St. Paul, Minnesota-based 3M, parent company to supplier 3M Promotional Markets, has stated that the company is still working with Avery Dennison Corp. on a purchase agreement, despite a report from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) claiming that the deal has been terminated.
In January, 3M announced that it had reached a definitive agreement with Avery Dennison to acquire the Pasadena, California-based corporation’s office and consumer products (OCP) business for approximately $550 million. The DOJ analyzed the purchase agreement, and found that 3M and Avery Dennison already dominated the sticky notes and labels markets in the U.S., respectively. According to the department’s research, 3M would control more than 80 percent of those markets after the purchase. As a result, the DOJ indicated it would file an antitrust lawsuit to prevent the deal.
Following the antitrust suit threat, the DOJ issued a release in early September stating that 3M had abandoned its acquisition plans. “We welcome the companies’ decision to abandon this deal, which raised competitive concerns in the sale of labels and sticky notes,” said Joseph Wayland, acting assistant attorney general in charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “As a result of the abandonment of this transaction, American customers will continue to receive the benefits of competition including lower prices and greater innovation in these basic office supplies.”
3M and Avery Dennison quickly responded, stating that the department’s release was incorrect and that both companies fully intend to complete the deal. “In light of concerns about the transaction raised by the DOJ, the companies have voluntarily withdrawn the notification and report forms filed under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act,” they said in a joint statement, adding that they are working together to “address the DOJ’s concerns, obtain regulatory approval, and complete a transaction between the parties.”
The purchase was originally expected to occur in the second half of this year. According to Citigroup analyst Deane Dray, the deal would combine the two largest label makers in the world. In addition to labels, 3M would acquire Avery Dennison’s office products like binders, presentation products and writing instruments, including the Avery, HI-LITERS and Marks-A-Lot brands.
“We’re committed to getting the transaction done,” said Dean Scarborough, CEO of Avery Dennison. “I would characterize this as a hiatus and certainly not a movement away from completing this transaction.” Bloomsberg Businessweek reports that, if the deal is salvaged, it probably will not be completed in 2012.
3M had revenues of $27 billion in 2011, with worldwide office supplies sales of $1.7 billion. Avery Dennison’s revenues last year were $6 billion in total, with $765 million for the OCP group.
For more information, visit www.3m.com or www.averydennison.com.
