The Belgian privately owned group Cartamundi has signed an agreement to buy The United States Playing Card Company (USPC) from its parent company Newell Brands.
USPC, owner of iconic brands such as Bicycle, Bee, Hoyle and Fournier, is the global standard within the world of playing cards. The business employs over 350 people and has manufacturing facilities in the U.S. city of Erlanger (Kentucky) and the Spanish city of Vitoria (Álava). In 2018 USPC realized net sales of approximately 112 million US dollars.
"We are excited about the opportunity and look forward to welcoming The United States Playing Card Company to the Cartamundi group. USPC is a globally renowned company and, like us, has a passion for its products and consumers. The segments in which USPC operates are perfectly complementary to those of Cartamundi. This investment will further deliver on Cartamundi’s purpose of sharing the magic of playing together towards consumers worldwide," Stefaan Merckx, CEO of Cartamundi, said.
"We are delighted about the prospect to join forces with Cartamundi and leverage both companies’ rich history and passion of card making, as well as our complementary global presence. We look forward to working together in furthering our shared ambition to delight consumers across the globe," Michael Slaughter, CEO of USPC, added.
@CartamundiCards has signed an agreement to buy The United States Playing Card Company (USPC) from its parent company Newell Brands. Find our more on https://t.co/6bdo0CV0lL #USPC pic.twitter.com/ewEGmzKMcF
— Cartamundi (@CartamundiCards) 5 de junio de 2019
Cartamundi wants to expand its geographic reach through new countries and new channels. This proposed acquisition is a logical step forward, as USPC is a strong player in the growing cardistry, casino, and specialty playing cards segments. The combined company will employ 2,500 people and operate 13 state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities across four continents.
"Consumers from different regions have different needs. The best way to serve them is to rely on the knowledge and experience of our local teams," Merckx added.
The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2019, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.