Kezzler and Toppan America Announce Strategic Partnership in North America

Kezzler AS, a global leader in making brands unique and interactive, and Toppan Printing Company America, Inc. (Toppan America), a subsidiary of Toppan Printing Co., Ltd and a global printing company, today announced a strategic partnership (www.toppan-kezzler.com) in North America to market a combined printing and cost-effective serialization technology to manage global brand protection, supply chain and consumer engagement.

“Toppan carried out an extensive evaluation of the market and technologies for serialization and believe Kezzler provides the most cost-effective and scalable solution for our global customers. Our combined solution empowers the luxury, fragrance, beauty and health and wellness markets with new and near real time opportunities for consumer engagement, marketing, and consumer intelligence,” said Masa Tatewaki, president of Toppan America. “Toppan’s wide range of security technologies complemented by Kezzler’s software solution will also provide many of the world’s recognized brands with multiple layers of defense against counterfeit, tampering and diversion.”

The need for innovative and superior anti-counterfeit technologies is growing rapidly. Estimates on the cost of counterfeiting in the US range from $250 billion to $600 billion annually and estimates of global trade in counterfeit goods exceeds $1.7 trillion in 2015. The US alone has verifiable experience of 23,140 - counterfeit related seizures in 2014 and $1.22 billion as the total value of counterfeit seizures (MSRP) in 2014.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 2016:

• Imports of counterfeit and pirated goods are worth nearly half a trillion dollars a year, or around 2.5% of global imports
• The total value of imported fake goods worldwide was $461 billion in 2013 (total imports in world trade of $17.9 trillion)
• Up to 5 percent of goods imported into the European Union are fakes
• US, Italian and French brands the hardest hit
• In many cases, the proceeds of counterfeit trade go towards organized crime.
• Most fake goods originate in middle income or emerging countries, with China the top producer

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) puts the cost of lost tax revenue and additional welfare spending due to counterfeit goods up to $125 billion in developed countries alone. And 2.5 million jobs lost as a result of counterfeit products.

Using encryption technology and a cloud–based solution, brand owners can create fully customized loyalty and information programs through a unique identifier (UID). Consumers only have to text, snap or app the code on the product. At that point, the brand owner will in near real time know who authenticated the product and where they are located. This interaction provides brand owners with unique information about the consumer and the consumers’ unique information about the product.

“Kezzler is delighted to join forces with another global company with cutting edge IT information management and security technology. As part of our aggressive growth the next few years and the huge market opportunity in brand protection and consumer engagement, a key strategy is to partner with the biggest and best printing and packaging companies in the world. Toppan’s global footprint and reputation is very well known and respected and the two companies are committed to create a new serialization standard for global companies,” commented Thomas Kormendi, CEO of Kezzler.

About Kezzler

Kezzler AS is a global leader in serialization technologies and operated platform designed for industrial scale. Kezzler’s mission is to standardize serialization and change global business practices by making product items digitally unique and interactive. Kezzler has offices in United States, India, Austria, the Netherlands and China. To learn more about Kezzler, visit www.kezzler.com.

About Toppan

TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD. Founded in 1900 Toppan has leveraged expertise in printing securities, including banknotes, Border control documents and accumulated information processing technologies supported by advanced security. Toppan operates globally and employs approx. 49,000 people. Fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 Toppan posted revenues of approx. US $14 billion. Information & Communication segment provides Secure Business such as printing of security related products, passbooks, integrated circuit (IC) cards, also provides Marketing and Content Business, Living & Industry segment provides Packaging, Interior Décor Materials, and Functional Product & Energy Related products. ; Electronics segment offers Display Related and Semiconductor Related products. For more information visit www.ta.toppan.com / www.toppan.co.jp/english/ www.toppan-kezzler.com.

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Contact information

Kezzler AS
Paul Laland, 1-415-519-6610
p.laland@kezzler.com
or
Toppan
Brian Healy, 1-212-489-7740 ext. 515
bhealey@ta.toppan.com