SMS Technologies and Total Electronics to be Acquired by Cal-Comp

Spectragraphics Corporation, the holding company for Total Electronics and SMS Technologies, has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Cal-Comp, one of the world’s leading EMS companies. Cal-Comp, a Thailand public company controlled by New Kinpo Group of Taiwan, has selected Spectragraphics and its subsidiaries as its entry to the North American electronics manufacturing industry. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Cal-Comp, the Electronics Manufacturing Services group within the Kinpo family, ships over $5 billion worth of product annually. Kinpo, Cal-Comp’s parent company, is 37 years old, has annual revenues of $30 billion, and employs 90,000 people in Taiwan, Thailand, mainland China, Brazil, Poland and the Philippines.

Through its subsidiaries, Spectragraphics has manufacturing and design facilities in San Diego, Logansport, Indiana, and Reynosa, Mexico. More than 29 years old, the company has been in the outsource manufacturing business since 1992. Spectragraphics employs approximately 400 people, all of whom will be asked to continue in their present positions.

Recognizing that the great migration of American products to Asian manufacturing sites has slowed and is now stable, Cal-Comp believes that a smaller but vibrant North American electronics market will continue to be served by North American factories. In order to participate in this market, the company elected to acquire Spectragraphics and its subsidiaries as its entry point.

Commenting on the acquisition, Simon Shen, the President of Cal-Comp, said, "We are very pleased to add SMS Technologies and Total Electronics to the Cal-Comp family. We plan to help them grow rapidly in the important North American electronics market.”

After considerable research, Spectragraphics was selected by Cal-Comp due to two characteristics—the ability to provide high mix and moderate volume manufacturing and proven new product introduction (NPI) abilities, from rapid prototyping through volume introduction. Cal-Comp also values Spectragraphics’ geographic footprint. Spectragraphics recognized the complementary nature of a partnership due to Cal-Comp’s ability to do high volume and low cost manufacturing, its Asian locations, solid financial structure, and design and layout capabilities.

Bob Blumberg, President of Spectragraphics, added, "This is one of those outstanding transactions that ends up being good for our customers, employees and shareholders, as well as our new parent company, Cal-Comp.”

The merged companies will operate under the name Cal-Comp USA and continue to serve customers of SMS Technologies and Total Electronics in the same fashion as in the past. Additionally, the companies plan to rapidly increase the number of customers served through its prototyping capability and a seamless flow from prototypes to low-to-medium volume production in North America to high volume production in Asia, with continuous customer service and interface. The companies also plan for a substantial acceleration in the growth rate of North American operations and the expansion of product design services.

The transaction is expected to be finalized in the next 60 days, after a vote of Spectragraphics’ shareholders.

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