTS

(amounts in thousands)
Quarter ended
March 27,
2011
 
March 28,
2010
 
Business segment net revenue:
       
Shrink Management Solutions
$  125,511
 
$ 129,429
 
Apparel Labeling Solutions
41,360
 
40,223
 
Retail Merchandising Solutions
17,802
 
17,804
 
Total revenues
$  184,673
 
$ 187,456
 
Business segment gross profit:
       
Shrink Management Solutions
$    47,818
 
$   56,205
 
Apparel Labeling Solutions
13,906
 
15,396
 
Retail Merchandising Solutions
8,650
 
8,950
 
Total gross profit
70,374
 
80,551
 
Operating expenses
80,955
(1)
74,930
(2)
Interest (expense) income, net
(676)
 
(932)
 
Other gain (loss), net
110
 
266
 
(Loss) earnings before income taxes
$   (11,147)
 
$     4,955
 

(1)  
Includes a $1.6 million restructuring charge.
 
Includes a $0.4 million restructuring charge.


 
21
 
 


Information Relating to Forward-Looking Statements

This report includes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Except for historical matters, the matters discussed are forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited, to the following: satisfaction of applicable closing conditions in our agreement to acquire the Shore to Shore business; amendments to the Shore to Shore purchase agreement prior to closing; our ability to integrate this and other acquisitions and to achieve our financial and operational goals for our acquisitions; changes in international business conditions; foreign currency exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations; lower than anticipated demand by retailers and other customers for our products; slower commitments of retail customers to chain-wide installations and/or source tagging adoption or expansion; possible increases in per unit product manufacturing costs due to less than full utilization of manufacturing capacity as a result of slowing economic conditions or other factors; our ability to provide and market innovative and cost-effective products; the development of new competitive technologies; our ability to maintain our intellectual property; competitive pricing pressures causing profit erosion; the availability and pricing of component parts and raw materials; possible increases in the payment time for receivables as a result of economic conditions or other market factors; changes in regulations or standards applicable to our products; the ability to implement cost reduction in field service, sales, and general and administrative expense, and our manufacturing and supply chain operations without significantly impacting revenue and profits; our ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; and risks generally associated with our company-wide implementation of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional information about potential factors that could affect our business and financial results is included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2010, and our other Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Overview

We are a multinational manufacturer and marketer of identification, tracking, security and merchandising solutions primarily for the retail industry. We provide technology-driven integrated supply chain solutions to brand, track, and secure goods for retailers and consumer product manufacturers worldwide. We are a leading provider of, and earn revenues primarily from the sale of Shrink Management, Apparel Labeling and Retail Merchandising Solutions. Shrink Management Solutions consists of electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems and EAS consumables including Alpha solutions, store monitoring solutions (CheckView®), and radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, software, tags and labels. Apparel Labeling Solutions includes our web-enabled apparel labeling solutions platform and network of service bureaus to manage the printing of variable information on price and promotional tickets, adhesive labels, fabric and woven tags and labels, and apparel branding tags. Retail Merchandising Solutions consists of hand-held labeling systems (HLS) and retail display systems (RDS). Applications of these products include primarily retail security, asset and merchandise visibility, automatic identification, and pricing and promotional labels and signage. Operating directly in 31 countries, we have a global network of subsidiaries and distributors, and provide customer service and technical support around the world.

Our results are heavily dependent upon sales to the retail market. Our customers are dependent upon retail sales, which are susceptible to economic cycles and seasonal fluctuations. Furthermore, as approximately two-thirds of our revenues and operations are located outside the U.S., fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates have a significant impact on reported results.

Our operations and results depend significantly on global market worldwide economic conditions, which have experienced deterioration in recent years. In response to these market conditions, we continue to focus on providing customers with innovative products that will be valuable in addressing shrink, which is particularly important during a difficult economic environment. We have also implemented initiatives to reduce costs and improve working capital to mitigate the effects of the economy on our business. We believe that the strength of our core business and our ability to generate positive cash flow will sustain us through this challenging period.

During 2009, we initiated a plan focused on reducing our overall operating expenses by consolidating certain administrative functions to improve efficiencies. The first phase of this plan was implemented in the fourth quarter of 2009 with subsequent phases initiated during fiscal 2010. In September 2010, we announced the remaining phases of the plan in which we anticipate the total plan to result in restructuring charges of approximately $20 million to $25 million, or $0.50 to $0.62 per diluted share. We expect implementation of this program to be substantially complete by the end of 2011 and to result in total cost savings of approximately $20 million to $25 million. We expect to realize approximately $15 million to $17 million of the total cost savings in 2011 and the remainder of the savings in 2012.

In August 2008, we announced a manufacturing and supply chain restructuring program designed to accelerate profitable growth in our ALS business and to support incremental improvements in our EAS systems and labels businesses. The implementation of this program was substantially completed in 2010 and is expected to result in annualized cost savings of approximately $6 million in 2011.

In January 2011, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire, through the acquisition of equity and/or assets, a retail apparel and footwear product identification business which designs, manufactures and sells tags and labels and brand protection and EAS solutions/labels. The aggregate initial purchase price to be paid is $67.95 million less any debt of the selling entity that the Company is required to discharge at closing. The purchase price is subject to adjustment based upon the aggregate net working capital of the Global Business at closing, with a portion of the purchase price to be paid at closing deposited into escrow. The purchase price is subject to contingencies based on the performance of the acquired business in 2010 as well as the successful migration of specified business accounts to the Company following the acquisition. The acquisition has not yet been settled as the closing of the acquisition is contingent upon certain criteria which have not yet been met.

Future financial results will be dependent upon our ability to expand the functionality of our existing product lines, develop or acquire new products for sale through our global distribution channels, convert new large chain retailers to our solutions for shrink management, merchandise visibility and apparel labeling, and reduce the cost of our products and infrastructure to respond to competitive pricing pressures.

Our base of recurring revenue (revenues from the sale of consumables into the installed base of security systems, apparel tags and labels, and hand-held labeling tools and services from monitoring and maintenance), repeat customer business, and our borrowing capacity should provide us with adequate cash flow and liquidity to execute our business plan.

 
22
 
 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We have updated the Revenue Recognition section of our Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates since those presented in Part II - Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2010. Except for revisions to the Revenue Recognition section, there have been no material changes to our Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2010. The revised Revenue Recognition policy is included below.

Revenue Recognition. We recognize revenue when revenue is realized or realizable and earned. Revenue is realized or realizable and earned when all of the following criteria are met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable; and collectability is reasonably assured.

We enter into contracts to sell our products and services, and, while the majority of our sales agreements contain standard terms and conditions, there are agreements that contain multiple elements or non-standard terms and conditions. As a result, significant contract interpretation is sometimes required to determine the appropriate accounting, including whether the deliverables specified in a multiple element arrangement should be treated as separate units of accounting for revenue recognition purposes, and, if so, how the selling price should be allocated among the elements and when to recognize revenue for each element.

For arrangements with multiple elements, we allocate total arrangement consideration to all deliverables based on their relative selling price using a specific hierarchy and recognize revenue when each element’s revenue recognition criteria are met. The hierarchy is as follows: vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”), third-party evidence of selling price (“TPE”) or best estimate of selling price (“BESP”). VSOE of fair value for each element is established based on the price charged when the same element is sold separately. We recognize revenue when installation is complete or other post-shipment obligations have been satisfied.  Unearned revenue is recorded when payments are received in advance of performing our service obligations and is recognized over the service period.

Products leased to customers under sales-type leases are accounted for as the equivalent of a sale. The present value of such lease revenues is recorded as net revenues, and the related cost of the products is charged to cost of revenues. The deferred finance charges applicable to these leases are recognized over the terms of the leases. Rental revenue from products under operating leases is recognized over the term of the lease. Installation revenue from SMS EAS products is recognized when the systems are installed. Service revenue is recognized, for service contracts, on a straight-line basis over the contractual period, and, for non-contract work, as services are performed.

Revenues from software license agreements are recognized when persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, delivery of the product has occurred, no significant vendor obligations are remaining to be fulfilled, the fee is fixed or determinable, and collection is probable. Revenue from software contracts for both licenses and professional services that require significant production, modification, customization, or implementation are recognized together using the percentage of completion method based upon the ratio of labor incurred to total estimated labor to complete each contract. In instances where there is a term license combined with services, revenue is recognized ratably over the term.

We record estimated reductions to revenue for customer incentive offerings, including volume-based incentives and rebates. We record revenues net of an allowance for estimated return activities. Return activity was immaterial to revenue and results of operations for all periods presented.

Results of Operations

All comparisons are with the prior year period, unless otherwise stated.

Net Revenues

Our unit volume is driven by product offerings, number of direct sales personnel, recurring sales and, to some extent, pricing. Our base of installed systems provides a source of recurring revenues from the sale of disposable tags, labels, and service revenues.

Our customers are substantially dependent on retail sales, which are seasonal, subject to significant fluctuations, and difficult to predict. In addition, current economic trends have particularly affected our customers, and consequently our net revenues have been, and may continue to be impacted in the future. Historically, we have experienced lower sales in the first half of each year.

 
23
 
 

Analysis of Statement of Operations

Thirteen Weeks Ended March 27, 2011 Compared to Thirteen Weeks Ended March 28, 2010

The following table presents for the periods indicated certain items in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as a percentage of total revenues and the percentage change in dollar amounts of such items compared to the indicated prior period:

 
Percentage of Total Revenue
 
Percentage
Change In
Dollar
Amount
 
Quarter ended
March 27,
2011
(Fiscal 2011)
 
March 28,
2010
(Fiscal 2010)
 
Fiscal 2011
vs.
Fiscal 2010
 
             
Net revenues
           
Shrink Management Solutions
68.0
%
69.0
%
(3.0)
%%
Apparel Labeling Solutions
22.4
 
21.5
 
2.8
 
Retail Merchandising Solutions
9.6
 
9.5
 
 
Net revenues
100.0
 
100.0
 
(1.5)
 
Cost of revenues
61.9
 
57.0
 
6.9
 
Total gross profit
38.1
 
43.0
 
(12.6)
 
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
40.4
 
37.2
 
6.8
 
Research and development
2.6
 
2.5
 
2.1
 
Restructuring expense
0.8
 
0.2
 
266.3
 
Operating (loss) income
(5.7)
 
3.1
 
(288.2)
 
Interest income
0.5
 
0.4
 
44.6
 
Interest expense
0.9
 
0.9
 
2.6
 
Other gain (loss), net
0.1
 
0.1
 
(58.6)
 
(Loss) earnings before income taxes
(6.0)
 
2.7
 
(325.0)
 
Income taxes
(1.0)
 
0.8
 
(220.9)
 
Net (loss) earnings
(5.0)
 
1.9
 
(370.9)
 
Less: (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
 
N/A
 
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
(5.0)
%
1.9
%
(365.6)
%%

N/A – Comparative percentages are not meaningful.

Net Revenues

Revenues for the first quarter of 2011 compared to the first quarter of 2010 decreased $2.8 million, or 1.5%, from $187.5 million to $184.7 million. Foreign currency translation had a positive impact on revenues of approximately $0.8 million, or 0.4%, in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the first quarter of 2010.

(amounts in millions)
Quarter ended
March 27,
2011
(Fiscal 2011)
March 28,
2010
(Fiscal 2010)
 
Dollar
Amount
Change
Fiscal 2011
vs.
Fiscal 2010
 
Percentage
Change
Fiscal 2011
vs.
Fiscal 2010
 
Net Revenues:
             
Shrink Management Solutions
$ 125.5
$ 129.5
 
$ (4.0)
 
(3.0)
%
Apparel Labeling Solutions
41.4
40.2
 
1.2
 
2.8
 
Retail Merchandising Solutions
17.8
17.8
 
 
 
Net Revenues
$ 184.7
$ 187.5
 
$ (2.8)
 
(1.5)
%


 
24
 
 

Shrink Management Solutions

Shrink Management Solutions (SMS) revenues decreased $4.0 million, or 3.0%, during the first quarter of 2011 compared to the first quarter of 2010. Foreign currency translation had a positive impact of approximately $1.1 million. The decrease in Shrink Management Solutions was due to declines in organic growth in EAS consumables, EAS systems, and Merchandise Visibility (RFID) of $5.8 million, $1.3 million, and $0.9 million, respectively. These decreases were partially offset by increases in other SMS businesses including $1.4 million in CheckView® and $1.1 million in Alpha.

EAS consumables revenues decreased $5.8 million in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the first quarter of 2010. The decrease was primarily due to Hard Tag @ Source™ revenues, which were well below levels of one year ago when we experienced high volumes associated with the initial program roll-out to a major European retailer. A decline in Europe EAS label revenues due to volume declines with certain customers was also a factor.

EAS systems revenues decreased $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the first quarter of 2010. The decrease was primarily due to declines in revenues primarily in Europe. New store openings are a significant contributor to EAS systems revenues. These have been scaled back by many of our Europe and North America based customers, who have increased their focus on margin improvement at existing stores. We have been addressing this by selling new, faster payback EAS consumables and Alpha solutions to existing customers while increasing our market share in underpenetrated retail verticals through innovative products such as Evolve™ and our Hard Tag @ Source™ program.

CheckView® revenues increased $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the first quarter of 2010. The increase was due to modest growth in installations and on-going services with existing customers, primarily in the U.S. and Asia.  CheckView® has been dependent on new store openings and capital spending that has been scaled back by retail customers.  We have been successful in mitigating this trend by leveraging our relationships with EAS and Alpha customers to generate new revenue opportunities for CheckView®.

Alpha revenues increased $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the first quarter of 2010. The increase was due to stronger demand for Alpha products as market conditions for high theft prevention products improved during the first quarter of 2011.

Apparel Labeling Solutions

Apparel Labeling Solutions revenues increased $1.2 million, or 2.8%, in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the first quarter of 2010. After considering the foreign currency translation negative impact of approximately $0.3 million, the remaining increase of $1.5 million was primarily due to stronger demand from our apparel retail customers in Asia and the U.S. This increase was partially offset by a decline in sales volumes in Europe.

Retail Merchandising Solutions

Retail Merchandising Solutions revenues remained flat in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the first quarter of 2010. Foreign currency translation had no significant impact on revenues for the comparable periods. Retail Display Solutions (RDS) increased $0.2 million and was offset by a $0.2 million decrease in Hand-held Labeling Solutions (HLS). We anticipate RDS and HLS will face difficult revenue trends in 2011 due to the impact of pricing pressures on the RDS business and continued shifts in market demand for HLS products.

Gross Profit

During the first quarter of 2011, gross profit decreased $10.2 million, or 12.6%, from $80.6 million to $70.4 million. The positive impact of foreign currency translation on gross profit was approximately $0.3 million. Gross profit, as a percentage of net revenues, decreased from 43.0% to 38.1%.

Shrink Management Solutions

Shrink Management Solutions gross profit as a percentage of Shrink Management Solutions revenues decreased from 43.4% in the first quarter of 2010 to 38.1% in the first quarter of 2011. The decrease in the gross profit percentage of Shrink Management Solutions was due primarily to lower margins in EAS consumables and CheckView®. The decline in EAS Consumables margin was due to delays in capturing expected cost efficiencies as we expanded new product and specialty label capacity coupled with pricing that does not yet reflect the enhanced capabilities of these products.  EAS Consumables margins were also impacted by the year over year reduction in higher margin Hard Tag @ Source™. Growth in the typically lower margin CheckView® business also contributed to the decline, where gross margins were impacted by customer and product mix as well as costs associated with obsolete inventory.

Apparel Labeling Solutions

Apparel Labeling Solutions gross profit as a percentage of Apparel Labeling Solutions revenues decreased to 33.6% in the first quarter of 2011, from 38.3% in the first quarter of 2010. Certain Apparel Labeling Solutions products contain an EAS component. The efficiency issues that impacted EAS Consumables margins in the Shrink Management Solutions segment were also the primary factor in the Apparel Labeling Solutions margin decline.
 
 
Retail Merchandising Solutions

The Retail Merchandising Solutions gross profit as a percentage of Retail Merchandising Solutions revenues decreased to 48.6% in the first quarter of 2011 from 50.3% in the first quarter of 2010. The decrease in Retail Merchandising Solutions gross profit percentage was due to lower margins in HLS resulting from unfavorable manufacturing variances related to lower volumes in the first quarter of 2011.

 
25
 
 

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased $4.8 million, or 6.8%, during the first quarter of 2011 compared to the first quarter of 2010. Foreign currency translation increased SG&A expenses by approximately $0.2 million. The remaining increase in SG&A expense of $4.6 million was due primarily to increased operations and shared services expenses required to build capabilities prior to the implementation of our company wide ERP system and associated SG&A Restructuring and other cost savings initiatives beginning in the second quarter of 2011. Increased consulting costs incurred in connection with ERP system implementation, acquisition related costs and an expense resulting from lower than expected forfeitures in share-based compensation also contributed to the increase in SG&A expense.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $4.8 million, or 2.6% of revenues, in the first quarter of 2011 and $4.7 million, or 2.5% of revenues in the first quarter of 2010.

Restructuring Expenses

Restructuring expenses were $1.6 million, or 0.8% of revenues in the first quarter of 2011 compared to $0.4 million or 0.2% of revenues in the first quarter of 2010.

Interest Income and Interest Expense

Interest income for the first quarter of 2011 increased $0.3 million from the comparable quarter in 2010. The increase in interest income was primarily due to higher cash balances and increased interest income recognized for sales-type leases during the first quarter of 2011 compared to the first quarter of 2010.

Interest expense for the first quarter of 2011 remained flat from the comparable quarter in 2010.

Other Gain (Loss), net

Other gain (loss), net was a net gain of $0.1 million in the first quarter of 2011 compared to a net gain of $0.3 million in the first quarter of 2010. The decrease was primarily due to a $0.3 million foreign exchange loss during the first quarter of 2011 compared to a $0.1 million foreign exchange loss during the first quarter of 2010.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2011 was 16.5% as compared to 30.6% for the first quarter of 2010. The decrease in the first quarter 2011 tax rate was due to the mix of income between subsidiaries.

Net (Loss) Earnings Attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.

Net (loss) earnings attributable to Checkpoint Systems, Inc. were a loss of $9.3 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, during the first quarter of 2011 compared to earnings of $3.5 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, during the first quarter of 2010. The weighted-average number of shares used in the diluted earnings per share computation were 40.3 million and 40.1 million for the first quarters of 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our liquidity needs have been, and are expected to continue to be driven by acquisitions, capital investments, product development costs, potential future restructuring related to the rationalization of the business, and working capital requirements. We have met our liquidity needs primarily through cash generated from operations. Based on an analysis of liquidity utilizing conservative assumptions for the next twelve months, we believe that cash on hand from operating activities and funding available under our credit agreements should be adequate to service our debt and working capital needs, meet our capital investment requirements, other potential restructuring requirements, and product development requirements.

The ongoing financial and credit crisis has reduced credit availability and liquidity for many companies. We believe, however, that the strength of our core business, cash position, access to credit markets, and our ability to generate positive cash flow will sustain us through this challenging period. We are working to reduce our liquidity risk by accelerating efforts to improve working capital while reducing expenses in areas that will not adversely impact the future potential of our business. Additionally, we have increased our monitoring of counterparty risk. We evaluate the creditworthiness of all existing and potential counterparties for all debt, investment, and derivative transactions and instruments. Our policy allows us to enter into transactions with nationally recognized financial institutions with a credit rating of “A” or higher as reported by one of the credit rating agencies that is a nationally recognized statistical rating organization by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The maximum exposure permitted to any single counterparty is $50.0 million. Counterparty credit ratings and credit exposure are monitored monthly and reviewed quarterly by our Treasury Risk Committee.

As of March 27, 2011, our cash and cash equivalents were $188.6 million compared to $173.8 million as of December 26, 2010. Cash and cash equivalents increased in 2011 primarily due to $11.0 million of cash provided by operating activities and $1.7 million of cash provided by financing activities, partially offset by $4.6 million of cash used in investing activities.

Cash provided by operating activities was $15.4 million greater during the first three months of 2011 compared to the first three months of 2010. In 2011 compared to 2010, our cash from operating activities was impacted positively by decreases in accounts receivable and inventories and increases in unearned revenues and other current liabilities, which was partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable. Accounts receivable decreased primarily due to decreased sales during the first three months of 2011 compared to the first three months of 2010. Inventory and accounts payable decreased primarily due to decreased customer orders during the first three months of 2011 compared to the first three months of 2010. Unearned revenues increased due to the increase of future contracted customer orders during the first quarter of 2011 associated with our Hard Tag @ Source™ program.

 
26
 
 


Cash used in investing activities was $1.6 million greater during the first three months of 2011 compared to the first three months of 2010. This was primarily due to an increase in property, plant and equipment in 2011, related primarily to the company-wide ERP system implementation.

Cash provided by financing activities was $1.5 million less in the first three months of 2011 compared to the first three months of 2010. The decrease in cash provided by financing activities was primarily due to a decrease in proceeds from issuances of stock as well as decreases in proceeds from the existing borrowing facilities. The decrease in cash provided by financing activities was offset by lower payments against existing borrowing facilities during the first three months of 2011.

Our percentage of total debt to total equity as of March 27, 2011, was 24.0% compared to 24.3% as of December 26, 2010. As of March 27, 2011, our working capital was $304.8 million compared to $298.8 million as of December 26, 2010.

We continue to reinvest in the Company through our investment in technology and process improvement. Our investment in research and development amounted to $4.8 million and $4.7 million during the first three months of 2011 and the first three months of 2010, respectively. These amounts are reflected in cash used in operations, as we expense our research and development as it is incurred. We anticipate spending approximately $15 million on research and development to support achievement of our strategic plan during the remainder of 2011.

We have various unfunded pension plans outside the U.S. These plans have significant pension costs and liabilities that are developed from actuarial valuations. For the first three months of 2011, our contribution to these plans was $1.4 million. Our total funding expectation for 2011 is $5.1 million. We believe our current cash position, cash generated from operations, and the availability of cash under our revolving line of credit will be adequate to fund these requirements.

Acquisition of property, plant, and equipment during the first three months of 2011 totaled $4.3 million compared to $3.1 million during 2010. During the first three months of 2011, our acquisition of property, plant, and equipment included $2.1 million of capitalized internal-use software costs related to an ERP system implementation, without a comparable amount during the first three months of 2010. We anticipate our remaining capital expenditures, used primarily to upgrade information technology and improve our production capabilities, to approximate $31 million in 2011.

On July 1, 1997, Checkpoint Systems Japan Co. Ltd. (Checkpoint Japan), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, issued newly authorized shares to Mitsubishi Materials Corporation (Mitsubishi) in exchange for cash. In February 2006, Checkpoint Japan repurchased 26% of these shares from Mitsubishi in exchange for $0.2 million in cash. In August 2010, Checkpoint Manufacturing Japan Co., LTD. repurchased the remaining 74% of these shares from Mitsubishi in exchange for $0.8 million in cash.

On December 30, 2009, we entered into a new Hong Kong banking facility. The banking facility includes a trade finance facility, a revolving loan facility, and a term loan. The maximum availability under the facility is $7.9 million (HKD 61.6 million). The banking facility is secured by all plant, machinery, fittings and equipment. The book value of the collateral as of March 27, 2011 is $8.1 million (HKD 63.5 million). As of March 27, 2011, the Company has outstanding $4.3 million (HKD 33.6 million) against the term loan, $2.0 million (HKD 15.6 million) against the trade finance facility, and $0.4 million (HKD 3.0 million) against the revolving loan facility. The banking facility is subject to the bank’s right to call the liabilities at any time, and is therefore included in short-term borrowings in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

As of March 27, 2011, the Japanese local line of credit is $1.8 million (¥150 million) and is fully drawn. The line of credit matures in November 2011.

In October 2009, the Company entered into a $12.0 million (€8.0 million) full-recourse factoring arrangement. The arrangement is secured by trade receivables. Borrowings bear interest at rates of EURIBOR plus a margin of 3.00%. At March 27, 2011, the interest rate was 4.09%.  At March 27, 2011, our short-term full-recourse factoring arrangement equaled $11.3 million (€8.0 million) and is included in short-term borrowings in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets since the agreement expires in December 2011.

In December 2009, we entered into new full-recourse factoring arrangements. The arrangements are secured by trade receivables. The Company received a weighted average of 92.4% of the face amount of receivables that it desired to sell and the bank agreed, at its discretion, to buy. At March 27, 2011 the factoring arrangements had a balance of $1.7 million (€1.2 million), of which $0.4 million (€0.3 million) was included in the current portion of long-term debt and $1.3 million (€0.9 million) was included in long-term borrowings in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets since the receivables are collectable through 2016.

Revolving Credit Facility

The Senior Secured Credit Facility includes an expansion option that will allow us to request an increase in the Senior Secured Credit Facility of up to an aggregate of $50.0 million, for a potential total commitment of $175.0 million. As of March 27, 2011, we did not elect to request the $50.0 million expansion option.

The Senior Secured Credit Facility contains a $25.0 million sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit of which $1.4 million, issued under the Secured Credit Facility, are outstanding as of March 27, 2011. The Senior Secured Credit Facility also contains a $15.0 million sublimit for swingline loans.

All obligations of domestic borrowers under the Senior Secured Credit Facility are irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by our domestic subsidiaries. The obligations of foreign borrowers under the Senior Secured Credit Facility are irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by certain of our foreign subsidiaries as well as the domestic guarantors. Collateral under the Senior Secured Credit Facility includes a 100% stock pledge of domestic subsidiaries and a 65% stock pledge of all first-tier foreign subsidiaries, excluding our Japanese sales subsidiary.

Pursuant to the terms of the Senior Secured Credit Facility, we are subject to various requirements, including covenants requiring the maintenance of a maximum total leverage ratio of 2.75 and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.25. The Senior Secured Credit Facility also contains customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, notice provisions and events of default, including change of control, cross-defaults to other debt, and judgment defaults. Upon a default under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, including the non-payment of principal or interest, our obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facility may be accelerated and the assets securing such obligations may be sold. Certain wholly-owned subsidiaries with respect to the Company are guarantors of our obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facility. As of March 27, 2011, we were in compliance with all covenants.

 
27
 
 

Senior Secured Notes

The Senior Secured Notes Agreement provides that for a three-year period ending on July 22, 2013, we may issue, and our lender may, in its sole discretion, purchase, additional fixed-rate senior secured notes (the “Shelf Notes”); together with the 2010 Notes, (the “Notes”), up to an aggregate amount of $50.0 million. As of March 27, 2011, we did not issue additional fixed-rate senior secured notes.

All obligations under the Senior Secured Notes are irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by our domestic subsidiaries. Collateral under the Senior Secured Notes includes a 100% stock pledge of domestic subsidiaries and a 65% stock pledge of all first-tier foreign subsidiaries, excluding our Japanese sales subsidiary.

The Senior Secured Notes Agreement is subject to covenants that are substantially similar to the covenants in the Senior Secured Credit Facility Agreement, including covenants requiring the maintenance of a maximum total leverage ratio of 2.75 and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.25. The Senior Secured Notes Agreement also contains representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, notice provisions and events of default, including change of control, cross-defaults to other debt, and judgment defaults that are substantially similar to those contained in the Senior Secured Credit Facility, and those that are customary for similar private placement transactions. Upon a default under the Senior Secured Notes Agreement, including the non-payment of principal or interest, our obligations under the Senior Secured Notes Agreement may be accelerated and the assets securing such obligations may be sold. Certain of our wholly-owned subsidiaries are also guarantors of our obligations under the Senior Secured Notes. As of March 27, 2011, we were in compliance with all covenants.

In January 2011, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire, through the acquisition of equity and/or assets, a retail apparel and footwear product identification business which designs, manufactures and sells tags and labels and brand protection and EAS solutions/labels. The aggregate initial purchase price to be paid is $67.95 million less any debt of the selling entity that the Company is required to discharge at closing. The purchase price is subject to adjustment based upon the aggregate net working capital of the acquired business at closing, with a portion of the purchase price to be paid at closing deposited into escrow. The purchase price is subject to contingencies of up to an additional $18.75 million based on the performance of the acquired business in 2010 as well as the successful migration of specified business accounts to the Company following the acquisition. The acquisition has not yet been settled as the closing of the acquisition is contingent upon certain criteria which have not yet been met.

We have never paid a cash dividend (except for a nominal cash distribution in April 1997 to redeem the rights outstanding under our 1988 Shareholders’ Rights Plan). We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the near future.

As we continue to implement our strategic plan in a volatile global economic environment, our focus will remain on operating our business in a manner that addresses the reality of the current economic marketplace without sacrificing the capability to effectively execute our strategy when economic conditions and the retail environment stabilize. Based upon an analysis of liquidity using our current forecast, management believes that our anticipated cash needs can be funded from cash and cash equivalents on hand, the availability of cash under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, Senior Secured Notes, and cash generated from future operations over the next twelve months.

Provisions for Restructuring

Restructuring expense for the three months ended March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010 was as follows:

(amounts in thousands)
Quarter ended
March 27,
2011
March 28,
2010
SG&A Restructuring Plan
   
Severance and other employee-related charges
$ 1,585
$    96
Other exit costs
32
Manufacturing Restructuring Plan
   
Severance and other employee-related charges
(9)
295
Other exit costs
(11)
45
Total
$ 1,597
$  436

Restructuring accrual activity for the three months ended March 27, 2011 was as follows:

(amounts in thousands)
 
Accrual at
Beginning of
Year
Charged to
Earnings
Charge
Reversed to
Earnings
Cash
Payments
Exchange
Rate Changes
Accrual at
3/27/2011
SG&A Restructuring Plan
           
Severance and other employee-related charges
$ 6,660
$ 1,593
$   (8)
$ (1,228)
$ 351
$ 7,368
Other exit costs(1)
32
(32)
Manufacturing Restructuring Plan
           
Severance and other employee-related charges
719
(9)
(78)
632
Other exit costs(2)
143
(11)
(132)
Total
$ 7,522
$ 1,625
$ (28)
$ (1,470)
$ 351
$ 8,000

(1)  
During the first three months of 2011, there was a net charge to earnings of $32 thousand due to a one-time payment related to a lease modification for an operating facility.
(2)  
During 2010, lease termination costs of $0.6 million were recorded due to the closing of a manufacturing facility which were partially offset by a deferred rent charge of $0.1 million previously incurred in prior periods for the manufacturing facility. During the first three months of 2011, there was a net reduction to earnings of $11 thousand due to lower than estimated lease termination costs.

 
28
 
 

SG&A Restructuring Plan

During 2009, we initiated a plan focused on reducing our overall operating expenses by consolidating certain administrative functions to improve efficiencies. The first phase of this plan was implemented in the fourth quarter of 2009 with the remaining phases of the plan expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2011.

As of March 27, 2011, the net charge to earnings of $1.6 million represents the current year activity related to the SG&A Restructuring Plan. The anticipated total costs related to the plan are expected to approximate $20 million to $25 million, of which $11.4 million have been incurred. The total number of employees currently affected by the SG&A Restructuring Plan were 204, of which 114 have been terminated. Termination benefits are planned to be paid one month to 24 months after termination. Upon completion, the annual savings related to the phases of the SG&A Restructuring Plan that have been implemented are anticipated to be approximately $20 million to $25 million.

Manufacturing Restructuring Plan

In August 2008, we announced a manufacturing and supply chain restructuring program designed to accelerate profitable growth in our Apparel Labeling Solutions (ALS) business, formerly Check-Net®, and to support incremental improvements in our EAS systems and labels businesses. For the three months ended March 27, 2011, there was a net reduction to earnings of $20 thousand recorded in connection with the Manufacturing Restructuring Plan. This net reduction was primarily due to lower than estimated severance accruals and other exit costs associated with the closing of manufacturing facilities.

The total number of employees currently affected by the Manufacturing Restructuring Plan were 418, of which 383 have been terminated. As of March 27, 2011 the implementation of the Manufacturing Restructuring Plan is substantially complete, with total costs incurred of $4.2 million. Termination benefits are planned to be paid one month to 24 months after termination. Annual savings in connection with the Manufacturing Restructuring Plan are anticipated to be approximately $6 million.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not utilize material off-balance sheet arrangements apart from operating leases that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenue or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources. We use operating leases as an alternative to purchasing certain property, plant, and equipment. There have been no material changes to the discussion of these rental commitments under non-cancelable operation leases presented in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2010.

Contractual Obligations

There have been no material changes to the table entitled “Contractual Obligations” presented in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2010. The table of contractual obligations excludes our gross liability for uncertain tax positions, including accrued interest and penalties, which totaled $17.1 million as of March 27, 2011, and $16.4 million as of December 26, 2010, because we cannot predict with reasonable reliability the timing of cash settlements to the respective taxing authorities.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-13, “Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements, (amendments to ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition)” (ASU 2009-13) and ASU 2009-14, “Certain Arrangements That Include Software Elements, (amendments to ASC Topic 985, Software)” (ASU 2009-14). ASU 2009-13 requires entities to allocate revenue in an arrangement using estimated selling prices of the delivered goods and services based on a selling price hierarchy. The amendments eliminate the residual method of revenue allocation and require revenue to be allocated using the relative selling price method. ASU 2009-14 removes tangible products from the scope of software revenue guidance and provides guidance on determining whether software deliverables in an arrangement that includes a tangible product are covered by the scope of the software revenue guidance. ASU 2009-13 and ASU 2009-14 are effective on a prospective basis for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, which for us was December 27, 2010, the first day of our 2011 fiscal year. The adoption of these standards did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

In April 2010, FASB issued ASU 2010-13 "Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Effect of Denominating the Exercise Price of a Share-Based Payment Award in the Currency of the Market in Which the Underlying Equity Security Trades" (ASU 2010-13). Topic 718 is amended to clarify that a share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity's equity securities trades shall not be considered to contain a market, performance, or service condition. Therefore, such an award is not to be classified as a liability if it otherwise qualifies as equity classification. The amendments in this standard are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010, which for us was December 27, 2010, the first day of our 2011 fiscal year. The guidance should be applied by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings for all outstanding awards as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which the amendments are initially applied. The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

In December 2010, FASB issued ASU 2010-28 “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350)” (ASU 2010-28). Topic 350 is amended to clarify the requirement to test for impairment of goodwill. Topic 350 has required that goodwill be tested for impairment if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. Under ASU 2010-28, when the carrying amount of a reporting unit is zero or negative an entity must assume that it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, perform an additional test to determine whether goodwill has been impaired and calculate the amount of that impairment. The modifications to ASC Topic 350 resulting from the issuance of ASU 2010-28 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2010, which for us was December 27, 2010, the first day of our 2011 fiscal year. The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 
29
 
 


In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-29 “Business Combinations (Topic 805) - Disclosure of Supplementary Pro Forma Information for Business Combinations” (ASU 2010-29). This standard update clarifies that, when presenting comparative financial statements, SEC registrants should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the current period business combinations had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The update also expands the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings. ASU 2010-29 is effective prospectively for material (either on an individual or aggregate basis) business combinations entered into in fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2010, which for us was December 27, 2010, the first day of our 2011 fiscal year. The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

New Accounting Pronouncements and Other Standards

In January 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-01 “Deferral of the Effective Date of Disclosures about Troubled Debt Restructurings in Update No. 2010-20” (ASU 2011-01). This standard update defers the effective date of new disclosure requirements for troubled debt restructurings prescribed by ASU 2010-20, "Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses." ASU 2011-01 will be effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2011. We do not expect the adoption of the standard to have a material impact on our Consolidated Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
 
In April 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-02 “A Creditor’s Determination of Whether a Restructuring Is a Troubled Debt Restructuring” (ASU 2011-02). The amendments to Topic 310 (Receivables) clarify the guidance on a creditor’s evaluation of whether a debtor is experiencing financial difficulties and when a loan modification or restructuring is considered a troubled debt restructuring. In determining whether a loan modification represents a troubled debt restructuring, an entity should consider whether the debtor is experiencing financial difficulty and the lender has granted a concession to the borrower. ASU 2011-02 is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after June 15, 2011, and should be applied retrospectively to the beginning of the annual period of adoption. We do not expect the adoption of the standard to have a material impact on our Consolidated Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
 

 
30
 
 


Except as noted below, there have been no significant changes to the market risks as disclosed in Part II - Item 7A. - “Quantitative And Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2010.

Exposure to Foreign Currency

We manufacture products in the U.S., the Caribbean, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region for both the local marketplace and for export to our foreign subsidiaries. The foreign subsidiaries, in turn, sell these products to customers in their respective geographic areas of operation, generally in local currencies. This method of sale and resale gives rise to the risk of gains or losses as a result of currency exchange rate fluctuations on inter-company receivables and payables. Additionally, the sourcing of product in one currency and the sales of product in a different currency can cause gross margin fluctuations due to changes in currency exchange rates.

We selectively purchase currency forward exchange contracts to reduce the risks of currency fluctuations on short-term inter-company receivables and payables. These contracts guarantee a predetermined exchange rate at the time the contract is purchased. This allows us to shift the effect of positive or negative currency fluctuations to a third party. Transaction gains or losses resulting from these contracts are recognized at the end of each reporting period. We use the fair value method of accounting, recording realized and unrealized gains and losses on these contracts. These gains and losses are included in other gain (loss), net on our Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of March 27, 2011, we had currency forward exchange contracts with notional amounts totaling approximately $13.7 million. The fair values of the forward exchange contracts were reflected as a $0.1 million asset and $0.1 million liability and are included in other current assets and other current liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets. The contracts are in the various local currencies covering primarily our operations in the U.S., the Caribbean, and Western Europe. Historically, we have not purchased currency forward exchange contracts where it is not economically efficient, specifically for our operations in South America and Asia, with the exception of Japan.

Hedging Activity

Beginning in the second quarter of 2008, we entered into various foreign currency contracts to reduce our exposure to forecasted Euro-denominated inter-company revenues. These contracts were designated as cash flow hedges. The foreign currency contracts mature at various dates from April 2011 to March 2012. The purpose of these cash flow hedges is to eliminate the currency risk associated with Euro-denominated forecasted inter-company revenues due to changes in exchange rates. These cash flow hedging instruments are marked to market and the changes are recorded in other comprehensive income. Amounts recorded in other comprehensive income are recognized in cost of goods sold as the inventory is sold to external parties. Any hedge ineffectiveness is charged to other gain (loss), net on our Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of March 27, 2011, the fair value of these cash flow hedges were reflected as an $18 thousand asset and a $1.2 million liability and are included in other current assets and other current liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The total notional amount of these hedges is $35.6 million (€26.0 million) and the unrealized loss recorded in other comprehensive income was $1.4 million (net of taxes of $0.2 million), of which $1.3 million (net of taxes of $0.2 million) is expected to be reclassified to earnings over the next twelve months. During the three months ended March 27, 2011, a $0.3 million expense related to these foreign currency hedges was recorded to cost of goods sold as the inventory was sold to external parties, respectively. The Company recognized no hedge ineffectiveness during the three months ended March 27, 2011.

During the first quarter of 2008, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement with a notional amount of $40 million. The purpose of this interest rate swap agreement was to hedge potential changes to our cash flows due to the variable interest nature of our senior secured credit facility. The interest rate swap was designated as a cash flow hedge. This cash flow hedging instrument was marked to market and the changes are recorded in other comprehensive income. The interest rate swap matured on February 18, 2010.


Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As required by Rule 13a-15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, regarding the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Changes in Internal Controls

As required by Rule 13a-15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the Company's first fiscal quarter of 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 
31
 
 



We are involved in certain legal and regulatory actions, all of which have arisen in the ordinary course of business. There have been no material changes to the actions described in Part I - Item 3 - “Legal Proceedings” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2010, and there are no material pending legal proceedings other than as described therein.


There have been no material changes from December 26, 2010 to the significant risk factors and uncertainties known to us that, if they were to occur, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results and/or cash flow. For a discussion of our risk factors, refer to Part I - Item 1A - “Risk Factors”, contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2010.


None.


None.


None.


 
32
 
 


Exhibit 10.1
Master Purchase Agreement dated January 28, 2011 by and among Checkpoint Systems, Inc. and Shore to Shore, Inc., Shanghai WH Printing Co. Ltd., Wing Hung (Dongguan) Printing Co., Ltd., Wing Hung Printing Co., Ltd., Adapt Identification (China) Garment Accessories Trading Co., Ltd., Lau Shun Keung aka John Lau, Yeung Mei Kuen, Lau Shun Man, Lau Shun Wah, Howard J. Kurdin and Lau Wing Ting aka Shirley Lau.
   
Exhibit 31.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act, as enacted by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
Exhibit 31.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act, as enacted by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
Exhibit 32.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 United States Code Section 1350, as enacted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


 
33
 
 



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
   
May 3, 2011
/s/ Raymond D. Andrews
 
Raymond D. Andrews
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


 
34
 
 


Exhibit 10.1
Master Purchase Agreement dated January 28, 2011 by and among Checkpoint Systems, Inc. and Shore to Shore, Inc., Shanghai WH Printing Co. Ltd., Wing Hung (Dongguan) Printing Co., Ltd., Wing Hung Printing Co., Ltd., Adapt Identification (China) Garment Accessories Trading Co., Ltd., Lau Shun Keung aka John Lau, Yeung Mei Kuen, Lau Shun Man, Lau Shun Wah, Howard J. Kurdin and Lau Wing Ting aka Shirley Lau.
   
Exhibit 31.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act, as enacted by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
Exhibit 31.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act, as enacted by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
Exhibit 32.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 United States Code Section 1350, as enacted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

35


 
 
EX-10.1 2 ex10-1.htm MASTER PURCHASE AGREEMENT ex10-1.htm



Exhibit 10.1





 
MASTER PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 
This Master Purchase Agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered into this 28 day of January, 2011 by and among Checkpoint Systems, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation ("Checkpoint" and along with each Buyer Local Entity, collectively, the "Purchasers"), and Shore to Shore, Inc. ("STS Inc."), Shanghai WH Printing Co. Ltd., Wing Hung (Dongguan) Printing Co., Ltd., Wing Hung Printing Co., Ltd., Adapt Identification (China) Garment Accessories Trading Co., Ltd., Lau Shun Keung aka John Lau, Yeung Mei Kuen, Lau Shun Man, Lau Shun Wah, Howard J. Kurdin and Lau Wing Ting aka Shirley Lau (collectively, the "Owners"). Certain defined terms used herein are set forth in Appendix I attached hereto and made a part hereof.
 
WITNESSETH:
 
WHEREAS, Owners own a retail apparel and footwear product identification business which designs, manufactures and sells tags and labels, hang tags, price tickets, printed paper tags, pressure sensitive products, woven labels, leather and leather-like labels, heat transfer labels and brand protection and EAS solutions/labels which may or may not contain RFID tags, chips or inlays (the "Global Business"); and

 
WHEREAS, Owners wish to sell to Purchasers, and Purchasers wish to purchase from Owners, substantially all of their right, title and interest in and to the Global Business (subject to certain exclusions and limitations set forth herein and in the Local Purchase Agreements, as defined below (the "Global Business Exclusions") pursuant to this Master Purchase Agreement and the related local purchase agreements ("Local Purchase Agreements") (including the Local Purchase Agreements, collectively, the "Purchase Agreements"), all as more particularly described herein; and
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and agreements set forth herein and intending to be legally bound the parties agree as follows:
 
ARTICLE I
 
ACQUISITION OF GLOBAL BUSINESS

 
1.01           Purchase Agreements.

 
(a)           Local Purchase Agreements. Owners and Purchasers shall enter into Purchase Agreements necessary for Purchasers collectively to acquire the Global Business, subject to the Global Business Exclusions. After the date of this Agreement, to the extent that it becomes apparent to the parties hereto that an entity that is not a signatory to this Agreement owns an asset that is part of the Global Business being acquired by Purchasers and therefore needs to be transferred to a Purchaser; the Owners will cause such entity to join this Agreement and be bound by its terms, conditions and obligations and become part of the defined term "Owner." Specifically, with respect to each Owner transferring assets ("Seller Local Entity"), each such Owner will agree pursuant to a Local Purchase Agreement and under the laws of the jurisdiction under which each such Owner is formed or in which the assets to be transferred reside, to transfer those assets and/or equity interests which are not part of the Global Business Exclusions owned by such Owner to the respective Purchaser ("Buyer Local Entity").

 
(b)           Purchase of Assets, Equity and Rights/Assumption of Liabilities.

 
(i)           Purchase and Sale of Global Business. The Owners hereby agree that upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each Local Purchase Agreement, all occurring contemporaneously unless otherwise agreed by the parties in writing (all closings occurring together shall be deemed the "Closing"), the Owners shall sell, assign, transfer and deliver to Purchasers, and Purchasers, as applicable, shall purchase, accept and acquire from the Owners, substantially all of the assets and properties of the Owners used in the Global Business, including a level of cash consistent with normal operating levels, but not limited to, the equity interests in certain Acquired Entities (as defined in Section 1.01 (b)(iii) hereof) listed on Schedule1.01(b)(i), except for the Global Business exclusions (collectively, the "Purchased Assets"). Acquired Entities will include 51% of STS Sri Lanka.

 
1
 
 


 
(ii)           Covenants and Further Assurances. Following the Closing Date, which is targeted for February28,2011, Purchasers and Owners will fully cooperate with each other and their respective counsel and accountants in connection with all steps reasonably necessary to be taken as part of their respective obligations under this Agreement and each applicable Local Purchase Agreement.

 
(iii)           Purchase of Equity Interests. To the extent that a Buyer Local Entity is to acquire the equity interests held by a Seller Local Entity in another entity (the entity whose equity interests are being acquired may be referred to herein as the "Acquired Equity"), by transfer thereof, merger or otherwise, such Seller Local Entity shall:

 
(A)           Contemporaneously with Closing, at the instruction of and on behalf of the Owners, the Purchaser shall transfer funds in an amount equal to the sum of the Local Entity Debt and any Prepayment Penalties incurred as a result of the payment of the Local Entity Debt at Closing, and cause the Acquired Entity to pay in full all Local Entity Debt and all Prepayment Penalties pursuant to payoff letters therefor, all in form and content satisfactory to Purchasers.

 
B)           The Purchase Price shall be reduced by the aggregate amount of all Local Entity Debt.

 
(iv)           Excluded Assets. To the extent that a Seller Local Entity sells assets pursuant to a Local Purchase Agreement, such assets shall not include the following:

 
(A)           the property set forth on a Schedule 1.01(b)(iv) attached thereto;

 
(B)           all inter-company accounts receivables;

 
(C)           the corporate seal, minute books, stock books, tax returns and other records having to do with the formation of such Seller Local Entity;

 
(D)           all personnel files, workers' compensation files, employee medical files and other employee books and records pertaining to employees of such Seller Local Entity who will not become employees of a Purchaser; and

 
(E)           the rights of such Seller Local Entity or any Owner under such Local Purchase Agreement (collectively, the "Excluded Assets"); and together with equity interests in any entity not being acquired and/or any Seller Local Entity not selling assets, and any other rights or assets pertaining to the Global Business not being transferred hereunder or pursuant to a Local Purchase Agreement, the "Global Business Exclusions").

 
(v)           Assumption of Liabilities/Excluded Liabilities.
 
(A)           Assumption of Assumed Obligations. To the extent that a Seller Local Entity sells assets, the Buyer Local Entity shall assume and agree to accept only the following (collectively, the "Assumed Obligations"):
 
(i)           all trade payables, accounts payable, accrued payroll, accrued expenses, accrued wages, accrued payroll taxes, accrued vacation pay and other current liabilities of the Seller Local Entity relating to the Global Business and included in the calculation of Net Working Capital and other liabilities reflected on the Financial Statements which Purchaser agrees to assume. (the "Assumed Liabilities"); and

 
(ii)           the obligations of the Seller Local Entity arising and to be performed under the Seller Local Entity's contracts, each of which shall be listed on a Schedule to the Local Purchase Agreement (the "Assumed Contracts").

 
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(B)           Excluded Liabilities. Purchasers shall assume and be responsible for no debts, obligations, or liabilities (whether liquidated, un-liquidated, accrued, absolute, fixed, contingent, ascertained, unascertained, known, unknown or otherwise) of the Owners, past, present, or future, of any sort whatsoever, other than the Assumed Obligations, or as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement or in a Local Purchase Agreement. All debts, obligations and liabilities of the Owners, past, present or future, not expressly assumed by Purchasers pursuant to a this Agreement or a Local Purchase Agreement (including all Local Entity Debt, except to the extent the Purchase Price was reduced with respect to such Local Entity Debt) (collectively, the "Excluded Liabilities") shall continue to be the sole responsibility of the applicable Owner and each Owner covenants to perform all of its obligations in connection with the Excluded Liabilities. For purposes of the transactions contemplated hereunder, all inter-company payables shall be Excluded Liabilities.

 
(c)           Enforcement of Rights. The parties agree that Checkpoint shall be entitled to assert and enforce all rights that any Buyer Local Entity may have under any applicable Local Purchase Agreement and the actions of Checkpoint shall bind such Buyer Local Entity.
 
(d)           Owners' Representative. Each Owner hereby agrees that John Lau shall be entitled to act, and shall act, on behalf of each other Owner individually and all of the other Owners collectively and such actions shall be binding upon such other Owners.

 
(e)           Representations/Warranties included in Local Purchase Agreements. The parties agree that the Local Purchase Agreements will contain the following representations and warranties, as may be modified by agreement of the parties in each Local Purchase Agreement:
 
(i)           All Local Purchase Agreements shall contain or incorporate by reference the representations and warranties set forth on Exhibit 1.01(e)(i).

 
(ii)           In the event that the Seller Local Entity is transferring tangible assets other than real estate to a Buyer Local Entity, then the Local Purchase Agreement shall also contain or incorporate by reference the representations and warranties set forth on Exhibit 1.01(e)(ii).

(iii)               In the event that the Seller Local Entity is transferring contracts to a Buyer Local Entity, then the Local Purchase Agreement shall also contain or incorporate by reference the representations and warranties set forth on Exhibit 1.01(e)(iii).
 


 
(iv)           In the event that the Seller Local Entity is transferring accounts receivable and inventory to a Buyer Local Entity, then the Local Purchase Agreement shall also contain or incorporate by reference the representations and warranties set forth on Exhibit 1.01(e)(iv).
 
(v)           In the event that the Seller Local Entity is transferring intellectual property to a Buyer Local Entity, then the Local Purchase Agreement shall also contain or incorporate by reference the representations and warranties set forth on Exhibit 1.01(e)(v).
 
(vi)           In the event that the Seller Local Entity is transferring employees to a Buyer Local Entity, then the Local Purchase Agreement shall also contain or incorporate by reference the representations and warranties set forth on Exhibit 1.01(e)(vi).
 
(vii)           In the event that the Seller Local Entity has one or more subsidiaries, then the Local Purchase Agreement shall also contain or incorporate by reference the representations and warranties set forth on Exhibit 1.01 (e (vii).
 
(viii)In the event that the Seller Local Entity is transferring real property and/or a real property lease to a Buyer Local Entity, then the Local Purchase Agreement shall also contain or incorporate by reference the representations and warranties set forth on Exhibit 1.01 (e (viii).

 
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(ix)           In the event that a Seller Local Entity transfers equity interests in an Acquired Entity to a Buyer Local Entity, then the Local Purchase Agreement shall also contain or incorporate by reference the representations and warranties set forth on Exhibit 1.01(e)(ix).
 

 
(x)           Breaches of Representations and Warranties. Any claims by a Seller Local Entity or Buyer Local Entity for breaches of representations and warranties arising from a particular Local Purchase Agreement shall be governed by and addressed in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 1.06 and Article IV below.

 
1.02           Aggregate Purchase Price for Global Business.

 
(a)           Initial Purchase Price. The aggregate purchase price to be paid by Purchasers to the respective Owners for the Purchased Assets shall be Sixty-Seven Million Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars (US$67,950,000), payable in United States Dollars or an equivalent amount in Euros or Hong Kong Dollars, or a combination thereof payable in cash at closing pursuant to Section 1.02(c) below ("Closing Date Purchase Payment"); plus the amounts payable pursuant to Section 1.05 below ("Contingent Additional Purchase Price Payments") as adjusted herein, collectively, the "Purchase Price").

 
(b)
Reduction/Adjustments on Purchase Price.
 
(i)           Payment of Local Entity Debt. Additionally, the applicable Buyer Local Entity shall, on behalf of the respective Seller Local Entity, pay/escrow out of the Closing Date Purchase Payment all Local Entity Debt listed on a Schedule to each Local Purchase Agreement to be paid by a Buyer Local Entity, with any secured debt to be extinguished pursuant to pay-off letters issued by the lender therefor in a form acceptable to such lender, the Seller Local Entity, and the Buyer Local Entity.
 
(ii)           Working Capital Adjustment. The Purchase Price shall be further subject to adjustment as provided in Section 1.03 below.
 
(c)          Payment of Purchase Price. Purchasers shall pay the Closing Date Purchase Payment (as adjusted as specifically stated herein) to Owners at Closing, and Purchasers shall pay the Contingent Additional Purchase Price Payments to Owners as specified herein, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts designated by the Owners' Representative. All references to dollars herein shall mean United States Dollars or, at the option of Purchasers in each case upon agreement of the Owners' Representative, an equivalent amount in Euros or Hong Kong Dollars, or a combination thereof.

 
(d)           Purchase Price Allocation. Purchasers and Owners' Representative shall agree upon a purchase price allocation for each such local transaction.

 
1.03           Working Capital Adjustments to Purchase Price. The Closing Date Purchase Payment will be adjusted on the Closing Date by the Closing Date Working Capital Adjustment (as defined below) ("Adjusted Purchase Price"), and if applicable, the Adjusted Purchase Price will be further adjusted after the Closing Date by the Final Net Working Capital Amount (as defined below), based on the aggregate net working capital of the Global Business as provided in this Section 1.03.

 
(a)           Target Net Working Capital Amount.
 
(i)           The net working capital worksheet attached hereto as Schedule 1.03(a)(i) sets forth a worksheet showing the method of calculation. The parties shall agree on the Target Net Working Capital. ("Target Net Working Capital Amount").

 
(ii)           "Net Working Capital" for the Global Business shall be determined by the parties in a manner consistent with Schedule 1.03(a)(i). For purposes of the transactions contemplated hereunder, all inter-company receivables and inter-company payables involving the parties hereto or from their Affiliates shall be eliminated and given no force and effect for purposes of this Section 1.03.

 
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(b)           Preparation of Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet and Calculation of the Closing Date Working Capital Adjustment. On or immediately prior to the Closing Date, Owners' Representative shall provide Purchasers with: (i) an estimated Closing Date balance sheet ("Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet"), (ii) an estimated net working capital worksheet ("Estimated Closing Date Net Working Capital Worksheet"), showing the estimated net working capital amount ("Estimated Closing Date Net Working Capital Amount"), each estimated as of the Closing Date and each prepared in a manner consistent with Schedule 1.03(a)(i).
 
(i)           The Closing Date Purchase Payment shall be increased in the event that the Estimated Closing Date Net Working Capital Amount is greater than the Target Net Working Capital Amount and, in that event, by an amount equal thereto.

 
(ii)           The Closing Date Purchase Payment shall be decreased in the event that the Estimated Closing Date Net Working Capital Amount is less than the Target Net Working Capital Amount and, in that event, by an amount equal thereto.
 
(iii)           The adjustment to the Purchase Price under this Section1.03 (b)(i) or Section 1.03(b)(ii) shall be referred to as the "Closing Date Net Working Capital Adjustment."
 
(c)           Preparation of Proposed Final Net Working Capital Worksheet and Calculation of Proposed Final Net Working Capital Amount. Within one hundred twenty (120) days following the Closing Date, Checkpoint will prepare, at the expense of Checkpoint, (i) an actual Closing Date balance sheet ("Closing Date Balance Sheet"), (ii) a proposed net working capital worksheet based upon the Closing Date Balance Sheet ("Proposed Final Net Working Capital Worksheet") showing the "Proposed Final Net Working Capital Amount", each as of the Closing Date, and each prepared in a manner consistent with Schedule 1.03(a)(i), and Checkpoint shall deliver the Closing Date Balance Sheet and the Proposed Final Net Working Capital Worksheet to Owners' Representative for review.
 
(d)           Review and Approval of Final Net Working Capital Amount. Following the receipt of the Closing Date Balance Sheet, the Proposed Final Net Working Capital Worksheet, and the Proposed Final Net Working Capital Amount by the Owners' Representative, the Owners' Representative shall have a period of thirty (30) days to review the Closing Date Balance Sheet, the Proposed Final Net Working Capital Worksheet and the calculation of Proposed Final Net Working Capital Amount ("Review Period"). During the Review Period, Owners' Representative and his accountants will have the right to review the work papers of Checkpoint and any other documents, books, and records utilized in the preparation of the Closing Date Balance Sheet and the Proposed Final Net Working Capital Worksheet.
 
(i)           Agreement With Proposed Final Net Working Capital Amount. If Owners' Representative agrees with the calculation of the Proposed Final Net Working Capital Amount as set forth on the Proposed Final Net Working Capital Worksheet prepared by Checkpoint, Owners' Representative shall notify Checkpoint in writing before the expiration of the Review Period. Upon Checkpoint's receipt of such notice, the Adjusted Purchase Price shall be adjusted further in accordance with Section 1.03(e). In such event, the Proposed Final Net Working Capital Worksheet provided by Checkpoint shall be deemed to be the "Final Net Working Capital Worksheet", and shall be attached to this Agreement as Schedule 1.03(d).

 
(ii)           Disagreement With Proposed Final Net Working Capital Amount. If the Owners' Representative disagrees with the calculation of the Proposed Final Net Working Capital Amount as set forth on the Proposed Final Net Working Capital Worksheet, Owners' Representative shall submit a notice of objection ("Notice of Objection") to Checkpoint in writing before the expiration of the Review Period. The Notice of Objection shall specifically identify any disputed items ("Disputed Items"). If the Owners' Representative does not submit a Notice of Objection to Checkpoint before the expiration of the Review Period, Checkpoint's calculation of Proposed Final Net Working Capital Amount shall be binding against the Owners and the Adjusted Purchase Price shall be adjusted further in accordance with Section 1.03(e). In such event, the Proposed Final Net Working Capital Worksheet provided by Checkpoint shall be deemed to be the "Final Net Working Capital Worksheet", and shall be attached to this Agreement as Schedule 1.03(d).

 
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(A)           Good Faith Efforts to Resolve Disputed Items. During the thirty (30) day period following the delivery of a Notice of Objection, Owners' Representative and Checkpoint shall use good faith efforts to reach agreement on the Disputed Items in order to determine the "Final Net Working Capital Amount". In the event that Checkpoint and Owners' Representative are unable to reach an agreement on the Disputed Items and a binding Final Net Working Capital Amount at the conclusion of such period, the Disputed Items which have not been resolved by the parties shall be promptly referred to KPMG LLP ("Independent Accountant") who shall determine the Final Net Working Capital Amount after resolution of the remaining Disputed Items. In the event that the Independent Accountant shall resign or be unable to act, such Independent Accountant shall select a successor Independent Accountant within fifteen (15) days thereafter. The costs and expenses of the Independent Accountant, and the cost of the selection of a successor Independent Accountant, if applicable, shall be paid one-half by the Purchasers jointly and severally and one-half by the Owners jointly and severally.

 
(B)           Review by Independent Accountant. The Independent Accountant shall be directed to render a written report only on the Disputed Items within thirty (30) days following the referral of the Disputed Items to the Independent Accountant. The Independent Account shall act as an arbitrator and not as an auditor and shall decide only those issues relating to the Disputed Items which have not been resolved by the parties. The report shall be submitted to Checkpoint and to Owners' Representative. In reaching a decision on each unresolved Disputed Item, the Independent Accountant shall be expressly limited to the selection of either the Owners' or the Purchasers' position on such Disputed Item. Upon reaching a determination with respect to each of the unresolved Disputed Items, the Independent Accountant shall prepare a Final Net Working Capital Worksheet and shall calculate the Final Net Working Capital Amount based thereon, as amended by the determination of the unresolved Disputed Items by the Independent Accountant. The Final Net Working Capital Worksheet, as amended, shall be attached to this Agreement as Schedule 1.03(d). The calculation of the Final Net Working Capital Amount by the Independent Accountant shall be final and binding on the parties.

 
(e)           Adjustment to Purchase Price for Final Net Working Capital Amount. Within ten (10) days after the final determination of the Final Net Working Capital Amount in accordance with Section 1.03(d) the Adjusted Purchase Price shall be adjusted further as follows:

 
(i)           If the Closing Date Net Working Capital Amount is greater than the Final Net Working Capital Amount ("Final Working Capital Purchase Price Adjustment Due To Purchasers"), Owners shall pay Purchasers an amount equal to the Final Working Capital Purchase Price Adjustment Due To Purchasers. In the event Owners do not pay such deficiency to Purchaser within such ten (10) day period, interest at a rate equal to eight percent (8%) per annum shall accrue on the unpaid balance from the due date of such payment.
 
(ii)           If the Closing Date Net Working Capital Amount is less than the Final Net
 
Working Capital Amount ("Final Working Capital Purchase Price Adjustment Due To Owners"), Purchasers shall pay to Owners an amount equal to the Final Working Capital Purchase Price Adjustment Due To Owners. In the event Purchasers do not pay such deficiency to Owners within such ten (10) day period, interest at a rate equal to eight percent (8%) per annum shall accrue on the unpaid balance from the due date of such payment.

 
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1.04           Escrow Agreement.

 
(a)           Escrow. Owners and Purchasers shall enter into an Escrow Agreement at the Closing in the form attached as Exhibit 1.04(a) ("Escrow Agreement").

 
(i)           Escrowed Funds. Out of the Closing Date Purchase Payment, Purchasers shall deposit in escrow with HSBC ("Escrow Agent"):
 
(A)           Seven Million Dollars  (US$7,000,000.00)(the "General Escrowed Funds"), in immediately available funds for the general obligations of the Owners set forth hereunder, for the obligations of the Seller Local Entities under the Local Purchase Agreements, and for any other purposes set forth in the Escrow Agreement; to be released upon each of: (I) the making of the Final Working Capital Purchase Price Adjustment in accordance with Section 1.03 (e); and (II) the expiration of the Escrow Term as defined in the Escrow Agreement (18 months following Closing); provided, however, that subject to the provisions of Section 1.06(b) hereof, the Escrowed Funds shall not be the limit of Owners' obligations hereunder or under the Local Purchase Agreements, and

 
(B)           Five Million Dollars (US$5,000,000) (the "Production Centre Funds" and, together with the General Escrowed Funds, the Escrowed Funds") in immediately available funds to be released upon the completion of the Wing Hung Production Centre transfer of assets, the receipt of all required local permits and licenses, and as such assets become fully operational at the production capacity to support the acquired Global Business.

 
(C)           With respect to those Purchased Assets that are intended to be transferred at Closing but cannot be accomplished in that timeframe or the accomplishment of certain actions or results as contemplated herein that must be obtained post-Closing ("Post-Closing Transfers/Actions"), the parties will work together to create a plan and timeline for completing/obtaining such Post-Closing Transfers/Actions and, if material to the Global Business, will agree on a commercially reasonable escrow amount to secure the performance of Owners required in connection therewith.

 
(ii)           Interest on the Escrowed Funds. The Escrowed Funds shall earn interest in accordance with the Escrow Agreement. Any interest earned on the Escrowed Funds not otherwise distributed in accordance with this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement shall be paid to Owners upon the expiration of the Escrow Term, except with respect to any portion of the Escrowed Funds that are payable to Purchasers pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement, in which case interest on such portion of the Escrowed Funds shall be payable to the Purchasers.

 
(b)           Outstanding Amounts upon Expiration of the Escrow Term. Upon the expiration of the Escrow Term, any remaining amounts of the Escrowed Funds (plus the interest thereon) less any pending or outstanding claims against the Escrowed Funds timely made by Purchasers in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement shall be distributed to Owners. Any amounts representing outstanding claims of Purchasers against the Escrowed Funds, shall remain in escrow until such time as such claims are finally determined and/or settled upon the mutual written agreement of Purchasers and Owners.

 
1.05           Contingent Additional Purchase Price Payments.

 
(a)           EBITDA Based Contingent Payment.
 
(i)           Defined Terms:

 
(A)           "EBITDA" - The EBITDA for the Global Business will be calculated in a manner consistent with Schedule 1.05(a)(i)(A).

 
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(B)           "EBITDA Target" - US$9,650,000

 
(ii)           EBITDA Payment. In the event that the EBITDA for the calendar year ending December 31, 2010 as set forth in the financial statements for the Global Business ("2010 EBITDA") is within 2% or equals the EBITDA Target, Purchasers shall pay Owners US$6,250,000 ("EBITDA Payment").

 
(iii)           Adjusted EBITDA Payment. In the event that the 2010 EBITDA varies from the EBITDA Target, then Purchasers shall make a maximum payment of US$12,500,000 to Owners calculated in a manner set forth in the table below ("Adjusted EBITDA Payment"):
 

 
% EBITDA ACHIEVED
EBITDA
EBITDA PAYMENT
 
110%
10,615,000
12,500,000
MAXIMUM
108%
10,422,000
10,938,000
RANGE
106%
10,229,000
9,375,000
 
104%
10,036,000
7,813,000
       
 
102%
9,843,000
6,250,000
NEUTRAL
100%
9,650,000
6,250,000
 
98%
9,457,000
6,250,000
       
 
96%
9,264,000
4,688,000
MINIMUM
94%
9,071,000
3,125,000
RANGE
92%
8,878,000
1,563,000
 
90%
8,685,000
0

 
(iv)           Within one hundred twenty (120) following the Closing Date, Checkpoint will prepare, at the expense of Checkpoint, an EBITDA adjustment statement based upon the financial statements for calendar year ending December31,2010(the "December2010Financials") ("EBITDA Adjustment Statement") which will set forth the 2010 EBITDA and a calculation of the Adjusted EBITDA Payment. Checkpoint shall provide Owners' Representative the EBITDA Adjustment Statement within thirty (30) days of receipt of the December 2010 Financials and it shall be subject to review and verification by the Owners' Representative. The Owners shall be deemed to have accepted as final the EBITDA Adjustment Statement unless, within thirty (30) days after the date of delivery of the EBITDA Adjustment Statement to the Owners' Representative, the Owners' Representative gives written notice of objection to Checkpoint to any item thereon, which objection shall specify in reasonable detail the basis for such objection, in which case Checkpoint and the Owners' Representative shall attempt in good faith to resolve such dispute as promptly as possible. If a final resolution thereof is not obtained within thirty (30) days after the date of delivery of the Owners' Representative's objections to Checkpoint the parties will engage the Independent Accountant to resolve any remaining differences concerning such calculations. The Independent Accountant's resolution shall be final and binding on the parties. The fees and expenses of the Independent Accountant shall be borne one-half by the Purchasers jointly and severally, and one-half by the Owners jointly and severally.

 
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(v)           Purchasers shall pay Owners the Adjusted EBITDA Payment determined to be due to Owners not later than ten (10) business days after the determination thereof becomes final.

 
(vi)           Owners' right to receive the EBITDA Payment or the Adjusted EBITDA Payment, as the case may be in accordance with this Section 1.05(a), shall survive the Closing and the Closing Date and shall be enforceable from and after the Closing Date against Purchasers.

 
(vii)           The Owners represent and warrant that the Global Business has been operated in the calendar year 2010 in the ordinary course. From the date hereof to the Closing Date, the Owners covenant that they will operate the Global Business in the ordinary course without any extraordinary measures (including, without limitation, with respect to liabilities and debt, working capital, and reserve accounts) in anticipation of Closing, except as agreed upon by the parties in advance.
 
(b)           Business Migration Contingent Purchase Price. In consideration for the successful migration over the twenty-four (24) month period following Closing ("Migration Period") of revenue from the transfer of the STS Bangladesh Business (as defined below) to the designated Purchaser ("Migrated Bangladesh Revenue"), Purchasers agree to pay to the Owner designated by the Owners' Representative $6,250,000 as set forth below:
 
(i)           For purposes of this Section 1.05(b), the "STS Bangladesh Business" shall mean: business booked by the designated Purchaser to be sold to the corporate customers listed in Schedule 1.05(b) attached hereto.
 
(ii)           Within thirty (30) days after the complete providing of accreditation opportunities for all customer accreditations to the designated Purchaser and delivery of contact lists for all vendors/factories, historical records of products and pricing, and technical product specifications and pricing related to the STS Bangladesh Business Purchasers will pay Owners $1,875,000, and

 
(iii)           When the Purchasers have booked as revenue $5,000,000 of Migrated Bangladesh Revenue for any trailing twelve (12) month period within the Migration Period, Purchasers will pay Owners $2,187,500, and

 
(iv)           When the Purchasers have booked as revenue an additional $3,000,000 (for an aggregate of $8,000,000) of Migrated Bangladesh Revenue for any trailing twelve (12) month period within the Migration Period, Purchasers will pay Owners an additional $2,187,500.

 
(v)           Within sixty (60) days following the end of the Migration Period, Checkpoint shall provide the Owners' Representative a Migration Statement setting forth the Migrated Bangladesh Revenue and the associated payments earned pursuant to this Section 1.05(b) (collectively, the "Migration Payment"), and it shall be subject to review and verification by the Owners' Representative. The Owners shall be deemed to have accepted as final the Migration Statement unless, within thirty (30) days after the date of delivery of the Migration Statement to Owners' Representative, the Owners' Representative gives written notice of objection to Checkpoint, which objection shall specify in reasonable detail the basis for such objection, in which case Checkpoint and Owners' Representative shall attempt in good faith to resolve such dispute as promptly as possible. If a final resolution thereof is not obtained within thirty (30) days after the date of delivery of Owners' Representative's objection to Checkpoint the parties will engage the Independent Accountant, who shall resolve any remaining differences concerning such calculations. The Independent Accountant's resolution shall be final and binding on the parties. The fees and expenses of the Independent Accountant shall be borne one-half by the Purchasers jointly and severally, and one-half by the Owners jointly and severally.

 
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(vi)           Purchasers shall pay Owners the Migration Payment determined to be due not later than ten (10) business days after the determination thereof becomes final.

 
(vii)  
Owners right to receive the Migration Payment, as outlined above, shall survive the Closing and the Closing Date and shall be enforceable from and after the Closing Date against Purchaser.
 

 
(viii)  
The Purchaser will use their commercially reasonable efforts to qualify for accreditation of the facility through obtaining GMI, ISO-14000, ISO-9001, SA8000, and FSC certification, passing key customers' audit, and providing full range of product type of printed paper tags, woven label, printed fabric label and heat transfer (collectively "Accreditation") within the eight (8) month period following Closing ("Accreditation Period").

 
(ix)           In the event that Purchaser does not achieve Accreditation within the Accreditation Period, then Purchaser will pay to Owner one-half of each of the payments due in Sections 1.05(b)(iii) and 1.05(b)(iv) within thirty (30) days following the end of the Accreditation Period ("Non-Accreditation Payments"). In the event Purchaser is required to make the Non-Accreditation Payments, the amounts due pursuant to Sections 1.05 (b)(iii) and 1.05(b)(iv) will be reduced to reflect such payments (i.e. halved).

 
1.06           Indemnification.

 
(a)           Owners' Indemnification. Owners jointly and severally agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Purchasers that are signatories to a Local Purchase Agreement ("Purchaser's Indemnitees") from and against any and all Losses (as defined in Section 1.06(e) below) imposed on, asserted against or incurred by Purchaser's Indemnitees which arise out of, in connection with, result from or are incident to any of the following:

 
(i)           any breach of any representation or warranty of an Owner made in this Agreement or in any Local Purchase Agreement or in any Schedule hereto or thereto or in any of the other ancillary documents to be executed and delivered to Purchasers by an Owner in connection with the acquisition of the Purchased Assets;

 
(ii)           Owners indemnification obligations pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof; and

 
(iii)           any breach or failure to perform any obligation, covenant or agreement of any Owner in this Agreement or in any Local Purchase Agreement or in any other ancillary documents to be executed and delivered to Purchasers by an Owner in connection with the acquisition of the Purchased Assets.

 
(b)           Limitations on Owners' Indemnification.

 
(i)           Basket; Cap. Except as otherwise provided in Subsections 1.06(b)(ii) and (iii), the indemnification obligations of Owners provided for in Section 1.06(a) shall:

 
(A)           not require Owners to indemnify Purchaser's Indemnitees for Losses incurred by Purchaser's Indemnitees under this Section 1.06until the aggregate amount of such Losses exceeds Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) ("Owners' Basket"), in which event the aggregate amount of such Losses are deemed to be material and Purchaser's Indemnitees may claim indemnification for all of such Losses in excess of the Owners' Basket; and

 
(B)           not exceed in the aggregate Eight Million Dollars ($8,000,000.00) ("Cap");
 
(ii)           Exceptions to Owners' Basket. The Owners' Basket shall not apply to breaches of the following representations and warranties contained in the Local Purchase Agreements: Authority, Enforceability, Noncontravention, Title to Assets, Accounts Receivable, Inventory, Taxes, Environmental, and Benefit Plans. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any Local Purchase Agreement, the Owners' Basket shall not apply to any non-performance or non-payment of. (a) any covenant of an Owner to make a payment as required hereunder, (b) any covenant in which an Owner willfully does not perform, and (c) any brokerage fees owed by an Owner.

 
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(iii)           Exceptions to Cap. The Cap shall not apply to breaches of the following representations and warranties contained in the Local Purchase Agreements: Authority, Enforceability, Noncontravention, Title to Assets, Accounts Receivable, Inventory, Taxes, Environmental and Benefit Plans.

 
(iv)           Survival of Obligations. The obligations of the Owners pursuant to Sections 1.06(a) and 1.06(b) shall survive the Closing for the period set forth in Section 4.01(a) hereof.

 
(v)           Source of Indemnity Funds. With respect to Losses asserted by Purchaser's Indemnitees for which indemnification is required of Owners, Purchaser's Indemnitees shall first assert their right to payment against any insurance policy in effect at such time covering such Losses.
 
(c)           Purchaser's Indemnification. Purchasers that are signatories to a Local Purchase Agreement jointly and severally agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Owners from and against any and all Losses imposed on, asserted against or incurred by Owners which arise out of, in connection with, result from or are incident to any breach of any representation or warranty, Purchasers' indemnification obligation under Section 2.07 hereof, or failure to perform any obligation, covenant or agreement of Purchasers in this Agreement or in any Local Purchase Agreement or in any Schedule hereto or thereto or in any of the other ancillary documents to be executed and delivered to Owners by Purchasers in connection with the acquisition of the Purchased Assets.
 
(d)           Claim for Indemnification. Any party seeking indemnification under the provisions of this Agreement, within ninety (90) days of the time it discovers that it has a claim against another party ("Inter-Party Claim") or promptly upon receipt of written notice of any claim or the service of a summons or other initial legal process upon it in any action instituted against it which relates to this Agreement ("Third-Party Claim"), shall give written notice of such claim, or the commencement of such action, to the party from whom indemnification will be sought hereunder.
 
(i)           Third-Party Claim. In the event of a Third-Party Claim, the Tendering Party shall tender the defense of such Third Party Claim to the Non-Tendering Party. The Non-Tendering Party shall, within ten (10) Business Days of the receipt thereof, inform the Tendering Party in writing that the Non-Tendering Party will either accept or reject the tender of the defense of such Third Party Claim as set forth below.

 
(A)           Accept the Tender of the Defense Without a Reservation of Rights. If the Non-Tendering Party agrees that the Third Party Claim is a Proper Claim, the Non-Tendering Party shall accept the tender of the defense without a reservation of rights. In such an event the Non-Tendering Party shall control all aspects of the defense of such Third Party Claim and shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Tendering Party in accordance with this Section 1.06.
 
(B)           Accept the Tender of the Defense With a Reservation of Rights. If the Non-Tendering Party questions whether the Third Party Claim is a Proper Claim, the Non-Tendering Party may accept the tender of the defense with a reservation of rights. In such an event, the Non-Tendering Party shall submit such Third Party Claim to arbitration promptly in order to determine whether it is a Proper Claim. While the arbitration is pending, the Non-Tendering Party shall control all aspects of the defense of such Third Party Claim. If the decision of the arbitrator(s) is that such Third Party Claim is:
 
(i)           a Proper Claim, and the Third Party Claim is still pending, the Non-Tendering Party shall continue the defense of such Third Party Claim and shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Tendering Party in accordance with this Section 1.06;
 
(ii)           a Proper Claim, but the Third Party Claim has already been concluded, the Non-Tendering Party shall indemnify and hold harmless the Tendering Party in accordance with this Section 1.06;

 
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(iii)           an Improper Claim, and the Third Party Claim is still pending, the Non-Tendering Party shall transfer the control of all aspects of the defense of such Third Party Claim immediately to the Tendering Party; (In such an event, the Tendering Party shall assume the control of all aspects of the defense of such Third Party Claim immediately and shall reimburse the Non-Tendering Party for all costs and expenses (including, but . not limited to, reasonable attorneys fees and related disbursements of such attorneys) incurred by the Non-Tendering Party in the defense of such Third Party Claim); or
 
(iv)           an Improper Claim, but the Third Party Claim has already been concluded, the Tendering Party shall reimburse the Non-Tendering Party for all costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys fees and related disbursements of such attorneys) incurred by the Non-Tendering Party in the defense of such Third Party Claim, and shall reimburse the Non-Tendering Party for all amounts paid by the Non-Tendering Party for any judgments or settlements relating to such Third Party Claim, provided any negotiated settlement shall have been approved by the Tendering Party which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.

 
(C)           Reject the Tender of the Defense. If the Non-Tendering Party decides that the Third Party Claim is an Improper Claim, the Non-Tendering Party may reject the tender of the defense. In such an event, the Non-Tendering Party shall submit such Third Party Claim to arbitration immediately in order determine whether it is a Proper Claim. While the arbitration is pending, the Tendering Party shall control all aspects of the defense of such Third Party Claim. If the decision of the arbitrator(s) is that such Third Party Claim is:

 
(i)           a Proper Claim, and the Third Party Claim is still pending, the Tendering Party shall transfer the control of all aspects of the defense of such Third Party Claim immediately to the Non-Tendering Party; (In such an event, the Non-Tendering Party shall assume the control of all aspects of the defense of such Third Party Claim immediately and shall reimburse the Tendering Party for all costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys fees and related disbursements of such attorneys) incurred by the Tendering Party in the defense of such Third Party Claim and shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Tendering Party in accordance with this Section 1.06);

 
(ii)           a Proper Claim, but the Third Party Claim has already been concluded, the Non-Tendering Party shall indemnify and hold harmless the Tendering Party in accordance with this Section 1.06;

 
(iii)           an Improper Claim, and the Third Party Claim is still pending, the Tendering Party shall continue to control all aspects of the defense of such Third Party Claim; or

 
(iv)           an Improper Claim, but the Third Party Claim has already been concluded, the Tendering Party shall bear all losses incurred by the Tendering Party relating to such Third Party Claim.
 
For purposes of this Section 1.06(a), if upon receipt of notice of a Third Party Claim the Non-Tendering Party fails to timely give notice of its intention to accept the tender of defense (either with or without a reservation of rights), then the Non-Tendering Party shall be considered as having rejected the defense of the Third Party Claim and the procedures under this Section 1.06(d)(i)(C) shall be followed.

 
(ii)           Inter-Party Claim. In the event of an Inter-Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party shall, within thirty days of the receipt of the claim for indemnification, send written notice to the Indemnified Party indicating whether the claim is disputed. If the claim is disputed, the Indemnifying Party shall submit the matter to arbitration in order to determine if it is a Proper Claim and, if it is a Proper Claim, to determine the amount of such claim. To the extent that the arbitrator(s) or applicable court rules that a Inter-Party Claim is a Proper Claim and/or to the extent that a Inter-Party Claim is not disputed, the Indemnifying Party shall promptly indemnify the Indemnified Party in accordance with this Section 1.06 and the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to set-off against any amounts owed to the Indemnifying Party.

 
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(e)           Definition of "Loss." As used in this Section 1.06, the term "Loss" or "Losses" means the amount of any and all claims, liabilities, obligations, demands, damages, losses, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements of counsel), fines, penalties, judgments and amounts paid in settlement incurred or sustained by a party entitled to indemnification hereunder (provided such settlement is permitted or authorized under the other terms of this Section 1.06).

 
(f)  
Exclusive Remedy. The remedies for indemnification provided for in this Section 1.06 shall be the exclusive remedy of the parties hereto and their respective successors or assigns in respect of any claims for breach of this Agreement or any related agreement and shall be exclusive of any remedy conferred by law or equity upon any party thereto; provided, however, that this Section 1.06 shall not apply to Losses resulting from fraud.
 
ARTICLE II

 
COVENANTS

 
2.01           Payment of Transaction Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Purchasers and Owners will each bear their own respective costs and expenses, including, without limitation, legal counsel and accountants' fees and expenses, in connection with the preparation and negotiation of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Local Purchase Agreements.

 
2.02           Payment of Brokers. Each of the parties hereto covenants and agrees to pay all fees, commissions, costs and expenses relating to such party's use of any broker, finder, financial adviser, agent or other person in connection with this Agreement or any Local Purchase Agreement, or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Local Purchase Agreement.

 
2.03           Employees.

 
(a)          Except for the employees of a Seller Local Entity who shall remain employees of such Seller Local Entity (the "Retained Employees") as set forth on a Schedule to each Local Purchase Agreement, as of Closing, Purchasers shall offer at-will employment to all persons who are employees of the Global Business at such time (the "Continuing Employees"). Each Owner shall attach a list of all Continuing Employees, their rate of compensation, job title and exempt/non-exempt status. It is Purchasers' present intention to retain the employment of those individuals listed on Schedule 2.03(a).
 
(b)           Purchasers will evaluate all of each Owners' bonus and other compensation plans generally applicable to the Continuing Employees as of the date of this Agreement and from and after the Closing Date, Purchasers shall provide bonus and/or other compensation plans substantially similar to those provided to other similarly situated employees employed by Purchasers. On or prior to Closing, Owners shall pay all bonus or other amounts (other than severance) due employees of each Seller Local Entity as of the date of Closing or in the alternative, Owners may accrue such payments due as part of the Final Net Working Capital Amount with a corresponding reduction of the applicable Local Purchase Agreement purchase price. Additionally, Owners shall pay all severance amounts due employees of each Seller Local Entity triggered by the transactions consummated at Closing prior to Closing or, in the alternative, Owners may accrue such severance payments due as part of the Final Net Working Capital Amount. Purchasers jointly and severally agree to pay all bonus, severance or other amounts accrued as part of the Final Net Working Capital Amount to the applicable employees at the end of the applicable bonus period or otherwise when due in accordance with historical practices of the Global Business.
 
(c)           Except for wages, bonuses, vacation pay and sick pay assumed pursuant to thisAgreement, or as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, Purchaser shall assume no liability for any agreements, arrangements, Plans, commitments, policies or understandings of any kind relating to employment, compensation or benefits for the present or former employees of the Global Business for all employment prior to the Closing Date. The parties agree that no employee shall be entitled to any third party beneficiary status by virtue of this Section 2.03(c). Nothing in this Agreement shall obligate Purchaser to employ a Continuing Employee for any specified of minimum period of time, and nothing in this Agreement shall constitute a limitation on the right of Purchaser to terminate any Continuing Employee at will, subject to any applicable Laws and other legal requirements.

 
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(d)           Purchasers and the applicable Owner shall mutually agree on the timing and content of any notification or discussions with such Owners' Employees or any other parties and/or representatives of the Employees with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 
2.04           Public Announcements. Except as otherwise required under any applicable Laws, stock exchange authority or securities regulations, none of the parties to this Agreement shall make any public announcement relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, without the prior written consent of the other party which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 
2.05           Confidentiality. Following Closing, except for disclosure to their or its accountants, attorneys and other such professional representatives and as otherwise required by law, Owners shall keep confidential and shall not disclose to any person, corporation, firm or entity, any confidential, proprietary and/or financial information (including the Financial Statements) concerning any Owner, or the economic terms of this Agreement.

 
2.06           Additional Insured Status. Owners shall cause Checkpoint (and any other Affiliates of Checkpoint as designated in writing to Owners' Representative by Checkpoint) to be an additional insured under all commercial liability policies of Owners covering or related to the operation of such Owner prior to Closing. At Closing, Owners' Representative shall deliver to Purchasers a certificate of insurance or other evidence showing the applicable Purchasers as an additional insured in a form reasonably satisfactory to Checkpoint and at Checkpoint's cost to the extent of any additional premium required.

 
2.07           Creditors/Bulk Sales and Similar Laws. The parties hereto waive compliance with the provisions of all bulk sales laws including, without limitation, the bulk transfer provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent thereof, if applicable) of any country, state or territory or any similar statute, if and to the extent applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or a Local Purchase Agreement. Owners agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Purchasers in accordance with Section 1.06 of this Agreement from all Losses which Purchaser's Indemnities may suffer or incur by virtue of Owners' failure to pay the amounts that constitute Excluded Liabilities under the Local Purchase Agreements. Purchasers agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Owners in accordance with Section 1.06 of this Agreement from all Losses which any Owner may suffer or incur by virtue of Purchasers' failure to pay or perform any Assumed Obligations.

 
2.08           Post-Closing Financial Statement Deliveries by Owners.Within thirty (30) days following the Closing Date, Owners, at Purchaser's sole expense, will cause the delivery to Purchaser of the following:

 
(a)           un-audited statements of income and statements of cash flows for all of the components of the Global Business for the year ended December 31, 2010 for the entities listed on Schedule 2.08(a) (i.e. every Seller Local Entity and Acquired Entity other than the Wing Hung selling entities); and

 
(b)           an un-audited balance sheet for each Seller Local Entity and Acquired Entity as at December 31, 2010 for the entities listed on Schedule 2.08(a) (i.e. every Seller Local Entity and Acquired Entity other than the Wing Hung selling entities).
 
ARTICLE III

 
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT/DELIVERIES AT CLOSING

 
3.01           Conditions Precedent/Deliveries by Owners at Closing. All of the obligations of Purchasers under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment prior to or at Closing of each of the following conditions (and as to agreements listed below, Owners agree to execute, or cause the execution of, such agreements in the form agreed upon by the parties), any one or more of which may be waived in writing by Purchasers:
 
(a)           Each Owner shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to Closing;

 
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(b)           Each Seller Local Entity shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to Closing;

 
(c)           Purchasers shall have been provided access to Owners' personnel and records in order for Purchasers to complete its due diligence to its satisfaction;
(d)          No federal, state or local governmental unit, agency, body or authority with competent jurisdiction over the subject matter shall have given official written notice of its intention to institute proceedings to prohibit the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or which would interfere with the use of the Purchased Assets or the operation of the Global Business;
 
(e)           Evidence that all consents necessary in connection with this transaction have been obtained (which shall consist of the original copies of all consents required to be obtained in writing and a certificate from Owners stating that all other consents have been obtained);

 
(f)           John Lau and Howard Kurdin shall have entered into Non-Competition Agreements, a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.01(f);
 
(g)           Employment and Noncompetition Agreements shall have been entered into by a Purchaser and the following employees, in substantially the form mutually acceptable to the Purchaser: Howard Kurdin and other key employees identified by Purchaser;
 
(h)           Owners shall have executed and delivered the Escrow Agreement, executed by Owners;

 
(i)           Each Owner, as applicable, shall have executed and delivered the Transition Services Agreement ("Transition Services Agreement");
 
(g)           John Lau shall have executed and delivered the Consulting Agreement for fixed amount of US$1, 225,000 ("Consulting Agreement");
 
(k)           Each Owner shall have delivered to Purchasers unanimous written resolutions of its board of directors and stockholders approving this Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, or alternatively, an officer's certificate evidencing approval of such resolutions at a meeting or meetings;
 
(l)           Receipt of an opinion of Owners' counsel for the jurisdictions requested by Purchasers in a form reasonably acceptable to Purchasers;
 
(m)           Each Owners' deeds (if applicable) and bill of sale, in form reasonably acceptable to Purchasers, conveying the Purchased Assets;
 
(n)           Each Owners' assignment of all of its right, title and interest in and to the Assumed Liabilities in form acceptable to Purchaser;

 
(o)           All payoff letters relating to UCC-3 release and termination statements related to Owners' secured creditors (or filed on their behalf) which will, when filed with the appropriate filing offices, release all liens and encumbrances against the Purchased Assets, except Permitted Liens;

 
(p)           A bring down certificate of each Owners' representations and warranties and covenants in a form acceptable to Purchasers;

 
(q)           Each Owner shall have simultaneously executed all applicable Purchase Agreements and otherwise taken all actions to close all transactions associated therewith, unless the parties have agreed otherwise in writing;

 
(r)           Each Purchaser's board of directors shall have adopted resolutions approving this Agreement, the. Local Purchase Agreements and all transactions set forth herein and therein;

 
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(s)           Current instructions to banks are cancelled and replaced with new instructions pursuant to Purchaser's requests;
 
(t)           Statements of the balance standing to the credit/debit of all accounts of each Local Entity certified to be correct by the relevant banks seven days preceding the Closing Date with the relevant notices and consents completed by Closing;

 
(u)           Evidence of termination/release of any relationship between Owners/Local Entities and Bangladesh joint venture; and
 
(v)           Such other instruments and documents as Purchasers may reasonably request.
 
3.02           Conditions Precedent/Deliveries by Purchasers at Closing. All of the obligations of Owners under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment prior to or at Closing of each of the following conditions (and as to agreements listed below, Purchasers agree to execute such agreements in the form agreed upon by the parties), any one or more of which may be waived in writing by Owners' Representative:

 
(a)           Wire transfers, in immediately available funds, in the amounts described in Section 1.02(a) hereof;

 
(b)           Each Purchaser shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements and conditions required by this Agreement and under each Local Purchase Agreement to be performed or complied with prior to Closing;

 
(c)           No federal, state or local governmental unit, agency, body or authority with competent jurisdiction over the subject matter shall have given official written notice of its intention to institute proceedings to prohibit the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 
(d)           Purchasers shall have delivered the Escrow Agreement, executed by Purchasers;

 
(e)           Purchasers shall have delivered the Employment and Noncompetition Agreements, executed by the appropriate Purchasers.

 
(f)           Purchasers shall have delivered the Consulting Agreement for fixed amount of US$1, 225,000, executed by the appropriate Purchaser;

 
(g)           Purchasers shall have delivered the Transition Services Agreement, executed by Purchasers;

 
(h)           Purchasers shall have delivered to Owners unanimous written resolutions of each of its board of directors approving this Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, or alternatively, an officer's certificate evidencing approval of such resolutions at a meeting or meetings;

 
(i)           Purchasers' assumption of the Assumed Obligations in form acceptable to Owners, and Purchasers' pay off of Local Entity Debt;

 
(l)           A bring down certificate of each Purchaser's representations and warranties and covenants in a form acceptable to Owners;
 
(k)           Each Purchaser shall have simultaneously executed all applicable Purchase Agreements to which it is a party and otherwise taken all actions to close all transactions associated therewith, unless the parties have agreed otherwise in writing:
 
(1)           Each Owner that is an entity shall have had its board of directors (or equivalent governing body/equity holder(s)) adopt resolutions approving this Agreement, the Local Purchase Agreements and all transactions set forth herein and therein; and

 
(m)           Such other instruments and documents as Owners may reasonably request.

 
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ARTICLE IV

 
SURVIVAL/DISPUTE RESOLUTION


 
4.01           Survival of Representations and Warranties.

 
(a)           Owners' Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Owners contained herein and in the Local Purchase Agreements shall survive the Closing (as defined herein and therein, as applicable), and such representations and warranties shall expire eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date ("Survival Period"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representations and warranties of the Owners contained in the Local Purchase Agreements with respect to (i) Taxes and (ii) Environmental shall survive for the applicable statutes of limitation. In no event shall Owners' indemnification obligations for breaches of any representations and warranties with respect to Authority, Enforceability, Noncontravention; and Title to Assets shall expire due to the passage of time but rather shall forever remain in effect.
 
(b)           Notice of Claim. In the event that Purchaser provides Owners timely notice as provided in Section 1.06(d) and within the Survival Period, the obligations of the Owners under Section 1.06 shall survive until the claim is finally resolved.

 
(c)           No Expiration of Covenants. Except where limited by a specific restriction on duration set forth herein, the obligations of Owners to perform their respective covenants hereunder shall expire when each such covenant is performed.

 
ARTICLE V

 
MISCELLANEOUS

 
5.01           Notices. Any notices, requests, claims, demands, instructions and other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder to any party shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person or by a nationally recognized overnight courier service or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the following addresses (or at such other address or number as is given in writing by such party in accordance with this Section 5.01).

 
If to Owners:                                           John Lau
 
Wing Hung Group
 
Flat A, 6/F., Kin Ho Industrial Building
 
 Block 1, 14-24 Au Pui Wan St., Fo Tan
 
N.T., Hong Kong

 
Howard Kurdin
 
8170 Washington Village Drive Dayton, OH 45458

 
With a copy to:                                           Jonas Gruenberg
Coolidge Wall Co., LPA Suite 600
33 West First Street
Dayton, OH 45402

 
If to Purchaser:                                           Stephen Davidson
 
Leat House
 
Overbridge Square
 
Newbury, Berkshire RG14 5UX United Kingdom

 
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with a copy to:                                           John R. Van Zile
 
SVP & General Counsel
 
Checkpoint Systems Inc.
 
One Commerce Square
 
2005 Market Street, Suite 2410 Philadelphia, PA. 19103

 
Any such notice, communication or delivery shall be deemed given or made (i) on the date of delivery, if delivered in person; (ii) on the first Business Day following delivery to a national overnight service; (iii) on the third Business Day following delivery to an international overnight service or (iv) on the fifth (5th) Business Day following it being mailed by registered or certified mail.
 
 
5.02
Amendments. This Agreement may be amended and/or modified, only in a written     document signed by Purchasers and Owners that specifically states that it is an amendment to this Agreement.

 
 
5.03
Duplicates, Originals Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and/or with one or more signature pages, all of which shall be deemed to be one and the same Agreement.
 
 
5.04
Non-Assignability. Except as set forth in the preamble of this Agreement, none of the parties hereto may assign its rights, interests, obligations or liabilities under this Agreement or delegate its duties without the prior written consent of the other parties.
 
 
5.05
Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 
5.06           Governing Law/Arbitration.

 
(a)            This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States of America, exclusive of any conflicts of laws principles.
 
(b)           All Actions arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively pursuant to Sections 5.06(c) or 5.06(d), at the option of the party instituting the controversy or claim.
 
(c)           Any controversy, dispute, claim or question arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including without limitation its interpretation, performance or non-performance by any party, or any breach thereof (hereinafter, collectively, ("Controversy") shall be referred to and resolved exclusively by three arbitrators through private, confidential arbitration conducted in Philadelphia, PA. Such arbitrators shall be disinterested, neutral individuals who have experience and qualifications in the subject matter of the Controversy. One arbitrator shall be chosen by each party to the arbitration and the third by the two so chosen. If either party refuses or neglects to appoint an arbitrator within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the other party requesting it to do so, the requesting party may choose a total of two arbitrators who shall choose the third. If the arbitrators fail to select the third arbitrator within ten (10) days after both have been named, the party plaintiff shall notify the American Arbitration Association (AAA) who shall appoint the third arbitrator. The AAA shall select an arbitrator who is disinterested, neutral and who has experience and qualifications in the subject matter of the Controversy. Each party to the arbitration shall bear the expense of its own arbitrator and shall jointly and equally bear the cost of the third arbitrator. In the event of the death, disability or incapacity of any arbitrator, a replacement shall be named pursuant to the process, which resulted in the selection of the arbitrator to be replaced. The majority decision of the panel shall be final and binding upon the parties to this Agreement. Judgment may be entered upon the award of the arbitrators in any court of competent jurisdiction. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Article, the arbitration of any Controversy shall be conducted in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.

 
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(d)           Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or any breach of this Agreement, may be initiated, maintained and finally determined by binding arbitration under the auspices of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center (the "HKIAC") and the site of the arbitration shall be in Hong Kong. The arbitral tribunal shall be appointed within 30 days of the notice of dispute, and shall consist of three arbitrators, each opposing party to a dispute shall be entitled to appoint one arbitrator and the third shall be jointly appointed by the disputing parties or, failing such agreement within such 300 day period, the HKIAC shall appoint the third arbitrator. The arbitration proceeding shall be conducted in English. The arbitration tribunal shall apply the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules as administered by the HKIAC at the time of the arbitration. The award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the disputing parties, and the prevailing party may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award. Any party shall be entitled to seek preliminary injunctive relief from any court of competent jurisdiction pending the constitution of the arbitral tribunal.

 
5.07           Remedies. Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement is intended or will be
 
construed to confer upon or give any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby.
 
5.08           Construction. The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this
 
Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this
 
Agreement shall be construed as if the Agreement was drafted jointly by the parties and
 
no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue
 
of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
 
5.09           Severability. In the event any term or provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to be
 
illegal, invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability will not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement and the parties shall endeavor to replace the invalid or null and void provision(s) with such which correspond best to the intentions of the parties hereto.

 
5.10           Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including all Exhibits and the Schedules which are
 
hereby incorporated into this Agreement and made a part hereof, constitutes the entire integrated understanding and agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties. The parties agree that any Exhibit or Schedule not agreed to and attached hereto at execution as indicated by the initials of the parties hereto shall be agreed upon by the parties and attached hereto prior to Closing. There are no representations, warranties, undertakings or agreements between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement except as set forth herein and Purchaser has not relied on any representations, warranties, undertakings or agreements not set forth herein.



 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.

 
PURCHASER:
 
Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
 
By:   /s/ Steven Davidson_______________

 
OWNERS:
 
/s/ Lau Shun Keung aka John Lau 
 
Lau Shun Keung aka John Lau, individually
 
/s/ Yeung Mei Kuen___________________
Yeung Mei Kuen, individually
 
/s Lau Shun Man______________________
 
Lau Shun Man, individually
 
/s/ Lau Shun Wah______________________
 
Lau Shun, Wah, individually
 
/s/ Howard J. Kurdih ___________________
Howard J. Kurdih, individually
 
/s/ Lau Wing Ting aka Shirley Lau________
Lau Wing Ting aka Shirley Lau, individually

 
SHORE TO SHORE, INC. (“STS INC.”)
 
By:  /s/Howard J. Kurdih 
Howard J. Kurdih, individually

 
SHANGHAI WH PRINTING CO. LTD..
 
By:

 
WING HUNG (DONGGUAN) PRINTING CO.,
 
LTD.
 
By:

 
WING HUNG PRINTING CO., LTD.
 
By:  /s/ Lau Shun Keung 
 
Lau Shun Keung aka John Lau, individually

 
ADAPT IDENTIFICATION (CHINA) GARMENT ACCESSORIES TRADING CO., LTD.
 
By:


 
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SCHEDULES


 
to be listed
 


 
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APPENDIX I
 
Defined Terms
 
Each of the following terms as used in the Agreement is defined in the Section set forth opposite such term or as otherwise described or defined; provided, however, not every defined term included in the Agreement is listed below.

 
"Acquired Equity" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.01 (b)(iii).

 
"Adjusted EBITDA Payment" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.05(a)(iii) of this Agreement.

 
"Adjusted Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.02(a) of this Agreement.

 
"Affiliate" shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person which, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person.
 
"Agency Commitment" means a distribution, dealer or sales agency agreement, arrangement or commitment.

 
"Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 
"Assumed Contracts" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.01(b)(v)(A)(ii) of this Agreement.

 
"Assumed Liabilities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.01(b)(v)(A)(i) of this Agreement.

 
"Assumed Obligations" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.01(b)(v)(A) of this Agreement.
 
"Business Day(s)" shall mean any day other than: (a) Saturday or Sunday; or (b) any other day on which banks in the State of Pennsylvania, U.S.A. are permitted or required to be closed.

 
"Buyer Local Entity" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.01(a) of this Agreement.
 
"Cap" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.06(b)(i)(B) of this Agreement.

 
"Checkpoint" shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
 
"Claim(s)" shall mean any suit, claim, action, arbitration, proceeding or investigation, notice of potential responsibility or violation, demand letters, requests for information, actions, litigation, proceedings or investigations (including, without limitation, any of such which have been initiated by private parties), pending or threatened, from third party, administrative, governmental or judicial entity.
 
"Closing" shall mean the time of the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Local Purchase Agreements.
 
"Closing Date" means the date on which Closing occurs, which shall occur on or before February 28, 2011.
 

 
"Closing Date Balance Sheet" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03(c) of this Agreement.

 
"Closing Date Purchase Payment" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.02(a) of this Agreement.

 
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"Closing Date Net Working Capital Adjustment" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03(b)(iii) of this Agreement.

 
"Code" means Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.

 
"Contingent Additional Purchase Price Payments" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.02(a).
 
"Continuing Employees" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a).
 
"Consulting Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(j) of this Agreement.

 
"Contracts" shall mean contracts and purchase orders, including without limitation, maintenance and service agreements, purchase commitments for raw materials, goods and other services, advertising and promotional agreements, licenses, leases, instruments, employment agreements.
 
"Disputed Item(s)" means the constituent part of any line item on the Proposed Final Net Working Capital Worksheet that Owners disagree with and provides an explanation of the reason for disagreement with each of such constituent parts.
 
"EBITDA" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.05(a)(i)(A) of this Agreement.
 
"EBITDA Adjustment Statement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.05(a)(iv) of this Agreement.

 
"EBIDTA Payment" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.05(a)(ii) of this Agreement.
 

 
"EBITDA Target" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.05(a)(i)(B) of this Agreement.

 
"Employee(s)" means the persons employed by any Owner or, when used in connection with the Seller Local Entities, the persons employed by the Seller Local Entities.

 
"Environmental Laws" means any and all Laws in effect at the relevant times to which Owners or its predecessors is or may be subject in relation to the assets and/or operations of Owners in any jurisdiction with regard to the pollution or protection of the natural environment or harm to or the protection of human health. Environmental Laws shall include, without limitation, and to the extent governed by the Laws of the United States of America, each of the following: (A) the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act; (B) the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act; (C) the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; (D) the Federal Clean Air Act; (E) the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; (F) the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments to RCRA; (G) the Federal Solid Waste Disposal Act; (H) the Federal Toxic Substances Control Act; (I) the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act; and (J) any and all Laws relating to public and workers' health and safety, including without limitation the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, emissions, regulation of chemical substances or products, emissions, discharges or releases of any Hazardous Substances or Hazardous Wastes into the natural environment or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, use, treatment, storage and warehousing, distribution, sale, import or export, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Substances or Hazardous Wastes. "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 
"Escrow Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.04(a)(i) of this Agreement.
 

 
"Escrow Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.04(a) of this Agreement.
 

 
"Escrow Term" shall mean the period extending eighteen (18) months from the Closing Date.

 
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"Escrowed Funds" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.04(a)(i)(B) of this Agreement.
 
"Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet" shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 1.03(b) of this Agreement.
 
"Estimated Closing Date Net Working Capital Amount" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03(b) of this Agreement.
 
"Estimated Closing Date Net Working Capital Worksheet" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03(b) of this Agreement.

 
"Excluded Assets" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.01(b)(iv)(E) of this Agreement.

 
"Excluded Liabilities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.01(b)(v)(B) of this Agreement.

 
"Final Net Working Capital Amount" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03(d)(ii)(A) of this Agreement.

 
"Final Net Working Capital Worksheet" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03(d)(i) of this Agreement.
 

 
"Final Working Capital Purchase Price Adjustment Due to Purchasers" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03(e)(i) of this Agreement.
 
"Final Working Capital Purchase Price Adjustment Due to Owners" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03(e)(ii) of this Agreement.
 
"Financial Statements" means the Financial Statements of Owners as and for the periods December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2009 and Interim Financial Statements, individually and collectively.
 
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as established from time to time by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
 
"General Escrowed Funds" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.04(a)(i)(A) of this Agreement.
 
"Global Business" shall have the meaning set forth in the first "Whereas" clause of this Agreement.
 
"Global Business Exclusions" shall have the meaning set forth in the second "Whereas" clause and Section 1.0 1 (b)(iv)(E) of this Agreement.
 
"Governmental Authority or Governmental Authorities" shall mean any federal, state or local or foreign government, any political subdivision or municipal corporation thereof or any court, administrative or regulatory agency, department, instrumentality, body or commission or other governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign.
 
"Hazardous Substances" and "Hazardous Wastes" means any and all pollutants, minerals, metals, materials, contaminants, chemicals or industrial substances, radioactive substances, dangerous or toxic substances, hazardous materials, hazardous substances or hazardous wastes as such terms are defined pursuant to or within the Environmental Laws.
 
"Independent Accountant" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03(d)(ii)(A) of this Agreement.
 
"Improper Claim" means a claim for which indemnification is not provided for pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
 
"Indemnified Party" means, in the event of an Inter-Party Claim, the party seeking indemnification.

 
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"Indemnifying Party" means, in the event of an Inter-Party Claim, the party from whom indemnification is sought.
 
"Interim Financial Statements" means the balance sheet and statement of income for the Owners, unconsolidated and estimated for the Dongguan production center and Shanghai Adapt Ltd. for the twelve (12) month period ending December 31, 2010.
 
“Inter-Party Claim" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.06(d) of this Agreement.
 
"IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service.
 
"Knowledge" shall mean (i) when used in connection with Owners, the actual knowledge of John Lau or Howard Kurdin and those individuals listed on Schedule A-1 and the knowledge that such individuals should have had if they had performed their normal duties on behalf of Owners in a reasonably prudent manner; and (ii) when used in connection with Purchasers, the actual knowledge of the executive officers of Purchasers and the knowledge that such individuals should have had if they had performed their normal duties on behalf of the Purchasers in a reasonably prudent manner.
 
"Law(s)" means all federal, state, local and foreign statutes, ordinances, Regulations, rules,
 
codes, executive orders, decrees, writs, judgments, injunctions.

 
"Leases" means all leases entered into by Owners that currently exist for the lease of any real property by Owners.
 
"Leased Real Property" means all real property leased by Owners, whether as landlord or tenant.
 
"Liens" means any and all pledges, mortgages, liens, charges, encumbrances, security interests, options, conditional sales and/or other types of title retention arrangements, claims, restrictions, leases, options, rights of first offer or first refusal, confidentiality or secrecy agreements, noncompetition agreements, defects in title and other encumbrances or rights of others whether perfected or otherwise.
 
"Local Purchase Agreements" shall have the meaning set forth in the second "Whereas" clause of this Agreement.
 
"Local Entity Debt" shall mean (i) interest bearing debt including inter alia Seller Local Entity or Acquired Entity bank debt, bank loans, and lines of credit, (ii) any transfer, excise, sales or other similar taxes triggered by the transactions contemplated hereunder, (iii) any unfunded obligations under any defined benefit pension plans, and (iv) interest accrued and unpaid as of the Closing Date, if any, with respect to items (i) through (iii) above.

 
"Loss" or "Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.06(e) of this Agreement.
 
"Material Adverse Effect" means an occurrence, change, event or circumstance that has, or may reasonably likely have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of Owners taken as a whole, other than as a result of changes generally adversely affecting the economic environment in which the Owners and their Subsidiaries do business, or changes as a result of the execution by Owners of this Agreement or any related agreements and completion of the transactions.

 
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"Material Contract" means Contracts of Owners which:

 
(a)           with respect to customers thereof, guarantees any obligations of, or lends money to, such customers;
 
(b)           provides for non-cancelable future payments by Owners thereunder of more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) per year;

 
(c)           is a commitment for capital expenditures of more than Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000);

 
(d)           is an Agency Commitment;

 
(e)           is a guarantee of third party obligations;

 
(f)           is a commitment for the sale of any material assets, except as made in the ordinary course of the Global Business consistent with past practice;
 
(g)           restricts the kinds of businesses or activities in which Owners may engage or the geographical area in which Owners may conduct business;
 
(h)           is an indenture, mortgage, loan agreement or other commitment for the borrowing of money or a line of credit;

 
(i)           is a license (whether as licensor or licensee) or similar agreement permitting the use of any Proprietary Rights;

 
(j)           is a broker or finder's agreement;

 
(k)           constitute a Joint Venture;

 
(1)           is a stock purchase agreement, asset purchase agreement or other acquisition or divestiture agreement for a third-party business acquisition for which the subject transaction remains to be completed pursuant to which any Owner has continuing material obligations or rights; or
 
(m) is an employment or consulting agreement with any current or former Employee or consultant of any Owner pursuant to which any Owner has continuing material obligations or rights.
 
"Migrated Bangladesh Revenue" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.05(b) of this Agreement.
 
 
"Migration Payment" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.05(b)(v) of this Agreement. "Migration Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.05(b) of this Agreement.
 
"Net Working Capital" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03 (a)(ii) of this Agreement.

 
"Non-Tendering Party" means, in the event of a Third-Party Claim, the party from whom indemnification is sought.
 
"Notice of Objection" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03(d)(ii) of this Agreement.
 
"Order(s)" shall mean any order, judgment, award, writ, injunction or other ruling of any court, administrative or Governmental Authority.
 
"Owned Real Property" shall mean the real property owned by any Owner or by any of the Subsidiaries, together with all buildings and other structures, facilities or improvements, currently or hereafter located thereon, all fixtures, systems, equipment and items of personal property of the any Owner or any of the Subsidiaries attached thereto and all easements, licenses, rights and appurtenances related to the foregoing.

 
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"Owners" shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 
"Owners' Basket" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.06(b)(i)(A) of this Agreement.
 
"Permit(s)" means all material franchises, permits, licenses certificates, approvals and other authorizations from all persons and entities, including all Governmental Authorities.
 
"Permitted Liens" means (a) Liens for current taxes and assessments not yet due and payable, (b) Liens as reflected in title or other public records relating to the Owned Real Property, (c) Liens that would be disclosed by an accurate survey, (d) Liens arising or created by municipal and zoning ordinances, (e) Liens that do not materially detract from the value, or impair in any material manner the use, of the properties or assets subject thereto and (g) those Liens set forth in Schedule [].
 
"Post-Closing Transfers/Actions" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.04(a)(i)(C) of this Agreement.
 
"Prepayment Penalties" shall mean any prepayment penalties incurred as a result of the payment of Local Entity Debt at Closing.
 
"Production Centre Funds" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.04(a)(i)(B) of this Agreement.
 
"Proper Claim" means a claim for which indemnification is provided pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 
"Proposed Final Net Working Capital Amount" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03(c) of this Agreement.

 
"Proposed Final Net Working Capital Worksheet" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03(c) of this Agreement.

 
"Purchase Agreements" shall have the meaning set forth in the second "Whereas" clause of this Agreement.

 
"Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.02(a) of this Agreement.
 
"Purchased Assets" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.01(b)(i) of this Agreement.
 
"Purchasers" shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
 
"Purchasers' Indemnitees" means Purchasers, and their respective directors, officers, employees, subsidiaries, affiliates and their respective successors, assigns and heirs, as applicable.

 
"Real Property" means collectively the Owned Real Property and the Leased Real Property.
 
"Regulations" shall mean and include proposed, temporary and final regulations promulgated under the Code as of the Closing Date and corresponding sections of any regulations subsequently issued that amend or supersede such regulations.

 
"Retained Employees" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a).

 
"Review Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03(d) of this Agreement.

 
"Seller Local Entity" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.01(a) of this Agreement.
 
"STS Bangladesh Business" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.05(b)(i) of this Agreement.

 
"STS Sri Lanka" means Shore to Shore (Private) Limited, a Sri Lanka private company.

 
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"Subsidiaries" means (i) STS Sri Lanka, (ii) Shore to Shore Lacar, Limitada S.A., a Guatemala sociedad anonima, (iii) Shore to Shore Merchandise Identification Systems Private Ltd, an Indian private limited company and any other entities to be transferred to Checkpoint in order to transfer the Global Business as contemplated hereunder.

 
"Survival Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(a) of this Agreement.
 
"Target Net Working Capital Amount" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.03(a)(i) of this Agreement.
 
"Tax" and "Taxes" shall mean income taxes (whether federal, provincial, state, local or foreign or other taxes on or measured by income, gross receipts, profits or occupations), franchise taxes, excise taxes, employment taxes, unemployment taxes, payroll taxes, withheld taxes from Employee compensation, employer taxes, sales and use taxes, real property taxes, personal property taxes (including any liability for personal property taxes accruing, arising or in any way resulting from or determined with respect to or in any way relating to or referenced by any period prior to the date hereof), transfer taxes, ad valorem taxes, value added taxes, taxes levied on assets, per capita taxes, head taxes, and any other tax or taxes imposed, whether or not assessed, by any federal, provincial, state, municipal, local or other governmental agency, foreign or domestic, including assessments in the nature of taxes, as well as interest and penalties on any of the foregoing of Owners relating to a period ending on or prior to the date hereof.

 
"Tax Authority" means any federal, state, local or foreign government, any administrative agency, department, instrumentality, body or commission thereof empowered or authorized to enforce, interpret or administer any Tax.
 
"Tax Return(s)" means any return, report, declaration, document or election (including any schedules thereto) required or permitted to be provided to any Governmental Authority in any way resulting from or relating to any type of Tax.
 
"Tendering Party" means, in the event of a Third Party Claim, the party seeking indemnification.

 
"Third Party Claim" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.06(d) of this Agreement.

 
"Transition Services Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(i) of this Agreement.

 
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EXHIBIT 1.01(e)(i)

 
General Representations and Warranties

 
1.01           Authority; Enforceability; Noncontravention.

 
 
(a)
Owners have the requisite corporate or company power, capacity and legal authority to execute, deliver and perform under this Agreement and the documents and agreements furnished hereunder.

 
 
(b)
The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the documents and agreements furnished or caused to be furnished hereunder by Owners, and the performance by Owners of the transactions contemplated herein have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Owners (if such action is necessary as to any Owner because such Owner is an entity). No further action on the part of Owners is or will be necessary to make this Agreement and such other documents or agreements valid and binding on each of them and enforceable against each of them in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally or by general principles of equity.
 
 
(c)
Owners' execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein, do not and will not (as the case may be), with the passing of time or the giving of notice or both:
 
 
(i)
result in a violation or breach of any provision of or constitute a default under the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws (or the equivalent thereof) (as amended) of a Seller Local Entity or any other of its charter documents, or of any resolution of the stockholders or directors of a Seller Local Entity;
 
 
(ii)
except with respect to obligations which shall be satisfied at the Closing, and subject to the obtaining of any consents listed on Schedule 1.04 hereto, conflict with, violate or result in a breach, acceleration or termination of any provisions, or constitute a default, under any term or provision of any stockholders' agreement, indenture or other trust document, loan agreement, promissory note, credit agreement, security agreement, lease, license, deed of trust, order, arbitration award, contract, lien, instrument, other agreement, or to the Knowledge of Owners, any Law, in either case to which a Seller Local Entity is a party or by which a Seller Local Entity is otherwise subject or bound; and
 
 
(iii)
violate or conflict with any other restrictions of transfer of any kind or nature with respect to the Purchased Assets nor result in the creation of any lien other than Permitted Liens on any Purchased Assets.

 
1.02           Organization, Capital Structure and Standing of Owners.
 
 
(a)
Organization. The Owners in the forms of entities in the jurisdiction where formed, as listed on Schedule 1.02(a) are each duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (or if an LLC, as full force and effect) under the laws of the jurisdictions specified on Schedule 1.02 (a). Each Seller Local Entity has all requisite corporate (or company) power and authority to own, lease, hold and operate its assets and properties and to conduct its business as and where now owned, leased, held, operated and/or conducted, as the case may be, and to hold all Permits necessary or required therefore.

 
 
(b)
Qualification to Conduct Business. Each Seller Local Entity is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in all jurisdictions where the character of its activities or the location of the properties owned or leased by it requires such qualification or registration, except where the failure to be qualified or registered would not have a Material Adverse Effect or can be cured solely by qualifying in such jurisdiction along with the associated filing fee. Schedule 1.02(b) sets forth a true and complete list of all jurisdictions (foreign and domestic) in which each Seller Local Entity is presently licensed or qualified to conduct business.

 
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1.03           Charter and Bylaws. The copies of the Charter/Certificate of Incorporation/Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws (or the equivalent thereof) of each Seller Local Entity, which have been provided to Purchasers are:
 
(a)           true and complete copies of such documents;

 
(b)           include all amendments thereto; and

 
(c)           are in full force and effect.

 
1.04           Consents and Approvals. Except as set forth on Schedule 1.04, no consent, approval or authorization of or except where the failure to obtain a consent, authorization or approval would not have a Material Adverse Effect on any third party with respect to any written Contract is required in connection with the execution and delivery by Owners of this Agreement and/or the consummation by Owners of the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
1.05           Books and Accounts. The books, records and accounts of Owners and their respective Subsidiaries maintained with respect to the Global Business accurately and fairly reflect, in reasonable detail, the transactions and the assets and liabilities of the Global Business. Neither Owners nor any Subsidiary has engaged in any transaction with respect to the Global Business, maintained any bank account or used any of its funds in the conduct of the Global Business except for transactions, bank accounts and funds which have been and are reflected in the books and records of Owners relating to the Global Business maintained on a basis consistent with past practices.

 
1.06           Financial Statements.

 
(a)           Financial Statements. Attached as Schedule 1.06(a)-l are copies of the audited but not consolidated balance sheets, statements of income, statements of cashflows and statements of shareholders' equity for the Owners for the years ended December 31, 2008 through December 31, 2009 except(collectively the "Annual Financial Statements"), and attached as Schedule1.06(a)-2are copies of unaudited balance sheet and statement of income for the Owners for theI] month period ending[],2010(the "Interim Financial Statem-ents" and, together with the Annual Financial Statements, sometimes collectively referred to herein as the "Financial Statements").[NOTE: revise as appropriate]
 
(b)           Exceptions to GAAP. Except as described on Schedule 1.06(b), or as disclosed in the Financial Statements, as of their respective dates, the December 31, 2009 Annual Financial Statement fairly present in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of the Owners as of the dates and for the periods covered thereby, subject, in the case of the Interim Financial Statements, to normal year end adjustments, none of which are expected to be material, and the absence of footnotes.
 
(c)           Backlog. Attached as Schedule1.06(c) are true and correct copies of the backlog/open order reports of the Global Business as of a date not more than one week prior to the date hereof.
 
1.07           Indebtedness Relating to Stockholders, Employees and Directors. Owners are not indebted to any of its stockholders, Employees or directors of Owners (or to members of their immediate families) in any amount whatsoever which will not be satisfied at Closing, other than for salaries incurred on behalf of Owners in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices. Except as set forth on Schedule 1.07 no stockholder, Employee or director of Owners (nor members of their immediate families) is indebted to Owners in any amount whatsoever which will not be satisfied at Closing.

 
1.08           Distributors, Sales Representatives and Agents. Attached hereto as Schedule 1.08 is a complete and accurate list of all distributors, third party sales representatives and sales agents, and business finders used by a Seller Local Entity, identifying the relevant entity with which such relationship exists. No applicable Seller Local Entity is in material breach of any such distribution, sales representative, sales agent or business finder agreements. Owners have not duplicated the award of exclusive rights to different persons or entities within the same territory.
 
1.09           Transactions with Related Parties. Except as set forth on Schedule 1.09 neither Owners nor any of their directors, officers or Employees, or any member of his or her immediate family, or any corporation, trust, partnership or other entity in which any of the foregoing has an interest (excluding an interest of less than 3% of a publicly-traded company), is or was during the past three (3) years, a party to any contract, agreement, understanding or business relationship of any nature with Owners or any Subsidiary.

 
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1.10           No Undisclosed Liabilities. Owners and/or the Subsidiaries are not obligated for, nor are any of its assets or properties subject to, any liabilities, absolute or contingent, of the nature required to be reflected in, reserved for or otherwise disclosed in the Financial Statements except for current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the Interim Financial Statements or liabilities which will be satisfied by Owners at Closing.

 
1.11           Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as set forth on Schedule1.11, since September 30, 2010, the Global Business has been operated in the ordinary course of the Global Business consistent with past practices and no occurrences, changes, events or circumstances have occurred that would cause a Material Adverse Effect on the Global Business or the Purchased Assets which are not reflected on the unaudited financial statements provided to Purchasers. Specifically, and without limitation as to the generality of the foregoing, since September 30, 2010 neither Owners or, as applicable, a Subsidiary has not:
 
(a)           incurred any liabilities or obligations in excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) except liabilities or obligations incurred in the usual and ordinary course of the Global Business consistent with past practices;

 
(b)           sold, leased or otherwise transferred, or contracted to sell, lease or otherwise transfer, any of the Purchased Assets, or mortgaged, pledged or subjected any of the Purchased Assets to any Lien, except:

 
(i)           sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent with pastpractices; and

 
(ii)           payments on account of accounts payable incurred in the usual and ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;

 
(c)           made any change in, taken any steps to implement any change in, or made any arrangement for the payment of any additional or increased, wages, salaries, compensation, pension or other benefits payable to any director, officer, Employee, agent or sales representative or paid any severance or termination pay to, or became obligated to pay any severance or termination pay to, any director, officer, Employee, agent or representative, except where any of the same were in the ordinary course of Global Business, in accordance with past practices;
 
(d)           suffered any damage, destruction or casualty loss to any assets whether by fire, accident, labor disturbance or otherwise, whether or not insured, in excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000);
 
(e)           committed any event of default under, terminated or amended or revised any Material Contract with any of its customers and/or suppliers, nor have any such customers and/or suppliers terminated or amended or revised any Material Contract;
 

 
(f)           cancelled any debts or claims related to the Global Business, or waived any rights of value, except for such claims that are not in the aggregate material and which were incurred in the ordinary course of the Global Business consistent with past practices;
 

 
(g)           made any commitments or incurred any liabilities or obligations for capital expenditures in excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), all of which capital expenditures committed to or incurred are set forth on Schedule1.11 ;

 
(h)           incurred, became a party to or became subject to, any agreement, contract or commitment requiring an expenditure by Owners for the purchase of raw materials or other finished goods inventory, in each case and other than in the ordinary course of the Global Business consistent with past practices;
 
(i)           made any loan or advance to any supplier, vendor, stockholder, officer, director or Employee of any Owner, or members of the immediate family of any stockholder, officer, director or Employee of any Owner that will not be satisfied at Closing;
 
G)           entered into any sale, license, assignment or transfer of any patents, trademarks, trade names or other similar intangible assets, or disposed of or permitted or caused the lapse of any rights in, to or for the use of any patent, trademark, trade name or copyright;

 
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(k)           made any commitment (through negotiations or otherwise) or incurred any liability to any labor organization, or suffered any labor related work stoppage or interruption or strike;
 
(1)           instituted any new bonus, stock option, profit-sharing, pension, deferred compensation plan or similar arrangement or made any material changes in any such existing plans;

 
(m)           suffered any material adverse change in collection loss experience;

 
(n)           made any change in accounting principles or practices, eliminated any reserves established on any Owners' books or changed the method of accrual pertaining to any reserves which would justify their elimination;

 
(o)           suffered any change in the financial condition, assets, liabilities, business or operations, which alone or in the aggregate would have a Material Adverse Effect;

 
(p)           authorized for issuance, issued, delivered or sold any equity securities of Owners, or altered the terms of any outstanding securities issued by Owners; or
 
(q)           entered into any commitment or agreement to do any of the forgoing.

 
1.12           Litigation/Governmental Orders. Except as set forth on Schedule1.12, to Owners' Knowledge there are no Claims before any Governmental Authority pending or threatened against a Seller Local Entity, or any Seller Local Entity's assets. To Owners' Knowledge, Owners are not bound by, subject to, or in default under, any Order or other ruling of any Governmental Authority.

 
1.13           Bankruptcy. No proceedings, whether voluntary or involuntary, are pending or threatened to Owners' Knowledge against any Seller Local Entity nor is any Seller Local Entity contemplating any such proceedings, under the bankruptcy Laws and/or receivership or similar Laws of the United States, or any State thereof, or of any other country or jurisdiction.

 
1.14           Compliance with Laws.

 
(a)           Operations; No Investigations. To Owners' Knowledge, each Seller Local Entity has materially complied with and is in material compliance with all Laws applicable to its Global Business, operations and assets. There is no pending, or to the Knowledge of Owners, threatened, investigation by any Governmental Authority with regard to the operations of the Sellers Local Entity.

 
(b)           Permits. Each Seller Local Entity is and has been:

 
(i)           duly licensed and possesses all material Permits for its Global Business from all persons and entities, including all Governmental Authorities under all applicable Laws that are necessary to permit it to engage in the Global Business and to own and operate its assets in all applicable jurisdictions; and

 
(ii)           in compliance with all such Permits.
 
To Owners' Knowledge, all such Permits are valid, in full force and effect. All other material reports, informational returns and updates which any Seller Local Entity is required to file under any applicable Laws with regard to the foregoing have been filed in a timely manner and all fees relating to the same have been paid. No action, proceeding or investigation contemplating the revocation or suspension of any Permit is pending, or to Owners' Knowledge, threatened.

 
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1.15           Taxes.

 
(a)           Tax Returns; Payment of Taxes. Each Seller Local Entity has:

 
(i)           timely filed all Tax Returns required to be filed by it in any jurisdiction to which it is or has been subject;
 
(ii)           timely paid in full Taxes due and to Owners' Knowledge, all Taxes claimed to be due by each such jurisdiction, which are not being contested in good faith by such Seller Local Entity; and
 
(iii)           made timely withholdings and timely payments of any Taxes required to be deducted and withheld from the wages or other amounts paid to Employees or to others.
 
All Tax Returns filed by Owners correctly reflect in all material respects the matters required to be reported therein and have not been amended except as set forth on Schedule 1.15(a). There are no audits, controversies or claims by any taxing authorities pending or, to Owners' Knowledge, threatened against Owners, the Global Business and the Purchased Assets. There are no tax liens (other than any lien for current taxes not yet due and payable) on any of the Purchased Assets or the Global Business.

 
(b)           Audits. There are no outstanding agreements or waivers (by operation of law or otherwise) extending the statutory period of limitations applicable to any Tax Return of any Seller Local Entity for any period. Except as set forth on Schedule 1.15(b), no Tax Authority has audited any Seller Local Entity.

 
(c)           Returns. Owners have provided to Purchaser complete copies of each Owners' federal and state income Tax Returns as filed (together with any amended Tax Returns or refund claims) for each taxable period beginning on and after January 1, 2007. Each Seller Local Entity has provided to Purchaser complete copies of each Owners' sales and use, personal property and payroll tax filings (together with any amended Tax Returns or refund claims) for each taxable period beginning on and after January 1, 2007.

 
1.16           Environmental.

 
(a)           Environmental Permits. Each Seller Local Entity has in full force and effect all governmental Permits, authorizations or approvals that are necessary or required for the operation of its business pursuant to any and all Environmental Laws. Each Seller Local Entity has made timely application for renewal of such Permits where necessary. To Owners' Knowledge, no proceeding is pending or threatened to revoke, suspend and/or limit any such Permits, authorizations or approvals. Each Seller Local Entity has made available to Purchasers for its review such Permits, authorizations and approvals.

 
(b)           Operational Compliance. Except as set forth on Schedule 1.16(b), Owners are in material compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and Regulations and has not been notified by any regulatory authority that any Seller Local Entity was, may be or is in violation of or has liability or potential liability under the Environmental Laws. Owners have provided to Purchasers true and complete copies of all inspection reports, letters, stop orders and communications issued or released by any environmental agency relating to the Global Business which have been received by a Seller Local Entity, or sent or issued by any such agency within the past three (3) years.
 
(c)           Records. Except as set forth on Schedule 1.16(c), each Seller Local Entity has timely filed and currently maintains all material, data, reports, documentation and records required under the Environmental Laws.

 
(d)           Manufacturing, Distribution Facilities. Except as set forth on Schedule 1.16(d), Owners do not own, lease, operate or otherwise use, nor have Owners owned, leased, operated or otherwise used, any distribution facility or manufacturing plant.

 
33
 
 


 
(e)           Disposal of Hazardous Wastes. To Owners' Knowledge, Owners have not caused or permitted any of their assets or properties to be used to generate, manufacture, refine, transport, treat, store, handle, dispose, transfer, produce or process Hazardous Substances and/or Hazardous Wastes, except in material compliance with the Environmental Laws. To Owners' Knowledge, Owners have not caused or permitted the release or discharge of any Hazardous Substances and/or Hazardous Wastes into the environment except in material compliance with the Environmental Laws.
 
(f)           Claims. To Owners' Knowledge and except as set forth on Schedule 1.16(f), there are no Claims pending or threatened by any administrative, governmental or judicial agency, arising out of, in connection with or resulting from a violation or alleged violation of, or related to, the Environmental Laws.
 
1.17           Brokers. No broker, finder, financial adviser, agent or other person has acted directly or indirectly for any Owner in connection with the negotiations, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby who is or will become entitled to any fee, commission or like payment in respect thereof based in any way on any agreement, arrangement or understanding made by or on behalf of any Owner.

 
1.18           Insurance. Schedule 1.18 contains a correct and complete list of all insurance policies, binders and surety bonds in force in which a Seller Local Entity is named as an insured party or beneficiary as a loss payable payee which covers the Global Business or Purchased Assets and any life insurance for which a Seller Local Entity has paid or contributed to the payment of any premiums and/or is designated as the beneficiary. The name(s) of each insurer, insured party and beneficiary and the type and amount of coverage, deductible amounts, if any, as well as the expiration date(s) and the premium amount(s) of each such policy or bond are set forth on Schedule 1.18. All such policies and/or bonds are currently in full force and effect and Owners have not received any notice of cancellations with respect to any of the policies. All premiums due and payable on such policies and/or bonds have been paid. To Owners' Knowledge each Seller Local Entity has timely served proper notices of claims and all other notices required to be served under such insurance policies (including any notices of circumstances under any insurance policies) upon each insurance company issuing any of such insurance policies regarding any event, happening, set of circumstances, claim, threat or fact related to its business and/or its assets. There are no pending claims against such insurance policies by a Seller Local Entity as to which the insurers have denied coverage and/or liability.

 
1.19           Disclosure. To Owners' Knowledge, no representation or warranty of Owners contained in this Agreement, and no statements contained herein or in any Schedule, exhibit, agreement or other document that is appended to and made a part of this Agreement, contains any untrue statement of fact, or omits to state a fact which is necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading.

 
34
 
 

 


 
Exhibit 1.01(e)(ii)


 
Tangible Assets

 
Title to and Sufficiency of Purchased Tangible Assets (other than Owned Real Property).
 
(a)           Title to Assets. Owners have good title to all of the Purchased Assets, which are used in the operation of Owners' Global Business. Except as set forth on Schedule , all Purchased Assets are free and clear of Liens as well as any other claims, demands, options, rights, privileges, or restrictions of any third party other than Permitted Liens.
 
(b)           Condition of Owners' Assets. All of the Purchased Assets are in Owners' possession or under its control, as applicable, and have been maintained in good operating or working condition and repair, reasonable wear and tear excepted and taking into consideration the need for routine repairs and asset obsolescence required to be made in ordinary course of business, and are usable in the ordinary course of business. Owners enjoy peaceful and quiet possession in all material respects of all of the Purchased Assets.


 
35
 
 



 
Exhibit 1.01(e)(iii)

 
Contracts

 
Contracts.
 
(a)           Owners' Contracts. Owners have provided to Purchasers a true and complete copy of all Material Contracts. All Material Contracts are valid, subsisting and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and are in full force and effect. Owners have no material oral Contracts. Except as reflected in Schedule 1 1 (a), neither Owners, nor, to the Owners' Knowledge, any third party is in default (i.e. an uncured material breach) in any respect under the terms of any of the Material Contracts. Except as reflected in Schedule f 1 (a), there exists no event or condition which, with the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, would (A) become a default under any Material Contracts on the part of Owners, (B) to Owners' Knowledge, on the part of any other party thereto, give any person the right to declare a default or exercise any remedy under any Material Contract, (C) to Owners' Knowledge, give any person the right to accelerate the maturity or performance of any Material Contract or (D) to Owners' Knowledge terminate or modify any Material Contract. Except as disclosed in Schedule [ ](a), Owners have not received any written notice from any party to any of the Material Contracts having proposed or threatened to terminate their contractual arrangements with Owners due to breach or violation of the terms thereof or prior to the scheduled expiration thereof. Each of the Material Contracts were entered into by Owners in the ordinary course of the Global Business and Owners have not waived, or agreed to waive, any material right or material rights under any of the same. None of Owners' interests under any of its Material Contracts are encumbered or subject to any term, condition or restriction except as stated in the applicable Material Contract, or as provided by Law.

 
36
 
 


 
Exhibit 1.01(e)(iv)

 
Accounts Receivable/Inventory/Products/Relationships

 
(a)           Accounts Receivable. Owners have delivered to Purchasers an aging schedule of all accounts receivable for Global Business as of a date two (2) days prior to the date hereof. All accounts, accounts receivable, notes and notes receivable reflected on such aging schedule are reflected on the Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet (as adjusted pursuant to the Final Net Working Capital Worksheet), arose from bona fide transactions in the ordinary course of business, are collectible in full (net of any applicable reserve set forth on the (Closing Date Balance Sheet ("Net Accounts Receivable")) within ninety (90) days following Closing and are not subject to any defenses, set-offs, or counterclaims. Owners have provided an allowance for doubtful accounts in the Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet which is consistent with the allowance for doubtful accounts average for the Global Business over the previous three (3) years.

 
(b)           Inventory; Goods. Owners' Inventory, packaging materials, work in process and finished goods consist of items that are of a quality usable and, in case of finished goods inventory, salable in the ordinary course of business, subject to the inventory reserve on the Final Net Working Capital Worksheet.

 
(c)           Products.

 
(i)           Compliance With Laws. The products sold by each Seller Local Entity materially conform to and meet or exceed the standards required by all applicable Laws.

 
(ii)           Warranties. Schedule [                                          Lb) contains:

 
(A)           a description of all warranty claims made in the past three (3) years and, to the Knowledge of Owners, pending;

 
(B)           copies or explanations of any warranties contained in outstanding agreements, contracts or proposals that depart from the standard warranties and practices of a Seller Local Entity; and

 
(C)           a description of any recurring warranty problems.

 
(iii)           Except as may be listed on Schedule [                                                               ](c), no claims of customers or others based on an alleged or admitted defect of material, workmanship or design or otherwise in or in respect of any of the products of a Seller Local Entity are presently pending. Owners have provided for a warranty reserve on the Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet which is consistent with the warranty reserve average for the Global Business over the previous three (3) years
 
(iv)           Recalls.Schedule[]Lc,) identifies all product recalls (whether voluntary, required by customer or pursuant to any Governmental Authority) by Owners since January 1, 2008.

 
 
(d)
Satisfactory Relationships. Since June 30, 2010, Owners have received no notice from any material customers or material suppliers that any such parties have proposed or threatened to terminate or significantly curtail their historic activity levels with Owners. Owners are not required, in the ordinary course of its business, to provide any surety bonding nor any other financial security arrangements in connection with any transactions with any customers or suppliers.

 
37
 
 


 
Exhibit 1.01(e)(v)

 
Intellectual Property

 
Proprietary Rights.
 
 
(a)
Proprietary Rights Defined. For purposes of this Section [_], the Registered Proprietary Rights together with any other names, inventions, marks, unpatented formulas, symbols, trade secrets, technical know-how, methods, operations, logos, designs, specifications, and all other proprietary rights, documents, information and records, owned by a Seller Local Entity and/or used in the operations of the Global Business are herein collectively referred to as the "Proprietary Rights."
 
 
(b)
Registered Proprietary Rights. Schedule []f lists all (U.S. and foreign) patents, patent applications, trade names, trademarks, service marks, copyrights and copyright applications, owned (or used by) a Seller Local Entity, that is the subject of an application, certificate, filing, registration or other document issued, filed with, or recorded with any Governmental Authority or other public body (herein collectively referred to as the "Registered Proprietary Rights").

 
 
(c)
Licenses Given. Schedule F 1(c) lists all licenses and agreements under which a Seller Local Entity has given the right to use any of the Proprietary Rights to any third party.

 
 
(d)
Licenses Acquired. Schedule [(d) lists all licenses and agreements under which a Seller Local Entity has the right to use any third party's property.

 
 
(e)
No Proceedings. No proceedings are pending or, to Owners' Knowledge, threatened that challenge the validity of the ownership or use by a Seller Local Entity of the Proprietary Rights or any third party's similar type of property.

 
 
(f)
No Conflicts. Owners have no Knowledge of the infringing use of any Proprietary Rights by a Seller Local Entity or the infringement of any Seller Local Entity's Proprietary Rights by any other person. No Seller Local Entity has received any notice of conflict with the asserted rights of others with respect to the Proprietary Rights or any third party's similar type of property.

 
 
(g)
No Conveyance of Proprietary Rights. No Seller Local Entity has sold, assigned or transferred, or entered into any agreement or any other arrangement within the past five years, to and/or with any other person, corporation, firm or entity for the ownership and/or use of Proprietary Rights used in the Global Business.
 

 
 
(h)
Transfer of Proprietary Rights. Each Seller Local Entity is the sole and exclusive owner of all right, title and interest in and/or has valid enforceable licenses or other rights to use, the Proprietary Rights in the manner presently used by it and/or as now conducted. Subject to obtaining consents of licensors and licensees, Owners have the right to convey (either by sale or change of control with respect to the Subsidiary, as applicable) such right, title, interest and authority free and clear of all Liens, except any Permitted Liens, subject to any legal requirement that any assignment or transfer of a trademark or similar intangible property right be accompanied by the transfer of the goodwill pertaining thereto.
 


 
38
 
 


 
Exhibit 1.01(e)(vi)

 
Employees/Labor Relations


 
 
(a)
Labor Relations. The Employees of the Seller Local Entities are solely and exclusively those indicated in the payrolls and records of such Seller Local Entity. The Employees have been duly remunerated for all services performed by them in the course of their working relationship with the applicable Seller Local Entity. No Seller Local Entity is a party to any collective bargaining agreements. There is no labor strike, dispute, slowdown or stoppage actually pending or, to the Owners' Knowledge, threatened against any Seller Local Entity. To Owners' Knowledge, no employment complaint or grievance exists on the date hereof as regards any Employee of a Seller Local Entity or any former Employee thereof. All vacation pay, bonuses, commissions and other employee benefit payments are reflected and have been accrued, respectively, in the Financial Statements and other books and records of the Global Business, as applicable. The terms of employment applicable and actually applied to the Employees are solely those provided by the applicable Laws and by the provisions of any applicable agreement, commitment or policy of a Seller Local Entity, including the Plans, deferred compensation plans or arrangements (as described in Schedule [-](aa), and any general employment policies as reflected in its employee handbook or personnel manual). No Claim for remuneration adjustments by any Employee of a Seller Local Entity, or by the relevant trade unions, are pending. To the best of Owners' Knowledge and except as set forth on Schedule [], no executive, key employee, or group of employees has any plans to terminate employment with a Seller Local Entity prior to Closing.

 
(b)           Benefit Plans.

 
 
(i)
List of Benefit Plans. Schedule F
1)a) sets forth a true and complete list of each and every:
 
(A)           "employee pension benefit plan," "employee welfare benefit plan" or "multi-employer plan," all as defined under ERISA;

 
(B)           profit sharing, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, bonus, stock option, stock purchase, cash or deferral arrangement, severance, health, welfare, dependent care or incentive plan or arrangement; and
 
(C)           written plan or policy providing for "fringe benefits" to Owners' Employees including, but not limited to, vacation, paid holidays, personal leave, medical, hospitalization, dental, life insurance, Employee discount, automobile, severance or similar programs, or educational assistance; individually referred to herein as a "Plan" and collectively referred to herein as the "Plans") to which a Seller Local Entity is a party with regard to its Employees or individual consultants working for a Seller Local Entity.
 
 
(ii)
List of Employ. Schedule F]L sets forth a complete list of Employees of the Seller Local Entities, as well as each Employee's date of hire, title (or other job classification), current compensation, including base salary, bonuses (for most recent year), commissions and other benefits of any kind and participation in each of the Plans. Schedule F ](N also sets forth the names of the officers of each Subsidiary as well as any compensation paid to each such officer during 2010 to the date hereof. Except as set forth on Schedule [ ](b), Owners do not maintain any plans or programs providing post-retirement medical, death or other welfare benefits (other than benefits required by law).

 
(iii)           Documentation Relating to Benefit Plans. Owners have furnished Purchaser:
 
(A)           correct and complete copies of the most current form of each Plan and related trust agreements, including any amendments thereto;

 
39
 
 

 
(B)           the most recent annual actuarial evaluation, if any, prepared for each Plan, in case of any defined benefit type pension plan;
 
(C)           the most recent annual report (series 5500), if any, required under ERISA with respect to each Plan;

 
(D) the most recent determination letter received from the IRS, if any, for each Plan; and

 
(E)           copies of the most current form of summary plan descriptions or summary of material modifications, Employee communications and other significant materials, handbooks, beneficiary designation forms and communications to Employees.
 
(iv)           Benefit Plan Compliance. Except as set forth in Schedule [_1(d):
 
(A)           with respect to each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, and is maintained by Owners for Employees of Owners or any of its affiliates:
 
 
(i)
Owners have obtained a favorable determination letter from the IRS, and there has been no occurrence since the date of such determination letters that has adversely affected the qualified status of any such plan;

 
(ii)           such Plan has been operated in compliance with the Code and ERISA and in accordance with the provisions of, and the rules and Regulations covering, such Plan; and

 
(iii)           Owners are not, and to Owners" Knowledge, no other person is, engaged in a transaction prohibited by Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA which would result in a liability to any Owner;

 
(B)           each Plan which is subject to Part III of Subtitle B of Title I or ERISA or Section 412of the Code has been maintained in compliance with the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code;

 
(C)           no reportable event, within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA has occurred with respect to any Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, other than reportable events with respect to which notice has been waived by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC");

 
(D)           Owners have not received notice of any audit or investigation with respect to any Plan by the IRS, PBGC or the Department of Labor ("DOL" )•

 
(E)           Neither any Owner nor any entity which is treated as a single employer with any Owner under Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code (an "ERISA Affiliate") has engaged in any transaction that could subject Purchaser to any liability under Section 4069 of ERISA;

 
(F)           Neither Owners nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability under Title IV of ERISA that could become a liability of Purchaser following the Closing and no event has occurred with respect to any Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA that could result in any liability to Purchaser;
 
(G)           All contributions required to have been made by Owners pursuant to the terms of each Plan or pursuant to ERISA, the Code or applicable law have been made within the time prescribed by such Plan and by applicable law;
 
(H)           There are no material claims pending, or to the Owners' Knowledge, threatened involving any Plan(other than routine claim for benefits) or any other litigation involving any Plan that could result in any liability to Purchaser;

 
(I)           Each Plan maintained by any Owner may be amended, terminated, modified or otherwise revised by such Owner, other than benefits

 
40
 
 


 
protected under Section 411(d) of the Code, on and after Closing, without further liability to such Owner or Purchaser (excluding ordinary administrative expenses and routine claims for benefits);

 
(J)           The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not (i) entitle any current or former employee of any Owner or such Owners' ERISA Affiliates to severance pay, unemployment compensation, accrued vacation pay, or any similar payment for which Purchaser could be liable except as otherwise expressly provided herein, (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting or increase the amount of any compensation to or in respect of any current or former employee of any Owner or such Owners' ERISA Affiliates for which Purchaser could be liable, or (iii) result in or satisfy any condition to the payment of compensation to any current or former employee of any Owner or such Owners' ERISA Affiliates for which Purchaser could be liable that would, in combination with any other payment, result in an "excess parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code.

 
(K)           Each "non-qualified deferred compensation plan", within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, maintained by Owners complies in form and operation with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and no such plan has been materially modified with respect to amounts deferred under the plan for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2008; and
 
(L)           Owners have no indemnity obligation for any taxes imposed under Section 409A of the Code.

 
(M)           Owners have not incurred any excise tax liability that has not been satisfied with respect to any Plan.

 
41
 
 


 
Exhibit 1.01(e)(vii)
 
Subsidiaries

 
(a)           Subsidiaries.
 
 
(i)
Owners own of record and beneficially the number of shares of capital stock in each of the Subsidiaries set forth in Schedule a i , free and clear of any restrictions on change of control, Taxes, Liens, options, warrants, purchase rights, contracts, commitments, equities, claims, demands and liabilities except for Permitted Liens. Owners are not a party to any option, warrant, purchase right, or other contract or commitment that could require any Owner to sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any capital stock of any Subsidiary. Owners are not parties to any voting trust, voting agreement, proxy, or other agreement or understanding with respect to the voting of any capital stock of any Subsidiary. Except as set forth on Schedule , as of the date hereof Owners own, and at the Closing will own, all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary. No former shareholder of any Subsidiary has any claim against such Subsidiary or, except as disclosed in Schedulea, is owed any amount by such Subsidiary. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights or applicable securities laws.
 
 
(ii)
Except for the Subsidiaries and as set forth in Schedule _I b ii , Owners have no subsidiaries and does not own, directly or indirectly, any stock, partnership interest, limited liability company interest or other security or ownership interest in, or any security issued by, any other Person. Except as set forth on Schedule , each Subsidiary has no subsidiaries and does not own, directly or indirectly, any stock, partnership interest, limited liability company interest or other security or ownership interest in, or any security issued by, any other Person.

 
42
 
 


 
Exhibit 1.01(e)(viii)

 
Real Property



 
(a)           Title to and Condition of Real Property.

 
(i)           Owned Real Property. Schedule [1(a)(i) sets forth:

 
(A)           all Owned Real Property; and

 
 
(B)
the complete legal description of each parcel of Owned Real Property.

 
The Seller Local Entity as indicated on Schedule [ ] a i owns title to the Owned Real Property, in fee simple, which title shall be, on the Closing Date, recorded, marketable and free and clear of any and all Liens, claims, demands or rights of any third party whatsoever, and any and all easements under which such real property may be a subservient estate as well as all rights of way, encroachments, restrictions, covenants, recorded or unrecorded, except for Permitted Liens.

 
 
(ii)
Leased Real Property. All Leases for the Leased Real Property are attached as Schedule
[
]a ii
With respect to such Leases and Leased Real Property, except as set forth in Schedule "La) H :
 
(A)           all Leases are in writing and are duly executed, valid and binding among the parties thereto and in full force and effect for their full term, and none have been modified, amended, sublet or assigned except as noted on Schedule a ii ;

 
(B)           the provisions of each Lease set forth the annual rent and there are no separate agreements or understandings with respect to the same other than contained in the body of the Lease;

 
(C)           there is no default by Owners or to the Owners' Knowledge by the other party to any Lease;

 
(D)           to the Owners' Knowledge, all surety bonds, insurance, security and other deposits required by such Leases have been made and have not been refunded or returned, or their forfeiture claimed, in whole or in part, by any lessor; and

 
(E)           where any Owner is the lessee:

 
 
(i)
all leasehold improvements made by such Owner or an affiliate are in good operating or working condition and repair, after taking into account ordinary wear and tear and repairs required in ordinary course of business, and are reasonably adequate for the day to day operation of the business of such Owner as presently conducted; and
 
 
(ii)
such Owner has not received any notice of a violation of any Laws relating to the use or occupancy of such Leased Real Property by such Owner or an affiliated company.

 
 
(iii)
such Owner has not sublet, underlet or assigned any portion of the Leased Real Property, and no third party is in possession of any portion of the Leased Real Property other than such Owner.

 
Condition of Real Property. With respect to the Real Property to Owners' Knowledge, except as set forth on Schedule [ 1(a)(iii):

 
43
 
 

 

 
(A)           there is no condemnation or eminent domain proceeding of any kind pending or threatened against any of the Leased Real Property;

 
(B)           the Real Property is occupied under valid and current certificates of occupancy, Permits or the like;

 
(C)           the Real Property and all improvements comply with all applicable Laws, and Owners have obtained all material Permits and approvals required to possess and operate its Leased Real Property and conduct its business as it is presently being conducted;

 
(D)           there are no outstanding variances or special use Permits affecting the Real Property or its uses;
 
(E)           no notice of a violation of any Laws, or of any covenant, condition, easement or restriction, affecting the Real Property or relating to its use or occupancy has been given to Owners;

 
(F)           Owners have no Knowledge of improvements made or contemplated to be made by any Governmental Authority, the costs of which are to be assessed as special taxes or charges against the Real Property and which are not reflected as special assessments on the most recent property tax bill for the Real Property;

 
(G)           the Real Property either:

 
 
(i)
is freely accessible directly from all public streets on which it abuts, or

 
 
(ii)
uses adjoining land to access the same in accordance with validly granted and recorded easements. Owners have no Knowledge of any condition that would result in the termination of such access.

 
44
 
 


 
EXHIBIT 1.01(e)(ix)
 
Title to Shares
 
Title to Shares. Except as set forth on Schedule f 1, the Acquired Equity has been duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and are owned beneficially and of record by Seller Local Entity as set forth on Schedule F J. Except as set forth on Schedule on the Closing Date, upon completion of the sale and transfer of the Acquired Equity from each Buyer Local Entity to Buyer Local Entity in accordance with this Agreement, Purchaser Local Entity shall be the sole legal, record and beneficial owner of all of the Acquired Equity, free and clear of any and all Liens of any kind or nature, except Permitted Liens

45

EX-31.1 3 ex31-1.htm CERTIFICATION OF CEO ex31-1.htm


EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Robert P. van der Merwe, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Checkpoint Systems, Inc.;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 
a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 
b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 
c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 
d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 
a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

   b)       
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 
By: /s/ Robert P. van der Merwe
 
Name: Robert P. van der Merwe
 
Title: Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer 
   
Date: May 3, 2011
 




EX-31.2 4 ex31-2.htm CERTIFICATION OF CFO ex31-2.htm



EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Raymond D. Andrews, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Checkpoint Systems, Inc.;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 
a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 
b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 
c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 
d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 
a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 
b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 
By: /s/ Raymond D. Andrews
 
Name: Raymond D. Andrews
 
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
   
Date: May 3, 2011
 



EX-32.1 5 ex32-1.htm CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 ex32-1.htm



EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION FURNISHED PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

The undersigned executive officers of the Registrant hereby certify that this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 27, 2011 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the registrant.

 
By: /s/ Robert P. van der Merwe
 
Name: Robert P. van der Merwe
 
Title: Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer
   
 
By: /s/ Raymond D. Andrews
 
Name: Raymond D. Andrews
 
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request. This certification accompanies the Report and shall not be treated as having been filed as part of the Report.

Date: May 3, 2011