United Stationers Signs Agreement To Acquire O.K.I. Supply

United Stationers Inc.

announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, United Stationers Supply Co., signed a stock purchase agreement to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of O.K.I. Supply Co. (O.K.I.) for an all-cash purchase price of $90 million. Based in Cincinnati Ohio, O.K.I. is the largest independently-owned welding, safety and industrial products wholesaler in the country, serving the gases and welding industry for 75 years.  O.K.I. has annual revenues of approximately $150 million, offering 80,000 premium manufacturer-branded and private label products.  O.K.I. sells to more than 9,000 independent distributors across multiple channels through nine distribution centers strategically located across the U.S.  It also has operations in Canada and Dubai, UAE that are positioned for strong growth. The transaction is expected to be completed in November 2012, subject to customary closing conditions.  United Stationers plans to fund this acquisition through a combination of cash on hand and cash available under its revolving credit facility.  The transaction is expected to be approximately $0.07 accretive to earnings in 2013, net of one-time integration costs.