FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
David M. Kober
Executive Vice President
American Banknote Corporation
201-592-3400
kober@americanbanknote.com
American Banknote (ABnote) Acquires Arthur Blank &
Company
Expands U.S. Card Manufacturing Operations and Broadens Global
Capabilities
ABnote Group to Produce 2 Billion Cards Per Year
Fort
Lee, New Jersey, May 9, 2007 - American Banknote Corporation,
parent of the ABnote Group, announced today that it has acquired
Arthur Blank & Company of Boston, Massachusetts, for an undisclosed
amount of cash and stock.
The
acquisition of Arthur Blank & Co., one of North America’s
oldest and largest plastic card companies, nearly doubles ABnote’s
U.S. operations, and provides the world-wide ABnote Group access
to Arthur Blank’s rich set of capabilities, high volume
capacity and intellectual property, along with the ability to
offer new products throughout the six continents that it serves.
In addition, ABnote announced that Stuart and Eric Blank, long
recognized as major leaders in the industry, will assume responsibility
for ABnote’s entire North American plastic card operations,
including the ongoing management of Arthur Blank’s existing
operations.
As
a result of the transaction, Arthur Blank will gain immediate
access to a wide range of new customers, and will supplement its
existing product line through ABN’s Visa/Mastercard certified
facilities, and through its complimentary secure printing, warehousing
and total fulfillment services.
“We
are more than thrilled to be able to acquire a company of the
quality, experience and reputation of Arthur Blank,” stated
Steven Singer, Chairman and Chief Executive of American Banknote
Corporation. “Our complimentary businesses will provide
both companies’ global customers with a broader product
mix, terrific synergies and unparalleled disaster recovery capabilities.
The combination also represents an opportunity for two recognized
industry leaders, with combined sales of more than 2 billion cards,
to learn from one another, and adopt one another’s best
practices, cementing our ability to provide the highest quality
products at the most competitive prices.
According
to Stuart Blank, President of Arthur Blank and, now, President
of ABnote’s combined North American Cards Division, “Arthur
Blank is a great company. But as part of American Banknote, we’re
going to be exceptional.” Mr. Blank added, “The ABnote
Group is one of the world’s largest secure document, systems,
and fulfillment companies. They have a remarkable history, and
they give us immediate entree into a range of new markets and
customers, both in the U.S. and abroad. What’s more, we’ll
now be able to leverage all of the vast capabilities of the ABnote
Group to deliver our customers an even more robust set of products
associated with our cards.”
Notes
Justin D’Angelo, Chief Operating Officer of American Banknote,
and one of the credit card industries most respected figures,
“This transaction is just another example of American Banknote’s
growing global position, and its world-wide commitment to being
environmentally and socially responsible. Blank is a leader in
“green” technologies, such as its corn-based cards
and its recycled cards, and we intend to promote these products
globally, to help reduce waste and the industry’s dependence
on petroleum-based plastics.”
About
American Banknote Corporation
American
Banknote Corporation is a holding company and the parent of the
ABnote Group, which operates through its subsidiary companies:
American Banknote S.A. in Brazil, Transtex S.A. in Argentina,
Leigh Mardon in Australia, ABnote NZ in New Zealand, CPS Technologies
in France, ABnote Europe, s.r.o. in the Czech Republic, and American
Bank Note Company in the United States. ABnote, which traces its
founding to 1795 and American patriot Paul Revere, is a global
supplier of secure documents, services and systems. Principal
products include plastic cards, phone cards, paper certificates,
lottery tickets, passports, state titles, certificates of origin,
stock certificates, and checks. Services include print production,
personalization, secure warehousing, distribution, and fulfillment.
For more information on American Banknote, visit www.americanbanknote.com
or call 201-592-3400.
About
Arthur Blank & Co., Inc.
Founded
in 1934, Arthur Blank & Co. is a leading North American producer
of private-label plastic cards. Located in Boston, Massachusetts,
Arthur Blank has the capacity to print up to 1.4 billion cards
per year. Arthur Blank’s cards are currently being utilized
as hotel key cards; gaming cards; healthcare, insurance and banking
cards; private label credit cards; ID, security and access cards;
membership, and gift cards. For more information on all of Arthur
Blank’s card products, visit www.arthurblank.com or call
617-325-9600.
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