Exhibit
99.1
December
6,
2006
Steven
F. Nicola
CFO,
Secretary & Treasurer
412:442-8262
MATTHEWS
INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
ANNOUNCES
PLANT CLOSING
PITTSBURGH,
PA, December 6, 2006 -- Matthews International Corporation (NASDAQ NMS: MATW)
today announced that the Company intends to close its metal casket assembly
facility in Marshfield, Missouri.
In
discussing the decision to close the plant, Joseph C. Bartolacci, President
and
Chief Executive Officer, said: “As a result of the continued growth in the
productivity of our Casket operations and a corresponding increase in production
capacity, the Company is in a position to improve the Casket Division’s cost
structure through the consolidation of operations. Accordingly, the Division’s
metal assembly plant located in Marshfield, Missouri will be undertaking
preparations to close its operations no later than March 31, 2007.”
“Recent
investments in our Richmond, Indiana metal casket facility have increased its
production capacity. In addition, we are pleased with the progress of our new
manufacturing facility in Mexico. Accordingly, we believe we are well positioned
to continue to meet our customers’ needs for quality York and Milso metal
caskets, as well as provide a platform for future growth.”
Mr.
Bartolacci further stated: “This consolidation represents one of the significant
phases of the integration of the York and Milso operations. The closure of
this
facility was not an easy decision, and we sincerely appreciate the efforts
and
contributions of the employees of the Marshfield facility.” The Company reported
that the Marshfield facility has approximately 140 employees.
Matthews
International Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a
designer, manufacturer and marketer principally of memorialization products
and
brand solutions. Memorialization products consist primarily of bronze memorials
and other memorialization products, caskets and cremation equipment for the
cemetery and funeral home industries. Brand solutions include graphics imaging
products and services, marking products, and merchandising solutions. The
Company’s products and services include cast bronze memorials and other
memorialization products; caskets; cast and etched architectural products;
cremation equipment and cremation-related products; mausoleums; brand
management, printing plates, pre-press services, and imaging systems for the
primary packaging and corrugated industries; marking equipment and consumables,
and industrial automation products for identifying, tracking and conveying
various consumer and industrial products, components and packaging containers;
and merchandising display systems and marketing and design
services.
Any
forward-looking statements contained in this release are included pursuant
to
the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties that may cause the Company’s actual results in future periods to
be materially different from management’s expectations. Although the Company
believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements
are
reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove correct.
Factors that could cause the Company’s results to differ materially from the
results discussed in such forward-looking statements principally include
economic, competitive, and technological factors beyond the Company’s
control.