Esko to Acquire CAPE Systems

GHENT, BELGIUM—September 5, 2013—Esko intends to purchase CAPE Systems, a provider of software solutions for packaging design, pallet load optimization and supply chain profitability. CAPE is active worldwide through a network of resellers, and is headquartered in Allen, TX (US) with offices in London, UK.

“Esko is continually evolving from a prepress solution provider to an end-to-end supplier in the packaging world. It is our strategy to improve and drive profitability, utilization and fail safe solutions for our customers all the way from design to the point of sale," explained Carsten Knudsen, Esko's president and CEO. “CAPE has already made inroads in the brand owner and retailer packaging space. Adding their palletization tools to our portfolio supports our strategic goals. With CAPE, Esko receives the world’s leading and best-in-class toolkit. We´re determined to leverage the synergies this brings to our existing products and services—especially the sustainability benefits that integrating CAPE’s technology into Esko solutions should provide our customers.”

There are strong synergies between CAPE and Esko, including many common customers across both the packaging manufacturing and brand owner markets. There are close links between ArtiosCAD, Esko’s leading structural package design software worldwide, and CAPE PACK, which uses ArtiosCAD data for calculation and simulations within the software. Additionally, CAPE reports can already be managed within Esko’s WebCenter online packaging management platform.

“There could be no better future for CAPE than to join Esko, one of CAPE’s most dynamic and familiar business partners,” CAPE CEO Brad Leonard commented. “The Esko technology and organization are well-known to us. Joining Esko guarantees our global users continued support, development and integration, and opens up a wide range of packaging solutions.”

CAPE’s products and staff will be integrated into Esko’s portfolio and organization.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close late September.

About CAPE Systems
CAPE Systems is an international provider of supply chain management technologies. CAPE Systems offers a comprehensive range of software systems and tools, from packaging design and pallet optimization software, to transportation management systems for enterprise wide and collaborative supply chain optimization.

About Esko
Esko is a global supplier of integrated solutions for the packaging and labels, sign and display, commercial printing and professional publishing industries. Esko products and services drive profitability in the packaging and printing supply chain by reducing time-to-market and raising productivity.

Esko is the worldwide market leader with software for packaging management, artwork creation, structural design, pre-production, 3D visualization, workflow automation, quality assurance and supply chain collaboration. Esko solutions support and manage the packaging and print processes at brand owners, retailers, designers, packaging manufacturers and print service providers.

CDI flexo computer-to-plate imagers and Kongsberg digital finishing systems complete the portfolio.

Enfocus, with its suite of automation solutions and PDF quality control tools for printers, publishers, and graphic designers, is part of Esko.

Esko employs approximately 1,200 people worldwide. Its direct sales and service organization covers Europe, Middle East and Africa, the Americas and the Asia Pacific, Japan and China regions and is complemented by a network of distribution partners in more than 50 countries.

Esko is headquartered in Gent, Belgium, and has R&D and manufacturing facilities in five European countries, the United States, China and India.

Source: Esko.