Quarterlytics / Consumer Cyclical / Packaging & Containers / CCL Industries Inc

CCL Industries Inc

ccl.b:ca · TSX Consumer Cyclical
Claim this profile
Ticker ccl.b:ca
Exchange TSX
Sector Consumer Cyclical
Industry Packaging & Containers
Employees 10,000+
← All annual reports
FY2023 Annual Report · CCL Industries Inc
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
CCL Industries Inc.
2023 A N N U A L

R E P O R T

CCL 
CCL is the world’s largest converter of pressure sensitive and extruded film materials for a wide range of decorative, instructional, security and functional 
applications for government institutions and large global customers in consumer packaging, healthcare, chemicals, consumer durables, electronic device 
and automotive markets. Extruded and labeled plastic tubes, aluminum aerosols and specialty bottles, folded instructional leaflets, specialty folded 
cartons, precision engineered and die cut components, electronic displays, polymer banknote substrate and other complementary products and services 
are sold in parallel to specific end-use markets.

Avery
Avery is the world’s largest supplier of labels, specialty converted media and software solutions to enable short-run digital printing in businesses and 
homes alongside complementary products sold through distributors, mass-market stores and e-commerce retailers.

Checkpoint 
Checkpoint is a leading developer of RF and RFID-based technology systems for loss prevention and inventory management applications, including 
labeling and tagging solutions, for the retail and apparel industries worldwide.

Innovia 
Innovia is a leading global producer of specialty, high-performance, multi-layer, surface-engineered films for label, packaging and security applications.

25,700
Employees

213
Production Facilities

43
Countries

6
Continents

NORTH AMERICA REPRESENTS 

41% of total sales

EUROPE REPRESENTS

31% of total sales

EMERGING MARKETS REPRESENTS

28% of total sales

CAUTION ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This annual report contains forward-looking information and forward-looking 
statements, as defined under applicable securities laws (hereinafter collectively referred to as “forward-looking statements”) that 
involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are predictive in nature or depend 
on future events or conditions. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by, but not limited to, the words “believes,” “expects,” 
“anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans” or similar expressions. Statements regarding the operations, business, financial condition, 
priorities, ongoing objectives, strategies and outlook of the Company, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking 
statements. Specifically, this annual report contains forward-looking statements regarding the anticipated growth in sales, income 
and profitability of the Company’s segments; the Company’s improvement in market share; the Company’s capital spending levels 
and planned capital expenditures in 2024; the adequacy of the Company’s financial liquidity; the Company’s targeted return on equity, 
improved return on total capital, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted EBITDA growth rates and dividend payout; the Company’s 
effective tax rate; the Company’s ongoing business strategy; the Company’s ability to maintain a Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio 
below 3.5 times; the Company’s expectations regarding general business and economic conditions; the Company’s Corporate Social 
Responsibility initiative to enhance the integration of social and environmental objectives into its business operations and strategy; the 
Company’s expectation to achieve its overall environmental footprint and waste reduction goals for 2025 and 2030; the Company’s 
ability  to  successfully  deploy  initiatives  that  reduce  the  carbon  footprint  of  its  products  and  services;  the  continuing  impact  the 
conflicts in Europe and the Middle East will have on the global economy and the global supply chain; the Company’s success in passing 
on foreign exchange movements and input cost changes, including inflationary costs, to its customer base; Innovia will successfully 
complete construction of its new film manufacturing facility in Germany in the first half of 2025; Innovia will complete the closure of 
its Belgium facility by mid-2024; Innovia will successfully consolidate the production from the closure of the Belgium facility into its 
facilities in the U.K. and Australia, leading to incremental annual profitability of $17.0 million to $20.0 million; for the CCL Segment, 
fourth quarter momentum and potential acceleration in early 2024 will yield improved sales and profitability; all the vertical markets 
within the CCL Segment are positioned for growth and improved profitability in the coming years; the CCL Segment will complete 
all its global greenfield projects successfully; CCL Design will successfully manage new product initiatives and profitably capture the 
turnaround in electronics markets; CCL Secure’s success in developing market-leading security technology to pursue widespread 
long-term adoption of polymer banknotes; Avery’s direct-to-consumer businesses, plus horticultural operations, will outpace legacy 
product  lines  and  that  further  “tuck-in”  acquisitions  are  possible;  Checkpoint’s  expectation  that  there  will  be  strong  demand  for  
RFID-related products, including products beyond retail; Checkpoint will successfully commence operations of its new RFID inlay 
facility in Mexico; Checkpoint’s expectation that core MAS and ALS apparel production categories will grow and improve profitability 
in 2024; Innovia’s expectation that the destocking in the label materials industry has ended and improvements early in 2024 will 
continue for the remainder of the year and expectations that the new “EcoFloat” production line will successfully fill its capacity; and 
expectations that if demand remains stable for the remainder of 2024, results will deliver good progress over 2023.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties 
relating  to  future  events  and  conditions,  including,  but  not  limited  to,  the  impact  of  competition;  consumer  confidence  and 
spending preferences; general economic and geopolitical conditions; currency exchange rates; interest rates and credit availability; 
technological change; changes in government regulations; risks associated with operating and product hazards; and the Company’s 
ability to attract and retain qualified employees. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements as the Company’s actual results could 
differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are also based on a number 
of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions about the following: higher consumer 
spending; increased customer demand for the Company’s products; continued historical growth trends, market growth in specific 
segments and entering into new segments; the Company’s ability to provide a wide range of products to multinational customers on 
a global basis; the benefits of the Company’s focused strategies and operational approach; the Company’s ability to implement its 
acquisition strategy and successfully integrate acquired businesses; the achievement of the Company’s plans for improved efficiency 
and lower costs, including the ability to pass on polypropylene resin, aluminum and other inflationary cost increases to its customers; 
the availability of cash and credit; fluctuations of currency exchange rates; the Company’s continued relations with its customers; and 
general business and economic conditions. Should one or more risks materialize or should any assumptions prove incorrect, then 
actual results could vary materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Further details on key risks can 
be found throughout this report and particularly in Section 4: “Risks and Uncertainties.”

Except as otherwise indicated, forward-looking statements do not take into account the effect that transactions or non-recurring or 
other special items announced or occurring after the statements are made may have on the business. Such statements do not, unless 
otherwise specified by the Company, reflect the impact of dispositions, sales of assets, monetizations, mergers, acquisitions, other 
business combinations or transactions, asset write-downs or other charges announced or occurring after forward-looking statements 
are made. The financial impact of these transactions and non-recurring and other special items can be complex and depends on the 
facts particular to each of them; therefore, the financial impact cannot be described in a meaningful way in advance of knowing the 
specific facts.

The forward-looking statements are provided as of the date of this annual report and the Company does not assume any obligation to 
update or revise the forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Unless the context otherwise indicates, a reference to “the Company” means CCL Industries Inc. and its subsidiary companies and 
equity-accounted investments. 

20 2 3   L E T T E R   TO   S H A R E H O L D E RS

2023  was  another  year  of  record  adjusted  net  earnings*,  moving  from  less  than 
$500 million at the end of 2019, before the pandemic, to $666 million for 2023, with 
hopes of an even stronger recovery in 2024 as long as the geo-political stress points 
around  the  world  do  not  escalate.  Sales  for  2023  were  up  4.2%  to  $6.65  billion, 
with adjusted net earnings per Class B share increasing only 1%, excluding foreign 
currency  translation,  but  a  strong  U.S.  dollar  and  gains  in  many  international 
currencies drove the improvement up to 5.3%. 

Donald G. Lang
Executive Chairman

Geoffrey T. Martin 
President and  
Chief Executive Officer

Adjusted basic earnings per Class B share* improved from $3.57 in 2022 to $3.76 in 2023. Restructuring and goodwill impairment 
charges plus transaction expenses for acquisitions totalled $137.8 million, the vast majority of the former directed to a redesign 
of Innovia’s European operational footprint, which we will discuss later. Despite higher capital spending to provide capacity and 
capability for new opportunities, free cash flow* reached $560 million, modestly below last year.

CCL Segment

Sales for the year increased 6.5%, passing $4 billion for the first time, with growth led by acquisitions and favourable foreign 
exchange. Geographically, we delivered solid profit progress in Europe, compelling gains in Latin America, with North America 
modestly increasing. Asia Pacific was down low double digits on slower electronics markets in China and ASEAN countries with a 
soft year at CCL Secure in Australia. Segment operating income* grew 5.6% to $634 million while adjusted EBITDA* margin moved 
up slightly to 21.8% as inflation challenges receded as the year progressed.

Home & Personal Care results were solid in labels with profit gains all coming internationally, especially in Latin America, with 
moderately reduced results in North America following an exceptionally strong 2022. Our label joint venture in the Middle East 
faced many currency challenges in Egypt, impacting profits especially in the second half of 2023, but, overall, it continues to 
grow, with higher-than-average profit margin. CCL Container was the standout performer with a blowout record year on strong 
gains in both aerosols and aluminum bottles plus improved performance at our Metals Science business where we backward-
integrated to manufacture aluminum “slugs,” the metal format from which we impact extrude cans. We invested in significant 
new can manufacturing capacity in Mexico, including expanded infrastructure, while replacing some of our older technology in 
the United States. Our tube business, after a very strong period during the Covid years, suffered from many customers correcting 
inventory positions after significant stock building in 2022; profits fell one-third, on a double-digit volume decline. On a combined 
basis, reported profit modestly improved for the sector overall on a slight organic sales decline.

Healthcare & Specialty performance moderated after a rampant 2022 but reported sales were still up double digit, with organic 
growth, acquisitions and foreign exchange gains all contributing in similar measures. Our Healthcare literature business had a 
record year, and we broke ground on a new plant in North Carolina to meet strong demand from GLP-1 customers. We completed 

2023 Annual Report

1

new  label  plants  in  Sioux  Falls,  South  Dakota  and  Oss,  Netherlands.  We  also  acquired  two  important  new  businesses,  Faubel 
in Germany, which propels us to a global leadership position in the clinical trials space, and e-Agile, a U.S. start-up technology 
company with proprietary software and coding capability for RFID labels for the ethical drug supply chain. Emerging markets were 
an area of strength, and we refocused one of our plants in Singapore, adding new capability for the healthcare space. Ag-Chem 
had another off year with lower sales in the U.S. consumer lawn & garden sector and decidedly mixed performance in Europe 
on operational challenges, although performance turned positive in the fourth quarter. Overall profitability improved modestly.

Food & Beverage benefited from many price increases to recover 2022 inflation, although implemented later in that year as 
contracts renewed; then, in 2023, raw material costs reversed, widening our margins for much of the year. Sleeves were especially 
strong as we completed a transition to a state-of-the-art new plant in Austria, the largest investment in the Company’s history in 
a label operation. We made two important strategic acquisitions: Creaprint in Spain, an in-mould label producer with strength in 
Iberia plus exports to the Americas; and Pouch Partners, a producer of stand-up flexible pouches in Italy. Both businesses add new 
capability to serve many common customers with opportunities to backward integrate in film supply. Pressure sensitive labels 
had flat to down performance in the alcoholic beverage arena in softer end markets but posted strong growth in closure labels. 
We built a new greenfield spirits label plant in Italy to support global customers transitioning from wet glue labels to pressure 
sensitive. Sector profitability overall improved strongly with similar contributions from organic gains, acquisitions and foreign 
exchange translation.

CCL Design had another challenging year as device markets softened globally after a boom during the pandemic. The personal 
computer industry had its lowest volume since 2006 with units down 14% after a big decline in 2022. Servers and hard disc drives 
also slowed and the cell phone space struggled to post unit growth. There were clear signs of the demand trough reaching bottom 
in the fourth quarter, with the first signals of an uptick. We believe the next cycle in tech will be upwardly long as businesses and 
consumers look for AI-compatible devices with upgraded chips. The business demonstrated its agility, reducing approximately 
1,000 people from our Chinese factories as we optimized cost and automated many processes to confront market conditions. 
We started a new plant in India to support customers balancing their supply footprint. The 2022 Desin acquisition, which had 
a  tough  first  year,  improved  in  the  second  half  of  2023.  We  acquired  Imprint  Energy,  a  start-up  with  patented  technology  for 
integrating flat format batteries into smart labels, giving them capability to transfer data without a scanner. Automotive had a 
much improved year in labels but struggled for acceptable profitability in the decorative parts business; the 2022 McGavigan 
acquisition progressed in Europe but posted lower results in China. Olympic Tapes performance reversed 2022 gains on lower 
sales for electric vehicles. Sales to alkaline battery producers were stable. Overall, profitability at CCL Design declined for the 
year but improved in the fourth quarter.

CCL Secure had an outstanding year in the United States on new government contracts for passport components. The polymer 
bank note business was solid in the U.K. and Mexico, but weak mix and lower volumes reduced profitability in Australia significantly. 
On a combined basis, sales and profitability increased for the sector.

Avery 

Our consumer segment had a record year with sales passing $1 billion for the first time, up 13.8% as reported, with organic growth, 
acquisitions and foreign exchange translation each contributing. Segment operating income* increased 19.0% as reported to just 
shy of $200 million with a 19.2% operating margin; exceptionally strong cash flow significantly exceeded profitability aided by 
good working capital management and low capex. Direct-to-consumer units continued to progress globally, including the new 
acquisitions,  our  legacy  businesses  had  good  performance  in  most  geographies  and  especially  in  the  United  States  on  solid 
back-to-school results. The new horticultural units had a much better second year under our ownership, particularly in the United 
States. Adelbras results in Brazil were impacted by a plant fire in the first quarter, which tragically resulted in three fatalities. The 
accident took place in a solvent mixing room, which has since been substantially improved with many new protocols to prevent 
a recurrence. “Never again” is now the safety motto of our people at this location. The business was solidly profitable in its first 
full year under our auspices.

Checkpoint 

Retailers  that  gained  in  the  pandemic  era  faced  slower  sales  growth  and  compressed  margins  with  higher  rates  of  shrinkage 
prompting renewed interest in Merchandise Availability Solutions’ security systems and supplies. Inflation, especially intermodal 
freight from our manufacturing operations in China, rapidly receded as did many component costs for our hardware products. 
We  closed  our  higher-cost  label  supply  plant  in  Japan  and  consolidated  into  China.  We  also  announced  plans  to  build  a  new 
RFID inlay plant in Mexico to avoid import tariffs from China and provide growth capacity. These investments will expand our 

2

2023 Annual Report

2023 LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERSinlay capacity to 5 billion units, representing approximately 10% of global market demand when the plant comes on line in the 
first half of 2024. Capacity in Mexico will focus more on emerging RFID applications for general merchandise, food, healthcare 
and logistics. Apparel Labeling Solutions again delivered record levels of profitability for the year on solid sales growth driven by 
excellent gains in RFID despite many retailers correcting apparel inventory across the supply chain. The smaller Meto business 
delivered good cash flow. Segment operating income* increased to a record $132 million on sales of $875 million, a return on 
sales of 15.1%, up 60 basis points. 

Innovia
It was another difficult year for Innovia, especially in Europe. Demand in the pressure sensitive label materials industry dropped 
dramatically beginning late summer of 2022 through much of 2023 as label converter customers reduced huge inventory positions 
built in 2021 and much of 2022 to secure supply in the face of tight industry capacity. The situation was amplified by the loss of 
the entire Russian market, historically entirely supplied from Western Europe, to Chinese producers following the outbreak of the 
Ukraine conflict. The 2023 35% industry demand drop had no precedent, so we took action, deciding to close our highest cost 
plant in Belgium and consolidating volume into operations in the U.K. and Australia. We invested $32 million in restructuring to 
generate annual profit improvement of $17 million to $20 million once the transition is completed in mid-2024. Given the goodwill 
associated with Innovia’s European operations and the overall decline in sales and related cashflow, we were required to record 
a $95 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge. Results improved significantly in the Americas where the demand drop was 
limited. Ecofloat volume in Poland also progressed nicely. Sales fell over 20% to $630 million on lower volume and price pass-
through from significant resin declines, lower energy prices and tight cost management aided profitability. Segment operating 
income* fell over $2 million to $46 million, with a return on sales of 7.2% up 110 basis points. Demand began to improve in the label 
materials industry late in the fourth quarter and accelerated significantly so far in 2024.

Sustainability

In concert with global customers, the Company will set emission reduction goals through the Science-Based Targets initiative 
(“SBTi”)  in  2024,  along  with  new  waste  goals  to  align  with  best  practices  in  our  industry.  Many  examples  of  new  sustainable 
products and processes have been implemented throughout the Company. CCL Metal Sciences developed technology to recycle 
process scrap from our aluminum can plants into new raw materials. CCL Design launched the 5400 LSE series of acrylic foam 
tapes free of PFAS substances, often referred to as “forever chemicals.” CCL Label received Forest Stewardship Council (“FSCTM”) 
Chain  of  Custody  certification  allowing  customers  to  utilize  the  FSCTM  trademark  on  paper  products  produced  with  certified 
materials,  while  providing  enhanced  traceability  for  timber  products  in  our  supply  chain.  The  Association  of  Plastic  Recyclers 
(“APR”) recognized CCL’s Recycle Ready tubes commercialized for major brands with the use of new HDPE closures creating mono 
material products for recyclability in the colored bottle waste stream. PepsiCo trialed CCL Label’s innovative multipack solution 
for Snack A Jacks in the U.K. in July, using 86% less material compared to traditional systems. 1,200 McDonald’s restaurants across 
France now use Checkpoint’s RFID inlays embedded into reusable in store tableware and cups to monitor and track inventory 
through an automated database. CCL Label’s new state-of-the-art shrink sleeves plant in Austria was constructed with the latest 
technology  for  energy  efficiency  and  waste  treatment.  The  success  story  of  EcoFloat®  Sleeves  continued,  winning  several 
awards together with Henkel AG and endorsed by the APR. CCL Label Turkey became the first domestic label supplier to receive 
authorization to produce shrink sleeves with the official logo for the Turkish deposit system. Wash-Off labels for returnable glass 
bottles continue to gain traction but are now also developed for rigid PET bottles. Innovia launched RayoFloat™ white polyolefin 
shrink film for light-sensitive dairy, supplements and cosmetics brands switching from HDPE containers to infinitely recyclable 
PET bottles with white removable sleeves. Rayoface™ polyolefin label films, 40% thinner than polyethylene, were developed for 
Home & Personal Care brands. PVC-free graphics films made from recyclable PP for signage and promotional displays are also 
gaining traction. Avery Zweckform will install a solar panel system on the roof of its large plant in Germany providing 35% of the 
energy consumption at the site. You can find our annual Sustainability Report at www.cclind.com/sustainability.

Delivering to Shareholders 

Following our February 2024 Board meeting, we announced a 9.4% increase to the dividend. The annualized payout now stands 
at  $1.16  per  Class  B  share  and  $1.15  per  Class  A  share,  up  over  70%  the  last  five  years  and  without  omission  or  reduction  for 
more  than  four  decades.  Despite  spending  $324  million  on  acquisitions  and  $444  million  on  net  capital  expenditures,  the 
Company’s net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio ended 2023 comfortably inside investment-grade territory at 1.13 times, down 0.11 
turns. With the stock price below $60 the Company returned to making share repurchases under its Normal Course Issuer Bid 
very  late  in  the  fourth  quarter,  returning  $5  million  to  shareholders.  We  plan  to  invest  approximately  $455  million  in  2024  in 
capital equipment 

2023 Annual Report

3

and new plant expenditures, compared to approximately $353 million of 2023 depreciation and amortization expense, excluding 
right-of-use asset amortization. With 98% of sales outside Canada, CCL continues to provide domestic shareholders considerable 
geographic risk diversification.

Diversity, Leadership and Governance

CCL is a global enterprise with operations now in 43 countries on 6 continents. We remain deeply committed to decentralized 
organizational  principles,  serving  a  broad  array  of  end  markets  using  our  specialized  expertise  in  technical  printing,  surface 
coating & film extrusion, adhesives, label formatting software & digital imaging, intelligent label technologies, mechanical & laser 
cutting and automated assembly. Deep knowledge of these technologies and how to apply them in the market remains a required 
entry ticket to the senior operational leadership ranks and usually means talent has to be developed versus hired. We relentlessly 
subscribe to our philosophy that business leadership should be local to the country where we operate, especially outside North 
America. We firmly believe this ensures our operating units around the world reflect the ethnicity and society in the business 
communities we serve. The mission of our professional corporate support staff is to be technically excellent, agile and highly 
responsive, with a cost equal to 1% of sales. 

In our 2023 employee census, 63% of employees are men, 37% women; employees identifying themselves as “white” totaled 42% 
of the population; no material change since 2021. We remain deeply committed to the principle that our people must reflect the 
cultural norms where our plants, distribution centres and offices are located…globally. Gender and cultural diversity start at the 
top: 4 of 11 Directors on our Board are now women, with one from a culturally diverse background. 

We bid  farewell at  this  year’s  AGM to  Doug  Muzyka one  of  our  longest serving Directors who  is  retiring from the  Board. We 
will miss the focus he brought to all of our Board and Committee deliberations, his deep global insight, easy comprehension 
of all technology related matters and practical statesmanship to all sensitive subjects; he will be sorely missed. We welcome 
Mr. Claude  Tessier to  our  Board of  Directors, who  brings  international  retail and  food industry experience in  addition  to  his 
deep public company financial expertise as the former CFO of Alimentation Couche-Tard. The Board continues to represent all 
shareholders through good governance practice, while providing seasoned, wise counsel to management.

2024 Outlook 

We are more encouraged about the Company’s prospects for the year ahead than we have been for some time as some of our 
businesses are poised to join the recovery cycle in 2024. The pandemic is clearly in our rearview mirror, and central banks around 
the  world  look  on  track  to  succeed  in  engineering  an  economic  soft  landing  while  still  controlling  inflation  without  a  major 
recession. The tense geo-political issues globally are the one black cloud worrying most businesses and we are no exception. That 
aside we are confident we will make good earnings progression in 2024. 

We close by again thanking the 25,700 CCL people around the world for their passion, commitment and extraordinary skills. You 
make the difference. To our customer and supplier partners, without you we would simply not exist; and to our shareholders, we 
are ready to continue to grow and prosper.

Donald G. Lang 

Executive Chairman 

 Geoffrey T. Martin

President and Chief Executive Officer

* Non-IFRS measures; see Section 5A of CCL’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for more detail.

4

2023 Annual Report

2023 LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS 
F I N A N C I A L   H I G H L I G H T S

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share and ratio data)

Sales 

Adjusted EBITDA 

% of sales 

Restructuring and other items – net loss 

Goodwill impairment loss 

Net earnings 

% of sales 

Basic earnings per Class B share 
Net earnings 
Diluted earnings 
Adjusted basic earnings per Class B share* 
Dividends per Class B share 

As at December 31 

Total assets 
Net debt* 
Total equity 
Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA* 
Return on equity (before other expenses)* 
Number of employees 

*  A non-IFRS measure; see “Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures” in Section 5A.

2023 

 $ 

 $ 

6,649.6 

1,332.1 

 $ 

$ 

 $ 

 $ 
 $ 
 $ 
 $ 

 $ 
 $ 
 $ 

20.0% 

42.8 

95.0 

530.2 

8.0% 

2.99 
2.95 
3.76  
1.06 

8,924.2 
1,508.2 
4,623.2 
1.13 
15.0% 

 25,700 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 
 $ 
 $ 
 $ 

 $ 
 $ 
 $ 

2022

6,382.2  

1,231.4  

19.3% 

11.7  

—

622.7  

9.8% 

3.50  
3.48  
3.57  
0.96  

8,664.4  
1,522.3  
4,265.2  
1.24 
15.9% 

 25,300  

4.2%

8.2%

(14.9%)

(14.6%)
(15.2%)
5.3%
10.4%

3.0%
(0.9%)
8.4%

1.6%

5

2023 Annual ReportThis Management’s Discussion and Analysis of the financial condition and results of operations (“MD&A”) of CCL Industries 
Inc. (“the Company”) relates to the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. In preparing this MD&A, the Company 
has  taken  into  account  information  available  until  February  21,  2024,  unless  otherwise  noted.  This  MD&A  should  be 
read in conjunction with the Company’s December 31, 2023, annual consolidated financial statements, which form part 
of  the  CCL  Industries  Inc.  2023  Annual  Report  dated  February  21,  2024.  The  consolidated  financial  statements  have 
been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), and, unless otherwise noted, 
both the financial statements and this MD&A are expressed in Canadian dollars as the presentation currency. The major 
measurement currencies of the Company’s operations are the Canadian dollar, U.S. dollar, euro, Argentine peso, Australian 
dollar,  Bangladeshi  taka,  Brazilian  real,  Chilean  peso,  Chinese  renminbi,  Danish  krone,  Hong  Kong  dollar,  Hungarian 
forint, Indian rupee, Israeli shekel, Japanese yen, Malaysian ringgit, Mexican peso, Moroccan dirham, New Zealand dollar, 
Philippine peso, Polish zloty, Russian ruble, Singaporean dollar, South African rand, South Korean won, Swiss franc, Thai 
baht, Turkish lira, U.K. pound sterling and Vietnamese dong. All per Class B non-voting share (“Class B share”) amounts in 
this document are expressed on an undiluted basis, unless otherwise indicated. The Company’s Audit Committee and its 
Board of Directors (the “Board”) have reviewed this MD&A to ensure consistency with the approved strategy and results 
of the business.

I N D E X

1.  Corporate Overview

8 
8  A)  The Company
8  B)  Customers and Markets
8  C)  Strategy and Financial Targets
11  D)  Recent Acquisitions and Dispositions
12  E)  Subsequent Events 
12  F)  Consolidated Annual Financial Results
14  G)  Seasonality and Fourth Quarter Financial Results

17  2.  Business Segment Review
17  A)  General 
19  B)  CCL Segment
21  C)  Avery 
23  D)  Checkpoint
23  E)  Innovia 
25  F)  Joint Ventures

25  3.  Financing and Risk Management
25  A)  Liquidity and Capital Resources 
26  B)  Cash Flow 
27  C)   Interest Rate, Foreign Exchange Management  

and Other Hedges 

27  D)  Equity and Dividends
28  E)  Commitments and Other Contractual Obligations
29  F)  Controls and Procedures

30  4.  Risks and Uncertainties

38  5.  Accounting Policies and Non-IFRS Measures
38  A)  Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures
43  B)  Accounting Policies 
43  C)  Critical Accounting Estimates 
44  D)  Related Party Transactions 

44  6.  Outlook

6

2023 Annual Report

F O R WA R D - L O O K I N G   I N F O R M AT I O N

This MD&A contains forward-looking information 
and  forward-looking  statements,  as  defined 
under  applicable  securities  laws  (hereinafter 
collectively  referred  to  as  “forward-looking 
statements”)  that  involve  a  number  of  risks 
and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements 
include  all  statements  that  are  predictive  in 
nature or depend on future events or conditions. 
Forward-looking  statements  are  typically 
identified  by,  but  not  limited  to,  the  words 
“believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” 
“intends,”  “plans”  or  similar  expressions. 
Statements regarding the operations, business, 
financial condition, priorities, ongoing objectives, 
strategies  and  outlook  of  the  Company,  other 
than statements of historical fact, are forward-
looking  statements.  Specifically,  this  MD&A 
contains forward-looking statements regarding 
the  anticipated  growth  in  sales,  income  and 
profitability  of  the  Company’s  segments;  the 
Company’s  improvement  in  market  share;  the 
Company’s capital spending levels and planned 
capital  expenditures  in  2024;  the  adequacy  of 
the Company’s financial liquidity; the Company’s 
targeted  return  on  equity,  improved  return 
on  total  capital,  adjusted  earnings  per  share, 
adjusted  EBITDA  growth  rates  and  dividend 
payout;  the  Company’s  effective  tax  rate;  the 
Company’s  ongoing  business  strategy;  the 
Company’s  ability  to  maintain  a  Net  Debt  to 
Adjusted  EBITDA  ratio  below  3.5  times;  the 
Company’s  expectations  regarding  general 
business  and  economic  conditions;  the 
Company’s  Corporate  Social  Responsibility 
initiative  to  enhance  the  integration  of  social 
and environmental objectives into its business 
operations  and  strategy;  the  Company’s 
expectation to achieve its overall environmental 
footprint  and  waste  reduction  goals  for  2025 
and 2030; the Company’s ability to successfully 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data)deploy initiatives that reduce the carbon footprint of its products and services; the continuing impact the conflicts in 
Europe and the Middle East will have on the global economy and the global supply chain; the Company’s success in 
passing on foreign exchange movements and input cost changes, including inflationary costs, to its customer base; 
Innovia will successfully complete construction of its new film manufacturing facility in Germany in the first half of 2025; 
Innovia will complete the closure of its Belgium facility by mid-2024; Innovia will successfully consolidate the production 
from the closure of the Belgium facility into its facilities in the U.K. and Australia, leading to incremental annual profitability 
of $17.0 million to $20.0 million; for the CCL Segment, fourth quarter momentum and potential acceleration in early 2024 
will yield improved sales and profitability; all the vertical markets within the CCL Segment are positioned for growth and 
improved profitability in the coming years; the CCL Segment will complete all its global greenfield projects successfully; 
CCL Design will successfully manage new product initiatives and profitably capture the turnaround in electronics markets; 
CCL Secure’s success in developing market-leading security technology to pursue widespread long-term adoption of 
polymer banknotes; Avery’s direct-to-consumer businesses, plus horticultural operations, will outpace legacy product 
lines and that further “tuck-in” acquisitions are possible; Checkpoint’s expectation that there will be strong demand for 
RFID-related products, including products beyond retail; Checkpoint will successfully commence operations of its new 
RFID inlay facility in Mexico; Checkpoint’s expectation that core MAS and ALS apparel production categories will grow 
and improve profitability in 2024; Innovia’s expectation that the destocking in the label materials industry has ended 
and improvements early in 2024 will continue for the remainder of the year and expectations that the new “EcoFloat” 
production line will successfully fill its capacity; and expectations that if demand remains stable for the remainder of 2024, 
results will deliver good progress over 2023.

Forward-looking  statements  are  not  guarantees  of  future  performance.  They  involve  known  and  unknown  risks  and 
uncertainties relating to future events and conditions, including, but not limited to, the impact of competition; consumer 
confidence and spending preferences; general economic and geopolitical conditions; currency exchange rates; interest 
rates and credit availability; technological change; changes in government regulations; risks associated with operating 
and product hazards; and the Company’s ability to attract and retain qualified employees. Do not unduly rely on forward-
looking statements as the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking 
statements. Forward-looking statements are also based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect, 
including, but not limited to, assumptions about the following: higher consumer spending; increased customer demand 
for the Company’s products; continued historical growth trends, market growth in specific segments and entering into 
new segments; the Company’s ability to provide a wide range of products to multinational customers on a global basis; the 
benefits of the Company’s focused strategies and operational approach; the Company’s ability to implement its acquisition 
strategy and successfully integrate acquired businesses; the achievement of the Company’s plans for improved efficiency 
and lower costs, including the ability to pass on polypropylene resin, aluminum and other inflationary cost increases to its 
customers; the availability of cash and credit; fluctuations of currency exchange rates; the Company’s continued relations 
with  its  customers;  and  general  business  and  economic  conditions.  Should  one  or  more  risks  materialize  or  should  any 
assumptions  prove  incorrect,  then  actual  results  could  vary  materially  from  those  expressed  or  implied  in  the  forward-
looking statements. Further details on key risks can be found throughout this report and particularly in Section 4: “Risks 
and Uncertainties.”

Except as otherwise indicated, forward-looking statements do not take into account the effect that transactions or non-
recurring  or  other  special  items  announced  or  occurring  after  the  statements  are  made  may  have  on  the  business. 
Such statements do not, unless otherwise specified by the Company, reflect the impact of dispositions, sales of assets, 
monetizations, mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations or transactions, asset write-downs or other charges 
announced or occurring after forward-looking statements are made. The financial impact of these transactions and non-
recurring and other special items can be complex and depends on the facts particular to each of them; therefore, the 
financial impact cannot be described in a meaningful way in advance of knowing the specific facts.

The forward-looking statements are provided as of the date of this MD&A and the Company does not assume any obligation 
to update or revise the forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Unless  the  context  otherwise  indicates,  a  reference  to  “the  Company”  means  CCL  Industries  Inc.  and  its  subsidiary 
companies and equity-accounted investments. 

Additional information relating to the Company, including the Company’s Annual Information Form, is available on SEDAR+ 
at www.sedarplus.ca or on the Company’s website www.cclind.com. 

2023 Annual Report

7

1 . C O R P O R AT E   OV E RV I E W

A)  The Company

Founded in 1951, and publicly listed under its current name since 1980, the Company’s corporate offices are located in 
Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada,  and  Framingham,  Massachusetts,  United  States,  with  a  regional  centre  for  Asia  Pacific 
in  Singapore.  The  corporate  offices  provide  executive  and  centralized  services  such  as  finance,  accounting, 
internal audit, treasury, risk management, legal, tax, human resources, information technology, environmental, health 
and  safety,  sustainability  and  oversight  of  operations.  The  Company  employs  approximately  25,700  people  in  213 
production  facilities  located  in  North  America,  Latin  America,  Europe,  Australia,  Africa  and  Asia  including  equity 
investments in two joint ventures operating nine facilities.

The CCL Segment (“CCL”) is the world’s largest converter of pressure sensitive and extruded film materials for a wide 
range  of  decorative,  instructional,  security  and  functional  applications  for  government  institutions  and  large  global 
customers  in  consumer  packaging,  healthcare,  chemicals,  consumer  durables,  electronic  device  and  automotive 
markets.  Extruded  and  labeled  plastic  tubes,  aluminum  aerosols  and  specialty  bottles,  folded  instructional  leaflets, 
specialty  folded  cartons,  precision  engineered  and  die  cut  components,  electronic  displays,  polymer  banknote 
substrate and other complementary products  and  services  are  sold  in  parallel  to  specific  end-use  markets.  Avery  is 
the  world’s  largest  supplier  of  labels,  specialty  converted  media  and  software  solutions  to  enable  short-run  digital 
printing in businesses and homes alongside complementary  products  sold  through  distributors,  mass-market  stores 
and  e-commerce  retailers.  Checkpoint  is  a  leading  developer  of  RF  and  RFID-based  technology  systems  for  loss 
prevention  and  inventory  management  applications,  including  labeling  and  tagging  solutions,  for  the  broad  retail 
and  apparel  industries  worldwide.  Innovia  is  a  leading  global  producer  of  specialty,  high-performance,  multi-layer, 
surface-engineered films for label, packaging and security applications.  The  Company  partly  backward integrates  into 
materials  science,  with  capabilities  in  polymer  extrusion,  adhesive  development,  coating  and  lamination,  surface 
engineering and metallurgy deployed as needed across the four business segments. 

B)  Customers and Markets

The state of the global economy and geopolitical events can affect consumer demand and customers’ marketing and 
sales  strategies  to  promote  growth,  including  the  introduction  of  new  products.  These  factors  directly  influence  the 
demand  for  the  Company’s  products.  Growth  expectations  generally  mirror  the  trends  of  each  of  the  markets  and 
product lines in which the Company’s customers compete and the growth of the economy in each geographic region. 
The Company attempts to gain market share in each market and category over time.

The  markets  served  by  the  CCL  Segment  are  large  and  diverse,  with  some  sectors  highly  fragmented,  but  with 
few  competitors  having  the  Company’s  substantial  operating  breadth  or  global  reach.  Avery  has  a  dominant  market-
leading position for its products in North America, Europe and Australia. Checkpoint has significant market positions in 
all  regions  of  the  world  and  sells  directly  to  retailers  and  apparel  manufacturers  and  competes  with  other  global 
retail  labeling  companies.  Innovia  operates  plants  in  Europe,  Mexico  and  Australia  and  has  additional  distribution 
capabilities  in  the United States that sell films to pressure sensitive materials producers, flexible packaging converters 
and the consumer-packaged goods industry, while also producing film internally for security and label applications. 

C)  Strategy and Financial Targets

The  Company’s  strategy  is  to  increase  shareholder  value  through  investment  in  organic  growth  and  product 
innovations around the world, augmented by acquisitions. The Company builds on the strength of its people in marketing, 
manufacturing and product development and nurtures strong relationships with its international, national and regional 
customers  and  suppliers.  The  Company  anticipates  increasing  its  market  share  in  most  product  categories  by 
capitalizing  on  market insights and the growth of its customers, and by following developments such as globalization, 
new product innovation, sustainability, branding and consumer trends.

The CCL Segment aspires to be the market leader and the highest value-added producer in each customer sector and 
region  in  which  it  chooses  to  compete.  The  primary  objective  is  to  invest  in  growth  globally,  both  organically  and 
by  acquisition.  Avery  objectives  align  to  its  core  competencies  in  label  and  badging  solutions  centered  on  specialty 
converted media  that  enable  short-run  digital  printing  in  homes  and  businesses  and  increasingly  using  the  direct-
to-consumer  channel,  both  organically  and  by  acquisition.  Checkpoint  focuses  on  technology-driven  loss-prevention 
and inventory-management and labeling solutions for the retail and apparel industries, inclusive of a rapidly developing 
RFID  product  portfolio.  Innovia  is  a  leading  global  producer  of  specialty,  high-performance,  multi-layer,  surface-
engineered films for label, packaging and security applications. Innovia also provides significant depth and capability 
to develop proprietary films for label applications.

8

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data)The  Company’s  financial  strategy  is  to  be fiscally  prudent  and  conservative.  The 2023 financial  results  delivered strong 
cash flow and a solid balance sheet after investing $345.8 million in eight acquisitions and $443.7 million in net capital 
expenditures  to  execute  global  growth  initiatives.  Even  during  good  and  challenging  economic  cycles,  such  as  the 
prolonged impact of the COVID (“CV19”) pandemic, and geopolitical events such as the conflicts in the Ukraine and the 
Middle East, which has dampened consumer demand, led to instability in energy, commodity and currency markets, and 
resulted in elevated inflationary pressures, the Company has maintained high levels of cash on hand and unused lines of 
credit to reduce its financial risk and to provide flexibility when acquisition opportunities are available. As at December 31, 
2023, the Company had $774.2 million of cash on hand and approximately US$966.1 million of undrawn capacity on the 
Company’s unsecured revolving credit facility.

The Company maintains a continuous focus on minimizing its investment in working capital to maximize cash flow in 
support of growth in the business. In addition, capital expenditures target the most attractive growth opportunities and are 
expected to be accretive to earnings. The Company’s financial discipline and prudent allocation of capital have ensured 
sufficient available liquidity and a secure financial foundation for the long-term future.

A key financial target for the Company is return on equity before goodwill impairment loss, restructuring and other items, 
non-cash  acquisition  accounting  adjustments  and  tax  adjustments  (“ROE,”  a  non-IFRS  measure;  see  “Key  Performance 
Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures” in Section 5A). The Company continues to execute its strategy with a goal of achieving a 
comparable ROE level to its leading peers in specialty packaging. 2023 ROE of 15%, although solid, was down compared 
to 2023 as retained earnings increased faster than profitability gains: 

Return on Equity 

2023 

15.0% 

2022 

15.9% 

 2021 

17.2% 

2020 

17.8% 

2019 

17.8% 

2018

20.0%

Another metric used by the investment community as a comparative measure is return on total capital before goodwill 
impairment  loss,  restructuring  and  other  items,  non-cash  acquisition  accounting  adjustments  and  tax  adjustments 
(“ROTC,” a non-IFRS measure; see “Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures” in Section 5A). The chart below 
details performance since 2018. The Company targets delivering returns in excess of its cost of capital. ROTC of 11.2% 
for 2023 declined compared to 2022 due to the solid increase in adjusted net earnings for 2023, offset by the increase in 
capital deployed for acquisitions and net capital expenditures compared to 2022: 

Return on Total Capital 

2023 

11.2% 

2022 

11.8% 

2021 

12.5% 

2020 

11.9% 

2019 

10.8% 

2018

11.3%

ROTC should increase as the Company deleverages its balance sheet and increases net earnings as inflationary cost 
pressures and supply chain challenges ease and the Asian and European economies bounce back. 

The long-term growth rate of adjusted basic earnings per Class B share (a non-IFRS measure; see “Key Performance 
Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures” in Section 5A) is another important financial target. This measure excludes goodwill 
impairment loss, restructuring and other items, tax adjustments, gains on business dispositions and non-cash acquisition 
accounting adjustments. Management believes that, by taking into account both the relatively stable overall demand for 
consumer staple and healthcare products globally and the continuing benefits from the Company’s focused strategies and 
operational approach, a positive growth rate in adjusted basic earnings per share is realistic under reasonable economic 
circumstances.

The Company has achieved significant growth in its annual adjusted basic earnings per share since 2018:

2023 

Basic EPS Growth Rate 

(14.6%) 

Adjusted Basic EPS Growth Rate   5.3% 

2022 

5.1% 

5.9% 

2021  

12.5% 

 9.4% 

2020 

10.4% 

10.4% 

2019 

1.5% 

2.2% 

2018

(2.2%)

1.5%

In 2023, adjusted basic earnings increased by 5.3% to $3.76 per Class B share. Improved profitability from the CCL, Avery 
and Checkpoint segments more than offset increased net interest expense, reduced profitability for Innovia and increased 
corporate costs. The Company believes continuing growth in earnings per share is achievable in the future when Innovia 
completes its restructuring initiative and the Company executes its global business strategies across all of its segments. 

The Company will continue to focus on generating cash and effectively utilizing the cash flow generated by operations 
and divestitures. Earnings before net finance cost, taxes, depreciation and amortization, excluding goodwill impairment 
loss, earnings in equity-accounted investments, non-cash acquisition accounting adjustments, restructuring and other 
items (“Adjusted EBITDA,” a non-IFRS measure; see “Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures” in Section 5A), 
is considered a good indicator of cash flow and is used by many financial institutions and investment advisors to measure 
operating results and for business valuations. 

2023 Annual Report

9

 
 
 
 
As a key indicator of cash flow, Adjusted EBITDA demonstrates the Company’s ability to incur or service existing debt, to 
invest in capital additions and to take advantage of organic growth opportunities and acquisitions that are accretive to 
earnings per share. Historically, the Company has experienced growth in Adjusted EBITDA:

2023 

2022 

2021  

2020 

2019 

2018

Adjusted EBITDA 

$  1,332.1 

$  1,231.4 

$ 

1,173.1 

$  1,123.2 

$ 

1,067.2 

$ 

995.3

% of sales 

20% 

19% 

20% 

21% 

20% 

19%

In 2023, Adjusted EBITDA increased by approximately 8.2% from 2022, 3.5% excluding the positive impact of foreign 
currency  translation.  The  Company’s  Adjusted  EBITDA  margins  remain  at  the  top  end  of  the  range  of  its  peers.  The 
Company expects growth in Adjusted EBITDA in the future as the Company executes its international growth initiatives, 
in the midst of the world navigating regional economic volatility, geopolitical challenges in Europe and the Middle East 
and an evolving global supply chain situation. 

The  framework  supporting  the  above  performance  indicators  is  an  appropriate  level  of  financial  leverage.  Based  on 
the dynamics within the specialty packaging industry and the risks that higher leverage may bring, the Company has a 
comfort level up to a ceiling of approximately 3.5 times net debt to Adjusted EBITDA with an appropriate deleveraging 
and liquidity profile to maintain its investment-grade ratings with Moody’s Investor Service (“Moody’s”) and S&P Global 
(“S&P”). As at December 31, 2023, net debt (a non-IFRS measure; see “Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures” 
in Section 5A) to Adjusted EBITDA was 1.13 times, 0.11 turns lower than the 1.24 times at December 31, 2022, reflecting 
increased Adjusted EBITDA and a reduction in net debt. This leverage level is consistent with management’s conservative 
approach to financial risk and the Company’s ability to generate strong levels of free cash flow from operations (a non-
IFRS measure; see “Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures” in Section 5A). This leverage level also allows the 
Company the flexibility to quickly execute its acquisition growth strategy without significantly exposing its credit quality. 

The  Board  does  not  have  a  target  dividend  payout  ratio  (a  non-IFRS  measure;  see  “Key  Performance  Indicators  and 
Non-IFRS Measures” in Section 5A). However, the Company has paid dividends quarterly for over forty years without 
an  omission  or  reduction.  The  Board  views  this  consistency  and  dividend  growth  as  important  factors  in  enhancing 
shareholder value. For 2023, the dividend payout ratio was 28% of adjusted earnings. This dividend payout ratio reflects 
the strong cash flows generated by the Company and solid improvement in adjusted earnings in 2023 compared to 
2022. Therefore, after careful review of the current year results, budgeted cash flow and income for 2024, the Board has 
declared a 9.4% increase in the annual dividend: an increase of $0.025 per Class B share per quarter, from $0.265 to $0.29 
per Class B share per quarter ($1.16 per Class B share annualized). Including this increase, the Company has more than 
doubled the annualized rate since March 2018. 

The Company believes that all of the above targets are mutually compatible and consequently should drive meaningful 
shareholder value over time.

The Company’s strategy and ability to grow and achieve attractive returns for its shareholders are shaped by key internal 
and  external  factors  that  are  common  to  the  businesses  it  operates.  The  key  performance  driver  is  the  Company’s 
continuous focus on customer service, supported by its reputation for quality manufacturing, competitive pricing, product 
innovation, dependability, ethical business practices and financial stability.

The Company updates its financial strategies and its performance against internal benchmarks while considering its 
obligations to Corporate Social Responsibility (“CSR”). The Company’s CSR initiative is designed to enhance the integration 
of social and environmental concerns into its business operations and strategy as well as interactions with stakeholders. 
Since 2019, the Company has been continuing to build up the initiative to align with best practices in the industry with 
changes and progress released in an annual Sustainability Report covering material environmental and social responsibility 
issues and policies. These reports are made available on the Company’s website at www.cclind.com/sustainability.

 Sustainability: The Company is committed to helping customers meet their targets by developing new products while 
reducing the environmental impact of its manufacturing processes. The Company has committed to set science-based 
targets for emissions through the Science-Based Targets initiative (“SBTi”) to be finalized and released by June 2024. 
This commitment will further the Company’s progress towards reducing the overall environmental footprint of its 
business in addition to working towards achievement of the waste reduction goals set for 2025 and 2030. 

 Ethics: The Company’s Global Business Ethics Guide, enhanced in 2021 to align with the Company’s Corporate Social 
Responsibility strategy, is its primary policy on workplace practices, human rights, health and safety, ethical conduct 
and fair business practices for all employees. Reviewing the Guide is an important part of new hire training and global 
facilities are audited to ensure all new hires have access to a copy of the ethics guide. 

10

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data) Health & Safety: The health and safety of the Company’s employees around the world is a top priority. The Company’s 
current Environmental Health & Safety (“EHS”) policy and robust safety reporting programs address the statutory 
requirements of the countries where the Company does business. The EHS policy is reviewed and revised as needed 
as part of the Company’s annual Sustainability Report disclosure. Quarterly reporting of health and safety performance 
statistics  to  management  and  the  CSR  Committee  is  required.  In  2023,  the  Company  launched  the  “Good  Saves 
Program” to help identify risks at our facilities before accidents occur and to promote a proactive Behavior-Based 
Safety (BBS) culture. 

 Responsible Supply Chains: The Company continues to work with its supply chain partners to reduce the overall 
environmental and social impacts of its products including transportation, secondary packaging and material sourcing. 
Through predictive forecasting and responsive production, the Company is able to drive down lead times and help 
lower inventory throughout the supply chain with the added benefit of reducing waste and obsolescence and lowering 
the effects on the environment. 

 Circular Innovation: The Company’s product innovation teams work directly with customers to create sustainable 
products  enabling  the  circularity  of  customers’  primary  packaging  while  supporting  end-consumer  sensitivity  to 
reduce waste in the environment and reduce overall environmental impacts.

D)  Recent Acquisitions and Dispositions

The Company is globally deployed with significant diversification across the world economy including emerging markets, 
a broad customer base, distinct product lines and many different currencies. 

The  Company  continues  to  deploy  its  cash  flow  from  operations  into  its  core  segments  with  both  internal  capital 
investments and strategic acquisitions. The following acquisitions were completed over the last two years:

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

 In August 2023, the Company acquired all the intellectual property of Imprint Energy Inc. (“IEI”), based in Alameda,
California, for $26.6 million. IEI is a start-up proprietary technology company with the know-how for ultrathin, non-
hazardous and non-toxic printed batteries for devices, sensors and wearables. This product line has become part of
CCL Design.

 In  July  2023,  the  Company  acquired  privately  owned  Faubel  &  Co.  Nachfolger  GmbH  (“Faubel”),  headquartered
in  Melsungen,  Germany,  for  approximately  $169.7  million,  net  of  cash  acquired.  Faubel  is  a  specialist  in  labels
for pharmaceutical clinical trials globally and is reported within CCL Label’s Healthcare and Specialty business.

 In  July  2023,  the  Company  acquired  privately  owned  Creaprint  S.L.  (“Creaprint”)  based  in  Alicante,  Spain,  for
approximately $37.7 million, net of cash and debt acquired. Creaprint is a specialized producer of in-mould labels and
has been added to CCL Label’s Food & Beverage business.

 In July 2023, the Company acquired Pouch Partners S.r.l., (“Pouch”), a subsidiary of Swiss headquartered Capri-Sun
Group, based in Milan, Italy, for approximately $39.6 million, net of cash acquired. This business trades as CCL Specialty
Pouches and has become an integral new product offering within CCL Label’s Food & Beverage.

 In  July  2023,  the  Company  acquired  privately  owned  Oomph  Made  Limited  (“Oomph”),  based  in  Liphook,  United
Kingdom, for approximately $6.6 million, net of cash acquired. Oomph is a designer and supplier of Radio Frequency
Identification (“RFID”) and Near-Field Communication (”NFC”) access cards and wristbands and has been added to the
Company’s Avery Segment.

 In  April  2023,  the  Company  acquired  privately  owned  eAgile  Inc.  (“eAgile”), based  in  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  for
approximately $52.2 million, including estimated net cash assumed. eAgile is a start-up technology company with
proprietary, patented hardware and software solutions for the healthcare industry alongside RFID inlays embedded into
labels. This business is being integrated into CCL Label’s Healthcare & Specialty business.

 In April  2023,  the  Company  acquired  the  intellectual  property  of  Alert  Systems  ApS (“Alert”),  based in Hoersholm,
Denmark, for $3.2 million. Alert’s patent-protected anti-theft solutions are sold alongside Checkpoint’s Merchandise
Availability Solutions (“MAS”) product lines.

 In April 2023, the Company acquired privately owned Data Management, Inc. (“DMI”), based in Farmington, Connecticut,
for approximately $10.2 million, net of cash acquired. DMI’s tracking and identification badges business has been added
to the Avery Segment.

 In May 2022, the Company acquired privately owned Floramedia Group B.V. (“Floramedia”), based in Westzaan, in the
Netherlands, for approximately $53.1 million, net of cash acquired. Floramedia is a European leader in horticulture media
with in-house tag and label production complemented with sales offices in seven countries. It is reported as part of Avery.

2023 Annual Report

11

•

•

 In April 2022, the Company acquired Adelbras Indústria e Comércio de Adesivos Ltda. and Amazon Tape Indústria
e  Comércio  de  Fitas  Adesivas  Ltda.  (collectively,  “Adelbras”),  headquartered  in  Vinhedo  near  São  Paulo,  Brazil,  for
approximately $152.3 million, net of cash and debt. Adelbras is a producer of adhesive tapes sold through retailers and
distributors to consumers and small businesses under the Adelbras brand name. The new business is reported as part
of Avery.

 In January 2022, the Company acquired privately owned McGavigan Holdings Ltd. (“McGavigan”), headquartered in
Glasgow, Scotland, and with significant manufacturing operations in China, for $103.6 million, net of cash acquired and
debt assumed. McGavigan is a leading supplier of in-mould decorated components for automotive interiors and forms
an integral part of CCL Design.

The acquisitions completed over the past few years, in conjunction with the building of new plants around the world, 
have positioned the CCL Segment as the global leader for labels in the personal care, healthcare, food and beverage, 
durables, security and specialty categories. Avery is the world’s largest supplier of labels, specialty converted media, and 
software solutions to enable short-run digital printing in businesses and homes alongside complementary office products. 
Checkpoint has added technology-driven loss-prevention, inventory-management and labeling solutions, including RF and 
RFID-based systems, to the retail and apparel industries. Innovia provides vertical integration, driving the Company deeper 
into polymer sciences, enhancing the development of proprietary products, including recent investments in sustainably 
oriented films for its customers. 

E)  Subsequent Events

Prior to the release of the 2023 annual financial statements, the Company announced the following:

•

 The Board of Directors has declared a dividend of $0.29 per Class B non-voting share and $0.2875 per Class A voting
share,  which  will  be  payable  to  shareholders  of  record  at  the  close  of  business  on  March  15,  2024,  to  be  paid  on
March 28, 2024.

F)  Consolidated Annual Financial Results

Selected Financial Information

Results of Consolidated Operations

Sales  
Cost of sales 

Gross profit
Selling, general and administrative expenses 

Earnings in equity-accounted investments 
Net finance cost
Goodwill impairment loss  
Restructuring and other items  

Earnings before income taxes 
Income taxes 

Net earnings 

Basic earnings per Class B share 

Diluted earnings per Class B share 

Adjusted basic earnings per Class B share 

Dividends per Class B share 

Total assets 

Total non-current liabilities 

12

2023 Annual Report

2023 

$  6,649.6 
4,735.2 

1,914.4 
985.6 

928.8 
17.9 
(78.0) 
(95.0) 
(42.8) 

730.9 
200.7 

530.2 

2.99 

2.95 

3.76 

1.06 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$  8,924.2 

$  2,884.1 

2022 

6,382.2 
4,667.0 

1,715.2 
852.6 

862.6 
19.9 
(64.8) 
— 
(11.7) 

806.0 
183.3 

622.7 

3.50 

3.48 

3.57 

0.96 

8,664.4 

2,897.8 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2021

5,732.8
4,140.7

1,592.1
761.4

830.7
11.2
(56.9)
—
(4.4)

780.6
181.5

599.1

3.33

3.31

3.37

0.84

7,627.8

2,462.8

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data) 
Comments on Consolidated Results

Sales were $6,649.6 million for 2023, an increase of 4.2% compared to $6,382.2 million recorded in 2022. This increase in 
sales is attributable to acquisition-related growth of 2.4% and 4.3% positive impact of foreign currency translation, partially 
offset by an organic decline of 2.5%. 

Consistent with 2022, approximately 98% of the Company’s 2023 sales to end-use customers were denominated in foreign 
currencies. Consequently, changes in foreign exchange rates can have a material impact on sales and profitability when 
translated into Canadian dollars for public reporting. The appreciation of the U.S. dollar, euro, U.K. pound, Brazilian real, 
Mexican peso and Thai baht by 3.7%, 6.5%, 4.4%, 7.1%, 17.6% and 4.4%, respectively, was partially offset by a 0.8% and 1.4% 
depreciation of the Australian dollar and Chinese renminbi, respectively, relative to the Canadian dollar in 2023 compared 
to average exchange rates in 2022. 

Selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses  (“SG&A”)  were  $985.6  million  for  2023,  compared  to  $852.6  million 
reported in 2022. The increase in SG&A expenses in 2023 relates to an increase in corporate expenses, general increases 
across all business segments of the Company and most notably the impact of the eleven acquisitions over the last two 
years.  Corporate  expenses  for  2023  increased  to  $81.8  million,  compared  to  $71.8  million  for  2022,  primarily  due  to 
increased variable compensation expenses on meeting profitability thresholds in the fifth year of the amended long-term 
incentive plan. 

Operating income (a non-IFRS measure; see “Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures” in Section 5A) for 2023 
was $1,010.6 million, an increase of 8.2% compared to $934.4 million for 2022. Foreign currency translation was a 4.9% 
positive impact to consolidated operating income for 2023 compared to 2022. CCL, Avery and Checkpoint Segments each 
increased operating income while Innovia posted a modest decline, compared to 2022. Further details on the business 
segments follow later in this report.

Adjusted EBITDA in 2023 was $1,332.1 million, an improvement of 8.2% compared to $1,231.4 million recorded in 2022. 
Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, the increase was 3.5% over the prior year.

Net finance cost was $78.0 million for 2023, compared to $64.8 million for 2022. The 20.4% increase in net finance cost 
can primarily be attributed to increased finance costs on increased interest rates on variable rate debt partially offset by 
an increase in finance income for 2023 compared to 2022.

In  the  fourth  quarter  of  2023,  the  Company  incurred  a  non-cash  goodwill  impairment  charge  related  to  the  Innovia 
Segment of $95.0 million with no associated tax benefit. This resulted in a reduction of basic earnings of $0.54 per Class B 
share. Further details of this impairment are outlined in Section 2E: “Innovia Segment” later in this MD&A.

For the full year 2023, restructuring costs and other items represented an expense of $42.8 million ($41.2 million after 
tax) as follows:

•

 Restructuring expenses of $41.1 million ($39.5 million after tax), primarily related to severance and reorganization costs
largely across Innovia, CCL Design and Checkpoint.

• Acquisition transaction costs totaled $1.7 million ($1.7 million after tax), for the eight acquisitions closed in 2023.

The negative earnings impact of the restructuring and other items in 2023 was $0.23 per Class B share.

For the full year 2022, restructuring costs and other items represented an expense of $11.7 million ($9.7 million after tax) 
as follows:

•

 Restructuring expenses of $10.3 million ($8.3 million after tax), primarily related to severance and reorganization costs
across the CCL Segment, Checkpoint and Innovia.

• Acquisition transaction costs totalled $1.4 million ($1.4 million after tax), for the three acquisitions closed in 2022.

The negative earnings impact of these restructuring and other items in 2022 was $0.05 per Class B share.

In 2023, the consolidated effective tax rate was 28.2%, compared to 23.3% in 2022, excluding earnings in equity-accounted 
investments. The combined Canadian federal and provincial statutory tax rate was 26.5% for 2023 (2022 – 26.5%). The 
increase in the effective tax rates was primarily attributable to the $95.0 million goodwill impairment loss with no associated 
tax benefit. 

Approximately 98% of the Company’s sales are to customers outside of Canada, and the income from these foreign 
operations is subject to varying rates of taxation. The Company’s effective tax rate is also affected from year to year due 
to the level of income in the various countries, recognition or reversal of tax losses, tax reassessments and income and 
expense items not subject to tax. 

2023 Annual Report

13

Net earnings for 2023 decreased 14.9% to $530.2 million, compared to $622.7 million recorded in 2022 due to the items 
described above.

Basic earnings per Class B share were $2.99 for 2023 compared to $3.50 recorded for 2022. Diluted earnings per Class B 
share were $2.95 for 2023 and $3.48 for 2022. The aforementioned goodwill impairment loss reduced basic earnings 
by $0.54 per Class B share. The movement in foreign currency exchange rates in 2023 compared to 2022 had a positive 
impact on the translation of the Company’s basic earnings of $0.16 per Class B share. The diluted weighted average 
number of shares was 179.9 million for 2023, compared to 179.2 million for 2022. 

Adjusted basic earnings per Class B share was $3.76 for 2023, up 5.3% from $3.57 in 2022. 

The movement in foreign currency exchange rates in 2023 versus 2022 had an estimated positive translation impact 
of  $0.16  on  adjusted  basic  earnings  per  Class  B  share.  This  estimated  foreign  currency  impact  reflects  the  currency 
translation in all foreign operations.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had 11.8 million Class A voting shares and 166.0 million Class B non-voting shares 
issued and outstanding. In addition, the Company had outstanding stock options to purchase 0.1 million Class B non-
voting shares, 0.5 million restricted stock units to issue 0.5 million Class B non-voting shares under the Restricted Stock 
Unit Plan, 0.1 million restricted stock units to issue 0.1 million Class B non-voting shares under the 2017-2025 Long Term 
Retention Plan, 0.1 million restricted stock units to issue 0.1 million Class B non-voting shares under the 2019 Long Term 
Retention Plan (collectively, the “RSUs”) and 0.3 million deferred share units (“DSU”) outstanding to issue 0.3 million 
Class B non-voting shares. Lastly, the Company has a performance stock unit (“PSU”) plan to issue up to 1.4 million Class B 
non-voting shares to participants, provided the financial performance criteria have been achieved and the participants 
are still employed by the Company. 

G) Seasonality and Fourth Quarter Financial Results

2023 

Sales

CCL 
Avery 
Checkpoint 
Innovia  

Total sales 

Segment operating income 

CCL 
Avery 
Checkpoint 
Innovia 

Operating income 
Corporate expenses 
Goodwill impairment loss  
Restructuring and other items  
Earnings in equity-accounted investments 

Finance cost, net 

Earnings before income taxes 
Income taxes 

Net earnings 

Per Class B share 

Basic earnings 

Diluted earnings 

Adjusted basic earnings 

14

2023 Annual Report

Unaudited 
Qtr 1 

Unaudited 
Qtr 2 

Unaudited 
Qtr 3 

 Unaudited   
Qtr 4 

Year

$  1,013.1 
260.3 
210.4 
168.3 

$ 

 995.5 
268.0 
210.5 
170.5 

$  1,064.6 
269.5 
210.1 
146.3 

$ 

1,031.5 
242.1 
244.2 
144.7 

$  4,104.7
1,039.9
875.2
629.8

$  1,652.1 

$ 

1,644.5 

$  1,690.5 

$ 

1,662.5 

$  6,649.6

$ 

165.4 
50.6 
30.8 
10.9 

257.7 
19.9 
— 
0.8 
(3.1) 

240.1 
19.4 

220.7 
54.3 

$ 

144.0 
50.3 
28.1 
19.6 

242.0 
21.3 
— 
2.9 
(5.0) 

222.8 
19.2 

203.6 
47.7 

$ 

169.7 
50.7 
28.8 
6.9 

256.1 
16.7 
— 
1.9 
(5.2) 

242.7 
20.3 

222.4 
53.3 

$ 

166.4 

$ 

155.9 

$ 

169.1 

$ 

$ 

$ 

0.94 

0.93 

0.94 

$ 

$ 

$ 

0.88 

0.88 

0.90 

$ 

$ 

$ 

0.95 

0.94 

0.95 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

154.4 
47.9 
44.3 
8.2 

254.8 
23.9 
95.0 
37.2 
(4.6) 

103.3 
19.1 

84.2 
45.4 

38.8 

0.22 

0.20 

0.97 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

633.5
199.5
132.0
45.6

1,010.6
81.8
95.0
42.8
(17.9)

808.9
78.0

730.9
200.7

530.2

2.99

2.95

3.76

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data) 
2022 

Sales

CCL 
Avery 
Checkpoint 
Innovia  

Total sales 

Segment operating income 

CCL 
Avery 
Checkpoint 
Innovia 

Operating income 
Corporate expenses 
Restructuring and other items  
Earnings in equity-accounted investments 

Finance cost, net 

Earnings before income taxes 
Income taxes 

Net earnings 

Per Class B share 

Basic earnings 

Diluted earnings 

Adjusted basic earnings 

Fourth Quarter Results 

Unaudited 
Qtr 1 

Unaudited 
Qtr 2 

Unaudited 
Qtr 3 

 Unaudited   
Qtr 4 

$ 

942.0 
180.3 
203.0 
196.4 

$ 

965.2 
236.5 
197.1 
216.4 

$  1,000.8 
257.0 
196.0 
204.3 

$ 

$ 

947.1 
239.8 
222.6 
177.7 

Year

3,855.1
913.6
818.7
794.8

$  1,521.7 

$ 

1,615.2 

$  1,658.1 

$ 

1,587.2 

$ 

6,382.2

$ 

152.8 
33.9 
26.6 
15.3 

228.6 
17.6 
1.8 
(3.2) 

212.4 
14.7 

197.7 
47.5 

$ 

154.9 
46.9 
22.6 
23.4 

247.8 
17.8 
3.2 
(3.7) 

230.5 
15.4 

215.1 
51.7 

$ 

160.2 
44.7 
35.1 
6.8 

246.8 
18.9 
3.3 
(4.0) 

228.6 
17.1 

211.5 
47.6 

$ 

131.9 
42.1 
34.6 
2.6 

211.2 
17.5 
3.4 
(9.0) 

199.3 
17.6 

181.7 
36.5 

$ 

150.2 

$ 

163.4 

$ 

163.9 

$ 

145.2 

$ 

$ 

 $ 

0.84 

0.83 

0.85 

$ 

$ 

$ 

0.91 

0.91 

0.94 

$ 

$ 

$ 

0.93 

0.92 

0.95 

$ 

$ 

$ 

0.82 

0.82 

0.83 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

599.8
167.6
118.9
48.1

934.4
71.8
11.7
(19.9)

870.8
64.8

806.0
183.3

622.7

3.50

3.48

3.57

Sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 increased 4.7% to $1,662.5 million, compared to $1,587.2 million recorded in the 
2022 fourth quarter. This increase was due to acquisition-related sales growth of 3.0%, positive impact from foreign 
currency translation of 2.2%, partly offset by a consolidated organic decline of 0.5%. The CCL and Checkpoint Segments 
recorded organic sales growth rates of 1.8% and 8.9%, respectively, while Avery and Innovia posted organic declines 
of 2.8% and 21.1%, respectively. Organic growth at the CCL Segment, driven by strong results in Food & Beverage and 
Home & Personal Care, offset softness in Healthcare & Specialty and electronics markets impacting CCL Design. Results 
for CCL Secure improved relative to a poor prior year fourth quarter. Avery recorded strong fourth quarter results in the 
direct-to-consumer categories, improvement in the horticultural businesses offsetting profitability declines in the smaller 
Canadian and Australian markets. Checkpoint posted strong gains in both MAS and Apparel Labelling Solutions (“ALS”) 
with continued strength in RFID products. Lower volumes particularly in the label materials industry reduced Innovia’s 
sales compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. 

Operating income in the fourth quarter of 2023 increased 20.6% to $254.8 million, compared to $211.2 million in the fourth 
quarter of 2022. For the fourth quarter of 2023, the CCL Segment, Avery, Checkpoint and Innovia improved operating 
income 17.1%, 13.8%, 28.0% and 215.4%, respectively. Sales gains for the CCL Segment and Checkpoint drove increases 
in  profitability,  while  productivity  and  cost  control  initiatives  at  Innovia  improved  profitability  and  positive  currency 
translation added 2.4% on a consolidated basis. 

Corporate expenses were $23.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $17.5 million recorded in the prior-year 
period. The increase in corporate costs is principally attributable to an increase in variable compensation expense as the 
Company hit profitability hurdles during the quarter in its amended five-year long term incentive plan. 

Adjusted EBITDA increased 16.5% to $336.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $289.0 million for the 2022 
comparable period. Adjusted EBITDA increased due to the improvements in the Company’s segments.

2023 Annual Report

15

 
Net finance cost was $19.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $17.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. 
Increased variable interest rates on outstanding syndicated debt for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the fourth 
quarter of 2022 was the primary driver for an increase in comparative net finance costs. 

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company incurred a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $95.0 million related to the 
Innovia Segment with no associated tax benefit. The negative earnings impact from this impairment loss was $0.54 per 
Class B share. Further details of this impairment are outlined in Section 2E; “Innovia Segment” later in this MD&A.

For the fourth quarter of 2023, restructuring costs and other items represented an expense of $37.2 million ($36.8 million 
after tax) as follows:

•

 Restructuring expenses primarily related to severance and reorganization costs for the closure of Innovia’s Belgium facility.

• Acquisition transaction costs totaled $1.3 million ($1.3 million after tax), principally for the Faubel acquisition.

The negative earnings impact of the restructuring and other items for the 2023 fourth quarter was $0.21 per Class B share.

For the fourth quarter of 2022, restructuring costs and other items represented an expense of $3.4 million ($2.7 million 
after tax) as follows:

•

 Restructuring expenses primarily related to severance and reorganization costs for the CCL Design and Checkpoint
operations.

The negative earnings impact of these restructuring and other items for the 2022 fourth quarter was $0.01 per Class B 
share. 

Tax  expense  in  the  fourth  quarter  of  2023  was  $45.4  million,  resulting  in  an  effective  tax  rate  of  57.0%  compared  to 
$36.5 million and an effective tax rate of 21.2% in the prior-year period. The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2023 
increased compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 primarily due to the goodwill impairment loss without an associated 
tax benefit. 

Net earnings in the fourth quarter of 2023 were $38.8 million, compared to net earnings of $145.2 million in the fourth 
quarter of 2022. 

Basic earnings per Class B share were $0.22 in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $0.82 in the fourth quarter of 2022. 
Innovia’s goodwill impairment charge and associated restructuring costs for the closure of the Belgium operation reduced 
basic earnings by $0.75 per Class B share. The movement in foreign currency exchange rates in the fourth quarter of 2023 
compared to 2022 had a positive impact of $0.01 on basic earnings per Class B share. 

Adjusted basic earnings per Class B share improved 16.9% to $0.97 for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $0.83 in 
the corresponding quarter of 2022.

Summary of Seasonality and Quarterly Results

For the CCL Segment and Innovia, the first and second quarters are generally the strongest due to the number of workdays 
and various customer-related activities. Also, there are many products that have a spring-summer bias in North America 
and Europe such as horticultural labels, agricultural chemicals and certain beverage products, which generate additional 
sales volumes for the Company in the first half of the year. The polymer banknote business within the CCL Segment 
experiences intra-quarter variations in sales influenced by central banks’ reorder volatility. For Avery, the third quarter has 
historically been its strongest as it benefits from increased demand related to back-to-school activities in North America, 
although the impact is expected to diminish in future periods on secular declines in low-margin ring binder sales and the 
expansion of Avery’s direct-to-consumer businesses that do not have this seasonal bias. For Checkpoint, the second half 
of the calendar year is healthier as the business substantially follows the retail cycle of its customers, which traditionally 
experiences more consumer activity from September through to the end of the year and prepares for the same in its 
supply chain from mid-year on. Checkpoint’s year-over-year comparative quarterly results often include one-time large 
chain-wide, customer-driven hardware installations that strengthen future reoccurring label revenues. Sales in the final 
quarter of the year are negatively affected in North America by Thanksgiving and globally by the Christmas and New Year 
holiday season shutdowns.

Sales  and  net  earnings  comparability  between  the  quarters  of  2023  and  2022  were  impacted  by  regional  economic 
variances, the impact of foreign currency changes relative to the Canadian dollar, the impact of volatile energy and 
commodity  markets  stemming  from  geopolitical  issues  in  Europe  and  the  Middle  East,  supply  chain  challenges,  the 
timing of acquisitions, the effect of restructuring initiatives, the impact of central bank reorder patterns, the downturn 
in electronics markets, the inventory glut in the pressure sensitive materials industry, tax adjustments and other items. 

16

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data)The CCL Segment posted organic growth in the first quarter of 2023, but signs of softness were apparent and organic 
declines were realized for the second and third quarters, with the final quarter of the year once again recording organic 
growth. Food & Beverage and aluminum aerosols within Home & Personal Care were the strongest performers quarterly. 
CCL Design automotive markets improved quarterly while electronics markets waned in 2023, after surging during the 
pandemic years. Geographically, gains in Latin America quarterly outperformed all other regions. Within CCL Secure, the 
passport component business outperformed for the first three quarters of 2023, but in the fourth quarter the improvements 
at the polymer banknote business outpaced. For Avery, the direct-to-consumer name badge, event badge, wristbands and 
horticultural categories improved comparatively to each quarter of 2022. Avery’s back-to-school surge in North America 
began  in  the  second  quarter  of  2023  similar  to  the  prior  year;  however,  third  quarter  results  in  this  legacy  category 
exceeded the 2022 third quarter. Checkpoint recorded year-over-year quarterly improvements in MAS and gains in RFID-
related products at ALS. Innovia’s annual results were heavily influenced by reduced volumes due to destocking-related 
demand decline from the labels materials industry. This resulted in a non-cash $95.0 million goodwill impairment charge 
for the Segment in the fourth quarter of 2023. 

2 .   B U S I N E S S   S E G M E N T   R E V I E W

A)  General

All divisions of the Company invest capital and management effort to develop world- class manufacturing operations, 
with spending allocated to geographic expansion, cost-reduction projects, the development of innovative products and 
processes, the maintenance and expansion of existing capacity and the continuous improvement in health and safety in the 
workplace, including environmental management. The Company also makes strategic acquisitions for global competitive 
advantage, servicing large customers, taking advantage of new geographic markets, finding adjacent and new product 
opportunities, developing new customer segments, building infrastructure and improving operating performance. Avery, 
Checkpoint and the CCL Design business within the CCL Segment are less capital intensive as a percentage of sales than 
the Company’s other businesses. Further discussion on capital spending is provided in the individual segment discussion 
sections below.

Although each segment is a leader in market share or has a significant position in the markets it serves in each of its 
operating locales, it also generally operates in a mature and competitive environment. For a number of years, consumer 
products and healthcare companies have experienced steady pressure to maintain or even reduce prices to their major 
retail and distribution channels, which has driven significant consolidation in the Company’s customer base. This has 
resulted in many customers seeking supply chain efficiencies and cost savings in order to maintain profit margins. Volatile 
commodity  costs,  including  significant  inflationary  pressures  in  2022  followed  by  significant  cooling  in  2023,  created 
challenges to manage pricing with customers. These dynamics have been an ongoing challenge for the Company and its 
competitors,  requiring  greater  management  and  financial  control  and  flexible  cost  structures.  Unlike  some  of  its 
competitors, the Company has the financial strength to invest in the equipment and innovation necessary to constantly 
strive to be the highest value-added producer in the markets that it serves. 

The cost of many of the key raw material inputs for the Company, such as plastic films and resins, paper, specialty chemicals 
and aluminum, are largely dependent on the supply and demand economics within the petrochemical, energy and base 
metals industries. Checkpoint purchases component parts including circuit boards, memory chips and other electronic 
modules  from  third  parties.  The  significant  cost  fluctuations  for  these  inputs  can  have  an  impact  on  the  Company’s 
profitability.  The  Company  generally  has  the  ability,  due  to  its  size  and  the  use  of  long-term  relationships  with  both 
suppliers and customers, to mitigate volatility in purchased costs and, where necessary, to pass these on to the market 
in higher product prices. However, Innovia and parts of the CCL Segment can experience delays in price adjustments, 
up or down, to customers due to the nature of their respective relationships and contractual pricing terms. Innovia’s 
pricing mechanisms are more complex, involving multiple indices for polypropylene used by customers and suppliers and 
differing terms in customer agreements when trigger points are arrived at for price changes. The success of the Company 
is dependent on each business managing the cost-and-price equation with suppliers and customers. 

A driver across the Company for maximizing operating profitability is the discipline of pricing customer agreements based 
on size and complexity, including consideration for fluctuations in raw materials and packaging costs, manufacturing run 
lengths and available capacity. This approach facilitates effective asset utilization and relatively higher levels of profitability. 
Performance is generally measured by product against estimates used to calculate pricing, including targets for scrap 
and output efficiency. An analysis of total utilization versus capacity available per production line or facility is also used 
to manage certain divisions of the business. In most of the Company’s operations, the measurement of each sales order 
shipped is based on actual selling prices and production costs to calculate the amount of actual profit margin earned 
and its return on sales relative to the established benchmarks. This process ensures that pricing policies and production 
performance are aligned in attaining profit margin targets by order, by plant and by division.

2023 Annual Report

17

Management believes it has both the financial and non-financial resources, internal controls and reporting systems and 
processes in place to execute its strategic plan, to manage its key performance drivers and to deliver targeted financial 
results over time. In addition, the Company’s internal audit function provides another discipline to ensure that its disclosure 
controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting will be assessed on a regular basis against current 
corporate standards of effectiveness and compliance.

The Company is not particularly dependent upon specialized manufacturing equipment. Most of the technology employed 
by the production sites can be sourced from multiple suppliers. The Company, however, has the resources to invest in 
large-scale projects to build infrastructure in current and new markets because of its financial strength relative to that of 
many of its competitors. Direct competitors in parts of the CCL Segment are often smaller and may not have the financial 
resources to stay current in maintaining state-of-the-art facilities. Certain new manufacturing lines take many months for 
suppliers to construct, and any delays in delivery and commissioning can have an impact on customer expectations and 
the Company’s profitability. Innovia, in addition to its unique method for producing some of its films for label and packaging 
applications,  also  provides  the  Company  with  the  know-how  and  material  science  capability  to  develop  proprietary 
substrates. Finally, the Company also uses strategic partnerships as a method of obtaining exclusive technology in order 
to  support  growth  plans  and  to  expand  its  product  offerings.  The  Company’s  major  competitive  advantage  is  based 
on its strong customer service, process technology, the know-how of its people, market-leading brand awareness and 
loyalty, and the ability to develop proprietary technologies and manufacturing techniques. During 2022, the Company 
commenced  operations  of  its  new  proprietary  “EcoFloat”  shrink  films  manufacturing  line.  This  hybrid  polyolefin  film 
facilitates easy separation from primary bottle packaging to aid customers’ bottle-to-bottle circular recycling initiatives 
globally. The Company is currently constructing a new film manufacturing plant in Germany that will produce thin-gauge 
sustainable film for the labels materials industry, and start-up is expected during the first half of 2025.

The expertise of the Company’s employees is a key element in achieving the Company’s business plans. This know-how 
is broadly distributed throughout the world; therefore, the Company is generally not at risk of losing its competency 
through the loss of any particular employee or group of employees. Employee skills develop through on-the-job training 
and external technical education, enhanced by the Company’s entrepreneurial culture of considering creative alternative 
applications and processes for its products. 

The nature of the research carried out by the CCL Segment can be characterized as application or process development. 
The  Company  spends  meaningful  resources  on  assisting  customers  to  develop  new  and  innovative  products.  While 
customers regularly come to CCL with concepts and request assistance to develop products, the Company also takes its 
own new ideas to the market. Proprietary information is protected by confidentiality agreements and by limiting access to 
its manufacturing facilities. The Company values the importance of protecting its customers’ brands and products from 
fraudulent use and, consequently, is selective in choosing appropriate customer and supplier relationships.

Avery has a strong commitment to understanding its ultimate end users, actively seeking product feedback and using 
consumer  focus  groups  to  drive  product  development  initiatives.  Furthermore,  it  leverages  the  wider  Company’s 
technology to deliver product innovation that aligns with consumer trends for digitally imaged labels, cards, badges and 
wristbands. Avery has also invested in many direct-to-consumer businesses globally and encourages the cross-pollination 
of unique products and best practices.

Checkpoint has always been an innovator in its industry, with a strong dedication to research and development activities. 
It was a pioneer of RF electronic-article-surveillance hardware and consumables. Checkpoint has made further advances 
with the active enhancement and deployment of RFID solutions, including inventory management software, to the broad 
retail industry where apparel has been the largest adopter. New RFID applications are also developing in the food, logistics 
and healthcare markets.

Innovia maintains a world-class research and development centre specifically dedicated to the support of films for label, 
security and packaging applications. The new discoveries and product enhancements generated from this centre are 
deployed globally, sometimes benefitting downstream businesses such as CCL Secure and CCL Label. 

The Company continues to invest time and capital to upgrade and expand its information technology systems and security. 
This investment is critical to keeping pace with customer requirements and gaining or maintaining a competitive edge. 
Software packages are, in general, off-the-shelf systems customized to meet the needs of individual business locations. 
The  CCL  Segment,  Avery,  Checkpoint  and  Innovia  communicate  with  many  customers  and  suppliers  electronically, 
particularly with regard to supply-chain-management solutions and when transferring and confirming design formats 
and colours. A core attribute of Avery’s printable media products is the customized software to enable short-run digital 
printing in businesses and homes. Avery recognizes that it is critical to develop its software solutions to maintain its 
market-leading position with consumers. Avery launched WePrint™, expanding its direct-to-consumer software solutions, 
and acquired the e-commerce platforms of 21 companies over the past ten years, to leverage acquired digital printing 
software into the pre-existing Avery suite.

18

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data)Avery products are most often sold under the market-leading Avery brand, with equal prominence in German-speaking 
countries, the Zweckform brand and, within Brazil, the Adelbras brand. At Checkpoint, products are predominantly sold 
under the Checkpoint brand and, for retail merchandising products in Europe and Asia Pacific, the Meto brand. The 
Company recognizes that in order to maintain the pre-eminent positions for Avery, Zweckform, Adelbras, Checkpoint and 
Meto, it must continually invest in promoting these brands. Product quality, innovation and performance are recognized 
attributes for the success of these brands. 

The Company participated in a wide range of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in 2023. In June 2023, Avery Italy 
obtained the Carbon Neutrality certification as a result of their support of the Allain Duhangan Hydroelectric Project in 
India, a Verified Carbon Standards project. CCL Turkey became the first label business to receive authorization to produce 
shrink sleeves with the official deposit logo for the Turkish deposit system. In addition to recycling 100% of internal scrap, 
CCL Metal Sciences purchased technology to recycle process scrap from the Container facility in Hermitage. Checkpoint 
was recognized as a sustainable solution provider by the Global Fashion Agenda (“GFA”), a nonprofit organization that 
fosters industry collaboration on sustainability in fashion, for the Company’s RFID and smart labeling product offerings. 
Multinational food, snack and beverage producer PepsiCo trialed a new kind of innovative multipack for Snack A Jacks in 
the U.K. in July of this year, which uses 86% less material compared to previous multipack solutions. Innovia has continued 
to prioritize sustainability in material design, completing Life Cycle Assessments (“LCA”) for product offerings.

Business Segment Results

Segment sales

CCL 
Avery 
Checkpoint 
Innovia  

Total sales  

Operating income*

CCL 
Avery 
Checkpoint 
Innovia  

Operating income 

 2023 

 2022

$  4,104.7 
1,039.9 
875.2 
629.8 

$ 

3,855.1
913.6
818.7
794.8

$  6,649.6 

$ 

6,382.2

$ 

$ 

633.5 
199.5 
132.0 
45.6 

$  1,010.6 

$ 

599.8
167.6
118.9
48.1

934.4

* This is a non-IFRS measure. Refer to “Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures” in Section 5A.

Comments on Business Segments 

The  above  summary  includes  the  results  of  acquisitions  on  reported  sales  and  operating  income  from  the  date  of 
acquisition.

B)  CCL Segment

There  are  five  customer  sectors  inside  the  CCL  Segment.  The  Company  trades  in  three  of  them  as  CCL  Label  (with 
Label substituted, as relevant, for Tube and Container product lines) and one each as CCL Design and CCL Secure. The 
differentiated CCL sub-branding points to the nature of the application for the final product. The sectors have many 
common or overlapping customers, process technologies, information technology systems, raw material suppliers and 
operational infrastructures. CCL Label supplies innovative specialized label, plastic tube, aluminum aerosol and specialty 
bottle  solutions  to  Home  &  Personal  Care  and  Food  &  Beverage  companies.  It  also  supplies  regulated  and  complex 
multi-layer labels and specialty folding cartons for major pharmaceutical, consumer medicine, medical instrument and 
industrial or consumer chemical customers referred to as the Healthcare & Specialty business. CCL Design supplies long-
life, high-performance labels and complex engineered parts to automotive, electronics and durable goods companies. 
CCL Secure supplies polymer banknote substrate, pressure sensitive stamps, passport components, ID cards and other 
security documents to government institutions. 

The Segment’s product lines include pressure sensitive labels, shrink sleeves, stretch sleeves, in-mould labels, precision 
printed and die cut metal, glass and plastic components, expanded content labels, pharmaceutical instructional leaflets, 
specialty folded cartons, graphic security features, extruded or labeled plastic tubes, aluminum aerosols or specialty 
bottles and printed polymer security film substrates. It currently operates 158 production facilities, located in Canada, the 

2023 Annual Report

19

United States (including Puerto Rico), Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, 
Hungary, Ireland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, 
Philippines,  Poland, Russia,  Saudi  Arabia,  Singapore,  South  Africa,  Spain,  Switzerland,  Thailand,  Turkey, United  Arab 
Emirates, the United Kingdom and Vietnam. Nine of these plants are connected to the equity investments in CCL-Kontur 
and Pacman-CCL, which are included in the above locations.

This segment’s industry is made up of a very large number of competitors that manufacture a vast array of decorative, 
product information, identification and security label-type applications. The Company believes that CCL is one of the 
largest consolidated operators in most of its defined global market sectors. Competition often comes from single-plant 
businesses, invariably owned by private operators who compete with the Segment in local markets. There are also a 
number of multi-plant competitors in certain regions of the world and a handful of specialists in a single market segment 
globally. However, there are few major competitors with the product breadth, global reach and scale of the CCL Segment. 

The Company has completed numerous label business acquisitions, strategic joint ventures and greenfield start-ups 
geographically and added new product offerings to position CCL Label as a global leader in the Home & Personal Care, 
Food & Beverage and Healthcare & Specialty end markets. CCL Design is an equally significant financial and geographic 
market for the CCL Segment, principally focused on the automotive, electronics and durable goods markets. The high-
security, specialized polymer banknote, passport, postage stamp and government document printing operations form 
an integral part of CCL Secure. 

CCL produces labels predominantly from polyolefin films and paper partly sourced from extruding, coating and laminating 
companies, using raw materials primarily from the petrochemical and paper industries. CCL also coats and laminates 
pressure sensitive materials in house and is generally able to mitigate the cost volatility of third-party-sourced materials 
due to a combination of purchasing leverage, agreements with suppliers and its ability to pass on these cost increases to 
customers. In the label industry, price changes regularly occur as specifications are constantly changed by marketers and, 
as a result, the selling prices of these labels are updated, reflecting current market costs and new shapes and designs. 

CCL’s global customers expect a full range of product offerings in more geographic regions, further integration into their 
supply chain at a global level and protection of their brands, particularly in markets where counterfeiting is rife. These 
requirements put many of the Segment’s competitors at a disadvantage, as do the investment hurdles for infrastructure, 
converting  equipment  and  technologies  to  deliver  products,  services  and  innovations.  Having  trusted  and  reliable 
suppliers is an important consideration for global consumer product companies, major pharmaceutical companies, OEMs 
in  the  durable  goods  business  and,  of  course,  central  banks.  This  is  even  more  important  in  an  uncertain  economic 
environment when many smaller competitors may encounter difficulties and customers want to ensure their suppliers are 
financially viable.

CCL considers customers’ demand levels, particularly in North America and Western Europe, to be reasonably mature 
and, as such, will continue to focus its expansion plans on innovative and higher growth and value-added product lines 
within those geographies, with a view to improving overall profitability. In Asia, Latin America and other emerging markets, 
a higher level of economic growth is still expected over the coming years, despite the slower conditions experienced in 
the past few years. This should provide opportunities for the Segment to improve market share and increase profitability 
in these regions. Furthermore, there is close alignment of label demand to consumer staples, with the exception of CCL 
Design and CCL Secure, which are completely aligned to the automotive, electronics and durable goods industries, and to 
government institutions and central banks, respectively. Management believes the Segment will attain the sales volumes, 
geographic distribution and reach mirroring those of its customers over the next few years through its focused strategy 
and by capitalizing on following customer trends. 

CCL Segment Financial Performance

Sales 
Operating income 
Return on sales 

2023 

% Growth 

$ 
$ 

4,104.7 
633.5 
15.4% 

6.5% 
5.6% 

$ 
$ 

2022

3,855.1
599.8
15.6%

Sales in the CCL Segment for 2023 increased 6.5% to $4,104.7 million, compared to $3,855.1 million in 2022, due to 
acquisition-related growth of 2.2% and 4.9% positive impact from foreign currency translation partially offset by 0.6% 
organic decline.

20

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data) 
 
Sales in 2023 for North America were down low single digit excluding the impact of currency translation and acquisitions, 
compared to 2022. Home & Personal Care sales and profitability decreased on reduced demand for labels and tubes 
only partly offset by modestly improved results for aerosol containers. Solid Healthcare & Specialty results were driven 
by strong demand in Healthcare partially offset by soft markets for the first three quarters in lawn and garden chemicals 
albeit rebounding significantly in the fourth quarter on destocking ending at customers. Food & Beverage results were 
strong within all categories other than in-mould labels. CCL Design North America sales and profitability improved on 
gains in automotive and electronics markets. CCL Secure sales and profitability increased dramatically on robust demand 
for passport components. Overall profitability improved but return on sales was flat to 2022.

European sales increased low single digit for 2023, excluding currency translation and acquisitions, compared to 2022. 
Home & Personal Care recorded organic sales growth but profitability was almost flat including currency appreciation. 
Healthcare & Specialty sales and profitability increased, entirely driven by the recent acquisition of Faubel, offsetting 
start-up losses at the new folding carton operation in Switzerland, poor performance in Ag-Chem markets, weak results 
in France and disruption and moving to a new plant in the Netherlands. Food & Beverage results were strong with robust 
gains in Sleeves augmented by strong performance from the newly acquired Creaprint and Pouch. CCL Design results 
declined on stable results for automotive and industrial markets more than offset by reduced profitability from slow sales 
in electronics markets. CCL Secure results improved on solid sales mix and productivity gains. Overall European sales and 
profitability improved largely due to the favourable impact of acquisitions and foreign exchange translation.

2023  sales  in  Latin  America,  excluding  currency  translation,  increased  high  single  digit  compared  to  2022.  Sales 
improved in Mexico in all lines of business and profitability increased dramatically with particularly robust gains at CCL 
Container, augmented by significant appreciation of the peso. In Brazil, sales and profitability improved significantly, 
with considerable gains in Home & Personal Care augmented by the impact of favourable currency translation. Results 
in Argentina notably improved on new business wins despite the impact of currency devaluation, and Chile reduced its 
losses markedly despite currency challenges. Underlying operating income and return on sales improved compared to 
2022 significantly augmented by currency translation gains.

Asia Pacific 2023 sales, excluding acquisitions and currency translation were down low double digits compared to 2022. 
Sales and profitability in China were down for the year, driven by an exceptionally soft year at CCL Design due to weak 
electronics markets and sluggish domestic consumer products demand. Sales and profitability across ASEAN markets 
improved compared to the prior-year period, with significant post CV19 recovery in Thailand’s consumer products markets 
offsetting softness in other countries that support the electronics industry. In Australia, sales and profitability decreased, 
with improved results for label operations offset by significantly reduced performance at CCL Secure compared to the 
prior year. Results for South Africa were strong, with sales down modestly and profitability up on productivity gains. For 
the Asia Pacific region, operating income declined and return on sales fell.

Operating income for the CCL Segment increased by 5.6% to $633.5 million for 2023 compared to $599.8 million for 2022, 
principally due to the success of the CCL Segment in North America and Latin America. Foreign currency translation also 
had a positive effect of 5.5% on 2023 operating income compared to 2022. Operating income as a percentage of sales 
was 15.4% for 2023 compared to 15.6% for 2022.

The CCL Segment invested $324.7 million in capital spending in 2023 compared to $322.9 million last year. The major 
expenditures were for equipment installations and new plants to support capacity additions globally. Depreciation and 
amortization, excluding amortization on right-of-use assets, for the CCL Segment was $236.5 million in 2023, compared 
to $212.1 million in 2022.

C)  Avery

Avery is one of the world’s largest supplier of labels, specialty converted media and software solutions to enable short-run 
digital printing in businesses and homes alongside complementary products sold through distributors and mass-market 
retailers and pressure sensitive tapes in Brazil. The products are split into five primary lines: (1) Printable Media (“PMG”): 
including address labels, product identification labels and name badges/cards supported by customized software solutions 
where applicable; (2) Organization Products (“OPG”): including binders, indexes, sheet protectors, and writing instruments; 
(3) Direct-to-Consumer: digitally imaged labels, name & event badges, RFID enabled key cards & wristbands, planners
and kids-oriented identification labels supported by unique web-enabled e-commerce URLs; (4) Pressure Sensitive Tapes;
and (5) Horticultural labels & tags. Products in the Printable Media and Direct-to-Consumer categories are predominantly
used by businesses and individual consumers consistently throughout the year; however, in Organization Products, North
American demand typically surges for the back-to-school season during the third quarter. Horticultural labels & tags are
seasonally stronger in the first and fourth quarters.

2023 Annual Report

21

Avery  operates  23  manufacturing  and  three  distribution  facilities.  Sales  for  Avery  are  principally  generated  in  North 
America, Europe, Latin America and Australia, with a market-leading position. Many products are sold under the market-
leading Avery brand and, with equal prominence in German-speaking countries, under the Zweckform brand name that is 
better known by consumers in that part of Europe. Avery bolstered its presence in Latin America in 2022 with the Adelbras 
acquisition in Brazil with its well established in-market brand under the same name. Avery also has a well-known assembly 
of direct-to-consumer and direct-to-business brands supported by unique URLs. 

pc/nametag 
goedgemerkt 
Imprint Plus 
Colle à Moi 
IDentilam 
InTouch 
MasterTag 
Floramedia 
Threshold

Mabel’s Labels 
badgepoint  
Easy2Name  
Stuck on You  
I.D.&C.
Plum Paper
RFID Hotel
Oomph Made

Avery reaches some of its consumers and end users at small businesses through distribution channels including mass-
market merchandisers, office superstores, wholesalers, contract stationers, mail order and e-commerce retailers. Merger 
activity and store closures in some of these distribution channels can lead to short-term volume declines as customer 
inventory positions are consolidated. Avery is the leading brand in its core markets, with the principal competition being 
lower-priced private label products. Secular decline in Organization Products and core mailing address labels has been 
partly offset by innovations such as shipping and product identification labels and Avery’s proprietary direct-to-consumer 
e-commerce label design software platform WePrint™. Furthermore, with 21 acquisitions since 2014, Avery expanded its
digital printing franchises to custom roll labels, the digital graphic arts sector, the meetings and events planning industry,
personalized identification labels for kids, event badges, personalized planners, RFID-enabled keycards & wristbands and
horticultural labels & tags. Some of these e-commerce platforms expanded rapidly during the pandemic while others,
such as event and corporate identity name badges, weakened, and some very significantly. Future growth rates in all these
new businesses are expected to outpace Avery’s legacy product lines. It is also the Company’s expectation that Avery will
continue to open up new revenue streams in short-run digital printing applications.

Avery Financial Performance

Sales 
Operating income  
Return on sales 

2023 

% Growth 

$ 
$ 

1,039.9 
 199.5 
 19.2% 

13.8% 
19.0% 

$ 
$ 

 2022

913.6
167.6
18.3%

Avery sales for 2023 were $1,039.9 million a 13.8% improvement compared to the $913.6 million posted in 2022. The 
increase was due to 2.6% organic growth, 7.2% acquisition-related growth, and 4.0% positive impact from foreign currency 
translation compared to 2022.

North American sales increased mid-single digit for 2023, excluding currency translation and acquisitions, compared to 
2022. Sales and profitability for PMG and OPG improved on distributors rebuilding inventories early in the year after some 
destocking in the second half of 2022; price increases and a solid back-to-school season without supply chain disruptions 
also contributed. All Direct-to-Consumer business lines increased sales for 2023, with particularly sound profitability gains 
in the badge and identification category compared to strong results for 2022. The newly acquired DMI identification badge 
business performed ahead of expectations. Profitability in the Horticultural business improved significantly post the CV19 
recovery lull. Overall profitability and return on sales increased for 2023 compared to 2022.

International sales, largely generated from products in the Printable Media, Pressure Sensitive Tapes, Horticultural and 
Direct-to-Consumer categories, represent approximately 33% of the Avery Segment for 2023. Sales, excluding acquisitions 
and currency translation, were up mid-single digit in Europe with significant organic growth across all the Direct-to-
Consumer  categories  including  modest  growth  at  legacy  Printable  Media  operations  and  solid  improvements  in  the 
horticultural operations. Latin American results were mixed with organic declines in legacy categories more than offset by 
a full year of solid results at Adelbras, acquired in 2022. Results in Australia declined slightly for 2023 compared to 2022.

Operating income increased 19.0% to $199.5 million for 2023 compared to $167.6 million in 2022. Return on sales was 
19.2% for 2023, an improvement compared to 18.3% for 2022, largely due to the impact of recent acquisitions.

22

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data) 
 
Avery  invested  $13.1  million  in  capital  spending  for  2023,  compared  to  $38.0  million  for  2022.  The  majority  of  the 
expenditures in 2023 were for infrastructure additions for Direct-to-Consumer operations in North America and Europe. 
Depreciation and amortization, excluding amortization on right-of-use assets, was $32.6 million for 2023 compared to 
$28.8 million for 2022. 

D)  Checkpoint 

Checkpoint is a leading manufacturer of technology-driven loss-prevention, inventory-management and labeling solutions, 
including RF and RFID solutions, to the broad retail and apparel industries globally. There are three primary product 
lines: MAS, ALS and Meto. The MAS line focuses on electronic-article-surveillance (“EAS”) systems, including hardware, 
software, labels and tags for loss prevention and inventory control systems including RFID solutions. ALS products are 
apparel labels and tags, some of which are RFID capable. Meto is a small, separately branded Europe-centric product line, 
including hand-held pricing tools and labels and promotional in-store displays. All MAS and ALS products are sold under 
the Checkpoint brand.

Checkpoint  is  supported  by  23  manufacturing  facilities,  seven  distribution  facilities  and  three  product  and  software 
development  centres  globally.  Checkpoint  is  headquartered  in  the  United  States  but  uses  its  worldwide  footprint  to 
generate sales internationally. Checkpoint sells directly to retailers or apparel manufacturers and competes with other 
global retail labeling companies.

Checkpoint’s  market-leading  position,  strong  brand  recognition  and  product  development  pipeline  should  still  drive 
modest growth despite the move to an omni-channel retail landscape. Large contracts with retailers for hardware and 
software can create significant quarter-to-quarter and, in some cases, year-to-year revenue volatility. However, Checkpoint’s 
comprehensive solution of hardware and software also creates an important high-margin recurring revenue stream for 
related consumables. The Company is also confident that Checkpoint can capture its share of the fast-growing RFID 
market as retailers move increasingly to omni-channel distribution from a single inventory position. 

Checkpoint Financial Performance

Sales 
Operating income  
Return on sales 

2023 

% Growth 

$ 
$ 

875.2 
132.0 
15.1% 

6.9% 
11.0% 

$ 
$ 

 2022

818.7
118.9
14.5%

Checkpoint sales were $875.2 million for 2023, a 6.9% increase compared to $818.7 million for 2022, driven by 4.6% organic 
growth and 2.3% positive impact from foreign currency translation. 

MAS sales and profitability increased overall compared to a soft 2022, with gains in all geographic markets as customers 
reinvested in EAS products, in a retail industry impacted by rising shrink losses and compressing margins. In addition, 
improved pricing, reduced freight costs, facility rationalization, including the benefits of prior restructuring initiatives that 
resulted in productivity gains in 2023, dramatically improved profitability. ALS sales improved on gains in Europe and 
Asia Pacific, reinforced by a robust fourth quarter, compared to a strong prior year. Profitability increased for the year, 
boosted by strong growth in RFID products and benefits from newly implemented productivity initiatives. The smaller 
Meto business recorded reduced results for 2023 compared to 2022. 

Operating income for 2023 was $132.0 million, an increase of 11.0% compared to $118.9 million in 2022. Return on sales 
was 15.1% for 2023, compared to 14.5% for 2022. 

Checkpoint invested $43.3 million in capital spending for 2023, compared to $50.8 million for 2022. The majority of 
expenditures in 2023 were in the Europe and Asia Pacific regions to enhance capacity in ALS manufacturing facilities, 
including RFID. Depreciation and amortization, excluding amortization on right-of-use assets, was $36.2 million for 2023, 
compared to $34.2 million for 2022. 

E) 

Innovia

Innovia  operations  acquired  in  2017,  Treofan  acquired  in  2018,  Flexpol  acquired  in  2020  and  two  small  legacy  film 
manufacturing  facilities  transferred  from  the  CCL  Segment  make  up  this  business.  Innovia’s  global  footprint  for  the 
manufacture of specialty high-performance, multi-layer, surface-engineered films includes major facilities located in each 
of Australia, Belgium, Mexico, Poland and the United Kingdom. These films are sold to customers in the pressure sensitive 
materials, flexible packaging and consumer packaged goods industries worldwide, with a small percentage of the total 
volume consumed internally by CCL Secure and CCL Label within the CCL Segment. In addition, two smaller legacy 
facilities, one located in Germany and one in the United States, produce almost their entire output for the CCL Segment’s 
Food & Beverage and Home & Personal Care businesses, respectively. 

2023 Annual Report

23

 
 
Polypropylene resin is the most significant input cost for this Segment, derived from oil or natural gas and manufactured 
globally by a limited number of producers. Polypropylene costs depend on the prices of natural gas, oil and the availability 
of resin cracking capacity. Innovia does not use derivative financial instruments to hedge its exposure to the volatility of 
polypropylene prices; therefore, many of its large customer price agreements adjust for movements up and down in resin 
cost. Polypropylene costs decreased throughout most of 2023 aside from a small fourth quarter uptick in North America 
that subsequently reversed in the early weeks of 2024.

Film  innovation  remains  a  strategic  focus  for  the  Segment,  investing  resources  in  its  industry-leading  research  and 
development people and laboratory in the United Kingdom. This commitment has resulted in the development of unique 
process technology, highly differentiated specialty films and innovative surface coating technology, keeping film innovation 
at the forefront for the Segment. To meet the packaging world’s required environmental and sustainability initiatives, 
Innovia commenced operations of its new “EcoFloat” investment in Poland mid-year 2022. This hybrid polyolefin shrink 
film facilitates easy separation from the primary bottle packaging to accommodate customers’ bottle-to-bottle circular 
recycling initiatives globally. The majority of the film produced by this production line will be used by the CCL Segment’s 
Food & Beverage business. Also in 2022, Innovia announced a significant investment in new films manufacturing capacity 
in Germany. This new multi-layer co-extrusion film line will produce highly engineered thin gauge pressure sensitive label 
film to support growing sustainability-driven lower resin content materials. Construction of this new facility started in 
2023, with the commencement of commercial operations slated for the first half of 2025. 

Lastly, due to the ongoing label materials industry destocking crisis that reduced demand for Innovia films post pandemic 
and the closure of the Belgian operation, the Company recorded a $95.0 million non-cash goodwill impairment loss. 
Innovia plans to close its Belgium-based bubble extrusion operation by mid-2024 and consolidate its production in the 
U.K. and Australia, with the expectation to realize incremental annual profitability of $17.0 million to $20.0 million once 
complete. 

Innovia Financial Performance

Sales 
Operating income  
Return on sales 

2023 

% Growth 

$ 
$ 

629.8 
45.6 
7.2% 

(20.8%) 
(5.2%) 

$ 
$ 

2022

794.8
48.1
6.1%

Innovia sales for 2023 decreased 20.8% to $629.8 million, compared to $794.8 million in 2022, due to a 25.1% organic 
decline,  partially  offset  by  4.3%  positive  impact  from  foreign  currency  translation.  The  organic  decline  in  sales  is 
attributable to the pass-through pricing mechanics associated with lower resin costs as well as reduced volume of film 
sold to the Segment’s core customer base, especially in the label materials industry. The impact was more pronounced 
in the European label materials industry due to its greater size plus the loss of the entire Russian market, following the 
Ukraine conflict, to Chinese producers. Films sold internally for CCL Secure and CCL Label operations were solid. The 
new “EcoFloat” film line, although not running at optimal capacity in 2023, gained volume and acceptance throughout 
the consumer products industry, as the year progressed.

Operating income declined 5.2% to $45.6 million compared to $48.1 million for 2022. In addition to the volume shortfall, 
consistent sequential declines in resin costs, and the corresponding reduction in sales price progressively implemented 
for much of 2023, squeezed margins as Innovia worked through higher cost inventory positions. Energy rates in Europe, 
although significantly reduced compared to 2022, remained somewhat elevated compared to historical norms. Although 
volumes showed early signs of improvement, demand remained sluggish but profitability improved compared to the prior 
year fourth quarter due to much better performance in the USMCA region. Return on sales was 7.2% for 2023 compared 
to 6.1% for 2022. 

Innovia invested $80.5 million in capital spending for 2023 compared to $35.4 million in 2022. Capital additions were largely 
for the new film extrusion and top coating capabilities in Europe and Mexico, respectively. Depreciation and amortization 
for Innovia, excluding amortization on right-of-use assets, was $46.6 million for 2023, compared to $47.1 million for 2022.

24

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data) 
 
F)  Joint Ventures

For the years ended December 31 

Sales (at 100%) 

CCL Label joint ventures 

Earnings in equity-accounted investments (at 100%) 

CCL Label joint ventures 

Earnings in equity-accounted investments (at 50%) 

2023 

191.7 

35.9 

17.9 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2022 

187.7 

39.8 

19.9 

$ 

$ 

$ 

+/-

2.1%

(9.8%)

(10.1%)

Results  from  the  joint  ventures  are  not  proportionately  consolidated  into  a  Segment  but  instead  accounted  for  as 
equity investments. The Company’s share of the joint ventures’ net income is disclosed in earnings in equity-accounted 
investments in the consolidated income statement. 

Both Pacman-CCL and CCL-Kontur posted record sales for 2023; however, profitability declines at Pacman-CCL due to 
volatile currency exchange rates in Egypt offset gains at CCL-Kontur. Earnings in equity-accounted investments amounted 
to $17.9 million for 2023, compared to $19.9 million for 2022. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, sales 
and earnings in equity-accounted investments improved 22.6% and 7.0%, respectively.

3 . F I N A N C I N G   A N D   R I S K   M A N AG E M E N T

A)  Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s leverage ratio is as follows:

For the years ended December 31

Current debt 
Current lease liabilities 
Long-term debt 
Long-term lease liabilities 

Total debt(1) 
Cash and cash equivalents  

Net debt(1) 
Adjusted EBITDA 

Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA(1) 

$ 

2023 

6.9 
45.0 
2,067.8 
162.7 

2,282.4 
(774.2) 

$ 

2022

6.6
40.0
2,175.6
139.6

2,361.8
(839.5)

$ 
$ 

1,508.2 
1,332.1 

$ 
$ 

1,522.3
1,231.4

1.13 

1.24

(1) Total debt, net debt and net debt to Adjusted EBITDA are non-IFRS measures; see “Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures” in Section 5A.

The  Company’s  debt  structure  at  December  31,  2023,  was  primarily  comprised  of  the  144A  3.05%  private  notes  due 
June 2030 in the principal amount of US$600.0 million ($788.7 million), 144A 3.25% private notes due October 2026 in 
the principal amount of US$500.0 million ($659.6 million), the $300.0 million principal amount 3.864% Series 1 Notes due 
April 2028, and borrowings of $307.0 million on the Company’s syndicated revolving credit facility. Outstanding contingent 
letters of credit totaled $1.1 million; accordingly, there was approximately US$966.1 million of unused availability on the 
revolving credit facility at December 31, 2023. 

The Company’s debt structure at December 31, 2022, was primarily comprised of the 144A 3.05% private notes due June 
2030 in the principal amount of US$600.0 million ($806.4 million), 144A 3.25% private notes due October 2026 in the 
principal amount of US$500.0 million ($674.2 million), the $300.0 million principal amount 3.864% Series 1 Notes due 
April 2028, and borrowings of $394.1 million on the Company’s syndicated revolving credit facility. Outstanding contingent 
letters of credit totaled $1.8 million; accordingly, there was approximately US$906.4 million of unused availability on the 
revolving credit facility at December 31, 2022. 

Net debt was $1,508.2 million at December 31, 2023, $14.1 million lower than the net debt of $1,522.3 million at December 31, 
2022. Net repayments of long-term debt were $130.5 million, inclusive of lease obligation repayments and the impact of 
foreign currency translation. Net debt decreased due to net repayments on syndicated revolving long-term debt facilities. 

2023 Annual Report

25

Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA decreased to 1.13 times as at December 31, 2023, compared to 1.24 times at the end of 2022, 
due to the decrease in net debt and an increase in Adjusted EBITDA. The measure will continue to strengthen as the 
Company strategically deploys its free cash flow for business acquisitions and capital expenditures, offset by any future 
purchase of shares under its normal course issuer bid. 

The Company’s overall average finance rate was 2.8% as at December 31, 2023, compared to 2.9% at December 31, 2022, 
reflecting a decrease in borrowing on the Company’s syndicated revolving credit facility, which had higher short-term 
variable interest rates.

Interest coverage (a non-IFRS measure; see “Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures” in Section 5A) was 
11.9  times  and  13.3  times  in  2023  and  2022,  respectively,  indicative  of  higher  net  finance  costs  relative  to  increased 
operating income.

The  Company’s  approach  to  managing  liquidity  risk  is  to  ensure  that  it  will  always  have  sufficient liquidity  to  meet 
liabilities when they are due. The Company believes its liquidity will be satisfactory for the foreseeable future due to its 
significant cash balances, its expected positive operating cash flow and the availability of its unused revolving credit 
line. The Company anticipates funding all of its future commitments from the above sources but may raise further funds 
by entering into new debt financing arrangements or issuing further equity to satisfy its future additional obligations or 
investment opportunities. 

B) Cash Flow 

Summary of Cash Flows

Cash provided by operating activities 
Cash used for financing activities
Cash used for investing activities 
Effect of exchange rates on cash

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents – end of year 

2023 

$  1,003.3 
(295.2) 
(768.0) 
(5.4) 

$ 

$ 

(65.3) 

774.2 

2022

992.8
(72.6)
(706.6)
23.8

237.4

839.5

$ 

$ 

$ 

In 2023, cash provided by operating activities was $1,003.3 million, compared to $992.8 million in 2022. Free cash flow 
from  operations  (a  non-IFRS  measure;  see  “Key  Performance  Indicators  and  Non-IFRS  Measures”  in  Section  5A)  was 
$559.6 million for 2023, compared to $573.4 million in the prior year. Driving the change in these metrics for 2023 were 
increase in adjusted net earnings, stable working capital, partially offset by increased income taxes and net interest paid, 
and, for the latter metric, increased net capital expenditures compared to 2022.

The Company maintains a rigorous focus on its investment in non-cash working capital. Days of working capital employed 
(a non-IFRS measure; see “Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures” in Section 5A) was 30 days at December 31, 
2023, and December 31, 2022. 

Cash used for financing activities in 2023 was $295.2 million, consisting of net repayments of long-term debt and lease 
obligations of $130.5 million, dividend payments of $188.2 million and repurchase of Class B non-voting shares pursuant 
to normal course issuer bids totaling $5.1 million, partly offset by proceeds from the issuance of shares of $28.6 million 
due to the exercise of stock options. 

Cash used for investing activities in 2023 of $768.0 million was primarily for acquisitions that totaled $324.3 million and 
net capital expenditures of $443.7 million. 

After the above-noted items and the $5.4 million negative effect of foreign currency rates, cash and cash equivalents 
decreased by $65.3 million in 2023 to $774.2 million.

Capital spending in 2023 amounted to $461.6 million and proceeds from capital dispositions were $17.9 million, resulting in 
net capital expenditures of $443.7 million, compared to $419.4 million in 2022. Increased capital expenditures in 2023 were 
for capacity additions in the year plus expected growth initiatives for 2024 and beyond. Depreciation and amortization in 
2023 amounted to $352.6 million, compared to $323.2 million in 2022, excluding right-of-use asset amortization.

The Company is continuing to seek investment opportunities to expand its business geographically, add capacity in its 
facilities and improve its competitiveness. As in previous years, capital spending will be monitored closely and adjusted 
based on the level of cash flow generated.

26

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data)C) 

Interest Rate, Foreign Exchange Management and Other Hedges

The  Company  periodically  uses  derivative  financial  instruments  to  hedge  interest  and  foreign  exchange  rates.  The 
Company does not utilize derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.

As the Company operates internationally with slightly over 2.0% of its 2023 sales to end-use customers denominated in 
Canadian dollars, it has significant market risk exposure to changes in foreign exchange rates. Each subsidiary’s sales and 
expenses are primarily denominated in its local currency, minimizing the foreign exchange impact on the operating results. 

The Company also has exposure to market risks related to interest rate fluctuations on its debt. To mitigate this risk, the 
Company maintains a combination of fixed and floating rate debt.

The Company periodically uses interest rate swap agreements to allocate notional debt between fixed and floating rates. 
The Company believes that a balance of fixed and floating rate debt can reduce overall interest expense and is in line with 
its investment in short-term assets such as working capital and long-term assets such as property, plant and equipment. 
The Company uses cross-currency interest rate swap agreements (“CCIRSA”) as a means to convert U.S. dollar debt into 
euro debt to hedge a portion of its euro-based investment and cash flows.

As  at  December  31,  2023,  the  Company  utilized  CCIRSAs  to  hedge  its  euro-based  assets  and  cash  flows,  effectively 
converting notional US$264.7 million 3.25% fixed rate debt into 1.23% fixed rate euro debt, US$111.5 million 3.25% fixed 
rate debt into 1.16% fixed rate euro debt, US$204.6 million 3.05% fixed rate debt into 2.06% fixed rate euro debt and 
US$203.9 million 3.05% fixed rate debt into 2.00% fixed rate euro debt. The effect of the CCIRSAs has been to decrease 
finance cost by $16.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 (2022 – $16.5 million). 

The Company has potential credit risks arising from derivative financial instruments if a counterparty fails to meet its 
obligations. The Company’s counterparties are large international financial institutions and, to date, no such counterparty 
has failed to meet its financial obligations to the Company. As at December 31, 2023, the Company had $21.0 million 
potential exposure to credit risk arising from derivative financial instruments. 

As at December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately US$1.1 billion and €201.0 million drawn under the 144A private 
bonds  and  syndicated  revolving  credit  facility,  which  are  hedging  a  portion  of  its  U.S.  dollar-based  and  euro-based 
investments and cash flows, inclusive of U.S. dollar debt swapped to euros. 

D) Equity and Dividends

Summary of Changes in Equity

For the years ended December 31

Net earnings  
Dividends 
Settlement of exercised stock options  
Contributed surplus on expensing of stock options and stock-based compensation plans 
Defined benefit plan actuarial gain (loss) net of tax
Repurchase of shares 
Increase in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 

Increase in equity 

Equity 
Shares issued at December 31  – Class A (000s)  

– Class B (000s)

$ 

2023  

530.2 
(188.2) 
34.5 
43.8 
(11.2) 
(5.1) 
(46.0) 

$ 

358.0 

$  4,623.2 
11,748 
166,048 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2022

622.7
(170.3)
6.6
37.4
45.8
(200.0)
176.0

518.2

4,265.2
11,815 
165,231

In 2023, the Company declared dividends of $188.2 million, compared to $170.3 million declared in the prior year. As 
previously discussed, the dividend payout ratio in 2023 was 28% (2022 – 27%) of adjusted earnings. After careful review 
of the current year results, budgeted cash flow and income for 2023, the Board declared a 9.4% increase in the annual 
dividend: an increase of $0.025 per Class B share per quarter, from $0.265 to $0.29 per Class B share per quarter ($1.16 per 
Class B share annualized).

If cash flow periodically exceeds attractive acquisition opportunities available, the Company may also repurchase its 
shares, provided that the repurchase is accretive to earnings per share and it will not materially increase financial leverage 
beyond targeted levels. 

2023 Annual Report

27

 
In  May  of  2023,  the  Company  renewed  its  share  repurchase  program  under  a  normal  course  issuer  bid  to  purchase 
up to 14.5 million Class B non-voting shares, approximately 9.9% of the public float of the Class B non-voting shares of 
the Company. During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company acquired 87,305 of its Class B shares for cancellation 
at  an  average  price  of  $58.87  per  share.  The  excess  of  the  purchase  price  over  the  paid-up  capital  was  charged  to 
retained earnings. 

E)  Commitments and Other Contractual Obligations

The Company’s obligations relating to debt, leases and other liabilities at the end of 2023 were as follows:

December 31, 2022 

December 31, 2023

Payments Due by Period

Carrying 
Amount

Carrying 
Amount

Contractual 
Cash Flows

0–6  
Months

6–12  
Months

1–2  
Years

2–5  
Years

More than  
5 Years

Non-derivative financial liabilities 

$ 

2.0 

$ 

0.1 

$ 

0.1 

$ 

— 

$ 

0.1 

$  — 

$  — 

$ 

4.3 

7.0 

7.0 

1.5 

1.3 

2.1 

2.1 

Secured bank loans 
Unsecured bank 

loans 

Unsecured 144A  

3.25% private notes 
Unsecured 144A 3.05%  

private notes 
Unsecured 3.864%  
Series 1 Notes 

Unsecured syndicated  
bank credit facility 

Other long-term obligations 
Interest on unsecured  
bank credit facilities 
Interest on 144A 3.25%  

private notes 

Interest on 144A 3.05%  

private notes 

Interest on unsecured  

3.864% Series 1 Notes 

Interest on other  
long-term debt 
Trade and other  
  payables 

Accrued post-employment  
  benefit liabilities
Lease liabilities 

Total contractual  
cash obligations 

674.2 

659.6 

662.1 

806.4 

788.7 

794.6 

298.9 

299.2 

300.0 

394.1 
2.3 

307.0 
13.1 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

— 

— 

— 

— 
1.1 

8.1 

5.4 

308.6 
13.1 

52.2 

59.1 

155.5 

10.1 

49.7 

1.8 

3.3 

0.1 

1,394.4 

1,329.5 

1,329.5 

1,329.5 

* 
179.6 

* 
207.7 

252.3 
226.5 

1.7 
24.6 

— 

— 

— 

— 
2.9 

8.3 

10.7 

12.1 

5.8 

0.1 

— 

1.7 
22.8 

— 

— 

— 

— 
2.0 

16.6 

21.5 

24.2 

11.6 

0.2 

— 

22.5 
36.9 

—

—

—

662.1 

— 

794.6

300.0 

308.6 
7.1 

19.2 

21.5 

—

—
—

—

—

72.7 

36.4

29.0 

1.4 

— 

88.7 
66.9 

—

—

—

137.7
75.3

$  3,756.2 

$  3,611.9 

$  4,212.1 

$  1,385.4 

$ 

65.8 

$   137.6 

$ 1,579.3  $ 1,044.0

*  Accrued long-term employee benefit and post-employment benefit liability of $17.2 million, accrued interest of $10.1 million on unsecured notes, unsecured
bonds and unsecured syndicated credit facilities, and accrued interest of $2.4 million on derivatives are reported in trade and other payables in 2023 
(2022: $15.7 million, $10.3 million and $2.4 million, respectively).

28

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data) 
Pension Obligations 

The Company sponsors a number of defined benefit plans in countries that give rise to accrued post-employment benefit 
obligations. The accrued benefit obligation for these plans at the end of 2023 was $591.6 million (2022 – $554.4 million), 
the fair value of the plan assets was $311.8 million (2022 – $298.6 million) and an irrevocable surplus due to an asset ceiling 
was $1.4 million (2022 – $2.1 million), for a net deficit of $281.2 million (2022 – $257.9 million). Contributions to defined 
benefit plans during 2023 were $16.9 million (2022 – $15.1 million). The Company expects to contribute $63.2 million to 
pension  plans  in  2024,  inclusive  of  defined  contribution  plans.  These  estimated  funding  requirements  will  be  adjusted 
annually,  based  on  various  market  factors  such  as  interest  rates,  expected  returns  and  staffing assumptions,  including 
compensation  and  mortality.  The  Company’s  contributions  are  funded  through  cash  flows  generated  from  operations. 
Management anticipates that future cash flows from operations will be sufficient to fund expected future contributions. 
Details  of  the  Company’s  pension  plans  and  related  obligations  are  set  out  in  note  20,  “Employee  Benefits,”  of  the 
Company’s 2023 annual consolidated financial statements.

Other Obligations and Commitments

The Company has provided various loan guarantees for its joint ventures and associates totaling nil (2022 – $19.9 million). 
The Company has posted surety bonds through accredited insurance companies globally totaling $56.7 million (2022 – 
$52.4  million).  The  nature  of  these  commitments  is  described  in  note  26  and  note  27  of  the  Company’s  2023  annual 
consolidated financial statements. There are no defined benefit plans funded with the Company’s stock.

F)  Controls and Procedures 

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that all relevant information is gathered 
and  reported to  senior  management,  including  the  President and  Chief  Executive Officer  (“CEO”) and  the  Senior  Vice 
President  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  (“CFO”),  on  a  timely  basis  so  that  appropriate  decisions  can  be  made  regarding 
public disclosure. The Company’s Disclosure Committee reviews all external reports and documents before publication 
to enhance disclosure controls and procedures.

As at December 31, 2023, based on the continued evaluation of the disclosure controls and procedures, the CEO and the 
CFO have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in National Instrument 52-109, 
Certificate of Disclosure in Issuers Annual and Interim Filings (“NI 52-109”), are effective to ensure that information required 
to  be  disclosed  in  reports  and  documents  that  the  Company  files  or  submits  under  Canadian  securities  legislation  is 
recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified.

Internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial 
reporting  and  the  preparation  of  financial  statements  for  external  purposes  in  accordance  with  IFRS.  Management  is 
responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. NI 52-109 requires CEOs 
and CFOs to certify that they are responsible for establishing and maintaining internal control over financial reporting for 
the issuer, that internal control has been designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial 
reporting  and  the  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  IFRS,  that  the  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting is effective, and that the issuer has disclosed any changes in its internal control during its most recent interim 
period that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect its internal control over financial reporting.

In accordance with the provisions of NI 52-109, management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial 
Officer, have limited the scope of their design of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control 
over  financial  reporting  to  exclude  controls,  policies  and  procedures  of  DMI,  eAgile,  Oomph,  Pouch,  Creaprint,  IEI  and 
Faubel. These companies were acquired during the second and third quarters of 2023.

The  total  net  assets  acquired  for  these  acquisitions  was  approximately  $342.6  million,  which  are  reported  in  the Company’s 
consolidated  financial  statements  of  financial  position  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2023,  and  was approximately 7.4% 
of consolidated net assets and approximately 5.2% of sales.

The scope limitation is primarily based on the time required to assess disclosure controls and procedures and internal 
control over financial reporting in a manner consistent with the Company’s other operations for these acquisitions. The 
assessment  on  the  design  effectiveness  of  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  and  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting  is  on  track  for  completion  by  the  end  of  the  third  quarter  of  2024  and  the  assessment  of  the  operating 
effectiveness will be completed by the fourth quarter of 2024.

Except for the preceding changes, based on the evaluation of the design and operating effectiveness of the Company’s 
internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  the  CEO  and  the  CFO  concluded  that  the  Company’s  internal  control  over 
financial reporting was effective as at December 31, 2023.

There were no material changes in internal control over financial reporting in the financial year ended December 31, 2023. 

2023 Annual Report

29

4 . R I S KS   A N D   U N C E R TA I N T I E S

The Company is subject to the usual commercial risks and uncertainties from operating as a Canadian public company 
and as a supplier of goods and services to the non-durable consumer packaging and consumer durables industries on a 
global basis. A number of these potential risks and uncertainties that could have a material adverse effect on the business, 
financial condition and results of operations of the Company are, in no particular order, as follows: 

The Conflict between Ukraine and Russia

Late in February of 2022 the conflict between Ukraine and Russia commenced and to the extent it continues or escalates 
it may impact other risks disclosed in this document and further impact the Company’s financial results. 

For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, a de minimis percentage of the Company’s sales were derived directly 
from customers based in Russia and Ukraine. However, the Company has a 50% equity interest in a U.K. holding company 
that owns 100% of CCL Kontur, which operates four label plants, headquartered in Podolsk, Russia. The Company’s 50% 
equity  partner  in  this  joint  venture  has  management  control  of  the  Russian  operations.  The  Company  suspended  all 
future financial support by way of equity injection or additional debt financing to this joint venture while fully complying 
with all government-imposed trade sanctions. The Company’s financial exposure in this joint venture is approximately 
$45.0 million as at December 31, 2023. It is not possible at this time to predict the ultimate consequences of the conflict in 
Ukraine and the impact on the carrying value of the Company’s investment in this joint venture. The Company will monitor 
the factors influencing the carrying value of its investment and, if appropriate, may incur impairment charges. The conflict 
in Ukraine may escalate and/or expand in scope with broader consequences, including further sanctions, embargoes, 
regional instability, cyber events and geopolitical shifts; potential retaliatory action by the Russian government against 
the Company and the Company’s joint venture or its customers, such as nationalization of foreign businesses in Russia; 
and increased tensions between the western world and countries in which the Company operates, none of which can 
be predicted. The Company also cannot predict the conflict’s impact on the global economy and on its business and 
financial statements.

Covid-19 Pandemic

In  March  2020,  the  World  Health  Organization  declared  a  global  pandemic  related  to  CV19.  The  impacts  on  global 
commerce  have  been  and  are  anticipated  to  continue  to  be  far-reaching.  CV19  led  to  unprecedented  governmental 
actions in multiple jurisdictions, including the closure of workplaces determined to be non-essential, the imposition of new 
health and monitoring requirements and the imposition of restrictions on the international, national and local movement 
of people and some goods. There were significant disruptions to business operations, supply chains and customer activity 
and demand; service cancellations, reductions and other changes; the imposition of quarantines and curfews; as well 
as considerable general concern and uncertainty. There was significant stock market volatility and significant volatility 
in foreign exchange and commodity markets. While the Company’s operations were determined by most jurisdictions 
to be essential businesses and continued to operate throughout the pandemic with limited disruptions, there can be no 
assurance that this will continue to be the case. CV19 continues to have varying impacts by geography and sector on the 
Company’s employees, suppliers and customers and on the demand for the respective products that the Company and 
its customers produce. While the introduction, beginning in late 2020, of vaccines designed to offer protection against 
CV19 offered the possibility of a reduction in the duration of the pandemic, the time needed for widespread availability 
and distribution of such vaccines, their duration and efficacy against the emergence and spread of new strains of CV19, as 
well as the levels of public participation in inoculation programs, remain uncertain. The reoccurrence of a CV19 pandemic 
and its impact on the Company’s financial performance and position is an area of estimation uncertainty and judgment, 
which is continuously monitored and reflected in management’s estimates. 

The impacts of a reoccurrence of a CV19 pandemic that may have an effect on the Company include: a change in short-
term and/or long-term demand and/or pricing for the Company’s products; reductions in production levels; increased 
costs resulting from the Company’s efforts to mitigate the impact of CV19; deterioration of worldwide credit and financial 
markets that could limit the Company’s ability to obtain external financing to fund operations and capital expenditures, 
and result in a higher rate of losses on accounts receivable due to counterparty credit defaults; disruptions to supply 
chains; impairments and/or write-downs of assets; restrictions on movement of workforce; reductions in the labour force; 
the closure of workplaces; and adverse impacts on the Company’s information technology systems and internal control 
systems  as a  result  of the need to maintain remote  work arrangements. A  material adverse  effect on the Company ’s 
employees, customers and/or suppliers could have a material adverse effect on the Company. 

30

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data)Significant uncertainty remains with respect to the future impact of CV19 on the Company’s businesses. As a result, 
the Company’s expected financial results for 2024 and beyond may be negatively impacted by continued CV19-related 
disruptions. The Company cannot currently estimate the severity of any such impact, which may be material. The overall 
severity and duration of CV19-related adverse impacts on the Company’s businesses will depend on future developments 
that cannot currently be predicted, including directives of governmental and public health authorities, the extent and 
duration  of  governmental  assistance  for  individuals  and  businesses  adversely  affected  by  CV19,  the  effectiveness  of 
inoculation programs, the extent to which suppliers and customers are impacted by renewed operating restrictions and 
closures and the speed at which they are able to return to normalized production levels, the level of consumer demand, 
the status of labour availability and the ability to staff the Company’s operations and facilities. Even after CV19 outbreaks 
have subsided, the Company may continue to experience material adverse impacts to its businesses as a result of CV19’s 
global economic impact, including any related recession.

Raw Materials Component Parts and Inflation

Although the Company is a large customer to certain key suppliers, it is also an inconsequential buyer of some materials 
and components such as computer chips. The ability to grow earnings will be affected by inflationary and other increases 
in the cost of electronic sub-assemblies and raw materials, aluminum ingot, slugs and foils, resins, extruded films, pressure 
sensitive laminates, paper, binder rings and plastic components. Inflationary and other increases in the costs of raw 
materials, labour and energy have occurred in the past and are expected to reoccur, and the Company’s performance 
depends in part on its ability to pass these cost increases on to customers in the price of its products and to effect 
improvements in productivity. The Company may not be able to fully offset the effects of raw material costs and other 
sourced components through price increases, productivity improvements or cost-reduction programs. If the Company 
cannot obtain sufficient quantities of these items at competitive prices, of appropriate quality and on a timely basis, it may 
not be able to produce sufficient quantities of product to satisfy market demand, product shipments may be delayed, or 
its material or manufacturing costs may increase. Innovia is sensitive to price movements in polypropylene resin used in 
its films for label, packaging and security applications. Polypropylene is the most significant input cost and is traded in 
the market, with prices linked to the market price of natural gas and refining capacity. Price movements must be managed 
and,  where  necessary,  passed  along  to  the  Segment’s  customers.  Failure  to  pass  along  higher  costs  in  a  timely  and 
effective manner to its customers could have a material adverse effect on the Innovia Segment’s business and profitability. 
Checkpoint’s supply chain relies significantly on components sourced from factories in Asia; therefore, supply disruption 
and tariff changes could adversely affect sales and profitability. Avery’s U.S. supply chain relies almost completely on its 
plant in Tijuana, Mexico; supply disruption, changes to border controls or the failure to implement the provisions of the 
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (“USMCA”) on trade could adversely affect sales and profitability. Overall, any 
of these problems could result in the loss of customers and revenue, provide an opportunity for competing products to 
gain market acceptance and have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results 
of operations. 

Potential Risks Relating to Significant Operations in Foreign Countries

The Company operates plants in North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Sales 
to customers located outside of Canada in 2023 were approximately 98% of the Company’s total sales, a level similar to 
that in 2022. Non-Canadian operating results are translated into Canadian dollars at the average exchange rate for the 
period covered. The Company has significant operating bases in both the United States and Europe. In 2023, 38.6% and 
31.0% of total sales were to customers in the United States and Europe, respectively. The Company’s operating results 
and cash flows could be negatively impacted by slower or declining growth rates in these key markets. The sales from 
business units in Latin America, Asia, Africa and Australia in 2023 were 28.1% of the Company’s total sales. In addition, 
the Company has equity-accounted investments in Russia and the Middle East. There are risks associated with operating 
a decentralized organization in 213 manufacturing facilities in 43 countries around the world with a variety of different 
cultures and values. Operations outside of Canada, the United States and Europe are perceived generally to have greater 
political and economic risks and include the Company’s operations in Latin America, parts of Asia, Russia and the Middle 
East. These risks include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, inflation, changes in foreign laws 
and regulations, military conflicts, government nationalization of certain industries, currency controls, potential adverse 
tax consequences and locally accepted business practices and standards that may not be similar to accepted business 
practices and standards in North America and Europe. Although the Company has controls and procedures intended to 
mitigate these risks, these risks cannot be entirely eliminated and may have a material adverse effect on the consolidated 
financial results of the Company. 

2023 Annual Report

31

Impairment in the Carrying Value of Goodwill and Indefinite-Life Intangible Assets

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $2.7 billion of goodwill and indefinite-life intangible assets 
on its consolidated statement of financial position, the value of which is reviewed for impairment at least annually. The 
assessment of the value of goodwill and intangible assets depends on a number of key factors requiring estimates and 
assumptions about earnings growth, operating margins, discount rates, economic projections, anticipated future cash 
flows and market capitalization. During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment 
loss of $95.0 million for the Innovia Segment. There can be no assurance that future reviews of goodwill and intangible 
assets will not result in additional impairment charges. Although it does not affect cash flow, an impairment charge does 
have the effect of reducing the Company’s earnings, total assets and equity.

Competitive Environment

The Company faces competition from other suppliers in all the markets in which it operates. There can be no assurance 
that the Company will be able to compete successfully against its current or future competitors or that such competition 
will not have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company. This 
competitive environment may preclude the Company from passing on higher material, labour and energy costs to its 
customers. Any significant increase in in-house manufacturing by customers of the Company could adversely affect the 
business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company. In addition, the Company’s consolidated financial 
results may be negatively impacted by competitors developing new products or processes that are of superior quality to 
those of the Company or that fit the Company’s customers’ needs better, or have lower costs; or by consolidation within 
the Company’s competitors or by further pricing pressure being placed on the industry by the large retail chains.

Foreign Exchange Exposure and Hedging Activities

Sales of the Company’s products to customers outside Canada account for approximately 98% of the revenue of the 
Company. Because the prices for such products are quoted in foreign currencies, any increase in the value of the Canadian 
dollar relative to such currencies, in particular the U.S. dollar and the euro, reduces the amount of Canadian dollar revenues 
and operating income reported by the Company in its consolidated financial statements. The Company also buys inputs 
for its products in world markets in several currencies. Exchange rate fluctuations are beyond the Company’s control and 
there can be no assurance that such fluctuations will not have a material adverse effect on the reported results of the 
Company. The use of derivatives to provide hedges of certain exposures, such as interest rate swaps, forward foreign 
exchange contracts and aluminum futures contracts, could impact negatively on the Company’s operations.

Retention of Key Personnel and Experienced Workforce 

Management believes that an important competitive advantage of the Company has been, and will continue to be, the 
know-how and expertise possessed by its personnel at all levels of the Company. While the machinery and equipment used 
by the Company are generally available to competitors of the Company, the experience and training of the Company’s 
workforce allows the Company to obtain a level of efficiency and a level of flexibility that management believes to be high 
relative to levels in the industries in which it competes. To date, the Company has been successful in recruiting, training 
and  retaining  its  personnel  over  the  long  term,  and  while  management  believes  that  the  know-how  of  the  Company  is 
widely distributed throughout the Company, the loss of the services of certain of its experienced personnel could have a 
material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company. 

The operations of the Company are dependent on the abilities, experience and efforts of its senior management team. 
To date, the Company has been successful in recruiting and retaining competent senior management. Loss of certain 
members of the executive team of the Company could have a disruptive effect on the implementation of the Company’s 
business strategy and the efficient running of day-to-day operations. This could have a material adverse effect on the 
business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Acquired Businesses

As part of its growth strategy, the Company continues to pursue acquisition opportunities where such transactions are 
economically and strategically justified. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to identify 
attractive acquisition opportunities in the future or have the required resources to complete desired acquisitions, or that 
it will succeed in effectively managing the integration of acquired businesses. The failure to implement the acquisition 
strategy,  to  successfully  integrate  acquired  businesses  or  joint  ventures  into  the  Company’s structure,  or  to  control 
operating performance and achieve synergies could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition 
and results of operations of the Company. 

32

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data)In addition, there may be liabilities that the Company has failed or was unable to discover in its due diligence prior to the 
consummation of the acquisition. In particular, to the extent that prior owners of acquired businesses failed to comply 
with or otherwise violated applicable laws, including environmental laws, the Company, as a successor owner, may be 
financially responsible for these violations. The discovery of any material liabilities could have a material adverse effect 
on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company. 

Long-Term Growth Strategy

The  Company  has  experienced  significant  and  steady  growth  over  the  last  decade.  The  Company’s  organic  growth 
initiatives coupled with its international acquisitions over the last number of years can place a strain on a number of 
aspects of its operating platform including human infrastructure, operational capacity and information systems. The 
Company’s ability to continually adapt and augment all aspects of its operational platform is critical to realizing its long-
term growth strategy. Another key aspect to the Company’s growth strategy includes increased development of the 
Company’s presence in emerging markets that could create exposure to unstable political conditions, economic volatility 
and social challenges. If the Company cannot adjust to its anticipated growth, results of operations could be materially 
adversely affected.

Lower than Anticipated Demand 

Although Checkpoint enjoys the advantage of significantly lower customer concentration than the rest of the Company, 
it remains heavily dependent on the retail marketplace. Changes in the economic environment including the liquidity and 
financial condition of its customers, the impact of online customer spending or reductions in retailer spending and new 
store openings could adversely affect sales. A reduction in the commitment for chain-wide installations due to decreased 
consumer spending that results in reduced demand for loss prevention by retail customers or failure to develop new 
technology that entices the customer to maintain its commitment to Checkpoint’s loss prevention products and services 
may also have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Exposure to Income Tax Reassessments

The Company operates in many countries throughout the world. Each country has its own income tax regulations and 
many of these countries have additional income and other taxes applied at state, provincial and local levels. The Company’s 
international investments are complex and subject to interpretation in each jurisdiction from a legal and tax perspective. 
The Company’s tax filings are subject to audit by local authorities, and the Company’s positions in these tax filings may 
be challenged. The Company may not be successful in defending these positions and could be involved in lengthy and 
costly litigation during this process and could be subject to additional income taxes, interest and penalties. This outcome 
could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Realization of Deferred Tax Assets 

The Company needs to generate sufficient taxable income in future periods in certain foreign and domestic tax jurisdictions 
to realize the tax benefit. If there is a significant change in the time period within which the underlying temporary difference 
or loss carry-forwards become taxable or deductible, the Company may have to revise its unrecognized deferred tax 
assets. This could result in an increase in the effective tax rate and could have a material adverse effect on future results. 
Changes in statutory tax rate may change the deferred tax asset or liability, with either a positive or a negative impact on 
the effective tax rate. The computation and assessment of the ability to realize the deferred tax asset balance is complex 
and requires significant judgment. New legislation or a change in underlying assumptions may have a material adverse 
effect on the business, financial condition and results of the Company.

Fluctuations in Operating Results

While the Company’s operating results over the past several years have indicated a general upward trend in sales and net 
earnings, operating results within particular product forms, within particular facilities of the Company and within particular 
geographic markets have undergone fluctuations in the past and, in management’s view, are likely to do so in the future. 
Operating results may fluctuate in the future as a result of many factors in addition to the global economic conditions, 
and these factors include the volume of orders received relative to the manufacturing capacity of the Company, the level 
of price competition (from competing suppliers both in domestic and in other lower-cost jurisdictions), variations in the 
level and timing of orders, the cost of raw materials and energy, the ability to develop innovative solutions and the mix of 
revenue derived in each of the Company’s businesses. Operating results may also be impacted by the inability to achieve 
planned volumes through normal growth and successful renegotiation of current contracts with customers and by the 
inability to deliver expected benefits from cost-reduction programs derived from the restructuring of certain business 
units. Any of these factors or a combination of these factors could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial 
condition and results of operations of the Company.

2023 Annual Report

33

Insurance Coverage

Management believes that insurance coverage of the Company’s facilities addresses all material insurable risks, provides 
coverage  that  is  similar  to  that  which  would  be  maintained  by  a  prudent  owner/operator  of  similar  facilities  and  is 
subject to deductibles, limits and exclusions that are customary or reasonable given the cost of procuring insurance and 
current operating conditions. However, there can be no assurance that such insurance will continue to be offered on an 
economically feasible basis or at current premium levels, that the Company will be able to pass through any increased 
premium costs, or that all events that could give rise to a loss or liability are insurable, or that the amounts of insurance 
will at all times be sufficient to cover each and every loss or claim that may occur involving the assets or operations of 
the Company. 

Catastrophic Events

Natural  disasters,  such  as  earthquakes,  tsunamis,  floods  or  wildfires,  public  health  crises,  such  as  epidemics  and 
pandemics, political instability, acts of terrorism, war or other conflicts and other events outside of the Company’s control, 
may adversely impact its business and operating results. In addition to the direct impact that such events could have on 
the Company’s facilities and workforce, these types of events could negatively impact consumer spending in the impacted 
regions or, depending on the severity, globally, which would impact the Company’s customers and in turn impact demand 
for its products. 

Dependence on Customers

The  Company  has  a  modest  dependence  on  certain  customers.  The  Company’s  two  largest  customers  combined 
accounted for approximately 6.9% (2022 – 6.8%) of the consolidated revenue for the fiscal year 2023. The five largest 
customers of the Company represented approximately 13.8% (2022 – 13.8%) of the total revenue for 2023 and the 25 
largest customers represented approximately 33.8% (2022 – 34.6%) of the total revenue. Several thousand customers 
make up the remainder of total revenue. Although the Company has strong partnership relationships with its customers, 
there can be no assurance that the Company will maintain its relationship with any particular customer or continue to 
provide services to any particular customer at current levels. A loss of any significant customer, or a decrease in the sales 
to any such customer, could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations 
of the Company. Consolidation within the consumer products market base and office retail superstores could have a 
negative impact on the Company’s business, depending on the nature and scope of any such consolidation.

Environmental, Health and Safety Requirements and Other Considerations

The Company is subject to numerous federal, provincial, state and municipal statutes, regulations, by-laws, guidelines 
and policies, as well as permits and other approvals related to the protection of the environment and workers’ health 
and safety. The Company maintains active health and safety and environmental programs for the purpose of preventing 
injuries to employees and pollution incidents at its manufacturing sites. The Company also carries out a program of 
environmental compliance audits, including an independent third-party pollution liability assessment for acquisitions, to 
assess the adequacy of compliance at the operating level and to establish provisions, as required, for environmental site 
remediation plans. The Company has environmental insurance for most of its operating sites, with certain exclusions for 
historical matters. 

Despite these programs and insurance coverage, further proceedings or inquiries from regulators on employee health and 
safety requirements, particularly in Canada, the United States and the European Economic Community (collectively, the 
“EHS Requirements”), could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of 
the Company. In addition, changes to existing EHS Requirements, the adoption of new EHS Requirements in the future, or 
changes to the enforcement of EHS Requirements, as well as the discovery of additional or unknown conditions at facilities 
owned, operated or used by the Company, could require expenditures that might materially affect the business, financial 
condition and results of operations of the Company to the extent not covered by indemnity, insurance or covenant not 
to sue. Furthermore, while the Company has generally benefited from increased regulations on its customers’ products, 
the demand for the services or products of the Company may be adversely affected by the amendment or repeal of laws 
or by changes to the enforcement policies of the regulatory agencies concerning such laws.

Operating and Product Hazards

The Company’s revenues are dependent on the continued operation of its facilities and its customers. The operation 
of manufacturing plants involves many risks, including the failure or substandard performance of equipment, natural 
disasters, suspension of operations and new governmental statutes, regulations, guidelines and policies. The total loss 
of certain of the Company’s manufacturing plants could have a significant financial impact on the affected business 
segment, particularly where the plant represents a single or significant source of supply. The operations of the Company 
and its customers are also subject to various hazards incidental to the production, use, handling, processing, storage 
and  transportation  of  certain  hazardous  materials.  These  hazards  can  cause  personal  injury,  severe  damage  to  and 

34

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data)destruction of property and equipment and environmental damage. Furthermore, the Company may become subject to 
claims with respect to workplace exposure, workers’ compensation and other matters. The Company’s pharmaceutical 
and specialty food product operations are subject to stringent federal, state, provincial and local health, food and drug 
regulations  and  controls,  and  may  be  impacted  by  consumer  product  liability  claims  and  the  possible  unavailability 
and/or  expense  of  liability  insurance.  The  Company  prints  information  on  its  labels  and  containers  that,  if  incorrect, 
could give rise to product liability claims. A determination by applicable regulatory authorities that any of the Company’s 
facilities are not in compliance with any such regulations or controls in any material respect may have a material adverse 
effect on the Company. A successful product liability claim (or a series of claims) against the Company in excess of its 
insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of 
the Company. There can be no assurance as to the actual amount of these liabilities or the timing thereof. The occurrence 
of material operational problems, including, but not limited to, the above events, could have a material adverse effect on 
the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company. 

The Timing and Volume of New Banknote Orders

The CCL Secure banknote substrate operation is dependent on government procurement decisions and the volume and 
timing of new or replacement banknote orders is often uncertain. These decisions can be influenced by many political 
factors that could delay or reduce the volume of banknote orders. The impact of new large volume banknote orders may 
result in the Company having to invest in material capital projects to support government procurement decisions. As a 
result, volatility may be created in the cash flows and in the financial results of the CCL Secure operations, which could 
have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company.

Product Security

CCL Secure’s banknote substrate business is involved in high security applications and must maintain highly secured 
facilities and product shipments. CCL Secure maintains vigorous security and material control procedures. All employees, 
guests and third-party contractors with access to facilities and products are prudently screened and monitored. However, 
the loss of a product, counterfeiting of a high security feature or the breach of a secured facility as a result of negligence, 
collusion or theft is possible. Loss of product whilst in transit, particularly during transshipment, through the failure of 
freight management companies or the loss of the shipment vehicle by accident or act of God is possible. Consequently, 
the financial damage and potential reputational impairment on CCL Secure may have a material adverse effect on the 
Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Financial Reporting

The Company prepares its financial reports in accordance with accounting policies and methods prescribed by IFRS. In 
the preparation of financial reports, management may need to rely upon assumptions, make estimates or use their best 
judgment in determining the financial condition of the Company. Material accounting policies are described in more detail 
in the notes to the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023. In order 
to have a reasonable level of assurance that financial transactions are properly authorized, assets are safeguarded against 
unauthorized or improper use and transactions are properly recorded and reported, the Company has implemented and 
continues to analyze its internal control systems for financial reporting. Although the Company believes that its financial 
reporting and financial statements are prepared with reasonable safeguards to ensure reliability, the Company cannot 
provide absolute assurance in that regard.

Compliance with Anti-Bribery and Export Laws

Due to the Company’s global operations, the Company is subject to many laws governing international relations, including 
those that prohibit improper payments to government officials and commercial customers, and which may restrict where 
the Company can do business, what information or products the Company can supply to certain countries and what 
information the Company can provide to foreign governments, including but not limited to the Canadian Corruption of 
Foreign Public Officials Act (“CFPOA”), the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), the U.K. Bribery Act and the U.S. 
Export  Administration  Act.  The  Company’s  policies  mandate  compliance  with  these  anti-bribery  laws.  The  Company 
operates in many parts of the world that have experienced governmental corruption to some degree and, in certain 
circumstances, strict compliance with anti-bribery laws may conflict with local customs and practices. Given the high 
level of complexity of these laws, there is a risk that some provisions may be inadvertently or intentionally breached, for 
example, through fraudulent or negligent behavior of individual employees, the Company’s failure to comply with certain 
formal documentation requirements or otherwise. Additionally, the Company may be held liable for actions taken by local 
dealers and partners. If the Company is found to be liable for CFPOA, FCPA or other violations (either due to the Company’s 
own acts or through inadvertence, or due to the acts or inadvertence of others), the Company could suffer from civil and 
criminal penalties or other sanctions, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial 
condition and results of operations.

2023 Annual Report

35

New Product Developments 

Markets are continually evolving based on the ingenuity of the Company and its competitors, consumer preferences 
and new product identification and information technologies. In particular, customers and consumers are seeking more 
sustainable product offerings using recyclable components and enabling circularity in product use. To the extent that 
any such new developments result in a decrease in the use of any of the Company’s products, a material adverse effect 
on the financial condition and results of operations could occur. 

Checkpoint’s ability to create new products and to sustain existing products is affected by whether the Company can 
develop and fund technological innovations, such as those related to the next generation of product solutions, evolving 
RFID technologies, and other innovative security devices, software and systems initiatives. The failure to develop and 
launch successful new products could have a material adverse effect on Checkpoint’s business, financial condition and 
results of operations. 

Although Innovia has a unique manufacturing process for a portion of its film product line and CCL Secure is the leading 
manufacturer of polymer banknote substrate, the Company depends on its ability to constantly evolve the technological 
capabilities of its products to meet the demands of its customer base. New scientific advancements in polymer film 
manufacturing could curtail the use of Innovia’s films, while the advancement of e-commerce and cashless societies may 
outmode the need for polymer banknotes. Innovia’s investment in its new hybrid polyolefin film facility in Poland and new 
thin-gauge film facility in Germany are to support sustainability ambitions of its customers. It may take time for these 
operations to become profitable and there can be no assurances of success. Failure to invest in intellectual properties 
and perpetually innovate may result in lower demand for films and banknote substrate and could have a material adverse 
effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Labour Relations

While labour relations between the Company and its employees have been stable in the recent past and there have been 
no material disruptions in operations as a result of labour disputes, the maintenance of a productive and efficient labour 
environment cannot be assured. Accordingly, a strike, lockout or deterioration of labour relations could have a material 
adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company. 

Legal and Regulatory Proceedings

Any alleged failure by the Company to comply with applicable laws and regulations in the countries of operation may lead 
to the imposition of fines and penalties or the denial, revocation or delay in the renewal of permits and licenses issued by 
governmental authorities or litigation. In addition, governmental authorities, as well as third parties, may claim that the 
Company is liable for environmental remediation or damages. A significant judgment against the Company, the loss of a 
significant permit or other approval or the imposition of a significant fine or penalty could have a material adverse effect 
on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company. 

Moreover, the Company may from time to time be notified of claims that it may be infringing patents, copyrights or other 
intellectual property rights owned by other third parties. Any litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of 
resources, and could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the 
Company. In the future, third parties may assert infringement claims against the Company or its customers. In the event of 
an infringement claim, the Company may be required to spend a significant amount of money to develop a non-infringing 
alternative or to obtain licenses. The Company may not be successful in developing such an alternative or obtaining a 
license on reasonable terms, if at all. In addition, any such litigation could be lengthy and costly and could have a material 
adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company. 

The Company may also be subject to claims arising from its failure to manufacture a product to the specifications of 
its customers or from personal injury arising from a consumer’s use of a product or component manufactured by the 
Company. While the Company will seek indemnity from its customers for claims made against the Company by consumers, 
and while the Company maintains what management believes to be appropriate levels of insurance to respond to such 
claims, there can be no assurance that the Company will be fully indemnified by its customers or that insurance coverage 
will continue to be available or, if available, will be adequate to cover all costs arising from such claims. In addition, the 
Company could become subject to claims relating to its prior or acquired businesses, including environmental and tax 
matters, or claims by third parties, such as distributors or agents. There can be no assurance that insurance coverage will 
be adequate to cover all costs arising from such claims.

Specifically, in the first quarter of 2019, a hearing on a jurisdictional issue was heard in respect of a lawsuit launched in 
2011 by Benoy Berry and a company controlled by him, Global Secure Currency Ltd. (collectively, “Berry”), in Nigerian 
Federal Court against CCL Secure Pty Ltd. (formerly Innovia Security Pty Ltd.) (“ISPL”), and Innovia Films Ltd. (collectively, 
“IFL”), as well as other defendants not affiliated with ISPL. The court denied IFL’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit on the 

36

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data)jurisdictional issue. IFL is appealing that decision to the highest appeals court in Nigeria. The lawsuit alleges that IFL 
and the co-defendants committed to build a banknote substrate plant in Nigeria and Berry seeks an order requiring IFL 
and the co-defendants to build the plant or in lieu thereof, grant an award of total damages in the amount of €1.5 billion 
($2.2 billion). IFL intends to vigorously defend this claim, which the Company considers to be without merit and accordingly, 
the Company has made no provision for the matter. 

Defined Benefit Post-Employment Plans

The Company is the sponsor of a number of defined benefit plans in thirteen countries that give rise to accrued post-
employment benefit obligations. Although the Company believes that its current financial resources combined with its 
expected future cash flows from operations and returns on post-employment plan assets will be sufficient to satisfy the 
obligations under these plans in future years, the cash outflow and higher expenses associated with these plans may be 
higher than expected and may have a material adverse impact on the financial condition of the Company.

Breach of Legal and Regulatory Requirements

CCL  Secure’s  banknote  substrate  operation  has  the  highest  accreditation  within  the  security  printing  industry.  This 
accreditation provides governments and central banks with assurance in respect of safeguarding high ethical standards 
and business practices. Violation of CCL Secure’s highly strict requirements and constant detailed oversight in relation to 
bribery, corruption and anti-competitive activities remains a risk in an industry expecting the highest ethical standards. 
Consequently, the financial damage and potential reputational impairment on CCL Secure that could arise if the standards 
and practices are compromised, or perceived to have been compromised, could have a material adverse effect on the 
Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Material Disruption of Information Technology Systems 

The Company is increasingly dependent on information technology (“IT”) systems to manufacture its products, process 
transactions, respond to customer questions, manage inventory, purchase, sell and ship goods on a timely basis and 
maintain cost-efficient operations, as well as maintain its e-commerce websites. Any material disruption or slowdown of 
the systems, including a disruption or slowdown caused by the Company’s failure to successfully upgrade its systems, 
system failures, viruses or other causes, could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and 
results of operations of the Company. If changes in technology cause the Company’s information systems to become 
obsolete or if information systems are inadequate to handle growth, the Company could incur losses and costs due to 
interruption of its operations.

The Company maintains information within its IT networks and on the cloud to operate its business, as well as confidential 
personal employee and customer information. The secure maintenance of this information is critical to the Company’s 
operations and reputation. The Company invests in hardware and software to prevent the risk of intrusion, tampering and 
theft. Any such unauthorized breach of the IT infrastructure could compromise the data maintained, which could cause 
the corruption or exposure of confidential or proprietary information, a significant disruption in operations, the loss or 
theft of critical data and financial resources and meaningful harm to the Company’s reputation, any of which could result 
in a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Credit Ratings

The credit ratings currently assigned to the Company by Moody’s and S&P, or that may in the future be assigned by 
other rating agencies, are subject to amendment in accordance with each agency’s rating methodology and subjective 
modifiers driving the credit rating opinion. There is no assurance that any rating assigned to the Company will remain in 
effect for any given period of time or that any rating will not be revised or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency in the 
future. A downgrade in the credit rating assigned by one or more rating agencies could increase the Company’s cost of 
borrowing or impact the Company’s ability to renegotiate debt, and may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s 
financial condition and profitability.

Share Price Volatility

Changes in the Company’s stock price may affect access to, or cost of, financing from capital markets and may affect stock-
based compensation arrangements. The Company’s stock price has appreciated significantly over the last ten years and 
is influenced by the financial results of the Company, changes in the overall stock market, demand for equity securities, 
relative peer group performance, market expectation of future financial performance and competitive dynamics among 
many other things. There is no assurance that the Company’s share price will not be volatile in the future.

2023 Annual Report

37

Protection of Intellectual Property

Certain of the Company’s products involve complex technology and chemistry and the Company relies on maintaining 
protection of this intellectual property and proprietary information to maintain a competitive advantage. The infringement, 
expiration  or  other  loss  of  these  patents  and  other  proprietary  information  would  reduce  the  barriers  to  entry  into 
the  Company’s  existing  lines  of  business  and  may  result  in  loss  of  market  share  and  a  decrease  in  the  Company’s 
competitiveness, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and 
cash flows. There also can be no assurance that the patents previously obtained or to be obtained by the Company in the 
future will provide adequate protection of such intellectual property or adequately maintain any competitive advantage. 

Dividends

The declaration and payment of dividends is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors taking into account current 
and anticipated cash flow, capital requirements, the general financial condition of the Company and global economy as 
well as the various risk factors set out above. The Board of Directors intends to pay a consistent dividend with consistent 
increases over time. However, the Board of Directors may in certain circumstances determine that it is in the best interests 
of the Company to reduce or suspend the dividend. In that situation, the trading price of the Company’s Class A and 
Class B shares may be materially affected. 

Climate Change

Event  risks  caused  by  global  climate  change,  including  the  frequency  and  severity  of  weather-related  events,  could 
damage the Company’s facilities, disrupt operations, impact revenues and cash flow, and create financial risk. These could 
result in substantial costs for emergency response efforts during the event, reinstatement of regular business operations 
and repair or replacement of premises and equipment. The potential impact or financial consequence of such events 
is highly uncertain. The Company’s operations are spread over more than 213 locations around the world and therefore 
subject to varying climate change event risks. 

Global  climate  change  also  gives  rise  to  other  risks  to  the  Company’s  business  and  operations,  including  increased 
regulation  and  market  shifts  in  supply  and  demand,  which  are  also  difficult to  predict.  Many  countries  in  which  the 
Company carries on business are at differing stages of developing policy and regulations regarding carbon emissions and 
other environmental impacts, which could significantly affect the Company’s business, create financial obligations and 
increase operating costs. Increased public awareness of climate change may impact consumer demand for the Company’s 
customers’ products. The Company’s failure to innovate more sustainable or circular economy products could have a 
material adverse effect on its financial condition and profitability.

The  Company’s  failure  to  implement  environmental,  social  and  governance  targets  and  initiatives,  or  to  achieve  its 
sustainability targets could have a material adverse impact on its financial condition and profitability.

5. AC C O U N T I N G   P O L I C I E S   A N D   N O N - I F R S   M E A S U R E S

A)  Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures

The Company measures the success of the business using a number of key performance indicators, many of which are in 
accordance with IFRS as described throughout this report. The following performance indicators are not measurements 
in accordance with IFRS and should not be considered as an alternative to or replacement of net earnings or any other 
measure of performance under IFRS. These non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning and may not be 
comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. These additional measures are used to provide added insight 
into the Company’s results and are concepts often seen in external analysts’ research reports, in financial covenants 
in banking agreements and note agreements, in purchase and sales contracts on acquisitions and divestitures of the 
business, and in discussions and reports to and from the Company’s shareholders and the investment community. These 
non-IFRS measures will be found throughout this report and are referenced alphabetically in the definition section below.

Adjusted Basic Earnings per Class B Share – An important non-IFRS measure to assist in understanding the ongoing 
earnings performance of the Company, excluding items of a one-time or non-recurring nature. It is not considered a 
substitute  for  basic  net  earnings  per  Class  B  share,  but  it  does  provide  additional  insight  into  the  ongoing  financial 
results of the Company. This non-IFRS measure is defined as basic net earnings per Class B share, excluding gains on 
dispositions, goodwill impairment loss, non-cash acquisition accounting adjustments, restructuring and other items and 
tax adjustments. 

38

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data)Earnings per Class B Share

Basic earnings 
Net loss from restructuring and other items  
Goodwill impairment loss  
Non-cash acquisition accounting adjustment  

related to inventory 

Adjusted basic earnings 

Three Months Ended  
December 31 

 Twelve Months Ended 
December 31

$ 

 2023 

0.22 
0.21 
0.54 

— 

$ 

 2022 

0.82 
0.01 
— 

— 

$ 

$ 

2023 

2.99 
0.23 
0.54 

— 

$ 

0.97 

$ 

0.83 

$  

3.76 

$ 

 2022

3.50
0.05
—

0.02

3.57

Adjusted EBITDA – A critical financial measure used extensively in the packaging industry and other industries to assist 
in understanding and measuring operating results. It is also considered as a proxy for cash flow and a facilitator for 
business valuations. This non-IFRS measure is defined as earnings before net finance cost, income taxes, depreciation 
and amortization, goodwill impairment loss, earnings in equity accounted investments, non-cash acquisition accounting 
adjustments, restructuring and other items. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure as 
it allows the assessment of the Company’s ongoing business without the impact of net finance cost, depreciation and 
amortization and income tax expenses, as well as non-operating factors and unusual items. As a proxy for cash flow, it is 
intended to indicate the Company’s ability to incur or service debt and to invest in property, plant and equipment, and it 
may allow comparison of the Company’s business to that of its peers and competitors who may have different capital or 
organizational structures. Adjusted EBITDA is a measure tracked by financial analysts and investors to evaluate financial 
performance and is a key metric in business valuations. Adjusted EBITDA is considered an important measure by lenders 
to the Company and is included in the financial covenants for the Company’s bank lines of credit.

The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA measures to IFRS measures reported in the annual consolidated income 
statements for the periods ended as indicated. 

Adjusted EBITDA

Net earnings  
Corporate expense 
Earnings in equity-accounted investments 
Finance cost, net 
Restructuring and other items  
Goodwill impairment loss  
Income taxes 

Operating income 
Less: Corporate expense 
Add: Depreciation and amortization   
Add: Non-cash acquisition accounting  

adjustment related to inventory 

Three Months Ended 
December 31 

Twelve Months Ended 
December 31

$ 

$ 

2023 

38.8 
23.9 
(4.6) 
19.1 
37.2 
95.0 
45.4 

254.8 
(23.9) 
105.8 

— 

$ 

$ 

2022 

145.2 
17.5 
(9.0) 
17.6 
3.4 
— 
36.5 

211.2 
(17.5) 
95.3 

— 

$ 

$ 

$ 

 2023 

530.2 
81.8 
(17.9) 
78.0 
42.8 
95.0 
200.7 

$  1,010.6 
(81.8) 
403.3 

— 

2022

622.7
71.8
(19.9)
64.8
11.7
—
183.3

934.4
(71.8)
365.3

3.5

Adjusted EBITDA (a non-IFRS measure) 

$ 

336.7 

$ 

289.0 

$  1,332.1 

$ 

1,231.4

Days Working Capital Employed – A measure indicating the relative liquidity and asset intensity of the Company’s working 
capital. It is calculated by multiplying the net working capital by the number of days in the quarter and then dividing by 
the quarterly sales. Net working capital includes trade and other receivables, inventories, prepaid expenses, trade and 
other payables, and income taxes recoverable and payable. The following table reconciles the net working capital used 
in the days of working capital employed measure to IFRS measures reported in the consolidated statements of financial 
position as at the periods ended as indicated.

2023 Annual Report

39

 
 
 
 
 
 
Days Working Capital Employed

At December 31

Trade and other receivables  
Inventories 
Prepaid expenses 
Income taxes recoverable   
Trade and other payables   
Income taxes payable 

Net working capital 

Days in quarter 
Fourth quarter sales 
Days of working capital employed 

 2023  

$  1,089.3 
732.3 
50.6 
38.8 
(1,329.5) 
(35.5) 

$ 

$ 

546.0 

92 
1,662.5 
30 

2022 

1,100.5
785.1
50.0
44.6
(1,394.4)
(60.3)

525.5

92
1,587.2
30

$ 

$ 

$ 

Dividend  Payout  Ratio  –  The  ratio  of  earnings  paid  out  to  the  shareholders.  It  provides  an  indication  of  how  well 
earnings support the dividend payments. Dividend payout ratio is defined as dividends declared divided by earnings, 
excluding goodwill impairment loss, non-cash acquisition accounting adjustments, restructuring and other items, and 
tax adjustments, (together “Adjusted earnings”) expressed as a percentage.

Dividend Payout Ratio

Dividends declared per equity 

Adjusted earnings 

Dividend payout ratio 

2023 

188.2 

664.4 

$ 

$ 

2022

170.3

635.0

$ 

$ 

28% 

27%

Free Cash Flow from Operations – A measure indicating the relative amount of cash generated by the Company during 
the year and available to fund dividends, debt repayments and acquisitions. It is calculated as cash flow from operations, 
less capital expenditures, net of proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment.

The following table reconciles the measure of free cash flow from operations to IFRS measures reported in the annual 
consolidated statements of cash flows for the periods ended as indicated.

Free Cash Flow from Operations

Cash provided by operating activities  
Less: Additions to property, plant and equipment 
Add: Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment 

Free cash flow from operations

Twelve Months Ended   

December 31

2023 

$  1,003.3 
(461.6) 
17.9 

$ 

 2022

992.8
(447.2)
27.8

$ 

559.6 

$ 

573.4

Interest Coverage – A measure indicating the relative amount of operating income earned by the Company compared 
to the amount of net finance cost incurred by the Company. It is calculated as operating income (see definition below), 
including discontinued items, less corporate expense, divided by net finance cost on a twelve-month rolling basis.

The  following  table  reconciles  the  interest  coverage  measure  to  IFRS  measures  reported  in  the  annual  consolidated 
income statements for the periods ended as indicated. 

40

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data) 
 
 
Interest Coverage 

O
L

perating income (a non-IFRS measure; see definition below)
ess: Corporate expense 

N

et finance cost

nterest coverage 
I

 Twelve Months Ended   

December 31

2023 

$  1,010.6 
(81.8) 

$ 

$ 

928.8 

78.0 

11.9 

$ 

$ 

$ 

 2022

934.4
(71.8)

862.6

64.8

13.3

Net Debt – A measure indicating the financial indebtedness of the Company assuming that all cash on hand is used to 
repay a portion of the outstanding debt. It is defined as current debt, which includes bank advances, plus long-term debt 
and lease liabilities, less cash and cash equivalents.

Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (or “Leverage Ratio”) – A measure that indicates the financial leverage of the Company. It 
indicates the Company’s ability to service its existing debt. 

Operating Income – A measure indicating the profitability of the Company’s business units defined as income before 
corporate expenses, net finance cost, goodwill impairment loss, earnings in equity-accounted investments, restructuring 
and other items, and income taxes.

See the definition of Adjusted EBITDA above for a reconciliation of operating income measures to IFRS measures reported 
in the annual consolidated income statements for the periods ended as indicated.

Restructuring and Other Items and Tax Adjustments – A measure of significant non-recurring items that are included in net 
earnings. The impact of restructuring and other items and tax adjustments on a per share basis is measured by dividing the 
after-tax income of the restructuring and other items and tax adjustments by the average number of shares outstanding in 
the relevant period. Management will continue to disclose the impact of these items on the Company’s results because the 
timing and extent of such items do not reflect or relate to the Company’s ongoing operating performance. Management 
evaluates the operating income of its segments before the effect of these items.

Return on Equity before goodwill impairment loss, restructuring and other items, non-cash acquisition accounting 
adjustments and tax adjustments (“ROE”) – A measure that provides insight into the effective use of shareholder capital 
in generating ongoing net earnings. ROE is calculated by dividing annual net earnings before goodwill impairment loss, 
restructuring  and  other  items,  tax  adjustments,  gains  on  business  dispositions  and  non-cash  acquisition  accounting 
adjustments by the average of the beginning and the end-of-year equity. 

The following table reconciles net earnings used in calculating the ROE measure to IFRS measures reported in the annual 
consolidated statements of financial position and in the annual consolidated income statements for the periods ended 
as indicated.

Return on Equity  

Net earnings 
Restructuring and other items (net of tax) 
Goodwill impairment loss  
Non-cash acquisition accounting adjustment related to inventory 

Adjusted net earnings 

Average equity 

Return on equity 

 Twelve Months Ended   

December 31 

$ 

2023 

530.2 
41.2 
95.0 
— 

$ 

666.4 

$  4,444.2 

2022

622.7
9.7
—
2.6

635.0

4,006.1

$ 

$ 

$ 

15.0% 

15.9%

Return on Sales – A measure indicating relative profitability of sales to customers. It is defined as operating income (see 
definition above) divided by sales, expressed as a percentage.

2023 Annual Report

41

  
 
 
The following table reconciles the return on sales measure to IFRS measures reported in the annual consolidated income 
statement in the segmented information per note 4 of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the 
periods ended as indicated.

Return on Sales 

Sales 

CCL 
Avery 
Checkpoint 
Innovia 

Total sales 

Operating income 

CCL 
Avery 
Checkpoint 
Innovia 

Three Months Ended  
December 31 

Twelve Months Ended 
December 31

2023 

$  1,031.5 
242.1 
244.2 
144.7 

$ 

2022 

947.1 
239.8 
222.6 
177.7 

 2023 

2022

$  4,104.7 
1,039.9 
875.2 
629.8 

$ 

3,855.1
913.6
818.7
794.8

$  1,662.5 

$  1,587.2 

$  6,649.6 

$ 

6,382.2

$ 

154.4 
47.9 
44.3 
8.2 

$ 

131.9 
42.1 
34.6 
2.6 

$ 

$ 

633.5 
199.5 
132.0 
45.6 

599.8
167.6
118.9
48.1

934.4

15.6%
18.3%
14.5%
6.1%

14.6%

Total operating income  

$ 

254.8 

$ 

211.2 

$  1,010.6 

$ 

Return on sales 

CCL 
Avery 
Checkpoint 
Innovia 

Total return on sales 

15.0% 
19.8% 
18.1% 
5.7% 

15.3% 

13.9% 
17.6% 
15.5% 
1.5% 

13.3% 

15.4% 
19.2% 
15.1% 
7.2% 

15.2% 

Return on total capital before goodwill impairment loss, restructuring and other items, non-cash acquisition accounting 
adjustments, and tax adjustments (“ROTC”) – A measure of the returns the Company is achieving on capital employed. 
ROTC is calculated by dividing annual net income before goodwill impairment loss, restructuring and other items, non-
cash acquisition accounting adjustments, and tax adjustments by the average of the beginning- and the end-of-year 
equity and net debt.

The following table reconciles net earnings used in calculating the ROTC measure to IFRS measures reported in the annual 
consolidated statements of financial position and in the annual consolidated income statements for the periods ended 
as indicated.

Return on Total Capital

Net earnings 
Restructuring and other items (net of tax) 
Goodwill impairment loss  
Non-cash acquisition accounting adjustment related to inventory 

Adjusted net earnings 

Average total capital 

Return on total capital 

 Twelve Months Ended  
December 31

2023 

530.2 
41.2 
95.0 
— 

666.4 

 5,959.5 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2022

622.7
9.7
—
2.6

635.0

5,391.9

$ 

$ 

$ 

11.2% 

11.8%

Total Debt – A measure indicating the financial indebtedness of the Company. It is defined as current debt, including 
bank advances, plus long-term debt.

42

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data) 
 
 
B)  Accounting Policies 

Accounting Policies

The above analysis and discussion of the Company’s financial condition and results of operation are based on its annual 
consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. 

A  summary  of  the  Company’s  material  accounting  policies  is  set  out  in  note  3  of  the  annual  consolidated  financial 
statements. 

C)  Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported 
amounts of sales and expenses during the year and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of 
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. In particular, estimates are used when determining 
the  amounts  recorded  for  depreciation  and  amortization  of  property,  plant  and  equipment  and  intangible  assets, 
outstanding self-insurance claims, pension and other post-employment benefits, income and other taxes, provisions, 
certain fair value measures including those related to the valuation of business combinations, share-based payments and 
financial instruments and also for the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets.

Goodwill and Indefinite-Life Intangibles

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of the Company’s interest in the businesses acquired over the fair 
value of the underlying net identifiable tangible and intangible assets arising on acquisitions. Goodwill and indefinite-life 
intangibles are not amortized but are required to be tested for impairment at least annually or if events or changes in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

During the 2023 fourth quarter, the Company completed its annual impairment test as at September 30, 2023. Impairment 
testing for the cash-generating units (“CGU”), CCL, Avery, Checkpoint, and Innovia, was done by a comparison of the unit’s 
carrying amount to its estimated value in use, determined by discounting future cash flows from the continuing use of the 
CGU. Key assumptions used in the determination of the value in use include growth rates of 3% to 5% and pre-tax discount 
rates of 10% to 12%. Discount rates reflect current market assumptions and risks related to the CGUs and are based upon 
the weighted average cost of capital. The Company’s historical growth rates are used as the basis in determining the 
growth rate applied for impairment testing. The Company completed its impairment testing as at September 30, 2023. 
Significant management judgment is required in preparing the forecasts of future operating results that are used in the 
discounted cash flow method of valuation. 

Subsequent  to  performing  its  annual  impairment  test,  the  Company  assessed  that  there  were  indications  of 
goodwill impairment for the Innovia segment as a result of the closure of a Belgian production facility and continuing 
demand  challenges  in  the  label  materials  industry,  which  required  the  carrying  value  of  the  CGU  to  be  re-tested  for 
impairment at December 31, 2023. The recoverable amount of the Innovia CGU, measured at its fair value in use, was 
$762.8 million at December 31, 2023. This resulted in a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $95.0 million for the 
Innovia segment, which was recognized on a separate line in the consolidated income statements. The pre-tax discount 
rate used at December 31, 2023 was 11%. Any adverse movement in key assumptions, including discount rates, could lead 
to additional impairment in future periods.

The estimated values in use of CCL, Avery and Checkpoint CGUs exceeded their carrying values. As a result, no goodwill 
and indefinite-life intangible assets impairment was recorded during 2023. 

Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount 
of an asset may not be recoverable. Performance of this evaluation involves management estimates of the associated 
business  plans,  economic  projections  and  anticipated  cash  flows.  Specifically,  management  considers  forecasted 
operating cash flows, which are subject to change due to economic conditions, technological changes or changes in 
operating performance. An impairment loss would be recognized if the carrying amount of the asset held for use exceeded 
the discounted cash flow or fair value. Changes in these estimates in the future may result in an impairment charge.

2023 Annual Report

43

Employee Benefits

The Company accrues its obligation under employee benefit plans and related costs net of plan assets. Pension costs are 
determined periodically by independent actuaries. The actuarial determination of the accrued benefit obligations for the plans 
uses the projected unit credit method and incorporates management’s best estimate of future salary escalation, retirement 
age, inflation and other actuarial factors. The cost is then charged as services are rendered. Since these assumptions, which 
are disclosed in note 20 of the 2023 annual consolidated financial statements, involve forward-looking estimates and are 
long-term in nature, they are subject to uncertainty. Actual results may differ, and the differences may be material.

D)  Related Party Transactions

A summary of the Company’s related party transactions is set out in note 27 of the 2023 annual consolidated financial 
statements.

6. O U T LO O K

For the 2023 year, the first quarter marked the final vestiges of CV19-related issues as China incurred a large outbreak 
subsequent to their abrupt abandonment of their zero-tolerance policy, while the western world had already endured their 
final CV19 challenges in 2022. Economic activity subsequently rebounded in Asia, more robustly in China, but waned as 
the year progressed. North American economic activity, backstopped by a strong employment environment, exceeded 
lower predictions for 2023. Central banks worldwide largely ended their rate tightening cycle in the first half of 2023 
abating inflationary cost pressures. Europe appeared to be the hardest hit region, with interest rate increases coupled with 
higher than normal energy costs for most of the year, subduing economic activity. In Latin America, economic activity was 
resilient for 2023, despite unusually significant appreciation of the Mexican peso and the election of a new government 
in Brazil. All-in for 2023, the Company posted record adjusted earnings of $3.76 per Class B share compared to $3.57 per 
Class B share for 2022 and a healthy liquidity position of $2.0 billion in cash and available credit capacity, positioning the 
Company to execute on its global growth initiatives for 2024.

The 2024 year began with the Chinese government easing economic policy in an effort to stimulate its economy, returning 
the country’s growth trajectory to a rate that, hopefully, convincingly outpaces the western world. The Ukraine/Russian war 
coupled with the escalating conflict in the Middle East, resulting in sanctions, embargoes and supply chain challenges, 
may potentially reinvigorate pressure on global inflation rates and further disrupt economic activity. There appears to be 
no end in sight to these conflicts in 2024. With the unprecedented strength of the North American consumer in 2023, 2024 
could be a volatile year for the region. Labour markets are expected to remain resilient, central bank policy is predicted to 
ease in the back half of the year, albeit political uncertainty with an election year in the United States may spook economic 
prospects. Therefore, effectively managing business activity levels in each of the Company’s manufacturing locations, 
while pragmatically managing the Company’s growth initiatives around the world will be at the forefront for 2024.

The CCL Segment reported a solid year in 2023, and a strong finish in the fourth quarter, with momentum continuing 
and, if anything, accelerating in the early months of 2024. Each of the CCL Segment’s vertical markets are positioned for 
growth and improved profitability in the coming years. The CCL Segment is adding incremental capacity and technology 
throughout its network of facilities, as well as, new greenfield operations under construction in Raleigh, North Carolina, 
Milan, Italy and Guanajuato, Mexico for the Healthcare & Specialty, Food & Beverage and Home & Personal Care markets, 
respectively. CCL Design will continue to pursue new product initiatives within its customer base while ensuring it captures 
the turnaround in electronics markets that appears to be manifesting early in 2024. CCL Secure will continue to develop 
market-leading security technology to pursue long-term widespread adoption of polymer banknotes across the world’s 
central banks. 

For  2024,  growth  at  Avery’s  Direct-to-Consumer  businesses  and  continued  profit  improvement  in  the  Horticultural 
operations,  is  expected  and  should  outpace  legacy  product  lines.  Further  “tuck-in”  acquisitions  augmenting  Avery’s 
presence globally are also possible. 

Checkpoint expects continued strong demand in 2024 for RFID-related products, including categories beyond the retail 
and apparel space. By mid-2024, Checkpoint expects to commence commercial operations of its new RFID inlay facility in 
Mexico, positioning it as one of the leaders in the North American market. Notwithstanding, the core MAS and ALS retail 
and apparel product categories are also expected to grow and improve profitability in 2024.

44

2023 Annual Report

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Tabular amounts in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data)For Innovia, the first half of the year will be significantly focused on the closure of the Belgium bubble extrusion facility 
and the effective transition of its production to the U.K. and Australian facilities to ensure the expected incremental annual 
profitability of $17 million to $20 million is realized in future periods. There are also clear signs that the destocking-related 
demand decline in the label materials industry finally reached an end in 2023 with orders improving markedly in the first 
weeks of 2024. Successfully filling the capacity of the proprietary new “EcoFloat” shrink film line in Poland and completing 
timely milestone construction phases for the new thin-gauge film line in Germany are significant priorities for 2024.

The Company concluded the year with cash on hand of $774.2 million and unused availability on the revolving credit 
facility of approximately US$966.1 million. The Company’s liquidity position is robust, with a net debt leverage ratio of 
1.13 times Adjusted EBITDA at the end of the current year, despite business acquisitions and net capital investments 
of $324.3 million and $443.7 million, respectively, as well as $5.1 million used to buy back the Company’s Class B non-
voting shares. As always, the Company remains focused on vigilantly managing working capital and prioritizing capital 
to higher-growth organic opportunities or unique acquisitions expected to enhance shareholder value. The Company 
expects capital expenditures for 2024 to be approximately $455.0 million, supporting organic growth and new greenfield 
opportunities globally. Early first-quarter 2024 orders have been solid, raw material and energy cost pressures in line, with 
the economic impact of the conflicts in Europe and Middle East modest. If demand remains stable for the remainder of the 
year and the Company executes on its global growth initiatives, results for 2024 should deliver good progress over 2023.

2023 Annual Report

45

KPMG LLP
100 New Park Place, Suite 1400
KPMG LLP
Vaughan, ON L4K 0J3
100 New Park Place, Suite 1400 
Tel 905-265 5900
Vaughan, ON  L4K 0J3 
Fax 905-265 6390
Tel 905-265 5900 
www.kpmg.ca
Fax 905-265 6390 
www.kpmg.ca 

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT 

To the Shareholders of CCL Industries Inc.

Opinion
To the Shareholders of CCL Industries Inc.

We have audited the consolidated financial statements of CCL Industries Inc. 
Opinion 
(the Entity), which comprise:
We have audited the consolidated financial statements of CCL Industries Inc. 
•
the consolidated statements of financial position as at December 31, 2023
(the Entity), which comprise: 
and December 31, 2022
the consolidated statements of financial position as at December 31, 2023
the consolidated income statements for the years then ended
and December 31, 2022 

•
•

the consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the years then 
the consolidated income statements for the years then ended 
ended
the consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the years then
the consolidated statements of changes in equity for the years then ended
ended 

the consolidated statements of cash flows for the years then ended
the consolidated statements of changes in equity for the years then ended

and notes to the consolidated financial statements, including a summary of
the consolidated statements of cash flows for the years then ended 
material accounting policy information
and notes to the consolidated financial statements, including a summary of
material accounting policy information 

•
(Hereinafter referred to as the “financial statements”).

•
•

•
•

•
•
•
•

In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements present fairly, in all
(Hereinafter referred to as the “financial statements”). 
material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Entity as at 
In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements present fairly, in all 
December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, and its consolidated financial
material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Entity as at 
performance and its consolidated cash flows for the years then ended in 
December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, and its consolidated financial 
accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the International
performance and its consolidated cash flows for the years then ended in 
Accounting Standards Board. 
accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued 
Basis for Opinion
Accounting Standards Board. 

by the International 

We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted 
Basis for Opinion   
auditing standards.  Our responsibilities under those standards are further 
We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted 
described in the “Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial
auditing standards.  Our responsibilities under those standards are further
Statements” section of our auditor’s report.  
described in the “Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial 
We are independent of the Entity in accordance with the ethical requirements
Statements” section of our auditor’s report.   
that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in Canada and we 
We are independent of the Entity in accordance with the ethical requirements 
that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in Canada and we 

KPMG LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership and member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG 
International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee.   KPMG Canada provides services to KPMG LLP. 
Document classification: KPMG Confidential 

KPMG LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership and member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG
International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG Canada provides services to KPMG LLP.
Document classification: KPMG Confidential

46

2023 Annual Report

 
 
CCL Industries Inc. 
Fe
bruary 21, 2024 

have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these 
requirements. 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and 
appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.  

Key Audit Matters 

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of 
most significance in our audit of the financial statements for the year ended 
December 31, 2023. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit 
of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and 
we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. 

We have determined the matter described below to be the key audit matter to 
be communicated in our auditor’s report. 

Evaluation of the goodwill impairment recorded in the Innovia CGU 

Description of the matter 

We draw attention to Notes 2(d), 3(e)(i), 3(h(ii)) and 13 of the financial 
statements.   

The goodwill and indefinite-life intangible assets (goodwill and brands) 
balances were $2,293.6 million and $443.5 million respectively, of which 
$245.4 million and $54.6 million related to the Innovia cash-generating unit 
(CGU). The Entity performs goodwill and brands impairment testing annually 
or more frequently when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying 
amount of a CGU may exceed its recoverable amount. The recoverable 
amount is the higher of a CGU’s fair value, less costs to sell, and its value in 
use. The value in use is determined by discounting the future cash flows 
generated from the continuing performance of the CGU. The Entity has 
recorded a goodwill impairment of $95.0 million. Key assumptions used in the 
determination of the value in use include growth rates and discount rates. 

Why the matter is a key audit matter 

We identified the evaluation of the goodwill impairment loss recorded in the 
Innovia CGU as a key audit matter. This matter represented an area of 
significant risk of material misstatement and the high degree of estimation 
uncertainty in determining the value in use. Significant auditor attention and 
significant auditor judgment, in particular that of senior team members and 
valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, was required in 
performing and evaluating the results of our procedures.  

How the matter was addressed in the audit 

The primary procedures we performed to address this key audit matter 
included the following: 

2

2023 Annual Report

47

CCL Industries Inc. 
February 21, 2024 

We evaluated the forecast profitability of the Entity by comparing to its 
historical profitability growth rates. We took into account changes in conditions 
and events affecting the CGU to assess the adjustments, or lack of 
adjustments, made in arriving at those forecast cash flows. We considered the 
current economic environment along with internal and external 
communications made by the Entity to evaluate if they are indicative of a 
continuation of, or a change from, past experience. 

We involved valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, 
who assisted in assessing the discount rate, which was based on weighted 
average cost of capital (WACC) by comparing the Entity’s WACC to a WACC 
range that was independently developed using publicly available data 
including risk premiums, betas and debt to capital ratios for comparable 
entities. We assessed the reasonableness of the recoverable amount of 
goodwill and brand assets by developing an estimated recoverable amount 
using the Entity’s future cash flows and the independently developed discount 
rate developed by valuation professionals above, and comparing the result to 
the Entity’s estimated recoverable amount. 

We performed sensitivity analyses over key assumptions and assessed their 
impact on the Entity’s determination of the estimated recoverable amount of 
the CGU and the impairment recognized. 

Other Information 

Management is responsible for the other information. Other information 
comprises: 

•

•

the information included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis filed
with the relevant Canadian Securities Commissions.

the information, other than the financial statements and the auditor’s
report thereon, included in a document likely to be entitled “Annual
Report”.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information 
and we do not and will not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to 
read the other information identified above and, in doing so, consider whether 
the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or 
our knowledge obtained in the audit and remain alert for indications that the 
other information appears to be materially misstated.   

We obtained the information included in Management’s Discussion and 
Analysis filed with the relevant Canadian Securities Commissions as at the 
date of this auditor’s report. If, based on the work we have performed on this 
other information, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this 
other information, we are required to report that fact in the auditor’s report. 

48

2023 Annual Report

3

 
CCL Industries Inc. 
February 21, 2024 

We have nothing to report in this regard. 

The information, other than the financial statements and the auditor’s report 
thereon, included in a document likely to be entitled “Annual Report” is 
expected to be made available to us after the date of this auditor’s report. If, 
based on the work we will perform on this other information, we conclude that 
there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to 
report that fact to those charged with governance. 

Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with 
Governance for the Financial Statements 

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the 
financial statements in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued 
by the International Accounting Standards Board, and for such internal control 
as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial 
statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or 
error. 

In preparing the financial statements, management is responsible for 
assessing the Entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing as 
applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern 
basis of accounting unless management either intends to liquidate the Entity 
or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so. 

Those charged with governance are responsible for overseeing the Entity’s 
financial reporting process. 

Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial 
Statements 

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial 
statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to 
fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion.  

Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that 
an audit conducted in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing 
standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.  

Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, 
individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to 
influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial 
statements. 

As part of an audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing 
standards, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional 
skepticism throughout the audit.  

We also:

4

2023 Annual Report

49

CCL Industries Inc.

February 21, 2024

We have nothing to report in this regard.

The information, other than the financial statements and the auditor’s report

thereon, included in a document likely to be entitled “Annual Report” is

expected to be made available to us after the date of this auditor’s report. If,

based on the work we will perform on this other information, we conclude that

there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to 

report that fact to those charged with governance.

Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with 

Governance for the Financial Statements

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the

financial statements in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued 

by the International Accounting Standards Board, and for such internal control

as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial 

statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or 

error.

In preparing the financial statements, management is responsible for

assessing the Entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing as

applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern 

basis of accounting unless management either intends to liquidate the Entity

or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.

Those charged with governance are responsible for overseeing the Entity’s

financial reporting process.

Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial

Statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial

statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to 

fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion.

Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that 

an audit conducted in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing 

standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. 

Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, 
individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to 
influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial
statements.
CCL Industries Inc. 
As part of an audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing 
February 21, 2024 
standards, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional
skepticism throughout the audit. 

We also: 

•

Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial
statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit
procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is
sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is
higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion,
forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of
internal control.

• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to
design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not
for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the
Entity's internal control.

• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the

reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by
management.

• Conclude on the appropriateness of management's use of the going

concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained,
whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that
may cast significant doubt on the Entity's ability to continue as a going
concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required
to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the
financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our
opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to
the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may
cause the Entity to cease to continue as a going concern.

• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial

statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial
statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner
that achieves fair presentation.

• Communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among

other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant
audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that
we identify during our audit.

• Provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have

complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and
communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may
reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where
applicable, related safeguards.

• Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial

information of the entities or business activities within the group Entity to
express an opinion on the financial statements. We are responsible for the 

4

5

50

2023 Annual Report

CCL Industries Inc.

February 21, 2024

•

Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial

statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit 

procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is

sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is

higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion,

forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of 

internal control.

• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to 

design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not 

for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the 

Entity's internal control. 

• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the

reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by

management.

• Conclude on the appropriateness of management's use of the going

concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, 

whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that 

may cast significant doubt on the Entity's ability to continue as a going

concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required

to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the

financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our

opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to 

the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may

cause the Entity to cease to continue as a going concern.

• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial

statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial

statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner

that achieves fair presentation.

• Communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among

other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant 
audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that 
we identify during our audit.

• Provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have 
CCL Industries Inc.
February 21, 2024

complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and
communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may
reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where 
applicable, related safeguards.

CCL Industries Inc.
February 21, 2024

• Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial 

• Determine, from the matters communicated with those charged with

• Determine, from the matters communicated with those charged with

direction, supervision and performance of the group audit. We remain 
information of the entities or business activities within the group Entity to 
solely responsible for our audit opinion.
express an opinion on the financial statements. We are responsible for the 
direction, supervision and performance of the group audit. We remain 
governance, those matters that were of most significance in the audit of
solely responsible for our audit opinion.
the financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key
audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor’s report unless law
governance, those matters that were of most significance in the audit of
or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in
the financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key
extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be
audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor’s report unless law
communicated in our auditor’s report because the adverse consequences
or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in
of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest
extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be
benefits of such communication.
communicated in our auditor’s report because the adverse consequences
of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest
benefits of such communication.

5

Chartered Professional Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants

The engagement partner on the audit resulting in this auditor’s report is
Tammy L. Brown.
Chartered Professional Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants
Vaughan,  Canada 
The engagement partner on the audit resulting in this auditor’s report is
February 21, 2024
Tammy L. Brown.

Vaughan,  Canada 

February 21, 2024

6

6

51

2023 Annual Report

C O N S O L I D AT E D   S TAT E M E N T S   O F   F I N A N C I A L   P O S I T I O N

(In millions of Canadian dollars)

As at December 31

Assets
Current assets 

Cash and cash equivalents 
Trade and other receivables 
Inventories 
Prepaid expenses 
Income taxes recoverable 
Derivative instruments 

Total current assets 

Non-current assets 

Property, plant and equipment 
Right-of-use assets  
Goodwill 
Intangible assets 
Deferred tax assets 
Equity-accounted investments 
Other assets 
Derivative instruments 

Total non-current assets 

Total assets 

Liabilities 
Current liabilities 

Trade and other payables 
Current portion of long-term debt 
Lease liabilities 
Income taxes payable 
Derivative instruments 

Total current liabilities 

Non-current liabilities 

Long-term debt 
Lease liabilities 
Deferred tax liabilities 
Employee benefits
Provisions and other long-term liabilities 
Derivative instruments

Total non-current liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Equity 

Share capital 
Contributed surplus 
Retained earnings 
Accumulated other comprehe nsive loss 

Total equity attributable to shareholders of the Company 

Acquisitions
Commitments and contingencies 
Subsequent events

Total liabilities and equity 

On behalf of the Board:

Note

2023 

2022

6 
7 
8 

10 
11 
12,13 
12,13 
15 
9 

24 

14 
18 

18 

15 
20 

24

16 

29 

5
26 
31

$ 

774.2 
1,089.3 
732.3 
50.6 
38.8 
0.1 

2,685.3 

2,466.4 
213.7 
2,293.6 
1,032.0 
105.0 
85.0 
25.2 
18.0 

6,238.9 

$ 

839.5
1,100.5
785.1
50.0
44.6
—

2,819.7

2,212.3
180.2
2,193.5
1,018.3
71.5
79.5
23.9
65.5

5,844.7

$  8,924.2 

$ 

8,664.4

$ 

$  1,329.5 
6.9 
45.0 
35.5 
— 

1,416.9 

2,067.8 
162.7 
346.2 
282.5 
13.9 
11.0 

2,884.1 

4,301.0 

520.5 
157.9 
4,056.2 
(111.4) 

4,623.2 

1,394.4
6.6
40.0
60.3
0.1

1,501.4

2,175.6
139.6
311.7
256.9
14.0
—

2,897.8

4,399.2

468.4
132.0
3,730.2
(65.4)

4,265.2

$  8,924.2 

$ 

8,664.4

See accompanying explanatory notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Donald G. Lang
Director

Geoffrey T. Martin
Director 

52

2023 Annual Report 
 
C O N S O L I D AT E D   I N C O M E   S TAT E M E N T S

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)

Years ended December 31 

Sales 
Cost of sales 

Gross profit
Selling, general and administrative expenses 
Restructuring and other items 
Goodwill impairment loss  
Earnings in equity-accounted investments 

Finance cost 
Finance income 
Interest on lease liabilities 

Net finance cost

Earnings before income tax 
Income tax expense 

Net earnings  

Earnings per share 
Basic earnings per Class B share 

Diluted earnings per Class B share 

See accompanying explanatory notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Note

30 
13 

19 
19 
11,19 

22 

17 

17 

2023 

$  6,649.6 
4,735.2 

$ 

1,914.4 
985.6 
42.8 
95.0 
(17.9) 

808.9 

94.2 
(23.6) 
7.4 

78.0 

730.9 
200.7 

530.2 

2.99 

2.95 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2022

6,382.2
4,667.0

1,715.2
852.6
11.7
—
(19.9)

870.8

72.2
(12.9)
5.5

64.8

806.0
183.3

622.7

3.50

3.48

53

2023 Annual Report 
C O N S O L I D AT E D   S TAT E M E N T S   O F   C O M P R E H E N S I V E   I N C O M E

(In millions of Canadian dollars)

Years ended December 31

Net earnings  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: 
Items that may subsequently be reclassified to income:

Foreign currency translation adjustment for foreign operations, net of  

tax expense of $4.5 for the year ended December 31, 2023 (2022 – tax recovery of $1.4) 

Net losses on hedges of net investment in foreign operations, net of tax recovery of $3.6  

for the year ended December 31, 2023 (2022 – tax recovery of $3.7) 

Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges, net of tax recovery of $0.1

for the year ended December 31, 2023 (2022 – tax recovery of $0.1) 

Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges transferred to the income statement, 
  net of tax recovery of $0.1 for the year ended December 31, 2023 (2022 – tax recovery of $0.1) 
Actuarial gains (losses) on defined benefit post-employment plans, net of tax recovery of $3.9 

for the year ended December 31, 2023 (2022 – tax expense of $16.8) 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 

Total comprehensive income 

See accompanying explanatory notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

2023 

2022

$ 

530.2 

$ 

622.7

(22.7) 

(23.4) 

(0.3) 

0.4 

(11.2) 

(57.2) 

$ 

473.0 

$ 

200.4

(24.4)

(0.3)

0.3

45.8

221.8

844.5

54

2023 Annual Report 
 
 
C O N S O L I D AT E D   S TAT E M E N T S   O F   C H A N G E S   I N   E Q U I T Y

(In millions of Canadian dollars)

Balance, January 1, 2022 

Net earnings 
Dividends declared 

Class A 
  Class B 
Defined benefit plan actuarial gains, net of tax 
Stock-based compensation plan 
Stock option expense 
Stock options exercised 
Income tax effect related to stock options 
Repurchase of shares (note 16) 
Other comprehensive gain  

Class A 
Shares 
(note 16) 

Class B 
Shares 
(note 16) 

Total 
Share 
Capital 

Contributed 
Surplus 

Accumulated 
Other 
Comprehensive 
Gain 
(Loss) 

Retained 
Earnings 

Total 
Equity 
Attributable
to 
Shareholders

$ 

4.5  $ 

457.6  $ 

462.1 

$ 

103.6  $ 

3,422.7 

$  (241.4)  $ 

3,747.0

— 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

— 

— 

— 

622.7 

— 

622.7

— 
— 
— 
9.0 
— 
6.6 
— 
(9.3) 
— 

— 
— 
— 
9.0 
— 
6.6 
— 
(9.3) 
— 

— 
— 
— 
28.6 
0.9 
(1.2) 
0.1 
— 
— 

(11.2) 
(159.1) 
45.8 
— 
— 
— 
— 
(190.7) 
— 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
176.0 

(11.2)
(159.1)
45.8
37.6
0.9
5.4
0.1
(200.0)
176.0

Balance, December 31, 2022 

$ 

4.5  $ 

463.9  $ 

468.4 

$ 

132.0  $ 

3,730.2 

$ 

(65.4)  $ 

4,265.2

Net earnings  
Dividends declared 

Class A 
  Class B 
Defined benefit plan actuarial loss, net of tax 
Stock-based compensation plan 
Stock options exercised 
Income tax effect related to stock options 
Repurchase of shares (note 16) 
Other comprehensive loss  

— 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

— 

— 

— 

530.2 

— 

530.2

— 
— 
— 
17.9 
34.5 
— 
(0.3) 
— 

— 
— 
— 
17.9 
34.5 
— 
(0.3) 
— 

— 
— 
— 
31.6 
(5.9) 
0.2 
— 
— 

(12.4) 
(175.8) 
(11.2) 
— 
— 
— 
(4.8) 
— 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
(46.0) 

(12.4)
(175.8)
(11.2)
49.5
28.6
0.2
(5.1)
(46.0)

Balance, December 31, 2023  

$ 

4.5  $ 

516.0  $ 

520.5 

$ 

157.9  $  4,056.2 

$  (111.4)  $  4,623.2

See accompanying explanatory notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

55

2023 Annual ReportC O N S O L I D AT E D   S TAT E M E N T S   O F   C A S H   F L O W S

(In millions of Canadian dollars)

Years ended December 31

Cash provided by (used for) 

Operating activities 
Net earnings 
Adjustments for: 

Property, plant and equipment depreciation 
Right-of-use assets depreciation 
Intangible amortization  
Earnings in equity-accounted investments, net of dividends received 
Net finance cost
Current income tax expense 
Deferred income tax recovery 
Equity-settled share-based payment transactions 
Goodwill impairment loss 
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment 

Change in inventories 
Change in trade and other receivables 
Change in prepaid expenses 
Change in trade and other payables  
Change in income taxes recoverable and payable 
Change in employee benefits
Change in other assets and liabilities 

Net interest paid 
Income taxes paid 

Cash provided by operating activities 

Financing activities 

Proceeds on issuance of long-term debt 
Repayment of long-term debt 
Repayment of lease liabilities 
Proceeds from issuance of shares 
Repurchase of shares (note 16) 
Dividends paid 

Cash used for financing activities

Investing activities 

Additions to property, plant and equipment 
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment 
Business acquisitions (note 5) 

Cash used for investing activities 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 
Translation adjustments on cash and cash equivalents 

2023 

2022

$ 

530.2 

$ 

622.7

283.8 
50.7 
68.8 
(10.5) 
78.0 
220.8 
(20.1) 
49.7 
95.0 
(9.0) 

1,337.4 
77.4 
39.2 
(0.4) 
(120.7) 
(0.8) 
5.6 
(26.6) 

1,311.1 
(61.4) 
(246.4) 

1,003.3 

330.9 
(414.6) 
(46.8) 
28.6 
(5.1) 
(188.2) 

(295.2) 

(461.6) 
17.9 
(324.3) 

(768.0) 

(59.9) 
839.5 
(5.4) 

257.1
42.1
66.1
(13.5)
64.8
210.9
(27.6)
38.6
—
(13.8)

1,247.4
(69.6)
23.6
(0.6)
41.9
(4.0)
(12.7)
30.4

1,256.4
(56.7)
(206.9)

992.8

1,010.7
(676.6)
(41.8)
5.4
(200.0)
(170.3)

(72.6)

(447.2)
27.8
(287.2)

(706.6)

213.6
602.1
23.8

839.5

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

$ 

774.2 

$ 

See accompanying explanatory notes to the consolidated financial statements.

56

2023 Annual Report 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   T H E   C O N S O L I D AT E D   F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S

Years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)

1 . R E P O R T I N G   E N T I T Y

CCL Industries Inc. (the “Company”) is a public company, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, and is incorporated and 
domiciled in Canada. These consolidated financial statements of the Company as at and for the years ended December 31, 
2023 and 2022, comprise the results of the Company, its subsidiaries and its interest in joint ventures and associates. The 
Company has manufacturing facilities around the world and is primarily involved in the manufacture of labels, consumer 
printable media products, technology-driven label solutions, polymer banknote substrates and specialty films. 

2 .     B A S I S   O F   P R E PA R AT I O N

(a) Statement of compliance

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by 
the International Accounting Standards Board. 

These consolidated financial statements were authorized for issue by the Company’s Board of Directors on February 21, 
2024.

(b)  Basis of measurement 

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis except for the following items in 
the consolidated statements of financial position:

• Derivative financial instruments are measured at fair value;

• Financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss are measured at fair value; and

•

 Assets related to the defined benefit plans are measured at fair value and liabilities related to the defined benefit plans
are calculated by qualified actuaries using the projected unit credit method

(c)  Presentation currency

These consolidated financial statements are presented in Canadian dollars, which is the Company’s presentation currency. 
All financial information, except per share information, is presented in millions of Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted.

(d)  Use of estimates and judgements

The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions 
that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of sales and expenses during the year and the 
reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial 
statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Estimates and assumptions are used mainly in determining the measurement of recognized transactions and balances.

In the process of applying the Company’s accounting policies, management makes various judgements, apart from those 
involving estimations, that can significantly affect the amounts it recognizes in the financial statements. 

Judgements, estimates and assumptions are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other 
factors including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. 

The Company has applied judgement in its assessment of the classification of financial instruments, the recognition 
and derecognition of tax losses and provisions, the determination of cash-generating units (“CGUs”), the identification 
of the indicators of impairment for property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and right-of-use assets, the level 
of componentization of property, plant and equipment and the allocation of purchase price adjustments on business 
combinations. 

Estimates are used when determining the amounts recorded for depreciation and amortization of property, plant and 
equipment, intangible assets, right-of-use assets, outstanding self-insurance claims, pension and other post-employment 
benefits, income and other taxes, provisions, lease liabilities, certain fair value measures, including those related to the 
valuation of business combinations, share-based payments and financial instruments and in the valuation of goodwill and 
intangible assets.

57

2023 Annual Report3 . M AT E R I A L   AC C O U N T I N G   P O L I C I E S

The accounting policies set out below have been applied consistently to all comparative information presented in these 
consolidated financial statements. 

(a)  Basis of consolidation

(i)  Business combinations

The Company measures goodwill as the fair value of the consideration transferred including the recognized amount of 
any non-controlling interest in the acquiree, less the net recognized amount (generally fair value) of the identifiable assets 
acquired and liabilities assumed, all measured as of the acquisition date. When the excess is negative, a bargain purchase 
gain is recognized immediately in profit or loss. The Company elects to measure, on a transaction-by-transaction basis, 
non-controlling interest either at its fair value or at its proportionate share of the recognized amount of the identifiable net 
assets at the acquisition date. Transaction costs, other than those associated with the issue of debt or equity securities, 
that the Company incurs in connection with a business combination are expensed as incurred. 

(ii)  Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Company. Control exists when the Company is exposed to, or has rights to, 
variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the 
entity. The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date that 
control commences until the date that control ceases. The accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed, when 
necessary, to align them with the policies adopted by the Company.

(iii)  Associates and joint arrangements

The Company’s interests in equity-accounted investees comprise interests in associates and joint ventures.

Associates are those entities in which the Company has significant influence, but not control or joint control, over the 
financial and operating policies. Significant influence is presumed to exist when the Company holds between 20% and 
50% of the voting power of another entity. 

The Company classifies its interest in joint arrangements as either joint operations (if the Company has rights to the assets 
and has obligations for the liabilities relating to an arrangement) or joint ventures (if the Company has the rights only to the 
net assets of an arrangement). When making this assessment, the Company considers the structure of the arrangements, 
the legal form of any separate vehicles, the contractual terms of the arrangements and other facts and circumstances.

Investments in associates and joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method and are recognized initially at 
cost. The Company’s investments include goodwill identified on acquisition, net of any accumulated impairment losses. 
The consolidated financial statements include the Company’s share of the income and expenses and equity movements of 
equity-accounted investees, after adjustments to align the accounting policies with those of the Company, from the date 
that significant influence commences until the date that it ceases. When the Company’s share of losses exceeds its interest 
in an equity-accounted investee, the carrying amount of that interest (including any long-term investments) is reduced to 
nil and the recognition of further losses is discontinued, except to the extent that the Company has an obligation or has 
made payments on behalf of the investee.

(iv)  Transactions eliminated on consolidation

Inter-company  balances  and  transactions,  and  any  unrealized  income  and  expenses  arising  from  inter-company 
transactions, are eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements. Unrealized gains arising from transactions 
with equity-accounted investees are eliminated against the investment to the extent of the Company’s interest in the 
investee. Unrealized losses are eliminated in the same way as unrealized gains, but only to the extent that there is no 
evidence of impairment.

(b)  Foreign currency

(i)  Foreign currency transactions

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated to the respective functional currencies of the Company’s entities using 
exchange rates at the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the 
reporting date are translated to the functional currency using the exchange rate at that date. The foreign currency gain 
or loss on monetary items is the difference between amortized cost in the functional currency at the beginning of the 
period, adjusted for effective interest and payments during the period, and the amortized cost in the foreign currency 

58

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Reporttranslated at the exchange rate at the end of the period. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign 
currencies that are measured at fair value are translated to the functional currency at the exchange rate at the date that 
the fair value was determined. Foreign currency differences arising on translation are recognized in the consolidated 
income statement, except for differences arising on the translation of a financial liability designated as a hedge of the net 
investment in a foreign operation or qualifying cash flow hedges, which are recognized directly in other comprehensive 
income (see note 3(b)(iii)). Foreign currency-denominated non-monetary items, measured at historical cost, have been 
translated at the rate of exchange at the transaction date.

The financial statements of each of the Company’s subsidiaries are measured using the currency of the primary economic 
environment in which the entity operates. 

The  assets  and  liabilities  of  foreign  operations,  including  goodwill  and  fair  value  adjustments  arising  on  acquisition, 
are translated into Canadian dollars using exchange rates at the reporting date. The income and expenses of foreign 
operations are translated into Canadian dollars using the average exchange rates for the period.

(ii)  Foreign operations

Foreign currency differences are recognized directly in other comprehensive income and presented within the foreign 
currency translation adjustment.

When a foreign operation is disposed of, the amount in other comprehensive income related to the foreign operation is 
fully transferred to the consolidated income statement. A disposal occurs when the entire interest in the foreign operation 
is disposed of or, in the case of a partial disposal, when the partial disposal results in the loss of control of a subsidiary 
or  the  loss  of  significant  influence.  For  any  partial  disposal  of  the  Company’s  interest  in  a  subsidiary  that  includes  a 
foreign operation, the Company re-attributes the proportionate share of the relevant amounts in other comprehensive 
income to non-controlling interests. For any other partial disposal of a foreign operation, the Company reclassifies to the 
consolidated income statement only the proportionate share of the relevant amount in other comprehensive income.

Foreign exchange gains and losses arising from a monetary item receivable from, or payable to, a foreign operation, the 
settlement of which is neither planned nor likely in the foreseeable future, are considered to form part of a net investment 
in  a  foreign  operation  and  are  recognized  directly  in  other  comprehensive  income  and  presented  within  the  foreign 
currency translation adjustment.

(iii)  Hedge of net investment in a foreign operation

The Company applies hedge accounting to the foreign currency exposure arising between the functional currency of the 
foreign operation and the parent entity’s functional currency, regardless of whether the net investment is held directly 
or through an intermediate parent.

Foreign currency differences arising on the translation of a financial liability designated as a hedge of a net investment 
in a foreign operation are recognized directly in other comprehensive income to the extent that the hedge is effective. 
To the extent that the hedge is ineffective, such differences are recognized in the consolidated income statement. When 
the hedged part of a net investment is disposed of or partially disposed of, the associated cumulative amount in equity is 
transferred to the consolidated income statement as an adjustment to the consolidated income statement on disposal, 
in accordance with the policy described in note 3(b)(ii).

(c)  Financial instruments 

(i)  Financial assets and liabilities

The Company recognizes financial assets and financial liabilities initially at fair value and subsequently measures them at 
either fair value or amortized cost based on the following classifications:

Amortized cost:

The Company classifies financial assets held to collect contractual cash flows at amortized cost, including cash and cash 
equivalents and trade and other receivables. The Company initially recognizes the carrying amount of such assets on the 
consolidated statement of financial position at fair value plus directly attributable transaction costs, and subsequently 
measures them at amortized cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses.

59

2023 Annual ReportFair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”):

Financial assets purchased and financial liabilities incurred, with the intention of generating earnings in the near term, 
are classified as FVTPL. This category includes derivative assets and derivative liabilities that do not qualify for hedge 
accounting, if any. For items classified as FVTPL, the Company initially recognizes such financial assets on the consolidated 
statement of financial position at fair value and recognizes subsequent changes in the consolidated income statement. 
Transaction costs incurred are expensed in the consolidated income statements. The Company does not currently hold 
any assets and liabilities designated as FVTPL. 

Fair value through other comprehensive income (“FVTOCI”):

This category includes the Company’s investments in securities. Subsequent to initial recognition, they are measured at 
fair value on the consolidated statement of financial position and changes therein are recognized in other comprehensive 
income.  When  an  investment  is  derecognized,  the  accumulated  gain  or  loss  in  other  comprehensive  income  is  not 
transferred to the consolidated income statement.

Other financial liabilities:

This category is for financial liabilities that are not classified as FVTPL or FVTOCI and includes trade and other payables and 
long-term debt. These financial liabilities are recorded at amortized cost on the consolidated statement of financial position.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount presented in the statement of financial position when, and 
only when, the Company has a legal right to offset the amounts and intends either to settle on a net basis or to realize the 
asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

(ii) 

 Derivative financial instruments, including hedge accounting

The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage its foreign currency and interest-rate-risk exposure and its 
price-risk exposure related to the purchase of raw materials. Embedded derivatives are separated from the host contract 
and accounted for separately. If the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract and the embedded derivative 
are not closely related, a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative would meet the definition 
of a derivative, and the combined instrument is not measured at fair value through the consolidated income statement. 
Changes in the fair value of separable embedded derivatives are recognized immediately in the consolidated income 
statement.

On initial designation of the hedge, the Company formally documents the relationship between the hedging instrument(s) 
and hedged item(s), including the risk management objectives and strategy in undertaking the hedge transaction, together 
with the methods that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the hedging relationship. The Company makes periodic 
assessments of prospective hedge effectiveness. 

The fair value of forward exchange contracts is based on their listed market prices, if available. If a listed market price is 
not available, then fair value is estimated by discounting the difference between the contractual forward price and the 
current forward price for the residual maturity of the contract using a risk-free interest rate (based on government bonds).

The fair value of interest rate swaps is based on broker quotes. Those quotes are tested for reasonableness by discounting 
estimated future cash flows based on the terms and maturity of each contract and using market interest rates for a similar 
instrument at the measurement date.

Fair values reflect the credit risk of the instrument and include adjustments to take into account the credit risk of the group 
entity and counterparty when appropriate.

Cash flow hedges

When a derivative is designated as the hedging instrument in a hedge of the variability in cash flows attributable to a 
particular risk associated with a recognized asset or liability or a highly probable forecast transaction that could affect profit 
or loss, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is recognized in other comprehensive income 
and presented in the hedging reserve in equity. The amount recognized in other comprehensive income is removed and 
included in profit or loss in the same period that the hedged cash flows affect profit or loss, under the same line item in 
the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as the hedged item. Any ineffective portion of changes in the fair 
value of the derivative is recognized immediately in the consolidated income statement.

If the hedging instrument no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, or it expires or is sold, terminated, exercised, 
or the designation is revoked, then hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively. The cumulative gain or loss previously 
recognized in other comprehensive income and presented in unrealized gains or losses on cash flow hedges in equity 
remains there until the forecast transaction affects profit or loss. When the hedged item is a non-financial asset, the 

60

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Reportamount recognized in other comprehensive income is transferred to the carrying amount of the asset when the asset is 
recognized. If the forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, then the balance in other comprehensive income 
is recognized immediately in profit or loss. In other cases, the amount recognized in other comprehensive income is 
transferred to the consolidated income statement in the same period that the hedged item affects profit or loss.

Fair value hedges

Fair value hedges are hedges of the fair value of recognized assets, liabilities or unrecognized firm commitments. Changes 
in the fair value of derivatives that are designated as fair value hedges are recorded in the consolidated income statement, 
together with any changes in the fair value of the hedged item that are attributable to the hedged risk.

(d)  Property, plant and equipment

(i)  Recognition and measurement

Items of property, plant and equipment are measured at cost, less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment 
losses.

Cost includes expenditures that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset. The cost of self-constructed assets 
includes the cost of materials and direct labour, any other costs directly attributable to bringing the assets to a working 
condition for their intended uses, and the costs of dismantling and removing the items and restoring the site on which 
they are located. Purchased software that is integral to the functionality of the related equipment is capitalized as part 
of that equipment. 

The fair value of property, plant and equipment recognized as a result of a business combination is based on the amount 
for which a property could be exchanged on the date of valuation between knowledgeable, willing parties in an arm’s 
length transaction.

Borrowing costs related to the acquisition, construction or production of qualifying assets are capitalized as part of the 
cost of the assets. 

When parts of an item of property, plant and equipment have different useful lives, they are accounted for as separate 
items (major components) of property, plant and equipment.

Gains and losses on disposal of an item of property, plant and equipment are determined by comparing the proceeds 
from disposal with the carrying amount of property, plant and equipment and are recognized within selling, general and 
administrative expenses in the consolidated income statement.

The cost of replacing a part of an item of property, plant and equipment is recognized in the carrying amount of the item 
if it is probable that the future economic benefits embodied within the part will flow to the Company and its cost can be 
measured reliably. The carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognized. The costs of the day-to-day servicing of 
property, plant and equipment are recognized in profit or loss as incurred.

(ii)  Depreciation 

Depreciation is calculated based on the cost of the asset, or other amount substituted for cost, less its residual value.

Depreciation is recognized in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of each part of an item 
of property, plant and equipment, since this most closely reflects the expected pattern of consumption of the future 
economic benefits embodied in the asset. 

The estimated useful lives for the current and comparative periods are as follows: 

• Buildings
• Machinery and equipment
• Fixtures and fittings
• Minor components

 Up to 40 years 
 Up to 20 years  
 Up to 10 years  
  Up to 5 years

Depreciation methods, useful lives and residual values are reviewed at each reporting date and adjusted if appropriate. 

61

2023 Annual Report(e)  Intangible assets

(i)  Goodwill

Goodwill  arises  on  the  acquisition  of  subsidiaries  and  is  tested  for  impairment  annually  or  more  frequently  if  events 
or  circumstances  indicate  that  the  carrying  amount  may  not  be  recoverable.  For  measurement  of  goodwill  at  initial 
recognition, see note 3(a)(i).

Subsequent measurement

Goodwill  is  measured  at  cost,  less  accumulated  impairment  losses.  In  respect  of  equity-accounted  investments,  the 
carrying amount of goodwill is included in the carrying amount of the investment.

(ii)  Other intangible assets

Indefinite life intangibles, such as brands, are tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or circumstances 
indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

Intangible assets consist of patents, trademarks, brands, software and the value of acquired customer relationships. 
Impairment losses for intangible assets where the carrying value is not recoverable are measured based on fair value. Fair 
value is calculated by using discounted cash flows. 

The  fair  values  of  customer  relationships  acquired  in  a  business  combination  are  determined  using  the  multi-period 
excess earnings method, whereby the subject asset is valued after deducting a fair return on all other assets that are part 
of creating the related cash flows. 

The fair values of brands acquired in a business combination are determined using the multi-period excess earnings 
method  or  the  relief  of  royalty  method,  whereby  the  value  of  the  brand  is  equal  to  the  royalty  savings  from  having 
ownership as opposed to licensing the brand. 

Amortization is recognized in the consolidated income statement on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives 
of intangible assets, other than indefinite-life intangible assets, such as brands and goodwill, from the date that they are 
available for use. The estimated useful lives for the current and comparative years are as follows: 

• Patents, trademarks and other
• Customer relationships
• Brands and goodwill

Up to 15 years 
Up to 20 years 
Indefinite-life

(f)  Leases

The Company recognizes right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for all leases with a term of more than 12 months, unless 
the underlying asset is of low value. The right-of-use asset is measured based on the initial value of the lease liability 
adjusted  for  lease  payments  made  at  or  before  the  commencement  of  the  lease,  initial  direct  costs  and  estimated 
dismantling and restoring costs. The right-of-use asset is depreciated over the shorter of the lease term and the asset’s 
useful life, unless it is reasonably certain the Company will obtain ownership by the end of the lease term, in which case 
the asset is depreciated over its useful life. 

The lease liability is measured at the present value of all future lease payments discounted at the lessee’s incremental 
borrowing rate. Lease liabilities are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method whereby interest 
is recognized in profit or loss over the lease term.

The Company has adopted the practical expedients related to short-term leases and leases of low-value assets whereby 
lease  obligations  associated  with  these  leases  are  recognized  as  an  expense  in  the  consolidated  income  statement 
when incurred.

(g)  Inventories

Inventories are measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The cost of inventories is based on the first-in, 
first-out principle and includes expenditures incurred in acquiring the inventories, production or conversion costs, and 
other costs incurred in bringing them to their existing locations and conditions. In the case of manufactured inventories 
and work in progress, cost includes an appropriate share of production overheads based on normal operating capacity. 

Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less the estimated costs of completion 
and selling.

62

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual ReportThe fair value of inventories acquired in a business combination is determined based on the estimated selling price in the 
ordinary course of business, less the estimated costs of completion and sale, and a reasonable profit margin based on 
the effort required to complete and sell the inventories.

Estimates regarding obsolete and slow-moving inventory are also computed.

(h)  Impairment

(i)  Financial assets, including receivables

A financial asset not carried at FVTPL is assessed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any objective 
evidence that it is impaired. A financial asset is considered to be impaired if objective evidence indicates an expected 
credit loss (“ECL”). Loss allowances are measured based on lifetime ECLs where losses are recognized from all possible 
default events over the expected life of a financial instrument. 

The Company considers evidence of impairment for financial assets measured at amortized cost at both a specific asset 
and a collective level. All individually significant financial assets measured at amortized cost are assessed for specific 
impairment. All individually significant financial assets measured at amortized cost that are found not to be specifically 
impaired are then collectively assessed for any impairment that has been incurred but not yet identified. 

In assessing collective impairment, the Company uses historical trends of the probability of default, timing of recoveries 
and the amount of expected loss, adjusted for management’s judgement as to whether current and expected future 
economic and credit conditions are such that the expected losses are likely to be greater than or less than those suggested 
by historical trends. 

An impairment loss in respect of a financial asset measured at amortized cost is calculated as the difference between 
its carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash flows discounted at the original effective interest 
rate and reflected in an allowance account against trade receivables. Losses are recognized in the consolidated income 
statement. When a subsequent event causes the amount of impairment loss to decrease, the decrease in impairment loss 
is reversed through profit or loss.

(ii)  Non-financial assets 

The  carrying  amounts  of  non-financial  assets,  other  than  inventories  and  deferred  tax  assets,  are  reviewed  at  each 
reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, the impairment 
would be recognized in the consolidated income statement.

Impairments  are  recorded  when  the  expected  recoverable  amount  of  assets  is  less  than  their  carrying  amount.  The 
recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s or a cash-generating unit’s fair value, less the cost to sell and its value in use. 
In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount 
rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. For the purpose 
of impairment testing, assets that cannot be tested individually are grouped together into the smallest group of assets 
that generates cash inflows from continuing use that are largely independent of the cash inflows of other assets or groups 
of assets. For the purposes of goodwill impairment testing, goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated 
to the CGU, or the group of CGUs, that is expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. This allocation is 
subject to an operating segment ceiling test and reflects the lowest level at which that goodwill is monitored for internal 
reporting purposes. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of an asset or its CGU exceeds its estimated 
recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognized in profit or loss. Impairment losses, other than those relating to 
goodwill, are evaluated for potential reversals when events or changes in circumstances warrant such consideration. 

The carrying values of finite-life intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances 
indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Additionally, the carrying values of goodwill and indefinite-
life intangibles are tested annually for impairment. 

An impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed. In respect of other assets, impairment losses recognized in 
prior years are assessed at each reporting date for any indication that the losses have decreased or no longer exist. An 
impairment loss is reversed if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. An 
impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that 
would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortization, if no impairment loss had been recognized.

Goodwill that forms part of the carrying amount of an equity-accounted investment is not recognized separately and 
therefore is not tested for impairment separately. Instead, the entire amount of the equity-accounted investment is tested 
for impairment as a single asset when there is objective evidence that the equity-accounted investment may be impaired.

63

2023 Annual Report(i)  Employee benefits

(i)  Defined contribution plans

A defined contribution plan is a post-employment benefit plan under which an entity pays fixed contributions into a 
separate entity and will have no legal or constructive obligation to pay further amounts. Obligations for contributions to 
defined contribution pension plans are recognized as an employee benefit expense in the consolidated income statement 
in the period that the service is rendered by the employee.

(ii)  Defined benefit plans

A defined benefit plan is a post-employment benefit plan other than a defined contribution plan. The Company’s net 
obligation in respect of defined benefit post-employment plans is calculated separately for each plan by estimating the 
amount of future benefit that employees have earned in return for their service in the current and prior periods; that 
benefit is discounted to determine its present value using a discount rate comparable to high-quality corporate bonds. Any 
unrecognized past service costs and the fair value of any plan assets are deducted. The calculation is performed annually 
by a qualified actuary using the projected unit credit method. When the calculation results in a benefit to the Company, the 
recognized asset is limited to the total of any unrecognized past service costs and the present value of economic benefits 
available in the form of any future refunds from the plan or reductions in future contributions to the plan. An economic 
benefit is available to the Company if it is realizable during the life of the plan or on settlement of the plan liabilities.

When the benefits of a plan are improved, the portion of the increased benefit relating to past service by employees is 
recognized in the consolidated income statement on a straight-line basis over the average period until the benefits become 
vested. To the extent that the benefits vest immediately, the expense is recognized immediately in the consolidated 
income statement.

The Company recognizes all actuarial gains and losses arising from defined benefit plans directly in other comprehensive 
income immediately and reports them in retained earnings.

The Company determines the net interest expense on the net defined benefit liability for the period by applying the 
discount rate used to measure the defined benefit obligation at the beginning of the annual period to the then net defined 
benefit liability, taking into account any changes in the net defined benefit liability during the period as a result of the 
contributions and benefit balances. Net interest expense and other expenses related to the defined benefit plans are 
recognized in profit or loss. 

(iii)  Termination benefits

Termination benefits are recognized as an expense when the Company is demonstrably committed, without realistic 
possibility of withdrawal, to a formal detailed plan to either terminate employment before the normal retirement date or 
provide termination benefits as a result of an offer made to encourage voluntary redundancy. Termination benefits for 
voluntary redundancies are recognized as an expense if the Company has made an offer of voluntary redundancy, it is 
probable that the offer will be accepted and the number of acceptances can be estimated reliably. If benefits are payable 
more than 12 months after the reporting period, then they are discounted to their present value. 

(iv)  Short-term benefits

Short-term employee benefit obligations are measured on an undiscounted basis and are recognized as the related service 
is provided.

(v)  Share-based payment transactions

For  equity-settled  share-based  plans,  the  grant-date  fair  value  of  options  granted  to  employees  is  recognized  as  an 
employee expense, with a corresponding increase in equity, over the period that the employees become unconditionally 
entitled to the options. The amount recognized as an expense is adjusted to reflect the actual number of share options 
for which the related service and non-market vesting conditions are expected to be met. The fair value of employee stock 
options is measured using the Black-Scholes model. Measurement inputs include the share price on the measurement 
date, the exercise price of the instrument, the expected volatility, the weighted-average expected life of the instrument, 
the expected dividends, and the risk-free interest rate. Service and non-market performance conditions attached to the 
awards are not taken into account in determining fair value.

For equity-settled share-based deferred share unit, performance stock unit, long-term retention and other restricted share 
unit plans, the grant-date fair value of deferred share units is recognized as an employee expense, with a corresponding 
increase in equity. The grant-date fair value is not subsequently remeasured. 

64

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Report(j)  Provisions

A provision is recognized if, as a result of a past event, the Company has a present legal or constructive obligation that can be 
estimated reliably and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation. Provisions 
are determined by discounting the expected future cash flows at a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of 
the time value of money and the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognized as a finance cost. 

(k)  Revenue

Revenue is measured based on the consideration specified in a contract with a customer. Revenue is recognized as 
performance  obligations  are  satisfied  and  the  Company  transfers  control  of  a  product  or  service  to  a  customer.  For 
performance obligations satisfied at a point in time, revenue is recognized when the Company has a present right to 
payment, the buyer has legal title to the asset, physical possession of the asset has transferred to the buyer, the buyer has 
the significant risks and rewards of ownership and the buyer has accepted the asset. Generally, the buyer obtains control 
at the time goods are shipped, the product is delivered or services are rendered. For performance obligations satisfied 
over time, revenue is recognized by measuring the progress toward complete satisfaction of that performance obligation. 
For customer contracts that contain multiple performance obligations, each element is treated separately for revenue 
recognition purposes. For these contracts, the total transaction price is allocated to each obligation based on its relative 
stand-alone selling price. Revenue is then recognized for each obligation when the relevant recognition criteria are met.

Certain contracts with customers contain incentives, including the payment of discounts based on quantities purchased. 
These incentives represent variable consideration and are estimated and recognized as a reduction of related revenues. 

(l)  Finance income and costs 

Finance income comprises interest income on invested funds, changes in the fair value of financial assets at FVTPL, and 
gains on hedging instruments that are recognized in the consolidated income statement. Interest income is recognized 
in the consolidated income statement as it accrues, using the effective interest method. 

Finance costs comprise interest expense on borrowings, unwinding of the discount on provisions, changes in the fair 
value of financial assets at FVTPL, impairment losses recognized on financial assets, and losses on hedging instruments 
that are recognized in the consolidated income statement. All borrowing costs are recognized in the consolidated income 
statement using the effective interest method, except for those amounts capitalized as part of the cost of qualifying 
property, plant and equipment.

(m)  Taxation

Income tax expense comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax expense is recognized in the consolidated income 
statement except to the extent that it relates to items recognized either in other comprehensive income or directly in 
equity. In such cases, the tax is also recognized in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively.

The company has adopted International Tax Reform – Pillar Two Model Rules (Amendments to IAS 12). These amendments 
provide temporary mandatory relief from deferred tax accounting for the impacts of the top-up tax and will account for 
it as a current tax when it is incurred.

(i)  Current tax

Current tax expense is based on the results for the period as adjusted for items that are not taxable or not deductible. 
Current tax is calculated using tax rates and laws that were enacted or substantively enacted at the end of the reporting 
period and includes any adjustments to taxes payable in respect of previous years. Management periodically evaluates 
positions taken in tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulation is subject to interpretation. 
Provisions are established where appropriate based on amounts expected to be paid to the tax authorities.

(ii)   Deferred tax

Deferred tax is recognized, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets 
and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the consolidated statement of financial position. Deferred tax is calculated 
using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the end of the reporting period and which 
are expected to apply when the related deferred tax asset is realized or the deferred tax liability is settled.

(iii)  Deferred tax liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognized for all taxable temporary differences. Deferred tax liabilities are recognized 
for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, except where the reversal of the 
temporary difference can be controlled by the Company and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse 
in the foreseeable future. 

65

2023 Annual Report(iv)  Deferred tax assets

A deferred tax asset is recognized for unused tax losses, tax credits and deductible temporary differences to the extent 
that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which they can be utilized. Deferred tax assets are 
reviewed at each reporting date and are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit 
will be realized. 

Deferred  tax  is  not  recognized  for  taxable  temporary  differences  arising  on  the  initial  recognition  of  goodwill  or  in 
respect of temporary differences that arise on initial recognition of assets and liabilities acquired, other than in a business 
combination, and those that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss.

(n) 

 Share capital

All shares are recorded as equity. When share capital is repurchased, the amount of the consideration paid, which includes 
directly attributable costs, net of any tax effect, is recognized as a deduction from equity. 

(o) 

 Earnings per share

The Company presents basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) data for its Class B shares. Basic EPS is calculated by 
dividing net earnings attributable to shareholders of the Company by the weighted average number of shares outstanding 
during the period. Diluted EPS is determined by adjusting net earnings attributable to shareholders and the weighted 
average number of shares outstanding for the effects of all potentially dilutive shares. 

(p)  Segment reporting

A segment is a distinguishable component of the Company that is engaged either in providing related products and 
services (business segment) or in providing products and services within a particular economic environment (geographical 
segment) and that is subject to risks and returns that are different from those of other segments. Segment information is 
presented in respect of the Company’s business and geographical segments. The Company’s primary format for segment 
reporting is based on business segments. The business segments are determined based on the Company’s management 
and internal reporting structure.

Segment results, assets and liabilities include items directly attributable to a segment as well as those that can be allocated 
on a reasonable basis. Unallocated items comprise mainly other investments and related revenue, loans and borrowings 
and  related  expenses,  corporate  assets  (primarily  the  Company’s  headquarters)  and  head  office expenses.  Segment 
capital expenditure is the total cost incurred during the period to acquire property, plant and equipment.

(q)  Government grants

Government grants are recognized when there is reasonable assurance that they will be received and that the Company 
will comply with conditions attached to the grant. Government grants for compensation of expenses are deducted from 
the related expense on a systematic basis in the periods in which the original expenses are recognized in profit or loss. 
Government grants related to assets are deducted in arriving at the assets carrying value. The grant is recognized in profit 
or loss over the life of a depreciable asset as a reduced depreciation expense.

4 .     S E G M E N T   R E P O R T I N G

(a) 

 Business segments

The Company has four reportable segments, as described below, which are the Company’s main business units. The 
business units offer different products and services and are managed separately as they require different technology and 
marketing strategies. For each of the business units, the Company’s CEO, the chief operating decision maker, reviews 
internal management reports regularly.

The Company’s reportable segments are the following: 

•   CCL is a converter of pressure sensitive and specialty extruded film materials for a wide range of decorative, instructional, 
functional and security applications for government institutions and large global customers in the consumer packaging, 
healthcare & chemicals, consumer electronic device and automotive markets. Extruded & laminated plastic tubes, 
aluminum  aerosols  &  specialty  bottles,  folded  instructional  leaflets,  precision  decorated  &  die  cut  components, 
electronic displays, polymer banknote substrate and other complementary products and services are sold in parallel to 
specific end-use markets.

66

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Report•

•

•

 Avery is a supplier of labels, specialty  converted  media  and software  solutions  to  enable short-run digital printing
in  businesses  and  homes  alongside  complementary  office products  sold  through  distributors  and  mass-market
retailers. The products are split into three primary lines: (1) Printable Media, including address labels, shipping labels,
marketing and product  identification  labels, business  cards,  and  name  badges  supported  by  customized  software
solutions;  (2)  Organizational  Products  Group,  including  binders,  sheet  protectors,  indexes  &  dividers  and  writing
instruments; (3) Direct-to-Consumer digitally imaged media, including labels, business cards, name badges, event
badges, wristbands and family-oriented identification labels supported by unique web-enabled e-commerce URLs.

 Checkpoint is a manufacturer of technology-driven loss-prevention, inventory-management and labeling solutions,
including radio frequency and radio frequency identification (“RFID”) solutions, to the retail and apparel industry. The
Segment has three primary product lines: Merchandise Availability Solutions (“MAS”), Apparel Labeling Solutions (“ALS”)
and “Meto.” The MAS line focuses on electronic-article-surveillance (“EAS”) systems; hardware, software, labels and tags
for loss prevention and inventory control systems including RFID solutions. ALS products are apparel labels and tags,
some of which are RFID capable. Meto supplies hand-held pricing tools and labels and promotional in-store displays.

 Innovia supplies specialty, high-performance, multi-layer, surface-engineered biaxially oriented polypropylene (“BOPP”)
films from facilities in Australia, Belgium, Mexico, Poland and the United Kingdom (“U.K.”) to customers in the pressure-
sensitive label materials, flexible packaging and consumer packaged goods industries worldwide. Additionally, a small
percentage of the total volume is sold internally to CCL Secure while two smaller film facilities, in Germany and the U.S.,
produce almost their entire output for CCL Label.

CCL 
Avery 
Checkpoint 
Innovia 

Corporate expenses 
Restructuring and other items 
Goodwill impairment loss  
Earnings in equity-accounted investments 
Finance cost 
Finance income 
Interest on lease liabilities 
Income tax expense 

Net earnings 

Operating Income

2023 

$  4,104.7 
1,039.9 
875.2 
629.8 

Sales 

2022 

$  3,855.1 
913.6 
818.7 
794.8 

$ 

2023 

633.5 
199.5 
132.0 
45.6 

$ 

$  6,649.6 

$  6,382.2 

$  1,010.6 

$ 

(81.8) 
(42.8) 
(95.0)
17.9 
(94.2) 
23.6 
(7.4) 
(200.7) 

2022

599.8
167.6
118.9
48.1

934.4

(71.8)
(11.7)
—
19.9
(72.2)
12.9
(5.5)
(183.3)

Total Assets 

Total Liabilities

Depreciation 
and Amortization 

Capital 
Expenditures

$ 

530.2 

$ 

622.7

December 31

2023 

2022 

2023

2022 

2023 

2022 

2023 

2022

CCL 
Avery 
Checkpoint 
Innovia 
Equity-accounted investments  
Corporate 

$  4,753.9  $  4,290.6 
1,102.7 
1,117.7 
1,157.2 
79.5 
916.7 

1,081.8 
1,106.7 
1,071.0 
85.0 
825.8 

$  1,182.1 
303.5 
426.4 
309.7 
— 
2,079.3 

$  1,178.6 
293.8 
445.0 
304.5 
— 
2,177.3 

$  262.7 
42.4 
47.4 
49.3 
— 
1.5 

$  234.5 
37.2 
43.0 
49.0 
— 
1.6 

$  324.7  $  322.9
38.0
50.8
35.4
—
0.1

13.1 
43.3 
80.5 
— 
— 

Total 

$  8,924.2  $  8,664.4 

$  4,301.0 

$  4,399.2 

$  403.3 

$  365.3 

$  461.6  $  447.2

All  revenues  are  from  products  and  services  transferred  at  a  point  in  time,  except  $78.3  million  for  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2023 (December 31, 2022 – $72.9 million), which are for installation and maintenance service arrangements 
within the Checkpoint Segment.

67

2023 Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(b) Geographical segments

The  CCL,  Avery,  Checkpoint  and  Innovia  Segments  are  managed  on  a  worldwide  basis  but  operate  in  the  following 
geographical areas:

• Canada;
• United States and Puerto Rico;
• Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Argentina;
• Europe; and
• Asia, Australia, Africa and New Zealand.

Canada 
United States and Puerto Rico 
Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Argentina 
Europe 
Asia, Australia, Africa and New Zealand 

$ 

2023 

153.5 
2,568.0 
849.3 
2,060.8 
1,018.0 

$ 

Sales 

2022 

152.7 
2,565.6 
709.6 
1,879.2 
1,075.1 

Property, Plant and  
Equipment, Goodwill  
and Intangible Assets

$ 

2023 

71.3 
2,024.6 
832.7 
2,090.4 
773.0 

$ 

2022

71.1
1,938.9
755.6
1,831.6
826.9

Consolidated 

$  6,649.6 

$  6,382.2 

$  5,792.0 

$ 

5,424.1

 The geographical segment is determined based on the location from which the sale is made.

5. AC Q U I S I T I O N S

(a) Acquisitions in 2023

In  April  2023,  the  Company  acquired  privately  owned  eAgile  Inc.  (“eAgile”),  based  in  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  for 
approximately $52.2 million, net of cash acquired. eAgile is a start-up technology company with proprietary, patented 
hardware and software solutions for the healthcare industry alongside RFID inlays embedded into labels. This business is 
being integrated into the CCL Segment.

In April 2023, the Company acquired the intellectual property of Alert Systems ApS (“Alert”), based in Hoersholm, Denmark, 
for approximately $3.2 million. Alert’s patent protected anti-theft solutions will be added to the Checkpoint Segment.

In April 2023, the Company acquired privately owned Data Management, Inc. (“DMI”), based in Farmington, Connecticut, 
for approximately $10.2 million, net of cash acquired. DMI’s tracking and identification badges business has been added 
to the Avery Segment.

In July 2023, the Company acquired privately owned Oomph Made Limited (“Oomph”), based in Liphook, United Kingdom, 
for approximately $6.6 million, net of cash acquired. Oomph is a designer and supplier of Radio Frequency Identification 
and Near-Field Communication access cards and wristbands and has been added to the Avery Segment.

In July 2023, the Company acquired Pouch Partners S.r.l., Italy (“Pouch”), a subsidiary of Swiss headquartered Capri-Sun 
Group, based in Milan, Italy, for approximately $39.6 million, net of cash acquired. This business will trade as CCL Specialty 
Pouches and become an integral new product offering within the CCL Segment.

In July 2023, the Company acquired privately owned Creaprint S.L. (“Creaprint”), based in Alicante, Spain, for approximately 
$37.7 million, net of cash and debt acquired. Creaprint is a specialized producer of inmould labels and has been added 
to the CCL Segment. 

In  August  2023,  the  Company  acquired  all  the  intellectual  property  of  Imprint  Energy  Inc.  (“IEI”),  based  in  Alameda, 
California,  for  $26.6  million.  IEI  is  a  start-up  proprietary  technology  company  with  the  know-how  for  ultrathin,  non-
hazardous and non-toxic printed batteries for devices, sensors and wearables. This product line has become part of the 
CCL Segment. 

68

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Report 
The following table summarizes the allocation of the consideration to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities 
assumed for the eAgile, Alert, DMI, Oomph, Pouch, Creaprint and IEI acquisitions:

Cash consideration, net of cash acquired 
Deferred consideration 
Assumed debt 

Trade and other receivables 
Inventories 
Prepaid expenses 
Property, plant and equipment 
Right-of-use assets 
Goodwill  
Intangible assets 
Deferred tax assets 
Trade and other payables 
Current lease liabilities 
Income taxes payable 
Long-term lease liabilities  
Deferred tax liabilities 
Employee benefits
Provisions and other long-term liabilities 

Net assets acquired 

$ 

$ 

$ 

154.6
12.8
8.7

176.1

17.9
18.1
0.2
34.6
6.9
123.4
13.6
3.9
(31.0)
(1.3)
(0.2)
(5.5)
(3.3)
(1.0)
(0.2)

$ 

176.1

Goodwill is comprised of the excess fair value of the consideration paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Factors 
that make up the amount of goodwill recognized include expected synergies and employee knowledge of operations. The 
total amount of goodwill for eAgile, Alert, DMI, Oomph, Pouch, Creaprint and IEI is $123.4 million, of which $33.7 million 
is deductible for tax purposes. 

In July 2023, the Company acquired privately owned Faubel & Co. Nachfolger GmbH (“Faubel”), headquartered in Melsungen, 
Germany, for approximately $169.7 million, net of cash acquired. Faubel is a specialist in labels for pharmaceutical clinical 
trials globally and is being reported within the CCL Segment.

The following table summarizes the allocation of the consideration to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities 
assumed for the Faubel acquisition:

Cash consideration, net of cash acquired 

Trade and other receivables 
Inventories 
Prepaid expenses 
Property, plant and equipment 
Right-of-use assets 
Goodwill  
Intangible assets 
Deferred tax assets 
Trade and other payables 
Current lease liabilities 
Income taxes payable 
Long-term lease liabilities  
Deferred tax liabilities 
Employee benefits
Provisions and other long-term liabilities 

Net assets acquired 

$ 

$ 

169.7

10.2
6.3
0.1
39.3
0.4
 86.5
66.8
0.8
(6.4)
(0.2)
(8.8)
(0.3)
(20.6)
(0.4)
(4.0)

$ 

169.7

69

2023 Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As a result of the inherent complexity associated with the valuation of net assets acquired, the determination of the fair 
value of assets and liabilities acquired for Faubel are based upon preliminary estimates and assumptions. The Company 
will continue to review information prior to finalizing the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The actual 
fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed may differ from the amounts noted above.

Goodwill is comprised of the excess fair value of the consideration paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired. 
Factors  that  make  up  the  amount  of  goodwill  recognized  include  expected  synergies  and  employee  knowledge  of 
operations. The total amount of goodwill for Faubel is $86.5 million, which is not deductible for tax purposes. 

The following table summarizes the combined sales and net earnings that the newly acquired eAgile, Alert, DMI, Oomph, 
Pouch, Creaprint, IEI and Faubel have contributed to the Company for the current reporting period. 

Sales 

Net earnings  

(b)  Pro forma information

Twelve Months Ended  
December 31, 2023

$ 

$ 

95.0

8.4

The  pro forma  consolidated  financial information  below  has  been  prepared  following  the  accounting  policies  of  the 
Company as if the acquisitions took place January 1, 2023.

The pro forma consolidated financial information has been presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily 
indicative of results of operations and financial position that would have been achieved had the pro forma events taken 
place on the dates indicated, or the future consolidated results of operations or financial position of the consolidated 
company. Future results may vary significantly from the pro forma results presented. 

The historical consolidated financial information has been adjusted in preparing the pro forma consolidated financial 
information to give effect to events  that are: (i) directly attributable to the acquisitions; (ii) factually supportable; and 
(iii) with respect to sales and net earnings, expected to have a continuing impact on the results of CCL Industries Inc. As 
such, the impact from acquisition-related expenses is not included in the accompanying pro forma consolidated financial 
information.  The  pro  forma  consolidated  financial  information  does  not  reflect  any  cost  savings  (or  associated  costs  to 
achieve such savings) from operating efficiencies, synergies or other restructuring that could result from the acquisitions.

The following table summarizes the sales and net earnings of the Company combined with eAgile, Alert, DMI, Oomph, 
Pouch, Creaprint, IEI and Faubel as though the acquisitions took place on January 1, 2023:  

Sales 

Net earnings  

(c)  Acquisitions in 2022

Twelve Months Ended  
December 31, 2023

$  6,749.0

$ 

541.1

In  January  2022,  the  Company  acquired  privately  owned  McGavigan  Holdings  Ltd.  (“McGavigan”),  headquarted  in 
Glasgow, Scotland and with significant manufacturing operations in China, for $103.6 million net of cash acquired and 
debt assumed. McGavigan is a leading supplier of “in mould” decorated components for automotive interiors and is an 
integral part of CCL Design.

70

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual ReportThe following table summarizes the allocation of the consideration to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities 
assumed for the McGavigan acquisition:

Cash consideration, net of cash acquired 
Assumed debt 

Trade and other receivables 
Inventories 
Property, plant and equipment 
Right-of-use assets 
Goodwill  
Intangible assets 
Deferred tax assets 
Trade and other payables 
Income taxes payable 
Lease liabilities 
Deferred tax liabilities 

Net assets acquired 

$ 

$ 

$ 

94.3
9.3

103.6

14.7
6.8
23.2
10.2
51.7
17.5
3.7
(11.5)
(0.9)
(7.5)
(4.3)

$ 

103.6

Goodwill is comprised of the excess fair value of the consideration paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired. 
Factors  that  make  up  the  amount  of  goodwill  recognized  include  expected  synergies  and  employee  knowledge  of 
operations. The total amount of goodwill for McGavigan is $51.7 million, which is not deductible for tax purposes.

In April 2022, the Company acquired Adelbras Indústria e Comércio de Adesivos Ltda. and Amazon Tape Indústria e 
Comércio de Fitas Adesivas Ltda. (collectively “Adelbras”) headquartered in Vinhedo near São Paulo, Brazil for approximately 
$152.3 million net of cash and debt. Adelbras is a producer of adhesive tapes sold through retailers and distributors to 
consumers and small businesses. The new business largely reports as part of Avery.

The following table summarizes the allocation of the consideration to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities 
assumed for the Adelbras acquisition:

Cash consideration, net of cash acquired 
Assumed debt 

Trade and other receivables 
Inventories 
Prepaid expenses 
Property, plant and equipment 
Goodwill  
Intangible assets 
Trade and other payables 
Income taxes payable 
Deferred tax liabilities 

Net assets acquired 

$ 

$ 

$ 

139.8
12.5

152.3

16.1
24.6
2.5
23.9
67.2
30.3
(5.9)
(0.2)
(6.2)

$ 

152.3

Goodwill is comprised of the excess fair value of the consideration paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired. 
Factors  that  make up  the  amount  of  goodwill recognized  include expected synergies  and  employee  knowledge of 
operations. The total amount of goodwill for Adelbras is $67.2 million, of which approximately $34.5 million is deductible 
for tax purposes. 

In May 2022, the Company acquired privately owned, Floramedia Group B.V. (“Floramedia”), based in Westzaan, in the 
Netherlands, for approximately $53.1 million, net of cash acquired. Floramedia is a European leader in horticulture media 
with in-house tag and label production complemented with sales offices in seven countries. Floramedia is reported as part 
of Avery.  

71

2023 Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table summarizes the allocation of the consideration to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities 
assumed for the Floramedia acquisition:

Cash consideration, net of cash acquired 

Trade and other receivables 
Inventories 
Prepaid expenses 
Property, plant and equipment 
Right-of-use assets 
Goodwill 
Intangible assets 
Deferred tax assets 
Trade and other payables 
Income taxes payable 
Provisions and other long-term liabilities 
Lease liabilities 
Deferred tax liabilities 

Net assets acquired 

$ 

$ 

$ 

53.1

9.5
6.9
0.3
3.5
6.4
29.2
20.0
1.1
(9.0)
(0.7)
(0.9)
(6.7)
(6.5)

53.1

Goodwill is comprised of the excess fair value of the consideration paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired. 
Factors  that  make  up  the  amount  of  goodwill  recognized  include  expected  synergies  and  employee  knowledge  of 
operations. The total amount of goodwill for Floramedia is $29.2 million, which is not deductible for tax purposes.

December 31,  
2023 

 December 31, 
2022

$ 

687.4 
9.1 
77.7 

$  

755.3
8.0
76.2

$ 

774.2 

$  

839.5

December 31,  
2023 

 December 31, 
2022

$ 

984.7 
104.6 

$  

974.4
126.1

$  1,089.3 

$   1,100.5

6. C A S H   A N D   C A S H   E Q U I VA L E N T S

Bank balances 
Restricted cash 
Short-term investments 

Cash and cash equivalents  

7. T R A D E   A N D   OT H E R   R E C E I VA B L E S

Trade receivables 
Other receivables 

Trade and other receivables 

72

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8 .

I N V E N TO R I E S

Raw material 
Work in progress 
Finished goods 

Total inventories 

December 31,  
2023 

 December 31, 
2022

$ 

330.2 
77.3 
324.8 

$  

370.4
71.0
343.7

$ 

732.3 

$  

785.1

The total amount of inventories recognized as an expense in 2023 was $4,735.2 million (2022 – $4,667.0 million), including 
depreciation of $333.4 million (2022 – $298.2 million). 

9. E Q U I T Y- AC C O U N T E D   I N V E S T M E N T S

Summary financial information for equity-accounted investments, including joint ventures and associates, not adjusted 
for the percentage ownership held by the Company, is as follows:

Net earnings 
Other comprehensive loss  

Total comprehensive income 

Carrying amount of investments in associates and joint ventures  

Net earnings 
Other comprehensive income (loss) 

Total comprehensive income  

Carrying amount of investments in associates and joint ventures  

At December 31, 2023

Associates 

Joint Ventures 

26.1 
(7.7) 

18.4 

50.6 

$ 

$ 

$ 

9.7 
(2.4) 

7.3 

34.4 

$ 

$ 

$ 

Total

35.8
(10.1)

25.7

85.0

At December 31, 2022

Associates 

Joint Ventures 

20.1 
0.3 

20.4 

41.3 

$ 

$ 

$ 

19.7 
(5.0) 

14.7 

38.2 

$ 

$ 

$ 

Total

39.8
(4.7)

35.1

79.5

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

73

2023 Annual Report 
 
1 0.  P R O P E R T Y,   P L A N T   A N D   E Q U I P M E N T 

Cost  
Balance at January 1, 2022  
Acquisitions through business combinations 
Other additions 
Other movements 
Disposals 
Effect of movements in exchange rates

$ 

Land and  
Buildings 

913.0 
26.9 
43.3
8.9
(12.8)
35.7 

Machinery  
and  
Equipment

Fixtures, 
Fittings  
and Other

$ 

$  2,865.7 
22.6 
399.0
(28.3)
(40.8)
135.3 

Balance at December 31, 2022 

$ 

1,015.0 

$  3,353.5 

$ 

Acquisitions through business combinations 
Other additions 
Other movements 
Disposals 
Movements in exchange rates and inflation adjustments

37.6 
49.3
52.3
(7.5)
2.4 

32.6 
407.1
(102.7)
(95.6)
11.8 

Balance at December 31, 2023 

$  1,149.1 

$  3,606.7 

Accumulated depreciation  
Balance at January 1, 2022  
Depreciation for the year   
Other movements 
Disposals 
Effect of movements in exchange rates

$ 

288.6 
37.4 
(2.6)
(4.2)
13.5 

$  1,597.2 
215.4 
(17.3)
(35.4)
83.9 

$ 

$ 

Balance at December 31, 2022 

$ 

332.7 

$  1,843.8 

$ 

Depreciation for the year   
Other movements 
Disposals 
Movements in exchange rates and inflation adjustments

41.9 
(1.0)
(3.9)
(0.3) 

236.7 
(44.1)
(90.4)
1.5 

$ 

Total

3,827.8
50.6
447.2
(18.9)
(54.8)
172.8

$ 

4,424.7

73.9
461.6
(48.0)
(103.7)
14.6

49.1 
1.1 
4.9
0.5
(1.2)
1.8 

56.2 

3.7 
5.2
2.4
(0.6)
0.4 

67.3 

$  4,823.1

31.7 
4.3 
(0.2)
(1.2)
1.3 

35.9 

5.2 
(1.1)
(0.5)
0.3 

$ 

1,917.5
257.1
(20.1)
(40.8)
98.7

$ 

2,212.4

283.8
(46.2)
(94.8)
1.5

Balance at December 31, 2023 

Carrying amounts 
At December 31, 2022 
At December 31, 2023 

$ 

$ 
$ 

369.4 

$  1,947.5 

682.3 
779.7 

$  1,509.7 
$  1,659.2 

$ 

$ 
$ 

39.8 

$  2,356.7

20.3 
27.5 

$ 
2,212.3
$  2,466.4

74

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 1 .   L E A S E S

(a)  Right-of-use assets

Cost  
Balance at January 1, 2022  
Acquisitions through business combinations 
Other additions 
Other movements 
Effect of movements in exchange rates

$ 

Land and  
Buildings 

186.4 
11.5 
46.0 
(17.1) 
5.8 

$ 

Balance at December 31, 2022 

$ 

232.6 

$ 

Acquisitions through business combinations 
Other additions 
Other movements 
Movements in exchange rates and inflation adjustments

Balance at December 31, 2023 

Accumulated depreciation  
Balance at January 1, 2022  
Depreciation for the year   
Other movements 
Effect of movements in exchange rates

5.6 
58.9 
(21.6) 
2.7 

278.2 

61.8 
29.7 
(15.1) 
2.7 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

Machinery  
and  
Equipment 

13.8 
4.6 
5.3 
(4.2) 
0.9 

20.4 

1.4 
1.6 
(1.5) 
(0.3) 

21.6 

8.4 
3.5 
(1.2) 
0.5 

Other 

Total

$ 

$ 

33.7 
0.5 
10.3 
(7.4) 
0.9 

233.9
16.6
61.6
(28.7)
7.6

$ 

38.0 

$ 

291.0

0.3 
16.8 
(11.5) 
(0.4) 

43.2 

18.2 
8.9 
(7.1) 
0.5 

$ 

$ 

7.3
77.3
(34.6)
2.0

343.0

88.4
42.1
(23.4)
3.7

$ 

$ 

Balance at December 31, 2022 

$ 

79.1 

$ 

11.2 

$ 

20.5 

$ 

110.8

Depreciation for the year   
Other movements 
Movements in exchange rates and inflation adjustments

Balance at December 31, 2023 

Carrying amounts 
At December 31, 2022 
At December 31, 2023 

35.4 
(20.2) 
0.1 

94.4 

153.5 
183.8 

$ 

$ 
$ 

4.5 
(1.5) 
(0.3) 

13.9 

9.2 
7.7 

$ 

$ 
$ 

10.8 
(10.2) 
(0.1) 

21.0 

17.5 
22.2 

$ 

$ 
$ 

50.7
(31.9)
(0.3)

129.3

180.2
213.7

$ 

$ 
$ 

(b)  Amounts recognized in the consolidated income statements and statements of cash flows 

December 31,  
2023 

 December 31, 
2022

Interest expense on lease liabilities 
Expenses relating to short-term leases  
Expenses relating to leases of low-value assets, excluding short-term leases of low-value assets 
Total cash outflow for leases

$ 
$ 
$ 
$ 

7.4 
5.0 
0.5 
59.7 

$ 
$ 
$ 
$ 

5.5
5.3
0.5
53.2

75

2023 Annual Report 
 
 
 
1 2 .  I N TA N G I B L E   A S S E T S 

Customer 
 Relationships 

Patents,  
Trademarks  
and Other 

Brands 

 Total 

Goodwill

Cost
Balance at January 1, 2022  
Acquisitions through  
  business combinations 
Effect of movements in exchange rates

$ 

757.4 

$ 

181.4 

$ 

423.2 

$ 

1,362.0 

$ 

1,975.1

62.0 
18.1 

5.7 
(1.8) 

— 
18.3 

67.7 
34.6 

145.4
73.0

Balance at December 31, 2022 

$ 

837.5 

$ 

185.3 

$ 

441.5 

$ 

1,464.3 

$ 

2,193.5

Acquisitions through  
  business combinations 
Impairment (note 13) 
Effect of movements in exchange rates

Balance at December 31, 2023 

Accumulated amortization  
Balance at January 1, 2022  
Amortization for the year   
Effect of movements in exchange rates

69.6 
— 
(1.3) 

905.8 

301.0 
53.8 
9.0 

$ 

$ 

Balance at December 31, 2022 

$ 

363.8 

Amortization for the year   
Effect of movements in exchange rates

Balance at December 31, 2023 

Carrying amounts 
At December 31, 2022 
At December 31, 2023 

55.5 
(6.3) 

413.0 

473.7 
492.8 

$ 

$ 
$ 

3.6 
— 
1.8 

190.7 

69.9 
12.3 
— 

82.2 

13.3 
(0.6) 

94.9 

103.1 
95.8 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

7.2 
— 
(5.3) 

80.4 
— 
(4.8) 

209.9
(95.0)
(14.8)

443.4 

$  1,539.9 

$  2,293.6

— 
— 
— 

— 

— 
— 

— 

441.5 
443.4 

$ 

$ 

370.9 
66.1 
9.0 

$ 

446.0 

$ 

68.8 
(6.9) 

507.9 

1,018.3 
1,032.0 

$ 

$ 
$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

—
—
—

—

—
—

—

2,193.5
2,293.6

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

1 3 .  G O O DW I L L   A N D   I N D E F I N I T E - L I F E   I N TA N G I B L E   A S S E T S

Impairment testing for cash-generating units containing goodwill and indefinite-life intangible assets

For  the  purpose  of  impairment  testing,  goodwill  and  indefinite-life  intangible  assets  are  allocated  to  the  Company’s 
operating segments, which represent the lowest level within the Company at which goodwill is monitored for internal 
management purposes.

The aggregate carrying amounts of goodwill and indefinite-life intangible assets allocated to each unit are as follows:

Goodwill 
CCL 
Avery 
Checkpoint 
Innovia 

Indefinite-life intangible assets – brands

CCL 
Avery 
Checkpoint 
Innovia 

76

December 31,  
2023 

 December 31, 
2022

$  1,419.9 
381.2 
247.1 
245.4 

$ 

1,234.4
357.2
256.2
345.7

$  2,293.6 

 $ 

2,193.5

$ 

$ 

7.2 
195.4 
186.3 
54.6 

$ 

443.5 

$ 

—
198.8
189.7
53.1

441.6

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Report 
 
Impairment testing for goodwill and indefinite-life intangible assets was done by a comparison of the CGU’s carrying 
amount to its estimated value in use, determined by discounting the CGU’s future cash flows. Key assumptions used in 
the determination of the value in use include growth rates of 3% to 5% and pre-tax discount rates of 10% to 12%. Discount 
rates reflect current market assumptions and risks related to the CGUs and are based upon the weighted average cost of 
capital. The Company’s historical growth rates are used as the basis in determining the growth rate applied for impairment 
testing. The Company completed its annual impairment testing as at September 30, 2023.

Subsequent to performing its annual impairment test, the Company assessed that there were indications of goodwill 
impairment for the Innovia segment as a result of the closure of a Belgian production facility and continuing demand 
challenges in the label materials industry, which required the carrying value of the CGU to be re-tested for impairment 
at December 31, 2023. The recoverable amount of the Innovia CGU, measured at its fair value in use, was $762.8 million 
at December 31, 2023. This resulted in a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $95.0 million for the Innovia segment, 
which  was  recognized  on  a  separate  line  in  the  consolidated  income  statements.  The  pre-tax  discount  rate  used  at 
December 31, 2023 was 11%. Any adverse movement in key assumptions, including discount rates, could lead to additional 
impairment in future periods.

The estimated values in use of CCL, Avery and Checkpoint CGUs exceeded their carrying values. As a result, no goodwill 
and indefinite-life intangible assets impairment was recorded during 2023.

1 4 . T R A D E   A N D   OT H E R   PAYA B L E S

Trade payables 
Other payables 

Trade and other payables 

1 5. D E F E R R E D   TA X

(a) Unrecognized deferred tax assets

Deferred tax assets have not been recognized in respect of the following items:

Deductible temporary differences
Tax losses 

December 31, 
2022 

 December 31, 
2021

$ 

801.2 
528.3 

$ 

886.1
508.3

$  1,329.5 

$   1,394.4

December 31, 
2022 

 December 31, 
2021

$ 

$ 

7.6 
46.1 

53.7 

$ 

$ 

7.4
59.3

66.7

The unrecognized deferred tax assets on tax losses of $3.6 million will expire between 2024 and 2033, $6.8 million will 
expire beyond 2033, and $35.7 million may be carried forward indefinitely. The deductible temporary differences do not 
expire under current tax legislation. Deferred tax assets have not been recognized in respect of these items because it is 
not probable that future taxable income will be available against which the Company can utilize the benefits therefrom. 

77

2023 Annual Report(b) Recognized deferred tax assets and liabilities

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are attributable to the following:

Assets 

Liabilities 

 Net (Assets) Liabilities

December 31,  
2023 

December 31,  
2022 

December 31,  
2023 

December 31, 
2022 

 December 31,  
2023 

 December 31, 
2022

$ 

Property, plant  
  and equipment 
Intangible assets 
Derivatives 
Inventory reserves 
Employee benefit plans 
Share-based payments 
Capitalized research  
  and development 
Provisions and other items 
Tax loss carry-forwards 

6.7 
— 
— 
19.3 
71.1 
19.3 

15.2 
76.2 
36.8 

$ 

9.1 
— 
0.1 
17.6 
67.9 
11.6 

9.3 
62.7 
21.1 

Balance before offset

Offset of tax

244.6 

(139.6) 

199.4 

(127.9) 

$ 

158.8 
311.7 
8.9 
0.6 
0.6 
— 

— 
5.2 
— 

485.8 

(139.6) 

$ 

133.9 
291.2 
8.3 
0.5 
0.7 
— 

— 
5.0 
— 

439.6 

(127.9) 

$ 

$ 

152.1 
311.7 
8.9 
(18.7) 
(70.5) 
(19.3) 

(15.2) 
(71.0) 
(36.8) 

241.2 

— 

124.8
291.2
8.2
(17.1)
(67.2)
(11.6)

(9.3)
(57.7)
(21.1)

240.2

—

Balance after offset

$ 

105.0 

$ 

71.5 

$ 

346.2 

$ 

311.7 

$ 

241.2 

$ 

240.2

Balance at  
December 31, 2022 
Liability (Asset) 

Recognized 
in Income  
Statement 

Acquisitions 

Translation 
and Others 

$  

Property, plant  

and equipment 
Intangible assets 
Derivatives 
Inventory reserves 
Employee benefit plans
Share-based payments 
Capitalized research  
and development 

Provisions and other items 
Tax loss carry-forwards 

124.8 
291.2 
8.2 
(17.1) 
(67.2) 
(11.6) 

(9.3) 
(57.7) 
(21.1) 

$ 

23.2 
(5.6) 
0.9 
(1.3) 
(2.3) 
(5.2) 

(8.7) 
(9.1) 
(12.0) 

$ 

3.6 
22.1 
— 
(0.6) 
(0.2) 
— 

— 
(1.7) 
(4.0) 

$ 

(0.7) 
4.0 
0.1 
0.3 
3.1 
(2.3) 

2.8 
(2.5) 
0.3 

Recognized  
in Other 
 Comprehensive  
Income/Equity 

 Balance at  
December 31, 2023 
Liability (Asset)

$ 

$ 

1.2 
— 
(0.3) 
— 
(3.9) 
(0.2) 

— 
— 
— 

152.1
311.7
8.9
(18.7)
(70.5)
(19.3)

(15.2)
(71.0)
(36.8)

$ 

240.2 

$ 

(20.1) 

$ 

19.2 

$ 

5.1 

$ 

(3.2) 

$ 

241.2

78

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
Balance at 
December 31, 2021 
Liability (Asset) 

Recognized 
in Income  
Statement 

Acquisitions 

Translation 
and Others 

$  

Property, plant  

and equipment 
Intangible assets 
Derivatives 
Inventory reserves 
Employee benefit plans
Share-based payments 
Capitalized research  
and development 

Provisions and other items 
Tax loss carry-forwards 

125.3 
275.7 
7.2 
(14.4) 
(79.9) 
(8.0) 

(3.8) 
(49.5) 
(13.7) 

$ 

(2.6) 
(2.3) 
6.1 
(1.6) 
(1.8) 
(3.6) 

(5.0) 
(9.7) 
(7.1) 

$ 

(0.2) 
11.9 
— 
— 
— 
— 

— 
(2.3) 
— 

$ 

2.3 
5.9 
0.1 
(1.1) 
(2.3) 
0.1 

(0.5) 
3.8 
(0.3) 

Recognized 
in Other 
Comprehensive  
Income/Equity 

Balance at 
December 31, 2022 
Liability (Asset)

$ 

$ 

— 
— 
(5.2) 
— 
16.8 
(0.1) 

— 
— 
— 

124.8
291.2
8.2
(17.1)
(67.2)
(11.6)

(9.3)
(57.7)
(21.1)

$ 

238.9 

$ 

(27.6) 

$ 

9.4 

$ 

8.0 

$ 

11.5 

$ 

240.2

The aggregate amount of temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries and joint ventures for which 
deferred tax liabilities were not recognized as at December 31, 2023, is $2,918.7 million (2022 – $3,174.4 million).

The aggregate amount of temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries and joint ventures for which 
deferred tax assets were not recognized as at December 31, 2023, is $30.1 million (2022 – $44.2 million).

1 6.  S H A R E   C A P I TA L  

Shares issued (in millions) 

Balance, January 1, 2022 
Repurchase of shares 
Stock options exercised 
Deferred share units exercised 
Restricted share units exercised 
Long-term retention units exercised 

Balance, December 31, 2022 
Repurchase of shares 
Stock options exercised 
Restricted share units exercised 
Performance share units 
Long-term retention units exercised 

Balance, December 31, 2023 

Class A 
Shares 

Amount 

11.8 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

11.8 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

11.8 

$ 

$ 

4.5 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

4.5 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

4.5 

Class B
Shares  

168.4 
(3.4) 
0.1 
*
0.1 
*

165.2 
(0.1) 
0.5 
0.2 
0.1 
0.1 

166.0 

$ 

$ 

Amount  

457.6 
(9.3) 
6.6 
0.1
5.3
3.6

463.9 
(0.3) 
34.5 
7.9 
6.4 
3.6 

Total 

462.1
(9.3)
6.6
0.1
5.3
3.6

468.4
(0.3)
34.5
7.9
6.4
3.6

$ 

516.0 

$ 

520.5

* Number of Class B non-voting shares issued was nominal.

At December 31, 2023, the authorized share capital comprised an unlimited number of Class A voting shares and an 
unlimited number of Class B non-voting shares. The Class A and Class B shares have no par value. All issued shares are 
fully paid. Both Class A and Class B shares are classified as equity. 

In May 2023, the Company renewed its share repurchase program under a normal course issuer bid to purchase up to 
14.5 million Class B non-voting shares, approximately 9.9% of the public float of the Class B non-voting shares of the 
Company. During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company acquired 87,305 of its Class B shares for cancellation at an 
average price of $58.87 per share. During 2022, the Company acquired 3,392,680 of its Class B shares for cancellation 
at  an  average  price  of  $58.95  per  share.  The  excess  of  the  purchase  price  over  the  paid-up  capital  was  charged  to 
retained earnings.

79

2023 Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a)  Class A

The holders of Class A shares receive dividends set at $0.01 per share per annum less than Class B shares; they are entitled 
to one vote per share at meetings of the Company, and their shares are convertible at any time into Class B shares. 

(b)  Class B

Class B shares rank equally in all material respects with Class A shares, except as follows:

(i)

 Holders of Class B shares are entitled to receive material and attend, but not to vote at, regular  shareholder meetings.

(ii)  Holders of Class B shares are entitled to voting privileges when, under a takeover bid when voting control has been

acquired, consideration for the Class A shares exceeds 115% of the market price of the Class B shares.

(iii)  Holders of Class B shares are entitled to receive, or have set aside for payment, dividends declared  by  the  Board  of

Directors from time to time, set at $0.01 per share per annum greater than Class A  shares.

(c)  Dividends

The annual dividends per share were as follows:

Class A share  
Class B share 

1 7.   E A R N I N G S   P E R   S H A R E 

Basic earnings per share

2023 

1.05 
1.06 

$ 
$ 

$ 
$ 

2022

0.95
0.96

The calculation of basic earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2023, was based on profit attributable to 
Class A shares of $35.0 million (2022 – $41.2 million) and Class B shares of $495.2 million (2022 – $581.5 million) and a 
weighted average number of Class A shares outstanding of 11.8 million (2022 – 11.8 million) and Class B shares outstanding 
of 165.8 million (2022 – 166.2 million).

Weighted average number of shares (in millions)

Issued and outstanding shares at January 1 
Effect of stock options exercised 
Effect of restricted share units exercised 
Effect of repurchase of shares 
Efftect of performance stock units exercised

Weighted average number of shares at December 31 

Diluted earnings per share

Class A  
Shares 

11.8 
— 
— 
— 
— 

11.8 

2023 

Class B  
Shares 

165.2 
0.3 
0.2 
— 
0.1 

165.8 

Class A  
Shares  

11.8 
— 
— 
— 
— 

11.8 

2022 

Class B 
Shares 

168.4
—
0.1
(2.3)
—

166.2

The calculation of diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2023, was based on profit attributable to 
Class A shares of $34.6 million (2022 – $40.9 million) and Class B shares of $495.6 million (2022 – $581.8 million) and a 
diluted weighted average number of Class A shares outstanding of 11.8 million (2022 – 11.8 million) and Class B shares 
outstanding of 168.1 million (2022 – 167.4 million).

Weighted average number of shares – diluted (in millions)

Weighted average number of shares (basic)  
Effect of deferred share units on issue  
Effect of share-based compensation  

Weighted average number of shares (diluted)  

80

December 31,  
2023 

 December 31, 
2022

177.6 
0.3 
2.0 

179.9 

178.0
0.2
1.0

179.2

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual ReportThe average market value of the Company’s shares for purposes of calculating the dilutive effect of share options was 
based on quoted market prices for the year that the options were outstanding.

1 8 .  LOA N S   A N D   B O R R OW I N G S

Current liabilities 
Current portion of other loans (iv) 
Current portion of unsecured bank credit facilities (ii) 

Short-term operating credit lines available (v)  

Short-term operating credit lines used 

Non-current liabilities 
Unsecured syndicated bank credit facilities (i) 
Unsecured notes (iii) 
Other loans (iv) 

December 31,  
2023 

 December 31, 
2022

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

6.9 
— 

6.9 

13.5 

0.6 

307.0 
1,747.4 
13.4 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

6.6
—

6.6

14.0

—

394.1
1,779.5
2.0

$  2,067.8 

$ 

2,175.6

(i)  Unsecured syndicated bank credit facilities

As at December 31, 2023, the Company had an unsecured US$1.2 billion revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks. 
The facility bears interest at the applicable benchmark interest rate, plus an interest rate margin linked to the Company’s 
net debt to EBITDA. Borrowings under the facility were $15.0 million (CDOR plus 1.0%) and €201.0 million ($293.6 million; 
EURIBOR plus 1.0%) and $1.1 million of contingent letters of credit drawn on this syndicated bank credit facility.

As  at  December  31,  2022,  $238.0  million  (CDOR  plus  1.0%),  US$67.5  million  ($91.5  million;  Term  SOFR  plus  1.0%), 
€46.0  million  ($66.7  million;  EURIBOR  plus  1.0%)  and  $1.8  million  of  contingent  letters  of  credit  were  drawn  on  this 
syndicated bank credit facility.

In  February  2020,  this  facility  was  amended,  extending  the  maturity  from  March  29,  2023,  to  February  28,  2025.  In 
May 2022, this facility was again amended, extending the maturity an additional two years to February 2027. 

The  unused  portion  of  the  revolving  syndicated  bank  credit  facility  was  US$966.1  million  at  December  31,  2023 
(December 31, 2022 – US$906.4 million).

As at December 31, 2023, transaction costs related to the unsecured syndicated bank credit facilities were $1.6 million 
(December 31, 2022 – $2.1 million).

(ii) Unsecured bank credit facilities

In January 2019, the Company signed a two-year unsecured bilateral credit facility for US$35.0 million with a maturity 
date of January 22, 2021, which was extended to January 22, 2022, early in 2020, and extended, again, to January 22, 
2025, early in 2021. This bilateral loan incurred interest at the applicable domestic rate plus an interest rate margin and 
automatically extended out an additional year on an annual basis. As of December 31, 2021, the facility was undrawn. The 
facility was cancelled in March 2022.

In December 2019, the Company signed an uncommitted unsecured bilateral credit facility for A$65.0 million that incurred 
interest at the applicable domestic rate plus an interest rate margin. As of December 31, 2021, the facility was undrawn. 
The facility was cancelled in August 2022.

(iii)  Unsecured notes

Unsecured notes as at December 31, 2023, consisted of US$600.0 million ($788.7 million; 2022 – $806.4 million) principal 
amount of 144A 3.05% private notes, offered in a private placement in the United States in May 2020, maturing June 1, 
2030; $299.1 million (2022 – $298.9 million) principal amount of 3.864% Series 1 Notes, maturing April 13, 2028; and 
US$500.0 million ($659.6 million; 2022  –  $674.2  million)  principal  amount of  144A  3.25%  private  notes, maturing  on 
October 1, 2026. These notes bear interest payable semi-annually. The net proceeds of all three notes were used to partially 
repay amounts borrowed under the unsecured syndicated bank credit facility.

81

2023 Annual Report 
 
As at December 31, 2023, the Company utilized cross-currency interest rate swap agreements (“CCIRSA”) to effectively 
convert  notional  US$408.5  million  (2022  –  US$408.5  million)  of  the  144A  3.05%  private  notes  into  €360.0  million 
(2022 – €360.0 million) 2.06% and 2.00% fixed rate debt and convert notional US$376.2 million (2022 – US$376.2 million) 
of the 144A 3.25% private notes into €340.0 million (2022 – €340.0 million) 1.16% and 1.23% fixed rate debt in order to 
hedge its euro-based assets and cash flows (note 24(a)). 

(iv)  Other loans

 Other loans include term bank loans at various rates and repayment terms.

(v)  Operating credit lines

Interest rates charged on the credit lines are based on rates varying with Term SOFR, SONIA, EURIBOR, the prime rate and 
similar market rates for other currencies.

(vi) Reconciliation of changes in liabilities arising from financing activities

Liabilities arising from financing activities are those for which cash flows were, or future cash flows will be, classified in the 
consolidated statement of cash flows as financing activities. Changes in the Company’s liabilities arising from financing 
activities are as follows:

Balance  at  January  1 
Financing cash flows
Foreign exchange 
Other  

Balance at December 31 

2023 

$  2,182.2 
(83.7) 
(33.4) 
9.6 

$ 

2022

1,706.7
334.1
117.0
24.4

$  2,074.7 

$ 

2,182.2

As at December 31, 2023 and 2022, there are no assets pledged as collateral against long-term debt.

1 9.  F I N A N C E   I N C O M E   A N D   C O S T

Recognized in consolidated income statement

Interest expense on financial liabilities measured at amortized cost 
Fees and interest recognized on other financial instruments 
Interest expense on post-employment defined benefit plans 

Finance cost 

Interest income on cash and cash equivalents  
Interest income on other assets 
Interest income on post-employment defined benefit plans

Finance income 

Interest expense on lease liabilities 

Net finance cost recognized in consolidated income statement

$ 

The above finance income and cost are with respect to assets (liabilities) not at FVTPL.

82

December 31,  
2023 

 December 31, 
2022

$  

$ 

83.5 
(11.9) 
22.6 

70.6
(11.7)
13.3

72.2

5.8
0.2
6.9

12.9

5.5

64.8

94.2 

12.7 
0.2 
10.7 

23.6 

7.4 

78.0 

$ 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Report2 0.  E M P LOY E E   B E N E F I T S

Present value of wholly unfunded defined benefit obligations 
Present value of partially funded defined benefit obligations

Total present value of obligations 
Fair value of plan assets 
Irrecoverable surplus due to asset ceiling 

Recognized liability for defined benefit obligations 
Liability for long-service leave and jubilee plans 

Total employee benefits  
Total employee benefits reported in trade and other payables

December 31,  
2023 

 December 31, 
2022

$ 

$ 

249.8 
341.8 

591.6 
(311.8) 
1.4 

281.2 
18.5 

299.7 
17.2 

240.4
314.0

554.4
(298.6)
2.1

257.9
14.7

272.6
15.7

256.9

Total employee benefits reported in non-current liabilities

$ 

282.5 

$ 

(a) Defined contribution post-employment plans

The Company sponsors defined contribution post-employment plans in Canada, the U.S., Thailand, the Netherlands and 
the U.K. A post-employment plan is classified as a defined contribution plan if the Company pays fixed contributions into 
a fund at a separate entity and the Company has no further obligation to pay any further contributions if the fund does not 
hold sufficient assets to pay all employee benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods. The expense 
for Company-sponsored defined contribution post-employment plans was $41.3 million in 2023 (2022 – $33.7 million), 
of  which  $0.1  million  (2022  –  $0.1  million)  was  for  key  management  personnel.  Company  contributions  into  defined 
contribution state plans are included in the line item Compulsory social security contributions in the table in note 21.

(b) Defined benefit post-employment plans

The Company also has defined benefit post-employment plans in various countries of the world. Although some of these 
plans have elements common to defined contribution plans, the Company has accounted for these as defined benefit 
plans as they are not fully funded at a separate entity.

Partially funded defined benefit obligations

The Company’s defined benefit post-employment plans are not fully funded. The obligation of these plans, net of any 
assets, is recorded in non-current liabilities on the consolidated statement of financial position in employee benefits 
or, for payments expected to be made within the next twelve months, in trade and other payables in current liabilities. 
Fluctuations in the pension liabilities resulting from actuarial gains or losses due to changes in risk factors are recorded in 
other comprehensive income. The primary partially funded plans are in Canada, the U.K., Switzerland and the Netherlands. 
Details of these plans are as follows:

(i)

 In Canada, the Company has a registered partially funded defined benefit pension plan for seven retired executives
and one active employee. The Company makes all required contributions to the plans. Benefits are based on employee
earnings.  An  actuary  is  involved  in  measuring  the  obligation  of  the  plan  and  in  calculating  the  expense  and  any
contributions required. The plan is closed to new members. The primary risk factors for this plan are longevity of plan
beneficiaries, discount rate volatility for the value of the obligation and market risk on the assets. The Company has
determined that any surplus in the plan after all obligations have been covered is fully available to the Company.

(ii)   In the U.K., the Company has two registered partially funded defined benefit pension plans. The Company’s plan has no
active members and is closed to new members. Benefits are based on final salary. All members of the plan are either
deferred or retired and benefits are provided to spouses or dependents in the event of a member’s death before or
after retirement. The Company is required to make payments of £0.8 million in deficit funding contributions annually.
An actuary is involved in measuring the obligation of the plan and in calculating the expense and any contributions
required. The primary risk factors for this plan are longevity of plan beneficiaries and discount rate volatility for the
value of the obligation and market risk on the assets. The Company has determined that any surplus in the plan after
all obligations have been covered is fully available to the Company.

83

2023 Annual Report 
 On April 6, 2019, the Innovia plan was frozen. No further benefits will be earned by members in the plan and no 
contributions will be paid into the plan other than deficit funding contributions. It is closed to new members. Benefits 
are based on a member’s final pensionable salary and length of service at retirement. Benefits are provided to spouses 
in the event of a member’s death before or after retirement. The Company is required to make payments of £1.2 million in 
deficit funding contributions annually. An actuary is involved in measuring the obligation of the plan and in calculating 
the expense and any contributions required. The primary risk factors for this plan are longevity of plan beneficiaries 
and discount rate volatility for the value of the obligation and market risk on the assets. The Company has determined 
that any surplus in the plan after all obligations have been covered is available to the Company if the plan is wound 
up; however, any surplus while the plan is ongoing is under the authority of the trustees. Active members have been 
moved to a defined contribution plan.

(iii)  In Switzerland, the Company provides a mandatory, legislated contribution-based cash balance plan for employees that
is accounted for as a post-employment defined benefit plan. Benefits from the plan are paid out at retirement, disability
or death. If an employee terminates from the Company prior to retirement, the vested benefit equal to the accumulated
savings account balance is transferred to the pension plan of the new employer. The plan is governed by a foundation
board that is legally responsible for the operation of the plan and includes employer and employee representation, in
equal numbers. A legally required minimum level of retirement benefit is based on age-related savings contributions,
an insured salary defined by law and a required rate of return set annually by the Swiss government. Contributions
from both employers and employees are compulsory and vary according to age and salary. The primary risk factors
for this plan are longevity of plan beneficiaries, discount rate volatility for the value of the obligation and market risk
on the assets. Under Swiss pension law, any surplus assets technically belong to the pension plan and any reduction
in contributions is at the discretion of the Board.

(iv)  In the Netherlands, the Company provides a defined-benefit career average pay plan for a small number of employees.
An actuary is involved in measuring the obligation of the plan. Benefits from the plan are paid through retirement and
at death, before or during retirement, to the spouse or dependents. If a member of the plan leaves the Company,
the member may choose to have the benefits of the plan transferred into the plan of the new employer. The benefit
formula is based on a percentage of each year’s pensionable salary up to a set maximum salary, less a social security
offset. Benefits are guaranteed by an insurance company and the Company is required to pay annual premiums on the
insurance contract based on a contract interest rate. There are no employee contributions to the plan. The primary
risk factors for this plan are longevity of plan beneficiaries and discount rate volatility. This plan was frozen as of
December 31, 2018, and all members were moved to a defined contribution plan.

The most recent actuarial valuation for funding purposes for the executive defined pension plan in Canada was as of 
January 1, 2021. The next required actuarial valuation will be as of January 1, 2024. The most recent actuarial valuation of 
the two U.K. defined benefit pension plans for funding purposes were as of January 1, 2020. The next required valuation 
is as of January 1, 2023. The new valuations for both U.K. plans are expected to be finalized early in 2024.

Wholly unfunded defined benefit obligations

For defined benefit post-employment plans that have no assets, the Company simply funds the plans as benefits are paid. 
The primary wholly unfunded plans are in Canada, the U.S. and Germany. Details of these plans are as follows:

(i)

 In Canada, the Company maintains non-registered, wholly unfunded supplemental retirement arrangements for one
active Canadian executive, eight retired Canadian executives and two retired U.S. executives or their widows. The
Company  makes  all  required  contributions  to  the  plans.  Benefits  are  based  on  employee  earnings.  An  actuary  is
involved in measuring the obligation of the plans and in calculating the expense and any contributions required. The
plans are closed to new members. The primary risk factors for these plans are longevity of plan beneficiaries and
discount rate volatility.

(ii)  In  the  U.S.,  the  Company  has  a  post-employment,  wholly  unfunded  deferred  compensation  plan  for  designated
executives (“NQP”). Liabilities are based strictly on the contributions made to the plan and an established rate of return
and are not subject to actuarial adjustments. It allows executives to elect to defer specified portions of salary, cash
bonuses and long-term incentive plan payments. The Company contributes a matching portion of the executive’s NQP
deferred amount to a maximum of 8% of the executive’s base salary plus bonus. The Company may also contribute a
discretionary annual Company contribution based on a percentage of base salary and annual bonus. Contributions
to the NQP for one of the executives vest immediately. For the other executives, immediate vesting of discretionary
Company contributions and interest occurs on death, disability or change of control, with normal vesting occurring
at age 60 with 10 years’ service. The Company’s matching portion and interest vest in the same manner as Company
contributions in the 401k plan. Elective deferrals by the executive vest immediately.

84

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Report(iii)  In Germany, the Company has several wholly unfunded defined benefit plans. There are four salary-based annuity
plans that are closed to new members, but currently have approximately 60 active members. All contributions and
benefits are funded by the Company. The primary risk factors for these plans are longevity of plan beneficiaries and
discount rate volatility. There are also three cash  balance plans for current employees. Two of those plans require the
Company to match a specific portion of employee contributions. Upon retirement, lump sum payments are made
unless an employee requests an annuity. The third cash balance plan has employer and employee contributions and
pays out in three instalments upon retirement. The primary risk factor for these three plans is discount rate volatility.

(iv)  The Company has wholly unfunded post-employment defined benefit plans in Austria, France, India, Italy, Mexico and
Thailand. Benefits are paid out in a lump sum upon retirement, disability or death. There are no employee contributions
in these plans. Benefits are based on salary and length of service with the Company.

 The following table shows the reconciliation from the opening balances to the closing balances for the defined benefit
post-employment plans, including the defined benefit pension plans, supplemental retirement plans and other post-
employment defined benefit plans.

2023 

Accrued benefit obligation:

Balance, beginning of year 
Opening balance from current year acquisitions 
Current service cost 
Past service cost 
Interest cost 
Employee contributions  
Benefits paid 
Actuarial losses – experience 
Actuarial (gains) losses – demographic assumptions 
Actuarial (gains) losses – financial assumption 
Reinstatements and transfers 
Effect of curtailment 
Settlements 
Effect of movements in exchange rates 

Balance, end of year 

Plan assets: 

Fair value, beginning of year 
Expected return on plan assets 
Actuarial losses 
Employee contributions  
Employer contributions  
Benefits paid 
Administrative expenses  
Reinstatements and transfers 
Settlements 
Effect of movements in exchange rates

Fair value, end of year 

Irrecoverable surplus due to asset ceiling 

Funded status, net deficit of plans

Accrued benefit liability

Partially 
Funded 

Wholly
Unfunded 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

314.0 
— 
2.1 
— 
14.0 
1.2 
(16.1) 
8.0 
(1.9) 
10.7 
(0.7) 
— 
0.1 
10.4 

341.8 

298.6 
13.2 
(0.6) 
1.2 
6.3 
(16.1) 
(0.7) 
— 
(0.1) 
10.0 

311.8 

(1.4) 

(31.4) 

(31.4) 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

240.4 
1.4 
5.6 
0.1 
11.1 
1.7 
(10.2) 
2.6 
0.4 
(4.7) 
0.3 
(0.1) 
— 
1.2 

249.8 

— 
— 
— 
— 
10.6 
(10.2) 
— 
(0.4) 
— 
— 

— 

— 

(249.8) 

(249.8) 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

Total

554.4
1.4
7.7
0.1
25.1
2.9
(26.3)
10.6
(1.5)
6.0
(0.4)
(0.1)
0.1
11.6

591.6

298.6
13.2
(0.6)
1.2
16.9
(26.3)
(0.7)
(0.4)
(0.1)
10.0

311.8

(1.4)

(281.2)

(281.2)

85

2023 Annual Report2022 

Accrued benefit obligation:

Balance, beginning of year 
Current service cost 
Past service cost 
Interest cost 
Employee contributions  
Benefits paid 
Actuarial (gains) losses – experience 
Actuarial gains – demographic assumptions 
Actuarial gains – financial assumptions 
Reinstatements and transfers 
Effect of curtailment 
Settlements 
Effect of movements in exchange rates 

Balance, end of year 

Plan assets: 

Fair value, beginning of year 
Expected return on plan assets 
Actuarial losses 
Employee contributions  
Employer contributions  
Benefits paid 
Administrative expenses  
Settlements 
Effect of movements in exchange rates

Fair value, end of year 

Irrecoverable surplus due to asset ceiling 

Funded status, net deficit of plans

Accrued benefit liability

The Company’s net defined benefit plan expense is as follows:

2023 

Current service cost 
Past service cost 
Net interest cost on accrued benefit liability
Curtailment gain 
Settlement loss 
Administration costs 

Net defined benefit plan expense

Net defined benefit plan expense is recorded in: 
Cost of sales 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  
Finance cost 

Net defined benefit plan expense

86

Partially 
Funded 

506.9 
2.2 
— 
8.7 
1.0 
(12.1) 
11.1 
(0.7) 
(182.8) 
(0.1) 
— 
(0.3) 
(19.9) 

314.0 

468.7 
7.9 
(152.9) 
1.0 
5.5 
(12.1) 
(1.1) 
(0.3) 
(18.1) 

298.6 

(2.1) 

(17.5) 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

Wholly
Unfunded 

275.7 
5.5 
0.4 
5.6 
1.8 
(9.6) 
(4.0) 
(0.3) 
(40.9) 
— 
(0.4) 
— 
6.6 

240.4 

— 
— 
— 
— 
9.6 
(9.6) 
— 
— 
— 

— 

— 

(240.4) 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

(17.5) 

$ 

(240.4) 

Partially 
Funded 

Wholly
Unfunded 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2.1 
— 
0.8 
— 
0.2 
0.7 

3.8 

1.5 
1.5 
0.8 

3.8 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

5.6 
0.1 
11.1 
(0.1) 
— 
— 

16.7 

1.4 
4.2 
11.1 

16.7 

Total

782.6
7.7
0.4
14.3
2.8
(21.7)
7.1
(1.0)
(223.7)
(0.1)
(0.4)
(0.3)
(13.3)

554.4

468.7
7.9
(152.9)
1.0
15.1
(21.7)
(1.1)
(0.3)
(18.1)

298.6

(2.1)

(257.9)

(257.9)

Total

7.7
0.1
11.9
(0.1)
0.2
0.7

20.5

2.9
5.7
11.9

20.5

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Report 
2022 

Current service cost 
Past service cost 
Net interest cost on accrued benefit liability
Curtailment gain 
Settlement loss 
Administration costs 

Net defined benefit plan expense

Net defined benefit plan expense is recorded in: 
Cost of sales 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  
Finance cost 

Net defined benefit plan expense

Actuarial gains (losses) recognized directly in equity are as follows:

Actuarial losses – experience 
Actuarial gains – demographic assumptions  
Actuarial gains (losses) – financial assumptions 
Experience losses on plan assets 
Actuarial gains (losses) – irrecoverable surplus 

Partially 
Funded 

Wholly
Unfunded 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2.2 
— 
0.8 
— 
— 
1.1 

4.1 

1.4 
1.9 
0.8 

4.1 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

5.5 
0.4 
5.6 
(0.4) 
— 
— 

11.1 

1.4 
4.1 
5.6 

Total

7.7
0.4
6.4
(0.4)
—
1.1

15.2

2.8
6.0
6.4

$ 

11.1 

$ 

15.2

$ 

2023 

(10.6) 
1.5 
(6.0) 
(0.6) 
0.7 

$ 

2022

(7.1)
1.0
223.7
(152.9)
(2.1)

Recognized during the year in other comprehensive income (loss) 

$ 

(15.0) 

$ 

62.6

Plan assets consist of the following:

2023 

Equity securities 
Debt securities 
Real estate 
Other 

Total 

2022 

Equity securities 
Debt securities 
Real estate 
Other 

Total 

Partially 
Funded 

Wholly
Unfunded 

38% 
44% 
3% 
15% 

100% 

— 
— 
— 
— 

— 

Partially 
Funded 

Wholly
Unfunded 

51% 
34% 
3% 
12% 

100% 

— 
— 
— 
— 

— 

Total

38%
44%
3%
15%

100%

Total

51%
34%
3%
12%

100%

87

2023 Annual Report 
No plan assets are directly invested in the Company’s own shares or directly in any property occupied by, or other assets 
used by, the Company.

The actual returns on plan assets are as follows:

2023 
2022 

Partially 
Funded 

Wholly
Unfunded 

Total

$  
$ 

12.6 
(145.0) 

$ 
$ 

 — 
 — 

$ 
$  

12.6
(145.0)

The weighted average economic assumptions used to determine post-employment benefit obligations are as follows:

December 31, 2023 
Discount rate 
Expected rate of compensation increase 

December 31, 2022 
Discount rate 
Expected rate of compensation increase 

Partially 
Funded 

Wholly
Unfunded 

4.15% 
1.67% 

4.45% 
1.71% 

4.62% 
2.63% 

4.35% 
2.57% 

The weighted average economic assumptions used to determine post-employment plan expenses are as follows:

December 31, 2023 
Discount rate 
Expected rate of compensation increase 

December 31, 2022 
Discount rate 
Expected rate of compensation increase 

Partially 
Funded 

Wholly
Unfunded 

4.45% 
1.71% 

1.84% 
1.48% 

4.34% 
2.56% 

1.54% 
2.05% 

Total

4.35%
2.37%

4.41%
2.35%

Total

4.40%
2.35%

1.73%
1.92%

The sensitivity analysis on the defined benefit obligation is as follows, and it is prepared by altering one assumption at 
a time and keeping the other assumptions unchanged. The resulting defined benefit obligation is then compared to the 
defined benefit obligation in the disclosures:

Discount rate (increase 1%) 
Discount rate (decrease 1%) 
Longevity (+1 year) 
Inflation (+0.25%) 
Inflation (-0.25%) 
Salary (increase 1%) 
Salary (decrease 1%) 
Duration (years) 

Partially 
Funded 

 (42.6) 
46.3 
7.6 
6.6 
(6.1) 
3.0 
(2.2) 
15 

$ 
$ 
$ 
$ 
$ 
$ 
$ 

Wholly
Unfunded

(17.2)
18.5
7.3
—
—
2.8
(2.5)
10

$ 
$ 
$ 
$ 
$ 
$ 
$ 

The Company expects to contribute $4.9 million to the partially funded defined benefit plans and pay $14.9 million in 
benefits for the wholly unfunded plans in 2024.

(c) Long-term incentive, long-service leave, jubilee and other plans

The Company has long-term incentive plans with share-based payments, long-service leave plans and jubilee plans in 
various countries around the world. As at December 31, 2023, $0.8 million (2022 – $0.7 million) of the total obligation of 
$18.5 million (2022 – $14.7 million) was classified as current and reported in trade and other payables. The expense for 
these plans was $37.9 million in 2023 (2022 – $27.8 million).

88

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Report 
 
2 1 .   P E R S O N N E L   E X P E N S E S

Wages and salaries 
Compulsory social security contributions  
Contributions to Company-sponsored defined contribution plans 
Net expenses related to defined benefit plans  
Equity-settled share-based payment transactions 

2 2 .  I N C O M E   TA X   E X P E N S E

Current tax expense 
Current tax on earnings before earnings in equity-accounted investments for the year 

Deferred tax expense (benefit)  (note 15) 
Origination and reversal of temporary differences 
Impact of tax rate changes  
Recognition of previously unrecognized tax losses and deductible temporary differences

Total income tax expense  

Reconciliation of effective tax rate

Combined Canadian federal and provincial income tax rates 

The income tax expense on the Company’s earnings differs from the amount
  determined by the Company’s statutory rates as follows: 
Net earnings for the year  
Add: income tax expense  
Deduct: earnings in equity-accounted investments 

Earnings before income tax and equity-accounted investments 

Income tax using the Company’s domestic combined  
  Canadian federal and provincial income tax rates 
Effect of tax rates in foreign jurisdictions 
Impact of tax rate changes  
Recognition of previously unrecognized tax losses and deductible temporary differences 
Losses and deductible temporary differences for which no deferred tax asset was recognized 
Non-deductible expenses and other items  

2023 

$  1,322.1 
159.6 
41.3 
20.5 
49.7 

$ 

2022

1,199.3
141.0
33.7
15.2
38.6

$  1,593.2 

$ 

1,427.8

$ 

$ 

2023 

220.8 

(6.5) 
(1.2) 
(12.4) 

(20.1) 

$ 

$ 

2022

210.9

(16.4)
—
(11.2)

(27.6)

$ 

200.7 

$ 

183.3

2023 

26.5% 

2022

26.5%

$ 

$ 

530.2 
200.7 
17.9 

713.0 

202.5 
(14.3) 
(1.2) 
(12.4) 
2.7 
23.4 

622.7
183.3
19.9

786.1

208.3
(9.2)
—
(11.2)
6.1
(10.7)

$ 

200.7 

$ 

183.3

Income tax expense (recovery) recognized directly in other comprehensive income  
Derivatives and foreign currency translation adjustments 
Actuarial gains (losses) 

Total income tax expense (recovery) recognized directly in other comprehensive income 

$ 

$ 

1.0 
(3.9) 

(2.9) 

$ 

$ 

(5.2)
16.8

11.6

89

2023 Annual Report 
The Company is subject to income taxes in numerous jurisdictions. Significant judgement is required in determining 
the  worldwide  provision  for  income  taxes.  There  are  many  transactions  and  calculations  for  which  the  ultimate  tax 
determination is uncertain. The Company recognizes liabilities for anticipated tax audit issues based on estimates of 
whether additional taxes will be due. If the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts that were 
initially recorded, such differences will impact the current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities in the period in 
which such determination is made.

OECD Pillar Two rules and global minimum tax

More than 135 jurisdictions have agreed to implement the new global minimum tax regime (“Pillar Two Rules”), based on 
model rules published by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”). The proposed Pillar 
Two rules aim to ensure that large multinational enterprises pay a minimum tax of 15% on the income arising in each 
jurisdiction in which they operate. The Company operates in 19 of these jurisdictions that, so far, have enacted legislation 
for the Pillar Two rules. The Company expects to be subject to top-up tax in relation to its operations in some of these 
jurisdictions. However, since the enacted tax legislation in these countries will only be effective from January 1, 2024, 
there is no tax impact for the year ending December 31, 2023. The impact of adopting the Pillar Two rules is not expected 
to be material on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 

2 3 .  S H A R E - B A S E D   PAY M E N T S

For options and share awards granted for stock-based compensation, $49.5 million (2022 – $38.5 million) was recognized 
in the consolidated financial statements as an expense, with a corresponding offset to contributed surplus.

At December 31, 2023, the Company had five share-based compensation plans, which are described below:

(a)  Employee stock option plan

Under  the  employee  stock  option  plan,  the  Company  may  grant  options  to  employees,  officers  and  directors  of  the 
Company. The Company does not grant options to independent directors. The exercise price of each option equals the 
closing market price of the Class B non-voting shares on the last trading day prior to the grant date of the option, and an 
option’s  maximum  term  is  10  years.  Current  options  vest  25%  one  year  from  the  grant  date  and  25%  each  subsequent 
year. The term of these options is five years from the grant date. In general, the grants are conditional upon continued 
employment. No market conditions affect vesting. Granted options are not entitled to dividends and may not be transferred 
or assigned by the option holder. In 2023 and 2022, stock option grants were not awarded.

A summary of the status of the Company’s employee stock option plan as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and changes 
during the years ended on those dates, is presented below:

Outstanding at beginning of year 
Granted 
Exercised 
Forfeited 

Outstanding at end of year 

Options exercisable at end of year 

2023 

Weighted  
Average  
Exercise Price  

$ 

$ 

$ 

61.64 
— 
55.73 
66.87 

55.73 

55.73 

Shares 
(in millions) 

1.3 
— 
(0.5) 
(0.7) 

0.1 

0.1 

2022

Weighted  
Average 
Exercise Price 

Shares 
(in millions) 

1.5 
— 
(0.1) 
(0.1) 

1.3 

1.1 

$ 

$ 

$ 

61.45
—
61.50
58.85

61.64

62.71

The weighted average share price of stock options exercised in 2023 was $64.23 (2022 – $66.64). 

90

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual ReportThe following table summarizes information about the employee stock options outstanding at December 31, 2023.

Range of 
Exercisable Prices 

$ 55.73 

$ 55.73 

Options Outstanding 

Options Exercisable

Options 
Outstanding 
(in millions) 

0.1 

0.1 

Weighted  
Average  
Remaining  
Contractual Life  

0.2 years 

0.2 years 

Weighted  
Average  
Exercise Price  

$ 

$ 

55.73 

55.73 

Options 
Exercisable 
 (in millions) 

Weighted  
Average 
Exercise Price 

0.1 

0.1 

$ 

$ 

55.73

55.73

(b)  Deferred share units (“DSU”)

The Company maintains a deferred share unit plan. Under this plan, non-employee members of the Company’s Board of 
Directors may elect to receive DSUs, in lieu of cash remuneration, for director fees that would otherwise be payable to 
such directors, or any portion thereof, until DSU holdings of a prescribed limit have been achieved. In addition, director 
compensation includes an annual grant of DSUs. The number of units received is equivalent to the fees earned and is 
based on the fair market value of a Class B non-voting share of the Company on the date of issue of the DSU. When 
dividends are paid on Class B non-voting shares of the Company, the equivalent value per DSU is calculated and the holder 
receives additional DSUs in lieu of actual cash dividends based on the fair market value of a Class B non-voting share of 
the Company. DSUs cannot be redeemed or paid out until such time as the director ceases to be a director. A DSU entitles 
the holder to receive, on a deferred payment basis, the number of Class B non-voting shares of the Company equating to 
the number of the holder’s DSUs on the redemption date. The Company accounts for the DSU plan as an equity-settled 
share-based payment transaction. 

The Company had 0.3 million DSUs outstanding as at December 31, 2023. 

(c)  Performance stock units (“PSU”)

In 2019, the Company introduced a performance stock unit plan. Under the plan, participants may be eligible to receive a 
maximum of approximately 1.5 million Class B non-voting shares of the Company to be issued from treasury. The vesting 
of these shares is dependent on the Company’s performance and continuing employment. The grant-date fair value of 
these shares is being amortized over the vesting period and recognized as compensation expense. 

(d)  Long-term retention plan (“LTRP”)

In 2017, the Company instituted a long-term retention plan. Under the plan, the Company provided a one-time retention 
incentive to executives totaling 0.3 million restricted share units (“RSU”). The incentive vests 25% in each year beginning 
in 2022 and ending in 2025, inclusive. 

In 2019, under the aforementioned long-term retention plan, the Company provided a one-time retention incentive to 
additional executives totaling 0.1 million RSUs. The incentive vests 25% in each year beginning in 2024 and ending in 
2027, inclusive. 

Each RSU is equivalent to one Class B non-voting share of the Company, to be issued from treasury. The Company had 
0.3 million RSUs outstanding under this plan as at December 31, 2023.

(e) Other restricted share units 

In 2020, the Company established the restricted share unit plan. Each unit is equivalent to one Class B non-voting share 
of the Company. Current units vest 25% one year from the grant date and 25% each subsequent year. The term of these 
units is four years from the grant date, and will be settled through equity. The grants are conditional upon continued 
employment. No market conditions affect vesting. Granted units are not entitled to dividends and may not be transferred 
or assigned by the unitholder. 

The Company had 0.5 million restricted share units outstanding under this plan as at December 31, 2023.

91

2023 Annual Report2 4 .  F I N A N C I A L   I N S T R U M E N T S

(a)  Hedges of net investments in foreign operations

US$123.8 million (2022 – US$123.8 million) of unsecured 144A 3.25% private notes, US$191.5 million (2022 – US$191.5 million) 
of unsecured 144A 3.05% private notes and nil (2022 – US$67.5 million) of the unsecured syndicated bank credit facilities 
(hedging  items)  have  been  used  to  hedge  the  Company’s  exposure  to  its  net  investment  in  US-dollar-denominated 
operations (hedged items), with a view to reducing foreign exchange fluctuations. The foreign exchange effect of the 
unsecured 144A 3.25% private notes, the unsecured 144A 3.05% private notes, the unsecured syndicated bank credit 
facilities and the net investment in US-dollar-denominated subsidiaries is reported in accumulated other comprehensive 
loss in the consolidated statement of financial position. These have been and continue to be 100% fully effective hedges 
as  the  notional  amounts  of  the  hedging  items  equal  the  portion  of  the  net  investment  balance  being  hedged.  No 
ineffectiveness was recognized in the consolidated income statement in 2023 or 2022. 

Unsecured syndicated bank credit facilities (hedging item) of €201.0 million (2022 – €46.0 million) were used to hedge 
the Company’s exposure to its net investment in self-sustaining euro-denominated operations (hedged items) with a 
view to reducing foreign exchange fluctuations. The foreign exchange effect of both the unsecured syndicated bank 
credit facilities and the net investment in euro-denominated subsidiaries was reported in other comprehensive loss in 
the consolidated statement of financial position. This was a 100% fully effective hedge as the notional amount of the 
hedging item equalled the portion of the net investment balance being hedged. No ineffectiveness was recognized in the 
consolidated income statement in 2023 or 2022.

In February 2017, the Company converted US$264.7 million of the 144A 3.25% private notes (note 18) into €250.0 million 
1.23% fixed rate debt using CCIRSAs (hedging items). In February 2018, a further US$111.5 million of the 144A 3.25% private 
notes (note 18) were converted into €90.0 million 1.16% fixed rate debt using CCIRSAs. In June 2020, US$204.6 million and 
US$203.9 million of the 144A 3.05% private notes (note 18) were converted into €180.0 million 2.06% fixed rate debt and 
€180.0 million 2.00% fixed rate debt, respectively, using CCIRSAs. Each of these conversions was to hedge the Company’s 
euro-based assets and cash flows. Fair value of these CCIRSAs was recorded in non-current liabilities when negative 
in value and non-current assets when positive in value. The offset was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive 
loss in the consolidated statement of financial position. These have all been, and continue to be, 100% fully effective 
hedges as the notional amounts of the hedging items equal the portion of the net investment balance being hedged. No 
ineffectiveness was recognized in the consolidated income statement in 2023 or 2022.

Notional Principal Amount 

Interest Rate 

Fixed Rate 

Fixed Rate 

Received 
(US$) 

Paid 
 (€) 

2023 
(C$) 

Fair Value 
December 31 

2022 
(C$)  

Maturity 

Effective Date

 US$105.8 million  €  100.0 million 

3.25% 

1.24%   $  (4.5) million  $ 

3.0 million 

October 1, 2026  February 28, 2017

US$84.8 million   €  80.0 million 

3.25% 

1.20%   $  (3.3) million  $ 

2.8 million 

October 1, 2026  February 28, 2017

US$42.3 million   €  40.0 million 

3.25% 

1.21%   $  (1.8) million  $ 

1.2 million 

October 1, 2026  February 28, 2017

US$31.8 million  €  30.0 million 

3.25% 

1.29%   $  (1.4) million  $ 

0.8 million 

October 1, 2026  February 28, 2017

US$62.1 million  €  50.0 million 

3.25% 

1.16%   $ 

9.9 million  $  13.9 million 

October 1, 2026  February 21, 2018

US$49.4 million  €  40.0 million 

3.25% 

1.15%   $ 

7.5 million  $  10.7 million 

October 1, 2026  February 22, 2018

 US$125.0 million  €  110.0 million 

3.05% 

2.06%  $ 

0.3 million  $  10.1 million 

June 1, 2030 

June 10, 2020

US$79.6 million  €  70.0 million 

3.05% 

2.06% 

nil  $ 

6.3 million 

June 1, 2030 

June 10, 2020

US$68.0 million  €  60.0 million 

3.05% 

2.00%  $ 

0.2 million  $ 

5.6 million 

June 1, 2030 

June 23, 2020

US$45.3 million  €  40.0 million 

3.05% 

2.00% 

nil  $ 

3.6 million 

June 1, 2030 

June 23, 2020

US$45.3 million  €  40.0 million 

3.05% 

2.01%  $ 

0.1 million  $ 

3.8 million 

June 1, 2030 

June 23, 2020

US$45.3 million  €  40.0 million 

3.05% 

2.01% 

nil  $ 

3.7 million 

June 1, 2030 

June 23, 2020

92

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Report(b)  Credit risk

Exposure to credit risk

The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure. The maximum exposure to credit risk 
at the reporting date was as follows:

Cash and cash equivalents 
Trade and other receivables 
Other assets 
Derivative instruments   

The aging of trade receivables at the reporting date was as follows:

Under 31 days 
Between 31 and 90 days 
Greater than 90 days 

  December 31,  
2023 

 December 31, 
2022

$ 

774.2 
1,089.3 
21.9 
18.1 

$ 

839.5
1,100.5
18.7
65.5

$ 

1,903.5 

$ 

2,024.2

  December 31,  
2023 

 December 31, 
2022

$ 

583.7 
353.1 
67.1 

$ 

$ 

1,003.9 

$ 

545.9
372.9
73.4

992.2

The movement in the allowance for impairment in respect of trade receivables during the year was as follows:

Balance at January 1 
(Decrease) increase during the year 

Balance at December 31 

  December 31,  
2023 

 December 31, 
2022

$ 

$ 

17.7 
1.5 

19.2 

$ 

$ 

18.4
(0.7)

17.7

The Company believes that no impairment allowance is necessary in respect of trade receivables not past due.

93

2023 Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(c)  Liquidity risk

Exposure to liquidity risk

The following are the contractual maturities of financial liabilities, including estimated interest payments and excluding 
the impact of netting agreements:

December 31, 2022 

December 31, 2023

Payments Due by Period

Carrying 
Amount

Carrying 
Amount

Contractual 
Cash Flows

0–6  
Months

6–12  
Months

1–2  
Years

2–5  
Years

More than  
5 Years

Non-derivative financial liabilities

Secured bank loans 
Unsecured bank loans 
Unsecured 144A 3.25%  

private notes 

Unsecured 144A 3.05%  

private notes 
Unsecured 3.864%  
Series 1 Notes 

Unsecured syndicated  
bank credit facility 

Other long-term obligations 
Interest on unsecured  
bank credit facilities 
Interest on 144A 3.25%  

private notes 

Interest on 144A 3.05%  

private notes 

Interest on unsecured 3.864%  

Series 1 Notes 
Interest on other  
long-term debt 
Trade and other  
  payables 

Accrued post-employment  
  benefit liabilities
Lease liabilities 

Total contractual  
cash obligations 

$ 

$ 

2.0 
4.3 

$ 

0.1 
7.0 

0.1 
7.0 

$  — 
1.5 

$ 

0.1 
1.3 

$  — 
2.1 

$ 

— 
2.1 

$  —
—

674.2 

659.6 

662.1 

806.4 

788.7 

794.6 

298.9 

299.1 

300.0 

394.1 
2.3 

307.0 
13.2 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

— 

— 

— 

— 
1.1 

8.1 

5.4 

308.6 
13.2 

52.2 

59.1 

155.5 

10.1 

49.7 

1.8 

3.3 

0.1 

1,394.4 

1,329.5 

1,329.5 

1,329.5 

* 
179.6 

* 
207.7 

252.3 
226.5 

1.7 
24.6 

— 

— 

— 

— 
2.9 

8.3 

10.7 

12.1 

5.8 

0.1 

— 

1.7 
22.8 

— 

— 

— 

— 
2.0 

16.6 

21.5 

24.2 

11.6 

0.2 

— 

22.5 
36.9 

662.1 

—

— 

794.6

300.0 

308.6 
7.2 

19.2 

21.5 

—

—
—

—

—

72.7 

36.4

29.0 

1.4 

— 

88.7 
66.9 

—

—

—

137.7
75.3

$  3,756.2  $  3,611.9 

$  4,212.2 

$ 1,385.4 

$ 

65.8 

$   137.6 

$ 1,579.4  $ 1,044.0

*

 Accrued  long-term  employee  benefit  and  post-employment  benefit  liability  of  $17.2  million,  accrued  interest  of  $10.1  million  on  unsecured  notes, 
unsecured bonds and unsecured syndicated credit facilities, and accrued interest of $2.4 million on derivatives are reported in trade and other payables 
in 2023 (2022: $15.7 million, $10.3 million and $2.4 million, respectively).

94

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Report 
(d)  Currency risk 

Exposure to currency risk

The Company’s exposure to foreign currency risk was as follows based on notional amounts:

U.S. 
Dollar 

157.6 
317.7 
335.0 
325.1 

December 31, 2023 

 December 31, 2022

U.K. 
Pound  

14.4 
28.5 
27.4 
— 

Euro  

146.1 
177.4 
239.4 
905.9 

U.S.  
Dollar  

212.1 
315.4 
336.9 
384.4 

U.K. 
Pound 

17.3 
27.1 
35.1 
— 

Euro

134.7
159.3
233.0
749.4

Cash and cash equivalents   
Trade and other receivables 
Trade and other payables 
Long-term debt 

Sensitivity analysis

A 5% weakening of the Canadian dollar, as indicated below, against the following currencies at December 31 would have 
increased (decreased) equity and income by the amounts shown below. This analysis assumes that all other variables; in 
particular, interest rates, remain constant. 

Euro  
U.S. dollar 
U.K. pound  

2023

(42.3) 
(20.3) 
26.7 

Equity 

2022 

(41.1) 
(25.5) 
26.0 

Income Statement

2023 

0.2 
4.0 
0.4 

2022

(0.5)
3.8
0.3

A 5% strengthening of the Canadian dollar against the above currencies at December 31 would have had the equal but 
opposite effect on the above currencies to the amounts shown above, on the basis that all other variables remain constant.

(e)  Interest rate risk

An increase of 100 basis points in interest rates on the floating rate debt and cash equivalents as at the reporting date 
would increase net earnings by $4.6 million (2022 – $4.4 million increase). This analysis assumes that all other variables; 
in particular, foreign currency rates, remain constant.  

95

2023 Annual Report 
 
(f)  Fair values versus carrying amounts

The fair values of financial assets and liabilities, together with the carrying amounts shown in the consolidated statement 
of financial position, are as follows:

Assets carried at fair value: 
Other assets 
Derivative financial assets  

Assets carried at amortized cost:
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents  

Liabilities carried at fair value: 
Derivative financial liabilities 

Liabilities carried at amortized cost: 
Trade and other payables   
Unsecured 144A 3.25% private notes   
Unsecured 144A 3.05% private notes   
Unsecured 3.864% Series 1 Notes 
Unsecured syndicated bank credit facilities 
Other loans 

December 31, 2023 

December 31, 2022

Carrying  
Amount  

$ 

$ 

21.9 
18.1 

40.0 

$ 

$ 

Fair 
Value 

21.9 
18.1 

40.0 

$  1,089.3 
774.2 

$  1,089.3 
774.2 

Carrying  
Amount 

18.7 
65.5 

84.2 

1,100.5 
839.5 

$ 

$ 

$ 

Fair 
Value

18.7
65.5

84.2

1,100.5
839.5

$ 

$ 

$ 

$  1,863.5 

$  1,863.5 

$ 

1,940.0 

$ 

1,940.0

$ 

$ 

11.0 

11.0 

$ 

$ 

11.0 

11.0 

$  1,329.5 
659.6 
788.7 
299.1 
307.0 
20.3 

$  1,329.5 
630.3 
692.4 
288.8 
307.0 
20.3 

$ 

$ 

$ 

0.1 

0.1 

1,394.4 
674.2 
806.4 
298.8 
394.1 
8.6 

$ 

$ 

$ 

0.1

0.1

1,394.4
613.5
673.9
282.2
394.1
8.6

$  3,404.2 

$  3,268.3 

$ 

3,576.6 

$ 

3,366.7

The basis for determining fair values is disclosed in note 3.

The interest rates used to discount estimated cash flows for the unsecured notes are based on the government yield curve 
at the reporting date, plus an adequate credit spread.

(g)  Fair value hierarchy

The table below summarizes the levels of hierarchy for financial assets and liabilities.

The different levels have been defined as follows:

• Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

•

 Level 2: inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, that are observable for the asset or liability, either
directly (i.e., as prices) or indirectly (i.e., derived from prices); and

• Level 3: inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3 

Total

$ 

$ 

21.9 
— 
— 
— 

21.9 

$ 

 $ 

— 
18.1 
(1,938.8) 
(11.0) 

$  (1,931.7) 

$ 

— 
— 
— 
— 

— 

$ 

21.9
18.1
(1,938.8)
(11.0)

$  (1,909.8)

December 31, 2023 
Other assets 
Derivative financial assets  
Long-term debt 
Derivative financial liabilities

96

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Report 
December 31, 2022 
Other assets 
Derivative financial assets  
Long-term debt  
Derivative financial liabilities

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3 

Total

$ 

$ 

18.7 
— 
— 
— 

18.7 

$ 

 $ 

— 
65.5 
(1,972.3) 
(0.1) 

$  (1,906.9) 

$ 

— 
— 
— 
— 

— 

$ 

18.7
65.5
(1,972.3)
(0.1)

$ 

(1,888.2)

The methods and assumptions used to measure the fair value are as follows:

The fair value of derivative financial instruments generally reflects the estimated amounts that the Company would receive 
to sell favourable contracts or pay to transfer unfavourable contracts, at the reporting date. The Company uses discounted 
cash flow analysis and market data such as interest rates, credit spreads and foreign exchange spot rates to estimate the 
fair value of forward agreements and interest-rate derivatives.

The fair value of long-term debt is estimated using public quotations, when available, or discounted cash flow analysis 
based on the current corresponding borrowing rate for similar types of borrowing arrangements.

2 5.  F I N A N C I A L   R I S K   M A N AG E M E N T

The Company has exposure to the following risks from its use of financial instruments:

• credit risk;

•

liquidity risk; and

• market risk.

This note presents information about the Company’s exposure to each of the above risks, the Company’s objectives, 
policies and processes for measuring and managing risk, and the Company’s management of capital. Further quantitative 
disclosures are included throughout these consolidated financial statements.

The Company’s risk management policies are established to identify and analyze the risks faced by the Company, to set 
appropriate risk limits and controls, and to monitor risks and adherence to limits. Risk management policies and systems 
are reviewed regularly to reflect changes in market conditions and the Company’s activities. The Company, through its 
training and management standards and procedures, aims to develop a disciplined and constructive control environment 
in which all employees understand their roles and obligations.

(a)  Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Company if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet 
its  contractual  obligations,  and  it  arises  principally  from  the  Company’s  receivables  from  customers  and  investment 
securities.

The Company has established a credit policy under which each new customer is analyzed individually for creditworthiness 
before the Company’s payment and delivery terms and conditions are offered. The Company’s review includes external 
ratings, where available, and in some cases bank references. Purchase limits are established for each customer, which 
represent the maximum open amount without requiring approval from senior management; these limits are reviewed 
quarterly. Customers that fail to meet the Company’s benchmark creditworthiness may transact with the Company only 
on a prepayment basis.

The Company is potentially exposed to credit risk arising from derivative financial instruments if a counterparty fails to 
meet its obligations. These counterparties are large international financial institutions, and, to date, no such counterparty 
has failed to meet its financial obligations to the Company. As at December 31, 2023, the Company’s exposure to credit 
risk arising from derivative financial instruments amounted to $21.1 million (2022 – $68.7 million).

97

2023 Annual Report(b)  Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Company 
manages liquidity by monitoring expected cash flows and to ensure the availability of credit as much as possible, that 
it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when they are due. The financial obligations of the Company 
include trade and other payables, long-term debt and other long-term items. The contractual maturity of trade payables 
is six months or less. Long-term debt includes instruments with varying maturities extending to 2030. The Company has 
the capacity to discharge its current liabilities from the continued cash flows from business operations, an additional 
$774.2 million of cash on hand and US$966.1 million of available capacity within its syndicated bank credit facility at 
December 31, 2023.

(c)  Market risk

Market  risk  is  the  risk  that  changes  in  market  prices,  such  as  foreign  exchange  rates,  interest  rates  and  commodity 
prices, will affect the Company’s income or the value of its holdings of financial instruments. The objective of market risk 
management is to manage and control market risk exposures within acceptable parameters, while optimizing the return.

The Company uses derivatives to manage market risks. Generally, the Company seeks to apply hedge accounting in 
order to manage volatility in profit or loss. The Company does not utilize derivative financial instruments for speculative 
purposes. 

(i)  Currency risk

The Company operates internationally, giving rise to exposure to market risks from changes in foreign exchange rates. 
The Company partially manages these exposures by contracting primarily in Canadian dollars, euros, U.K. pounds and 
U.S. dollars. Additionally, each subsidiary’s sales and expenses are primarily denominated in its local currency, further 
minimizing the foreign exchange impact on the operating results. 

In other cases, borrowings are done by non-Canadian-dollar-based subsidiaries in their own functional currencies such 
that the principal and interest are denominated in a currency that matches the cash flows generated by those subsidiaries. 
These provide natural hedges that do not require the application of hedge accounting.

(ii)  Interest rate risk

The Company is exposed to market risk related to interest rate fluctuations on its debt. To mitigate this risk, the Company 
maintains a combination of fixed and floating rate debt.

(iii)  Commodity price risk

Polypropylene is the most significant input cost for the Innovia Segment. It is traded in the market, with prices linked to the 
market price of natural gas and refining capacity. The Segment does not use derivative financial instruments to hedge its 
exposure to the volatility of polypropylene prices; therefore, movements must be managed and, where possible, passed 
along to the Segment’s customers. 

(d)  Capital management

The  Company’s  objective  is  to  maintain  a  strong  capital  base  throughout  the  economic  cycle  to  maintain  investor, 
creditor and market confidence and to sustain the future development of the business. This capital structure supports 
the Company’s objective to provide an attractive financial return to its shareholders equal to that of its leading specialty 
packaging peers.

The Company defines capital as average total equity and measures the return on capital (or return on equity) by dividing 
annual net earnings before goodwill impairment loss and restructuring and other items by the average of the beginning 
and the end-of-year shareholders’ equity. In 2023, the return on capital was 15.0% (2022 – 15.9%).

Management and the Board maintain a balance between the expected higher return on capital that might be possible with 
a higher level of financial debt and the advantages and security afforded by a lower level of financial leverage. 

The Company has provided a growing level of dividends to its shareholders over the last few years, generally related to 
its growth in earnings. Dividends are declared bearing in mind the Company’s current earnings, cash flow and financial 
leverage.

 There were no changes in the Company’s approach to capital management during the year.

The Company is subject to certain financial covenants on its unsecured syndicated bank credit facility. The Company 
monitors the ratios on a quarterly basis and at December 31, 2023, was in compliance with all its covenants.

98

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual Report2 6.  C O M M I T M E N T S   A N D   C O N T I N G E N C I E S

(a)  Commitments 

As at December 31, 2023, the Company had uncollateralized surety bonds of $56.7 million (2022 – $52.4 million), primarily to 
the Brazilian Tax Authority in order to facilitate the appeal of tax reassessments. The Company intends to vigorously defend 
these claims, which the Company considers to be without merit and, accordingly, has made no provision for the matter.

(b)  Contingencies

In the normal course of operations, the Company and its subsidiaries may be subject to lawsuits, investigations and other 
claims, including environmental, labour, product, customer disputes and other matters.

In the first quarter of 2019, a hearing on a jurisdictional issue was heard in respect of a lawsuit launched in 2011 by Benoy 
Berry and a company controlled by him, Global Secure Currency Ltd. (collectively “Berry”), in Nigerian Federal Court 
against CCL Secure Pty Ltd. (formerly Innovia Security Pty Ltd.) (“ISPL”), and Innovia Films Ltd. (collectively “IFL”), as well 
as other defendants not affiliated with ISPL. The court denied IFL’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit on the jurisdictional issue. 
IFL is appealing that decision to the highest appeals court in Nigeria. The lawsuit alleges that IFL and the co-defendants 
committed to build a banknote substrate plant in Nigeria and Berry seeks an order requiring IFL and the co-defendants to 
build the plant or in lieu thereof, grant an award of total damages in the amount of €1.5 billion ($2.2 billion). IFL intends to 
vigorously defend this claim, which the Company considers to be without merit and accordingly, the Company has made 
no provision for the matter.

Management believes that adequate provisions for legal claims have been recorded in the accounts where required. 
Although  it  is  not  always  possible  to  accurately  estimate  the  result  or  magnitude  of  legal  claims  due  to  the  various 
uncertainties involved in the legal process, management believes that the ultimate resolution of all such pending matters, 
individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse impact on the Company, its business, financial position 
or liquidity.

2 7.  R E L AT E D  PA R T I E S

(a)  Beneficial ownership

The  directors  and  officers  of  CCL  Industries  Inc.  as  a  group  beneficially  own,  control,  or  direct,  directly  or  indirectly, 
approximately  11.2  million  of  the  issued  and  outstanding  Class  A  voting  shares,  representing  95.4%  of  the  issued  and 
outstanding Class A voting shares.

(b)  Loan guarantees

The  Company  previously  provided  various  loan  guarantees  for  its  joint  ventures  and  associates.  As  these  were  fully 
repaid in July 2023, there are currently no loans at its joint ventures and associates that are guaranteed by the Company 
(2022 – $19.9 million).

2 8 . K E Y  M A N AG E M E N T  P E R S O N N E L  C O M P E N SAT I O N

Short-term employee compensation and benefits
Share-based compensation 
Post-employment benefits

2023 

8.1 
22.7 
1.0 

31.8 

$ 

2022

9.9
5.2
0.9

$ 

16.0

$ 

$ 

99

2023 Annual Report2 9.  AC C U M U L AT E D   OT H E R   C O M P R E H E N S I V E   LO S S

Unrealized foreign currency translation losses, net of tax recovery of 
  $2.5 million (2022 – tax recovery of $3.3 million) 
Gains on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges,

net of tax expense of $nil (2022 – tax expense of $nil) 

3 0.   R E S T R U C T U R I N G   A N D   OT H E R   I T E M S

Restructuring costs  
Acquisition costs  

Total restructuring and other items 

2023 

2022

$ 

(111.6) 

$ 

(65.5)

0.2 

0.1

$ 

(111.4) 

$ 

(65.4)

2023 

41.1 
1.7 

42.8 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2022

10.3
1.4

11.7

For the full year 2023, restructuring costs and other items represented an expense of $42.8 million ($41.2 million after 
tax) as follows:

•

 Restructuring expenses of $41.1 million ($39.5 million after tax), primarily related to severance and reorganization costs
largely across Innovia, CCL Segment and Checkpoint.

• Acquisition transaction costs totaled $1.7 million ($1.7 million after tax), for the eight acquisitions closed in 2023.

For the full year 2022, restructuring costs and other items represented an expense of $11.7 million ($9.7 million after tax) 
as follows:

•

 Restructuring expenses of $10.3 million ($8.3 million after tax), primarily related to severance and reorganization costs
across the CCL Segment, Checkpoint and Innovia.

• Acquisition transaction costs totaled $1.4 million ($1.4 million after tax), for the three acquisitions closed in 2022.

3 1 .  S U B S E Q U E N T   E V E N T S

Prior to the release of the 2023 annual consolidated financial statements, the Company announced the following:

•

 The Board of Directors has declared a dividend of $0.29 per Class B non-voting share and $0.2875 per Class A voting
share,  which  will  be  payable  to  shareholders  of  record  at  the  close  of  business  on  March  15,  2024,  to  be  paid  on
March 28, 2024.

100

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSYears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share information)2023 Annual ReportS I X   Y E A R   F I N A N C I A L   S U M M A R Y 

(In millions of Canadian dollars, except share and ratio data)

Sales & Net Earnings 
Sales 
Depreciation and  
  amortization 
Net finance costs 
Net earnings 
Basic net earnings  
per Class B share  

Financial Position
Current assets 
Current liabilities 
Working capital7 
Total assets 
Net debt 
Shareholders’ equity 
Net debt to equity ratio 
Net debt to total  

book capitalization 

2023 

2022 

2021 

2020 

2019 

2018

$ 

6,649.6 

$  6,382.2  

$ 

5,732.8  

$  5,242.3  

 $ 

5,321.3  

 $ 

5,161.5 

 403.3  
 78.0  
 530.21 

 365.3  
 64.8  
622.72 

 342.4  
 56.9  
 599.13 

 346.4  
 65.2  
 529.74 

 329.6  
 81.0  
 477.15 

 278.0 
 80.7 
 466.86

$ 

2.991 

$ 

3.502 

$ 

3.333 

$ 

2.964 

$ 

2.685 

 $ 

2.646 

$ 

$ 

2,685.3  
1,416.9  
1,268.4 
8,924.2  
1,508.2  
4,623.2  
0.33  

$ 

$ 

2,819.7  
 1,501.4  
 1,318.3  
 8,664.4  
 1,522.3  
4,265.2  
 0.36  

$ 

$ 

2,447.6  
 1,418.0  
 1,029.6  
 7,627.8  
 1,249.2  
3,747.0  
 0.33  

$ 

$ 

2,224.7  
 1,262.0  
 962.7  
 7,336.7  
 1,390.9  
3,282.2  
 0.42  

$ 

$ 

2,105.0  
 1,148.0  
 957.0  
 7,038.0  
 1,716.2  
2,897.7  
 0.59  

$ 

$ 

2,125.2 
 1,346.9 
 778.3 
 7,027.6 
 1,902.5 
2,673.1 
 0.71 

24.6% 

26.3% 

25.0% 

29.8% 

37.2% 

41.6%

Number of shares (000,000’s)
Class A – Dec 31 
Class B – Dec 31 
Weighted average  

for the year 

 11.8  
 166.0  

 177.6  

 11.8  
 165.2  

 178.0  

 11.8  
 168.4  

 179.7  

 11.8  
 167.4  

 178.7  

 11.8  
 166.8  

 178.0  

 11.8 
 165.9 

 176.8 

Cash Flow
Cash provided  
  by operations 
Additions to plant,  
  property & equipment 
Business acquisitions 
Dividends 
Dividends per  
Class B share 

$ 

1,003.3 

$ 

992.8  

$ 

838.7  

$ 

882.9  

$ 

779.5  

$ 

772.7 

461.6 
324.3 
 188.2  

 447.2  
 287.2  
 170.3  

 323.8  
 234.4  
 151.0  

 282.8  
 161.4  
 128.7  

 345.6  
 40.4  
 121.1  

 352.9 
 365.9 
 92.2 

$ 

1.06  

$ 

0.96  

$ 

0.84  

$ 

0.72  

$ 

0.68  

$ 

0.52 

Note:
1  After pre-tax goodwill impairment loss, and restructuring and other items – net loss of $137.8 million.
2  After pre-tax restructuring and other items – net loss of $11.7 million.
3  After pre-tax restructuring and other items – net loss of $4.4 million.
4  After pre-tax restructuring and other items – net loss of $27.6 million.
5  After pre-tax restructuring and other items – net loss of $25.0 million.
6  After pre-tax restructuring and other items – net loss of $14.8 million.
7  Current assets minus current liabilities.

101

2023 Annual ReportEurope

Asia Pacific

Günther Birkner
President,
Food & Beverage, Healthcare & 
Specialty and Innovia
Zurich, Switzerland

Derek Cumming
Group Vice President, 
CCL Design
East Kilbride, Scotland

Scott Mitchell-Harris
Group Vice President,
Checkpoint ALS Worldwide
Barcelona, Spain

Lee Pretsell
Group Vice President,
Healthcare & Specialty
Dublin, Ireland

Werner Ehrmann
Vice President,
Technology Development
Holzkirchen, Germany

Simon Huber
Managing Director,
Innovia Films Europe
Zurich, Switzerland

Mathias Maennel
Vice President & Managing Director,
CCL Design Europe
Solingen, Germany

Michael McGarry
Vice President & Managing Director,
Healthcare Europe
Belfast, Northern Ireland

Jamie Robinson
Vice President & Managing Director,
Home & Personal Care Europe  
and Food and Beverage, U.K.
Castleford, England

Reinhard Streit
Vice President & Managing Director,
Food & Beverage Europe
Völkermarkt, Austria

Jim Anzai
Vice President & Managing Director,
CCL Industries North Asia
Tokyo, Japan

Da Gang Li
Group Vice President,
CCL Industries Greater China 
Shanghai, PR China

Pravin Krishnan
Vice President Sales & Marketing,
CCL Design Electronics – Asia
Singapore

Kittipong Kulratanasinsuk
Vice President & Managing Director, 
CCL Label ASEAN
Bangkok, Thailand

Ying Lin
Vice President & Managing Director,
CCL Label China
Guangzhou, PR China

Daniel Choo Thian Chau
Managing Director,
CCL Label & Checkpoint Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Lifeng Wang
Vice President & Managing Director,
CCL Design Automotive Parts 
Suzhou, PR China

Alex Zhu
Vice President & Managing Director,
CCL Design Electronics –  
Greater China & ASEAN
Suzhou, PR China

Mark Gentle
Vice President & Managing Director,
Checkpoint & Meto Australia, New 
Zealand & ASEAN
Melbourne, Australia

Neil Sanders
Vice President & Managing Director,
CCL Secure – Polymer Bank Notes
Melbourne, Australia

Latin America 

Luis Jocionis
Group Vice President, 
CCL Industries South America
São Paulo, Brazil

2 0 2 3   B U S I N E S S   L E A D E R S H I P

North America

Mark Cooper
President,
Avery & METO 
Brea, California, USA

Ben Lilienthal
President, 
Checkpoint & Group Vice President, 
CCL Industries Central America
Thorofare, New Jersey, USA

Ben Rubino
President, 
Home & Personal Care
Lumberton, New Jersey, USA

Stephan Finke
Vice President & Managing Director,
Food & Beverage North America and 
Australia/New Zealand
Sonoma, California, USA

Eric Frantz
Group Vice President,
Home & Personal Care, North America 
Hermitage, Pennsylvania, USA

Bill Goldsmith
Vice President Business Development,
CCL Design North America
Clinton, South Carolina, USA

Al Green
Vice President,
Technology Development 
Clinton, South Carolina, USA

Andy Iseli
Vice President & General Manager,
CCL Tube
Los Angeles, California, USA

Jon Knight
Vice President & General Manager,
Innovia Films North America
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

Sandra Lane
Vice President,
CCL Secure North America
Greensboro, North Carolina, USA

John O’Brien
Vice President & General Manager,
CCL Label Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Allison Phillips
Vice President, 
Strategic Business Development
Avery North America 
Brea, California, USA

Patrick Thomas
Vice President & General Manager,
CCL Design North America
Strongsville, Ohio, USA

102

2023 Annual Report2 0 2 3   C O R P O R AT E   E X E C U T I V E S

Donald G. Lang 
Executive Chairman

Geoffrey T. Martin 
President and  
Chief Executive Officer

Suzana Furtado 
Corporate Secretary

Kamal Kotecha
Vice President, Taxation

Mark McClendon
Vice President and 
General Counsel

James A. Sellors
Senior Vice President, 
CCL Industries Asia Pacific

Lalitha Vaidyanathan
Senior Vice President, 
Finance-IT-Human Resources, 
CCL Industries

Nick Vecchiarelli
Vice President, Corporate Accounting

Monika Vodermaier
Vice President, Corporate Finance 
Europe 

Sean P. Washchuk
Senior Vice President and 
Chief Financial Officer

2 0 2 3   B O A R D   O F   D I R E C T O R S

Angella V. Alexander
Director since 2023
Chief Human Resources Officer, 
ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. 
Ontario, Canada

Linda G. Cash
Director since 2021

Corporate Director
Georgia, U.S.A.

Vincent J. Galifi
Director since 2016

President,
Magna International Inc. 
Ontario, Canada

Kathleen L. Keller-Hobson
Director since 2015

Corporate Director
Ontario, Canada

Donald G. Lang
Director since 1991

Executive Chairman,
CCL Industries Inc.
Ontario, Canada

Erin M. Lang
Director since 2016

Managing Director,
LUMAS Canada
Ontario, Canada

Stuart W. Lang
Director since 1991

Corporate Director
Ontario, Canada

Geoffrey T. Martin 
Director since 2005
President and CEO, 
CCL Industries Inc. 
Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Douglas W. Muzyka 
Director since 2016

Corporate Director 
Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Thomas C. Peddie 
Director since 2003

Corporate Director 
Ontario, Canada

Claude Tessier 
Director since 2023

Corporate Director 
Québec, Canada

103

2023 Annual ReportS H A R E H O L D E R S ’   I N F O R M AT I O N

Auditors
KPMG LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants

Legal Counsel
McMillan LLP

Transfer Agent 
TSX Trust Company
301-100 Adelaide Street West
Toronto, ON M5H 4H1
Email:  
Investor Services:   (416) 682-3860 or (800) 387-0825
 (888) 249-6189 or (514) 985-8843 
Fax: 
(outside Canada and the U.S.A.)
www.tsxtrust.com

shareholderinquiries@tmx.com

Website: 

Financial Information
Institutional investors, analysts and registered representatives 
requiring additional information may contact:

Sean Washchuk
Senior Vice President and CFO
(416) 756-8526

Additional copies of this report can be obtained from:
CCL Industries Inc.
Investor Relations Department
111 Gordon Baker Road
Suite 801
Toronto, ON M2H 3R1
Tel:  
Fax: 
Email: 
Website: 

(416) 756-8500
(416) 756-8555
ccl@cclind.com
www.cclind.com

Annual Meeting of Shareholders
The Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders will be held on:
May 9, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.
CCL Industries Inc.
111 Gordon Baker Road
Suite 801
Toronto, ON M2H 3R1

Class B Share Information
Stock Symbol CCL.B

Listed TSX 

Opening price 2023  
Closing price 2023   
Number of trades 
Trading volume (shares) 
Trading value 
Annual dividends declared 

$58.19
$59.59
370,600
68,270,798
$4,213,504,052
$1.06

Shares outstanding at December 31, 2023

Class A voting shares 
Class B non-voting shares 

11,748,723
166,047,542

4
2
0
2

–

o

i

d
u
t
S

n
g

i

s
e
D

E
V
O
B
L
E
D

y
b

d
e
n
g

i

s
e
D

104

This report is printed on recyclable, acid-free and chlorine free paper. Printed in Canada. 

2023 Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CCL Industries Inc.
111 Gordon Baker Road, Suite 801  
Toronto, ON  M2H 3R1, Canada
Tel +1 (416) 756 8500

161 Worcester Road
Framingham, MA 01701, USA
Tel +1 (508) 872 4511

www.cclind.com