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1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the fiscal year ended December 29, 2002 Commission File No. 1-11257

CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Articles of Incorporation)

Pennsylvania 22-1895850
(State of Incorporation) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
101 Wolf Drive, PO Box 188, Thorofare, New Jersey 08086
------------------------------------------------- -----
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

856-848-1800
----------------------------------------------------
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock, Par Value $.10 Per Share
Common Share Purchase Rights


Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was
required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes X No
--- ---
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained to the
best of the Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or on any
amendment to this Form 10-K.
X
---

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer, (as
defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes X No
--- ---
As of June 30, 2002, the aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by
non-affiliates of the Registrant was approximately $377,177,000.

As of March 5, 2003, there were 32,720,051 shares of the Common Stock
outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Part III - Certain portions of the Registrant's definitive proxy statement for
its Annual Meeting of Shareholders, presently scheduled to be held on May 1,
2003.

This report may include information that could constitute forward-looking
statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any such forward-looking statements may involve
risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from
any future results encompassed within the forward-looking statements.



PART I

Item 1. BUSINESS

Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (Company) is a multinational manufacturer and marketer
of integrated system solutions for retail security, labeling, and merchandising.
The Company provides technology-driven integrated supply chain solutions to
brand, track, and secure goods for retailers and consumer product manufacturers
worldwide.

Retailers and manufacturers have become increasingly focused on identifying and
protecting assets that are moving through the supply chain. To address this
market opportunity, the Company has built the necessary infrastructure to be a
single source for identification and shrink management solutions worldwide.

The Company is a leading provider of electronic article surveillance (EAS)
systems and tags using radio frequency (RF) and electromagnetic (EM) technology,
security source tagging, branding tags and labels for apparel, barcode labeling
systems (BCS), retail display systems (RDS), and hand-held labeling systems
(HLS). The Company's labeling systems and services are designed to consolidate
labeling requirements to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and furnish
value-added solutions for customers across many markets and industries.
Applications for labeling systems include brand identification, automatic
identification (auto-ID), retail security, and pricing and promotional labels.
The Company holds or licenses over 1,000 patents and proprietary technologies.
The Company has achieved substantial international growth, primarily through
acquisitions, and now operates directly in 30 countries. Products are
principally developed and manufactured in-house and sold through direct
distribution.

The Company's products and services can be segmented into three groups:

Security

The Company's largest business is retail security. Its diversified security
product lines are designed to help retailers prevent inventory losses caused by
theft (both by customers and employees) and reduce selling costs through lower
staff requirements. The Company's products facilitate the open display of
consumer goods, which allows retailers to maximize sales opportunities with
impulse buying. Offering both its own proprietary RF-EAS and EM-EAS
technologies, the Company holds approximately a 42% share of worldwide EAS
installations. Systems for closed-circuit television (CCTV), fire and intrusion,
and access control, also fall within the security business segment. The
Company's broad and flexible product lines, marketed and serviced by its
extensive sales and service organization, have helped the Company emerge as the
preferred supplier to premier retailers around the world. Retail security
represents approximately 62% of the Company's business.

Labeling Services

Labeling services is the Company's second largest business, generating
approximately 22% of the Company's revenues in 2002. All participants in the
retail supply chain are concerned with maximizing efficiency. Reducing
time-to-market requires refined production and logistics systems to ensure
just-in-time delivery, as well as shorter development, design, and production
cycles. Services range from full-color branding labels to tracking labels and,
ultimately, fully-integrated labels that include an EAS or a radio frequency
identification (RFID) circuit. This integration is based on the critical
objective of supporting the rapid delivery of goods to market while reducing
losses, whether through misdirection, tracking failure, theft or counterfeiting,
and to reduce labor costs by tagging and labeling products at the source. The
Company supports these objectives with its high-quality tag and label
production, a global service bureau network (Check-Net(R)) of e-commerce-enabled
capabilities, high-speed barcode labeling printing systems, and EAS and RFID
technology. Increasingly, the market seeks to move toward more sophisticated tag
solutions that incorporate RFID components that will automate many aspects of
supply chain tracking and facilitate many new merchandising enhancements for
suppliers and consumers.

Retail Merchandising

Retail merchandising includes hand-held label applicators and tags, promotional
displays, and queuing systems. These traditional products broaden the Company's
reach among retailers and enable the Company to serve a segment of the retail
market that has not converted to the more advanced BCS and EAS technologies.
Many of the products in this business segment represent high-margin items with a
high level of recurring sales of associated consumables such as labels. As a
result of retailers introducing scanning, the Company's HLS products are serving
a declining market. Retail merchandising represents approximately 16% of the
Company's business.

BUSINESS STRATEGY

The Company's business strategy focuses on providing comprehensive,
single-source solutions that help retailers, manufacturers, and distributors,
identify, track, and protect their assets throughout the entire supply chain.
Innovative new products and expanded product offerings will provide significant
opportunities to enhance the value of legacy products while expanding the
product base in existing customer accounts. The Company will seek to continue
its leadership position in certain key hard goods markets, expand its market
share in the soft goods markets, and maximize its position in under-penetrated
markets. The Company will also continue to capitalize on its installed base of
large global retailers to aggressively promote source tagging. Furthermore, the
Company plans to leverage its knowledge of RF and identification technologies to
assist retailers in realizing the benefits of RFID.

To achieve these objectives, the Company will work to continually enhance and
expand its technologies and products, and provide superior service to its
customers. The Company is focused on providing its customers with a wide variety
of integrated shrink management, labeling, and retail merchandising solutions
characterized by superior quality, ease of use, good value, and enhanced
merchandising opportunities for the retailer, manufacturer, and distributor.



COMPANY HISTORY

Founded in 1969, the Company was incorporated in Pennsylvania as a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Logistics Industries Corporation (Logistics). In 1977, Logistics,
pursuant to the terms of its merger into Lydall, Inc., distributed the Company's
common stock to Logistics' shareholders as a dividend.

Historically, the Company has expanded its business both domestically and
internationally through acquisitions, internal growth using wholly-owned
subsidiaries, and the utilization of independent distributors. In 1993 and 1995,
the Company completed two key acquisitions which gave it direct access into
Western Europe. The Company acquired ID Systems International BV and ID Systems
Europe BV in 1993 and Actron Group Limited in 1995. These companies engaged in
the manufacture, distribution, and sale of EAS systems throughout Europe.

In December 1999, the Company acquired Meto AG, a German multinational
corporation and a leading provider of value-added labeling solutions for article
identification and security. The acquisition doubled the Company's revenues,
increased its breadth of product offerings, and increased its global reach.

In January 2001, the Company acquired A.W. Printing Inc., a Houston, Texas-based
printer of tags, labels, and packaging material for the apparel industry.


PRODUCTS AND OFFERINGS

SECURITY

Electronic Article Surveillance

EAS systems have been designed to act as a deterrent to control the problem of
merchandise theft in retail stores and libraries. The Company's diversified
product lines are designed to help reduce both customer and employee theft,
reduce inventory shrinkage, and enable retailers to capitalize on consumer
impulse buying by openly displaying high-margin and high-cost items.

The Company offers a wide variety of RF-EAS and EM-EAS solutions to meet the
varied requirements of retail store configurations for multiple market segments
worldwide. The Company's EAS systems are primarily comprised of sensors and
deactivation units, which respond to or act upon the Company's tags and labels.
The Company's EAS products are designed and built to comply with applicable
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and European Community (EC) regulations
governing radio frequencies (RF), signal strengths, and other factors.

The Company markets its family of RF-EAS and EM-EAS systems under various brand
names including Liberty(TM), 3G (3rd Generation), Strata(R), QS series, and EM
series.

The Liberty and 3G systems use Digital Signal Processing(TM) (DSP) technology,
along with Advanced Digital Discrimination(TM) (ADD/RF) filtering technology and
newly integrated wireless communications capabilities. These systems are capable
of communicating vital information on system performance and store activities.
The Liberty, 3G, and Strata families can protect aisle widths of twelve feet
using only two sensors.

RF deactivation units disarm the disposable tag to prevent recognition by the
sensors located at the exits. Deactivation usually occurs at the point-of-sale.
The Company's patented integrated scan/deactivation products provide
simultaneous reading of the barcode information, while deactivating the tag in
one single step at the point-of-sale.

Disposable security tags include pressure-sensitive adhesive labels or hang
tickets. The Company provides tags compatible with a wide variety of standard
price-marking and barcoding printers to combine pricing, merchandising,
protection, and data collection in a single step.

Under the Company's source tagging program, tags can be embedded in products or
packaging at the point-of-manufacture. Approximately 3,000 suppliers worldwide
are participating in this program.

The Company markets an extensive line of reusable security tags that protect
apparel items, as well as entertainment products. The reusable product line
consists of plastic hard tags, ink tags, and SAFER(R) security cases for
entertainment products.

CCTV, Fire and Intrusion Systems

The Company offers a broad line of closed-circuit television products along with
its EAS products, providing a high-value systems solution package for retail
environments. The Company's video surveillance solutions, including digital
video technology, address shoplifting and internal theft, as well as customer
and employee safety and security needs. The product line consists of fixed and
high-speed pan/tilt/zoom camera systems, programmable switcher controls,
time-lapse recording, and remote tele-surveillance.

The Company's custom-designed fire and intrusion systems provide protection
against internal and external theft, completing the line of loss prevention
solutions. The systems can be included in the Company's US-based 24-hour Central
Station Monitoring Service.

Access Control Systems

Electronic access control systems protect restricted areas by granting access
only to authorized personnel at specified times. These sophisticated
software-driven electronic access control systems offer integrated facility
control for small to large building complexes and include features to protect
people and track assets.

LABELING SERVICES

Barcode Labeling Systems

The Company is one of the largest providers of global tag and label printing
services. Brand tags and labels are printed and supplied to the apparel industry
worldwide. These products help retailers and manufacturers merchandise their
brand identification along with critical variable data including size, color,
and pricing. Many printing technologies are used to support the apparel industry
including offset, flexographic, and digital printing. Bar codes are also used
extensively with these tags and labels.

The Company offers both turnkey in-house barcode printing systems (laser and
thermal printers) and a worldwide service bureau network (Check-Net) that can
supply customers with integrated custom tags and labels with variable data. In
addition, these tags and labels can be further integrated with RF substrates for
EAS functions. This highly integrated tag incorporating brand identification,
variable data, and RF functionality offers significant value to the apparel
industry. Barcoding data is widely used in retail stores, supermarkets,
warehouses, manufacturing, libraries, and other environments where inventory
identification and tracking are critical.

The Company offers two thermal printing technologies, thermal direct printing
and thermal transfer printing. The Company also offers high-speed laser printers
targeted to manufacturers, as well as retail distribution and logistics centers.
Laser printers offer superior print quality and high throughput for such
applications as price marking and product identification, integrated tags and
labels, shelf mark labels, pick tickets, tracking or inventory labeling, and
shipping and compliance labels. The Company's thermal and laser printers
generate a recurring revenue stream from consumables, documents, and service
contracts.

Check-Net (Service Bureau)

The Company has a global service bureau network of 29 locations worldwide which
supplies customers with customized retail apparel price tags and labels at the
manufacturing location. A service bureau imprints variable pricing and article
identification data and barcoding information onto price and apparel branding
tags.

Check-Net's web-enabled capabilities provide on-time, on-demand printing of
custom labels with variable data. The Company's Check-Net service bureau network
is one of the most extensive in the industry, and its ability to offer
integrated branding, barcode, and EAS security tags places it among just a
handful of suppliers of this caliber in the world.

In addition to its own label integration and service bureau capabilities, the
Company has strategic working relationships with other label integrators.

RFID System Solutions

Radio frequency identification is an auto-ID technology. RFID tags, or
"intelligent tags", contain an integrated circuit (IC) powered by a radio
frequency circuit. Tags can be variably coded, and RFID readers can capture data
from multiple tags simultaneously, without line-of-sight requirements. Through
strategic R&D investments, the Company has established a product line of
sophisticated RFID intelligent library solutions that offer strong features and
benefits compared to competitive offerings. This development puts the benefits
of RFID in reach of the retail and library markets. The Performa(R) family of
RFID products of tags and readers, introduced in 1999, provides effective
solutions for a variety of applications in the auto-ID marketplace.





RETAIL MERCHANDISING

Hand-held Labeling Systems

Hand-held labeling systems include a complete line of hand-held price marking
and label application solutions, primarily sold to retailers. Sales of labels,
consumables, and service generate a significant source of recurring revenues. As
retail scanning becomes widespread, in-store retail price marking applications
have continued to diminish. The Company has a majority market share in Europe.

Retail Display Systems

Retail display systems include a wide range of products for customers in certain
retail sectors, such as supermarkets and do-it-yourself (DIY), where in-store
price promotion is an important factor. Product categories include traditional
retail promotional systems for in-store communication and electronic graphics
systems, as well as Turn-O-Matic(R), a customer priority system.

PRINCIPAL MARKETS AND MARKETING STRATEGY

Through its security business segment, the Company markets EAS and CCTV products
primarily to worldwide retailers in the hard goods market (supermarkets, drug
stores, mass merchandisers, and music/electronics), soft goods market (apparel),
libraries, and consumer product manufacturers through its source tagging
program.

The Company enjoys significant market share, particularly in the supermarket,
drug store, mass merchandiser, and hypermarket market segments. Some of its
diverse worldwide customers include; Best Buy, Circuit City Stores, Kohl's
Department Stores, Linens `n Things, Sears, Target Corporation, Walgreen Co.,
and Winn Dixie, Inc. in the USA; Safeway and Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix in
Canada; Gigante in Mexico; Pague Menos in Brazil; B&Q and Super Drug in the
United Kingdom; Alcampo, Carrefour, El Corte Ingles, and Mercadona in Spain;
Carrefour, Casino, FNAC, and Intermarche in France; Metro Group in Germany;
Woolworths in Australia; and Don Quixote in Japan.

Industry sources estimate that "shrinkage" (the value of goods which is not paid
for) is a $25-35 billion annual problem for the North American retail industry
and a $30-45 billion annual problem throughout the rest of the world. Shrinkage
is caused primarily by shoplifting and employee theft. Sophisticated data
collection systems have highlighted the shrinkage problem to retailers. As a
result, retailers recognize that the implementation of effective electronic
security solutions can significantly control shrinkage and increase
profitability.

In addition to providing retail security solutions, the Company provides a wide
variety of integrated shrink management, labeling services, and retail
merchandising solutions to manufacturers and retailers worldwide. This entails a
broadened focus within the entire retail supply chain by providing branding,
tracking, and shrink management solutions to retail stores, distribution
centers, and consumer product and apparel manufacturers worldwide.

The Company is focused on providing its customers with a wide variety of
integrated shrink management, labeling services, and retail merchandising
solutions. More specifically, the Company's strategy includes the following:

- open new and expand existing retail accounts with new products that will
increase penetration with integrated value-added solutions for labeling,
security, and merchandising

- establish business-to-business web-based capabilities to enable retailers
and manufacturers to initiate and track their orders through the supply
chain on a global basis

- expand market opportunities to manufacturers and distributors, including
source tagging and value-added labeling

- continue to promote source tagging around the world with extensive
integration and automation capabilities using new EAS, RFID, and auto-ID
technologies

- assist retailers in understanding the benefits and implementation of the
new Electronic Product Code (EPC) using RFID technology

The Company promotes its products primarily through:

- ease of integration into the retail environment - emphasizing source
tagging benefits - serving as a single point of contact for auto-ID and EAS
labeling and
ticketing needs
- providing total loss prevention solutions to the retailer - direct sales
efforts and targeted trade show participation - superior service and support
capabilities

During 2002, approximately 3,000 worldwide manufacturers participated in the
Company's source tagging program. Strategies to increase acceptance of source
tagging are as follows:

- increase installation of RF-EAS and EM-EAS equipment on a chain-wide basis
with leading retailers around the world
- offer integrated tag solutions, including custom tag conversion that
address the needs of branding, tracking, and loss prevention
- assist retailers in promoting source tagging with vendors - broaden
penetration of existing accounts by promoting the Company's in-
house printing, global service bureau network (Check-Net), and labeling
solution capabilities
- support manufacturers and suppliers to speed implementation
- expand RF tag technologies and products to accommodate the needs of the
packaging industry
- develop evolution and compatibility with RFID technologies

In anticipation of the needs of the Company's retail and supply chain customers,
the Company is utilizing the versatility of radio frequency (RF) technology by
combining an integrated circuit with the Company's RF circuit to deliver a RFID
tag capable of storing, processing, and communicating product information while
simultaneously protecting merchandise from theft. This product represents a
rational progression of the Company's ongoing focus on RF technology.







DISTRIBUTION

Electronic Article Surveillance

The Company sells its EAS systems principally throughout North America, South
America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. In North America, the Company
markets its EAS products almost entirely through its own sales personnel and
independent representatives. During 2002, 97% of total North American EAS
revenues was generated by the Company's own sales personnel.

Internationally, the Company markets its EAS products principally through
foreign subsidiaries which sell directly to the end-user and through independent
distributors. The Company's international sales operations are currently located
in 18 countries in Europe, and in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong
Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, and New Zealand.

Independent distributors accounted for 3% of the Company's EAS revenues outside
the USA during 2002. Foreign distributors sell the Company's products to both
the retail and library markets. The Company, pursuant to written distribution
agreements, generally appoints an independent distributor as an exclusive
distributor for a specified term and for a specified territory.

CCTV, Fire and Intrusion Systems

The Company markets CCTV systems and services in selected countries throughout
the world using its own sales staff. These products and services are provided to
both the Company's existing EAS retail customers, as well as non-EAS retailers.
Fire and intrusion systems are marketed exclusively in the USA through a direct
salesforce.

Access Control Systems

The Company's access control products group sales personnel market electronic
access control products to 240 independent dealers, primarily located in the
USA. The Company employs regional salespeople who are compensated by salary plus
commissions. Under the independent dealer program, the dealer takes title to the
Company's products and sells them to the end-user customer. The dealer installs
the systems and provides ongoing service to the end-user customer.

Labeling Services and Retail Merchandising

The Company has approximately 100,000 customers worldwide in the labeling
services and retail merchandising businesses. These customers are primarily
found within the retail sector and retail supply chain. Major customers include
companies within industries such as food retailing, DIY (Do-It-Yourself),
department stores, textile retailing, and garden centers.

Large national and international customers are handled centrally by key account
sales specialists supported by appropriate business specialists. Smaller
customers are served by either a general sales force capable of representing all
products, or if the complexity or size of the business demands, a dedicated
business specialist.





Salespeople

The Company presently employs more than 600 salespeople worldwide. The Company
invests heavily in sales training programs and experiences little turnover among
its top performers.

Backlog

The Company's backlog of orders was approximately $39.0 million at December 29,
2002 compared to approximately $40.1 million at December 30, 2001. The Company
anticipates that substantially all of the backlog at the end of 2002 will be
delivered during 2003. In the opinion of management, the amount of backlog is
not indicative of trends in the Company's business. The Company's EAS and
business generally follows the retail cycle so that revenues are weighted toward
the last half of the calendar year as retailers prepare for the holiday season.

TECHNOLOGY

The Company believes that its patented and proprietary technologies are
important to its business and future growth opportunities, and provide it with
distinct competitive advantages. The Company holds or licenses over 1,000
patents and proprietary technologies relating to its products and their
manufacture. The Company continually evaluates its domestic and international
patent portfolio, and where the cost of maintaining the patent exceeds its
value, such patent may not be renewed. The majority of the Company's revenues is
derived from products or technologies which are patented or licensed. There can
be no assurance, however, that a competitor could not develop products
comparable to those of the Company. The Company's competitive position is also
supported by its extensive manufacturing experience and know-how.

Electronic Article Surveillance

On October 1, 1995, the Company acquired certain patents and improvements
thereon related to EAS products and manufacturing processes from Arthur D.
Little, Inc. (ADL) for $1.9 million plus a royalty of 1.0% to 1.5% of future
RF-EAS products sold through 2008.

The Company, with its acquisition of Meto, has three principal license
agreements covering its EAS products, including Allied Signal, Inc. (now
Honeywell Intellectual Properties, Inc.) as licensor for EM markers, Miyake as
licensor for RF tags, and a group of former owners of Intermodulation and Safety
System AB as licensors of EM systems. These licenses expire in 2004, 2014, and
2004, respectively.

The Company also licenses technologies relating to certain sensors, magnetic
labels, and fluid tags. These license arrangements have various expiration dates
and royalty terms, but are not considered by the Company to be material.

Access Control Systems

The Company pays royalties relative to the feature set embedded within certain
software products. These agreements are renewed annually and average
approximately between 1% and 2% of access control systems revenues.





Labeling Services and Retail Merchandising

The Company focuses its in-house Meto brand product development efforts on
product areas where the Company believes it can achieve and sustain a
competitive cost and positioning advantage, and where delivery service is
critical. The Company also develops and maintains technological expertise in
areas that it believes to be important for new product development in its
principal business areas. Through its acquisition of the Meto brand, the Company
has a base of technology expertise in the label conversion, printing,
electronics, and software areas and is particularly focused on EAS and BCS
technology to support the development of higher value-added labels.


Manufacturing, Raw Materials, and Inventory

Electronic Article Surveillance

The Company manufactures its EAS products in facilities located in Puerto Rico,
Japan, Germany, the Dominican Republic, and the Netherlands and has a highly
integrated manufacturing capability. The Company's manufacturing strategy is to
rely primarily on in-house capability and to vertically integrate manufacturing
operations to the extent economically practical. This integration and in-house
capability provides significant control over costs, quality, and responsiveness
to market demand which the Company believes results in a distinct competitive
advantage.

As part of its total quality management program, the Company practices
concurrent engineering techniques in the design and development of its products
involving its customers, engineering, manufacturing, and marketing.

For RF sensor production, the Company purchases raw materials from outside
suppliers and assembles electronic components at its facilities in Puerto Rico
for the majority of its sensor product lines. Certain components of sensors are
manufactured at the Company's facilities in the Dominican Republic and shipped
to Puerto Rico for final assembly. For its EAS tag production, the Company
purchases raw materials and components from suppliers and completes the
manufacturing process at its facilities in Puerto Rico, Japan (disposable tags),
Germany (disposable tags), the Dominican Republic (reusable tags), and the
Netherlands (disposable tags). The Company sold approximately 3.6 billion
disposable tags in 2002 and has the capacity to produce approximately 7 billion
disposable tags per year. The principal raw materials and components used by the
Company in the manufacture of its products are electronic components and circuit
boards for its systems; and aluminum foil, resins, paper, and ferric chloride
solutions for the Company's disposable tags. While most of these materials are
purchased from several suppliers, there are alternative sources for all such
materials. The products that are not manufactured by the Company are
sub-contracted to manufacturers selected for their manufacturing and assembly
skills, quality, and price. Three EAS systems suppliers are considered as
strategic partners. The Company's general practice is to maintain a level of
inventory sufficient to meet anticipated demand for its products.

CCTV, Fire and Intrusion Systems

The Company is primarily an integrator of CCTV, fire and intrusion components
manufactured by others. In the USA, the Company does manufacture the
pan/tilt/zoom dome camera. The software component of the system is added during
product assembly at the Company's operational facilities.

Access Control Systems

The Company purchases raw materials from outside suppliers and assembles the
electronic components for controllers and proximity readers at its facilities in
the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. For non-proximity electronic access
control components, the Company subcontracts manufacturing activities. All
electronic access control final system assembly and testing is performed at the
Company's facilities in Thorofare, New Jersey.

Labeling Services and Retail Merchandising

The Company manufactures labels, tags, and hand-held tools. The Company's main
production facilities are located in Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, and
Malaysia. Local production facilities are also situated in Australia, Finland,
Hong Kong, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Manufacturing in
Germany is focused on print heads for HLS tools and labels for the HLS and BCS
product areas. The Company's facilities in the Netherlands and in the USA
manufacture labels and tags for laser overprinting, thermal labels, and support
the Check-Net service bureau network worldwide. HLS labels are also manufactured
in the USA. The Malaysian facility produces standard bodies for HLS tools for
Europe, complete hand-held tools for the rest of the world, and labels for the
local market.

Three BCS printer suppliers are considered as strategic partners. Supplies from
other smaller suppliers are being combined where possible.


Competition

Electronic Article Surveillance

Currently, EAS systems are sold to two principal markets: retail establishments
and libraries. The Company's principal global competitor in the EAS industry is
Tyco International Ltd., which acquired Sensormatic Electronics Corporation in
2001. Tyco is a diversified manufacturing and service company with interests in
electrical and electronic components, telecommunications systems, fire
protection systems and electronic security services, medical device products,
plastics and adhesives. Tyco's 2002 revenues were approximately $36 billion.
Tyco's ADT security division (including the former Sensormatic Corporation)
holds approximately a 44% share of the worldwide EAS installed base. Management
estimates that the Company's market share of installed systems in the EAS
industry is approximately 42%.

Within the US market, additional competitors include Sentry Technology
Corporation and Ketec, Inc., principally in the retail market, and 3M Company,
principally in the library market. Within the Company's international markets,
mainly Europe, NEDAP and Tyco are the Company's most significant competitors.

The Company believes that its product line offers more diversity than its
competition in protecting products with a variety of disposable and reusable
tags and labels, integrated scan/deactivation capabilities, and RF source
tagging embedded into products or packaging. As a result, the Company competes
in marketing its products primarily on the basis of their versatility,
reliability, affordability, accuracy, and integration into operations. This
combination provides many system solutions and allows for protection against a
variety of retail merchandise theft. Furthermore, the Company believes that its
manufacturing know-how and efficiencies relating to disposable and reusable tags
give it a cost advantage over its competitors.

CCTV, Fire and Intrusion Systems

The Company's CCTV, fire and intrusion products, which are sold domestically
through its Checkpoint Security Systems Group subsidiary and internationally
through its international sales subsidiaries, compete primarily with similar
products offered by Pelco, Sentry Technology, and Tyco. The Company competes
based on its superior service and believes that its product offerings provide
its retail customers with distinct system features.

Access Control Systems

The Company's electronic access control products compete with other
manufacturers of electronic access control systems as well as with conventional
security systems. Major competitors are Casi Rusco, Honeywell, Lenel Systems,
and Tyco.

Labeling Services

The Company estimates that the current worldwide barcode systems market,
including printers and labels, is approximately $7 billion. This does not
include the service bureau market segment, which is estimated to be currently
$500 million. The Company considers this a growing segment and believes it is
well positioned with certain competitive advantages. Major competitors are Avery
Dennison and Paxar. The Company also competes with a number of barcode printer
manufacturers, including Intermec Technologies and Zebra Technologies. Several
competitive labeling service companies are also customers as they purchase EAS
circuits from the Company to integrate into their label offerings.

Retail Merchandising

The Company faces no single competitor across its entire retail merchandising
product range or across all international markets. HL Display is its strongest
competitor in the retail display systems market, primarily in Europe. In the HLS
segment, the Company competes with Contact, Garvey, Hallo, Paxar, Prix, and
Sato.


Other Matters

Research and Development

The Company expended approximately $9.0 million, $8.7 million, and $9.5 million,
in research and development activities during 2002, 2001, and 2000,
respectively. The emphasis of these activities is the continued broadening of
the product lines offered by the Company, cost reductions of the current product
lines, and an expansion of the markets and applications for the Company's
products. The Company's future growth in revenues will be dependent, in part, on
the products and technologies resulting from these efforts.

Another important source of new products and technologies has been the
acquisition of companies and products during the last few years. The Company
continues to assess acquisitions of related businesses or products consistent
with its overall product and marketing strategies.

The Company continues to develop and expand its product lines with improvements
in disposable tag performance and selection, disposable tag manufacturing
processes, and wide-aisle RF-EAS detection sensors with integration of remote
internet connectivity and RFID integration. The rationalization of the sensor
product line has been released and a new process to improve disposable tag
manufacturing performance has been started. Both projects are part of the
ongoing product rationalization process to bring maximum efficiency from our
high volume production facilities and global supply chain.

The Company continues to be actively involved in developing Electronic Product
Code (EPC) standards with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Auto-ID Center project as a technological sponsor. The Company believes its
involvement with the MIT Auto-ID Center will further encourage the development
of the RFID retail marketplace.

Employees

As of December 29, 2002, the Company had 3,930 employees, including six
executive officers, 79 employees engaged in research and development activities,
and 710 employees engaged in sales and marketing activities. In the United
States, 10 of the Company's employees are represented by a union. In Europe, the
Company believes that approximately 750 of the Company's employees are
represented by various unions or work councils.

Financial Information About Geographic and Business Segment

The Company operates both domestically and internationally in three distinct
business segments. The financial information regarding the Company's geographic
and business segments, which includes net revenues and gross profit for each of
the years in the three-year period ended December 29, 2002, and total assets as
of December 29, 2002, December 30, 2001, and December 31, 2000, is provided in
Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Available Information

The Company's internet website is located at www.checkpointsystems.com.
Investors can obtain copies of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K,
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments
to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has
filed such materials with, or furnished them to, the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Company will also furnish a paper copy of such filings free of
charge upon request.

Item 2. PROPERTIES

The Company's principal corporate offices are located at 101 Wolf Drive,
Thorofare, New Jersey. As of December 29, 2002, the Company owned or leased a
total of approximately 2.4 million square feet of space worldwide which is used
primarily for sales, distribution, manufacturing, and general administration.
These facilities include 30 offices located throughout North and South America,
Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. The Company's principal manufacturing
facilities are located in the Dominican Republic, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, the
Netherlands, Puerto Rico, and the United States. The Company believes its
current manufacturing capacity will support its needs for the foreseeable
future.


Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is involved in certain legal and regulatory actions, all of which
have arisen in the ordinary course of business, except for the matters described
in the following paragraphs. Management does not believe that the ultimate
resolution of such matters will have a material adverse effect on its
consolidated results of operations and/or financial condition, except as
described below.

On May 24, 2002, the jury in the Civil Action No. 99-CV-577 in the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, filed by plaintiff ID
Security Systems Canada Inc. against Checkpoint Systems, Inc., held in favor of
the Company on the plaintiff's claim for Monopolization of Commerce, but against
the Company on claims of Attempted Monopolization and Conspiracy to Monopolize.
In addition, the jury held against the Company on two tort claims related to
tortious interference and unfair competition. Judgement was entered on the
verdict in favor of the plaintiff, after trebling, in the amount of $79.2
million plus attorneys' fees and costs to be determined by the Court.

On June 14, 2002, in response to Motions filed by the Company, the Court stayed
the execution of the judgement pending disposition of the Company's Motion for
Post-Trial Relief and ordered the Company to post a bond in the amount of $26.4
million and to place into escrow 3,179,600 shares of the Company's treasury
stock. The Company has complied with the Court's order.

On July 1 and August 14, 2002, the Company filed briefs in support of its Motion
for Post-Trial Relief. The Company also filed a Motion to Vacate Judgement on
Antitrust Claims Due to Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction on August 14, 2002.
Based on input from outside legal counsel, management is of the opinion that the
jury verdict is not consistent with the law and that judgement should be entered
in favor of the Company as a matter of law or, alternatively, that a new trial
should be granted. Accordingly, no liability has been recorded for this
litigation as management believes that, at this time, it is not probable the
judgement will be upheld and that the reasonably possible range of the
contingent liability is between zero and $80 million. If, however, the final
outcome of this litigation, after all appeals have been exhausted, results in
certain of the plaintiff's claims being upheld, the potential damages could be
material to the Company's consolidated results of operations and/or financial
condition and could cause the Company to be in default of certain bank
covenants. Although management expects to prevail upon appeal, should the appeal
be unsuccessful, management anticipates that the final judgement would not be
paid prior to the end of 2004 and is of the opinion that the Company will have
sufficient financial resources in the form of cash and borrowing capacity, due
to the cash flow generated during the intervening period, to satisfy any
judgement.

The Company continues to wait for the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Pennsylvania to rule on the various Post-Trial Motions filed
in the ID Security Systems Canada Inc. case. Management anticipates that,
regardless of how the Court rules, the case will be appealed to the Third
Circuit Court of Appeals.

A certain number of follow-on purported class action suits have arisen in
connection with the jury decision in the ID Security Systems Canada Inc.
litigation. The purported class action complaints generally allege a claim of
monopolization and are substantially based upon the same allegations as
contained in the ID Security Systems Canada Inc. case (Civil Action No.
99-CV-577) as follows:

On August 1, 2002, a civil action was filed in United States District Court for
the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, designated as Civil Action No. 02-6379(ER)
by plaintiff Diane Furs, Inc. t/a Diane Furs against Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
and served on August 21, 2002. On August 21, 2002, a Notice of Substitution of
Plaintiff and Filing of Amended Complaint was filed by the plaintiff, and the
named plaintiff was changed to Medi-Care Pharmacy, Inc.

On August 2, 2002, a civil action was filed in the United States District Court,
District of New Jersey (Camden) designated as Docket No. 02-CV-3730(JEI) by
plaintiff Club Sports International, Inc., d/b/a Soccer CSI against Checkpoint
Systems, Inc. and served on August 26, 2002.

On October 2, 2002, a civil action was filed in the United States District
Court, District of New Jersey (Camden) designated as Docket No. 02-CV-4777(JBS)
by plaintiff Baby Mika, Inc. against Checkpoint Systems, Inc. and served on
October 7, 2002.

On October 23, 2002, a civil action was filed in the United States District
Court, District of New Jersey (Camden) designated as Docket No. 02-CV-5001 (JEI)
by plaintiff Washington Square Pharmacy, Inc. against Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
and served on November 1, 2002.

On October 18, 2002, The United States District, District of New Jersey (Camden)
entered an Order staying the proceedings in the Club Sports International, Inc.
and Baby Mika, Inc. cases referred to above. In accordance with the Order, the
Stay will also apply to the Washington Square Pharmacy, Inc. case referred to
above. In addition, the Medi-Care Pharmacy, Inc. case, referred to above, will
be voluntarily dismissed, and it is expected to be re-filed in New Jersey and be
included in the Stay Order. The Stay is expected to remain in place until such
time as the ID Security Systems case, referred to above, is either terminated or
any appeals have been exhausted in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

On November 13, 2002, a civil action was filed in the United States District
Court, District of New Jersey (Camden) designated as Docket No. 02-CV-5319 (JEI)
by plaintiff 1700 Pharmacy, Inc. against Checkpoint Systems, Inc. and served on
November 15, 2002.

On December 30, 2002, a civil action was filed in the United States District
Court, District of New Jersey (Camden) designated as Docket No. 02-CV-6131 (JEI)
by plaintiff Medi-Care Pharmacy, Inc. against Checkpoint Systems, Inc. and
served on January 3, 2003.

Both the 1700 Pharmacy, Inc. case and the Medi-Care Pharmacy, Inc. case were
consolidated with the previously mentioned cases and are included in the Stay
Order referred to above. No liability has been recorded for any of the purported
class action suits as management believes that, based on input from outside
legal counsel, it is not probable the judgement will be upheld and that the
lower end of the reasonably possible range of the contingent liability is zero
at this time. The high end of the range cannot be estimated at this time.

On March 13, 2003, the Company deposited with the Escrow Agent an additional
1,195,400 shares of the Company's treasury stock, as a result of the reduction
in market value of the Company's publicly traded shares. Such deposit maintains
the Court's Stay pending disposition of the Company's Motion for Post-Trial
Relief in the ID Security Systems Canada Inc. case referred to above. Should the
Company's market value decrease further, it may be necessary to deposit
additional treasury stock with the Escrow Agent.

The Company is a plaintiff in a number of patent infringement suits around the
world against various defendants in an effort to enforce certain of the
Company's intellectual property rights. In each of these proceedings, the
defendants have challenged the validity of the Company's patents. In the event
the relevant patent were to be modified or invalidated, such action could
diminish or eliminate the value to the Company of the relevant patent.


Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO VOTE OF SHAREHOLDERS

No matter was submitted during 2002 to a vote of shareholders.

Item A. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

The following table sets forth certain current information concerning the
executive officers of the Company, including their ages, position and tenure as
of the date hereof:

Officer Positions with the
Name Age Since Company
- ----------------------------- --- ------- -------------------------
George W. Off 56 2002 Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief
Executive Officer

W. Craig Burns 43 1997 Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer

John E. Davies Jr. 45 2002 Executive Vice President,
Sales and Marketing USA,
Americas, Asia Pacific

Per H. Levin 45 2002 Vice President, General
Manager Europe

Neil D. Austin 56 1989 Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary

Arthur W. Todd 37 2000 Vice President,
Corporate Controller and
Chief Accounting Officer





Mr. Off was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief
Executive Officer on August 15, 2002. Mr. Off had been Interim Chief Executive
Officer of the Company since June 2002 and a member of the Board of Directors
since May 2002. Mr. Off is a founder and former Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Catalina Marketing Corporation (NYSE: POS) and a 40-year veteran in
the retail marketing industry.

Mr. Burns was elected to the Board of Directors on August 15, 2002 and was
appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on
March 20, 2001. Mr. Burns was Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer from April 2000 to March 2001. Mr. Burns was Vice President,
Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer from December 1997 until April
2000. He was Director of Tax from February 1996 to December 1997. Prior to
joining the Company, Mr. Burns was a Senior Tax Manager with Coopers & Lybrand,
LLP from June 1989 to February 1996. Mr. Burns is a Certified Public Accountant.

Mr. Davies was elected to the Board of Directors on November 21, 2002 and was
appointed Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing USA, Americas, Asia
Pacific in August 2002. Mr. Davies was Executive Vice President, Worldwide
Operations from March 2002 to August 2002 and Senior Vice President, Worldwide
Operations from March 2001 to March 2002. He was Vice President, Research and
Development from August 1998 to March 2001 and Senior Director, Worldwide
Systems Engineering from October 1996 to August 1998. Since joining the Company
in October 1992, Mr. Davies held various engineering positions until October
1996.

Mr. Levin was appointed Vice President, General Manager Europe on February 12,
2001. Mr. Levin was Regional Director, Southern Europe from 1997 to 2001 and
joined the Company in January 1995 as Managing Director of Spain.

Mr. Austin has been Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since joining
the Company in 1989.

Mr. Todd has been Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting
Officer since August 2000. Mr. Todd was Corporate Controller for Meto AG from
December 1998 until July 2000. From 1986 to November 1998, Mr. Todd held various
financial positions within international subsidiaries of the Meto group. Mr.
Todd is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK).













PART II

Item 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER
MATTERS

The Company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under
the symbol CKP. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the
high and low sale prices for the Company's common stock as reported on the NYSE
Composite Tape.
Closing Price
High Low
------- -------


2002:
First Quarter.......................... $16.6500 $12.3100
Second Quarter......................... 18.2500 10.0000
Third Quarter.......................... 11.9800 9.8200
Fourth Quarter......................... 12.3500 9.3500



2001:
First Quarter.......................... $10.3000 $ 7.6875
Second Quarter......................... 17.6000 8.8100
Third Quarter.......................... 16.8500 10.0000
Fourth Quarter......................... 13.6300 9.4500



As of March 5, 2003, there were 1,046 record holders of the Company's common
stock.

The Company has never paid a cash dividend on the common stock (except for a
nominal cash distribution in April 1997 to redeem the rights outstanding under
the Company's 1988 Shareholders' Rights Plan). The Company does not anticipate
paying any cash dividend in the near future and is limited by existing covenants
in the Company's debt instruments with regard to paying dividends. The Company
has retained, and expects to continue to retain, its earnings for reinvestment
in its business. The declaration and payment of dividends in the future, and
their amounts, will be determined by the Board of Directors in light of
conditions then existing, including the Company's earnings, its financial
condition and requirements (including working capital needs), and other factors.





Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

2002 2001 2000(6) 1999 1998
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
(Thousands, except per share data)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED:

Net revenues(1) $639,486 $658,535 $690,811 $373,062 $364,572
Earnings before
income taxes $ 37,681(2) $ 13,716(4) $ 5,447(7) $ 10,207(9) $ 26,184(10)
Income taxes $ 12,020 $ 6,857 $ 3,115 $ 2,915 $ 8,509
Earnings before
extraordinary
loss and
cumulative effect
of change in
accounting
principle $ 25,579 $ 6,635 $ 2,254 $ 7,258 $ 17,685
Earnings before
cumulative effect
of change in
accounting
principle $ 25,579 $ 6,635 $ 2,254 $ 6,666 $ 17,685
Net (loss)/
earnings $(47,282)(3) $ 6,635(5) $ (2,766)(8) $ 6,666 $ 17,685

Earnings per
share before
extraordinary
loss and
cumulative
effect of
change in
accounting
principle
Basic $ .79 $ .21 $ .07 $ .24 $ .55
Diluted $ .75 $ .21 $ .07 $ .24 $ .53
Earnings per
share before
cumulative
effect of change
in accounting
principle
Basic $ .79 $ .21 $ .07 $ .22 $ .55
Diluted $ .75 $ .21 $ .07 $ .22 $ .53
Net (loss)/
earnings
per share
Basic $ (1.46) $ .21 $ (.09) $ .22 $ .55
Diluted $ (1.10) $ .21 $ (.09) $ .22 $ .53
Depreciation and
amortization $ 30,993 $ 43,936 $ 47,883 $ 28,028 $ 25,676

(1) 1998-1999 amounts have been reclassified to conform with Emerging Issues
Task Force (EITF) 00-10, "Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees and
Costs".





(2) Excludes goodwill amortization. Includes a $2.3 million pre-tax
restructuring charge, a pre-tax asset impairment of $0.5 million, and a $2.6
million pre-tax restructuring charge reversal, as a result of a change in
estimates, related to the fourth quarter 2001 restructuring program. (3)
Includes a non-cash reduction in net earnings of $72.9 million resulting from
the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, (SFAS 142)
"Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets", a $1.5 million restructuring charge
(net of tax), a $0.3 million asset impairment (net of tax), and a restructuring
charge reversal, as a result of changes in estimates, of $1.7 million (net of
tax).
(4) Includes a $11.1 million pre-tax restructuring charge, a $7.5 million pre-
tax asset impairment, and a pre-tax restructuring charge reversal of $0.2
million.
(5) Includes a $8.2 million restructuring charge (net of tax), a $5.3 million
asset impairment (net of tax), and a restructuring charge reversal of $0.1
million (net of tax).
(6) Includes the impact of the acquisition of Meto AG in December 1999. (7)
Includes a $2.2 million pre-tax restructuring charge, a $10.2 million pre-
tax integration charge, a $7.2 million pre-tax asset impairment, a pre-tax
inventory write-off of $3.7 million, and a $5.1 million pre-tax customer-
based receivables write-off.
(8) Includes a non-cash reduction in net earnings of $5.0 million resulting
from the implementation of the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 101,
"Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements".
(9) Includes a $10.9 million pre-tax restructuring charge and a $0.9 million
pre-tax integration charge.
(10) Includes a $0.6 million pre-tax reversal of the restructuring charge
recorded in the fourth quarter of 1997.






SELECTED ANNUAL FINANCIAL DATA (continued)
-------------------------------------------

2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
(Thousands)

AT YEAR END:
Working capital $111,187 $129,963 $157,089 $ 175,430 $186,261
Long-term debt $188,813 $262,088 $347,011 $ 395,256 $164,934
Shareholders'
equity $225,246 $240,263 $237,679 $ 255,795 $261,936
Total assets $678,382 $752,653 $867,990 $ 944,873 $507,663

FOR THE YEAR ENDED:
Capital
expenditures $ 7,449 $ 9,572 $ 13,172 $ 8,774 $ 12,301
Cash provided by
operating
activities $110,152 $102,736 $ 3,172 $ 87,536 $ 29,157
Cash used in
investing
activities $ (7,129) $(20,792) $(26,365) $(250,891) $(39,460)
Cash (used in)/
provided by
financing
activities $(95,506) $(64,633) $(33,899) $ 216,924 $(18,386)

RATIOS
Return on
net sales(a) (7.39%) 1.01% (.40%) 1.78% 4.85%
Return on
average
equity(b) (20.31%) 2.78% (1.12%) 2.57% 6.56%
Return on
average
assets(c) (6.60%) .82% (.30%) .92% 3.45%
Current
ratio(d) 1.60 1.71 1.73 1.74 3.37
Percent of total
debt to
capital(e) 45.60% 52.17% 59.35% 60.71% 40.10%

(a) "Return on net sales" is calculated by dividing net (loss)/earnings after
the cumulative effect of change in accounting policy by net sales.
(b) "Return on average equity" is calculated by dividing net (loss)/earnings
after the cumulative effect of change in accounting policy by average
equity.
(c) "Return on average assets" is calculated by dividing net (loss)/earnings
after the cumulative effect of change in accounting policy by average
assets.
(d) "Current ratio" is calculated by dividing current assets by current
liabilities.
(e) "Percent of total debt to capital" is calculated by dividing total long
term debt by total long term debt and equity.





SELECTED ANNUAL FINANCIAL DATA (continued)
------------------------------------------

2002 2001 2000 1999 (2) 1998
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
(Thousands, except employee data)
Other Information
- -----------------
Weighted average
number of
diluted shares
outstanding(1) 39,313 31,736 30,624 30,528 33,272
Number of
employees 3,930 4,108 4,984 5,017 3,044
Backlog $38,955 $40,100 $38,800 $34,100 $18,800

(1) The conversion of 6,528 common shares from the subordinated debentures
is not included in 1998-2001 as it is anti-dilutive.
(2) Includes increase in employees and backlog as a result of the Meto
acquisition.









Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following commentary should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated
Financial Statements and the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The Company's discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of
operations are based upon the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, which
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
(GAAP) in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial
statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgements that affect the
reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the related
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, the
Company evaluates its estimates, and bases its estimates on historical
experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable
under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making
judgements about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not
readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these
estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The critical accounting
policies have been consistently applied throughout the accompanying financial
statements, with the exception of the change in accounting method for goodwill,
as noted below.

The Company believes the following accounting policy is critical to the
preparation of its consolidated financial statements:

Revenue Recognition. In accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101 (SAB 101), "Revenue Recognition in
Financial Statements", the Company changed its accounting method for recognizing
revenue on the sale of equipment where post-shipment obligations exist.
Previously, the Company recognized revenue for equipment when title transferred,
generally upon shipment. Beginning with the first quarter of year 2000, the
Company began recognizing revenue when installation is complete or other
post-shipment obligations have been satisfied. Equipment leased to customers
under sales-type leases is accounted for as the equivalent of a sale. The
present value of such lease revenues is recorded as net revenues, and the
related cost of the equipment is charged to cost of revenues. The deferred
finance charges applicable to these leases are recognized over the terms of the
leases using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest
method. Rental revenue from equipment under operating leases is recognized over
the term of the lease. Service revenue is recognized, for service contracts, on
a straight-line basis over the contractual period, and, for non-contract work,
as services are performed. Sales to third party leasing companies are recognized
as the equivalent of a sale.

The Company believes the following critical accounting policies affect its more
significant judgements and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated
financial statements:

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. The Company maintains allowances for doubtful
accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to
make required payments. The adequacy of the reserves for doubtful accounts is
continually assessed. If the financial condition of the Company's customers were
to deteriorate, impairing their ability to make payments, additional allowances
may be required. If economic or political conditions were to change in the
countries where the Company does business, it could have a significant impact on
the results of operations, and the Company's ability to realize the full value
of its accounts receivable. Furthermore, the Company is dependent on customers
in the retail markets. Economic difficulties experienced in those markets could
have a significant impact on the results of operations, and the Company's
ability to realize the full value of its accounts receivables.

Inventory Reserves. The Company writes down its inventory for estimated
obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost
of the inventory and the estimated realizable value based upon assumptions of
future demand and market conditions. If actual market conditions are less
favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs
may be required.

Valuation of Long-lived Assets. The Company's long-lived assets include
property, plant, and equipment, goodwill, and identified intangible assets. With
the exception of goodwill, long-lived assets are depreciated or amortized over
their estimated useful lives, and are reviewed for impairment whenever changes
in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The fair
value of the long-lived assets is based upon the Company's estimates of future
cash flows and other factors. Following the Company's adoption of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 (SFAS 142), "Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets" on December 31, 2001 (fiscal year 2002), which requires, at
least on an annual basis, testing for the impairment of goodwill, the fair value
of goodwill will be based upon the Company's estimates of future cash flows and
other factors including discount rates. If these assets or their related
assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record
impairment charges. A significant erosion of future business results in any of
the business units could create impairment in goodwill or other long-lived
assets and require a significant write down in future periods.

Deferred Taxes. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred
tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. While the
Company considers future taxable income and tax planning strategies in assessing
the need for the valuation allowance, if the Company were to determine that it
would be able to realize deferred tax assets in the future in excess of the net
recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would increase income
in the period such determination was made. Likewise, should the Company
determine that it would not be able to realize all or part of its net deferred
tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would decrease
income in the period such determination was made.

Accounting for Loss Contingencies. The Company is involved in certain legal and
regulatory actions which, in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 5 (SFAS 5) "Accounting for Contingencies", it continually
evaluates, and upon which, it makes various judgements and estimates. (See Note
17 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.) If the final outcome of these
matters differs from the Company's judgements and estimates, such differences
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated results of
operations or financial condition.

Results of Operations

(All comparisons are with the previous year, unless otherwise stated.)

Net Revenues

The Company's unit volume is driven by product offerings, number of direct sales
personnel, recurring sales and, to some extent, pricing. The Company's
increasing base of installed systems and printers provides a growing source of
recurring revenues from the sale of disposable tags and service revenues. For
fiscal 2002, 2001, and 2000, approximately 50%, 48%, and 47%, respectively, of
the Company's net revenues were attributable to sales of disposable tags, custom
and stock labels, printer consumables, and service to its installed base of
customers.

The Company's customers are substantially dependent on retail sales, which are
seasonal and subject to significant fluctuations and are difficult to predict.
Such seasonality and fluctuations impact the Company's sales. Historically, the
Company has experienced lower sales in the first half of each year.

The following table sets forth the net revenues for each business segment and
geographic region prepared on a "country of domicile" basis, meaning that net
revenues are included in the geographic area where the selling entity is located
(refer to Note 20 of the Consolidated Financial Statements):

2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
(Thousands)
Security
USA $166,835 $169,977 $181,389
Europe 175,131 163,729 174,900
International Americas 17,283 26,404 37,085
Asia Pacific 35,784 31,757 26,322
-------- -------- --------
Total $395,033 $391,867 $419,696
-------- -------- --------
Labeling Services
USA $ 60,119 $ 53,378 $ 46,465
Europe 71,719 73,920 77,152
International Americas 1,116 1,450 1,527
Asia Pacific 11,117 10,906 13,252
-------- -------- --------
Total $144,071 $139,654 $138,396
-------- -------- --------
Retail Merchandising
USA $ 8,977 $ 10,158 $ 12,418
Europe 80,254 104,500 105,366
International Americas 3,076 3,466 4,556
Asia Pacific 8,075 8,890 10,379
-------- -------- --------
Total $100,382 $127,014 $132,719
-------- -------- --------
Total
USA $235,931 $233,513 $240,272
Europe 327,104 342,149 357,418
International Americas 21,475 31,320 43,168
Asia Pacific 54,976 51,553 49,953
-------- -------- --------
Total $639,486 $658,535 $690,811
======== ======== ========





Fiscal 2002 compared to Fiscal 2001
- -----------------------------------
During 2002, revenues decreased by $19.0 million or 2.9% from $658.5 million to
$639.5 million. Foreign exchange had a positive impact on revenues of $13.3
million for the full year 2002.

Security revenues increased by $3.2 million or 0.8% in 2002 compared to 2001.
The positive impact of foreign exchange was $4.1 million. The decline in
International Americas' security revenues was due to the further erosion in
economic conditions in South America. This decline was offset by better
penetration in EAS markets in Europe and particularly in Asia Pacific. Labeling
services revenues increased by $4.4 million, which was the amount of the foreign
exchange benefit. The increase in US Check-Net and library system revenues was
offset by reduced revenues in the European BCS business. Retail merchandising
revenues, including the positive impact of foreign exchange of $4.8 million,
decreased by $26.6 million or 21.0%, primarily as a result of the decline in
Europe in HLS and RDS revenues of $17.8 million and $4.2 million, respectively.
The decline in HLS revenues was due to an unusual increase in 2001 caused by the
conversion to the Euro currency.


Fiscal 2001 compared to Fiscal 2000
- -----------------------------------
In 2001, revenues decreased by approximately $32.3 million or 4.7% from $690.8
million to $658.5 million. The negative impact of foreign exchange was $18.3
million.

Security revenues, including the negative impact of foreign exchange of $9.8
million in 2001, decreased by $27.8 million or 6.6%, principally in South
America, due to eroding economic conditions. In 2001, approximately $5.7 million
of export business, which had been invoiced in the USA, was transferred to the
Hong Kong subsidiary in the Asia Pacific region. Compared to 2000, labeling
services revenues increased by $1.3 million or 0.9%, primarily due to the
acquisition of A.W. Printing Inc. in January 2001. Foreign exchange had a
negative impact of $3.8 million in 2001. Retail merchandising revenues for 2001
decreased by $5.7 million or 4.3% compared to 2000. The negative impact of
foreign exchange was $4.7 million. Increased revenues resulting from the
conversion to the Euro currency were offset by decreases in RDS revenues in
Europe and HLS revenues in the USA.

Gross Profit

The principal elements comprising cost of revenues are product cost, research
and development cost, and field service and installation cost. In 2002, as a
percentage of net revenues, the three elements represent 49.1%, 1.4%, and 8.4%,
respectively. The components of product cost are approximately: 60% material,
20% labor, and 20% manufacturing overhead. The principal raw materials and
components used by the Company in the manufacture of its products are electronic
components and circuit boards for its systems; and aluminum foil, resins, paper,
and ferric chloride solutions for the Company's disposable tags. The Company's
general practice is to maintain a level of inventory sufficient to meet
anticipated demand for its products.

Fiscal 2002 compared to Fiscal 2001
- -----------------------------------
During 2002, gross profit increased $6.3 million or 2.5% from $256.3 million to
$262.6 million. The gross profit percentage increased to 41.1% from 38.9%. Gross
profit in 2002 included a restructuring charge of $1.8 million, an asset
impairment charge of $0.5 million, and a restructuring charge reversal of $1.7
million. In 2001, gross profit included a restructuring charge of $4.3 million
and an asset impairment of $7.1 million.

Security gross profit, as a percentage of sales, increased from 38.6% in 2001 to
43.8% in 2002. This increase was primarily due to higher production volumes and
the impact of cost reduction initiatives in 2002 and restructuring charges in
2001. The Company reduced manufacturing production schedules in 2001 in an
effort to decrease inventory levels. Gross profit, as a percentage of net
revenues, for labeling services increased from 26.5% in 2001 to 29.1% in 2002.
The increase in gross profit percentage was principally the result of
restructuring charges in 2001 and improved profitability in the RFID product
line in 2002. The retail merchandising gross profit percentage decreased 6.2%
(from 53.6% to 47.4%) in 2002. The decrease was principally due to lower HLS
revenues, which have the highest gross profit percentage in the segment and
which resulted in a higher fixed cost per unit due to lower production volumes.

For fiscal years 2002 and 2001, field service and installation costs were 8.4%
and 8.8% of net revenues, respectively. The decrease in 2002 was primarily due
to a reduction in the field service workforce of 6%. The Company believes that
it has made, and will continue to make, product design changes that improve
product performance and result in easier installation, thereby reducing these
costs as a percentage of net revenues over time.

Fiscal 2001 compared to Fiscal 2000
- -----------------------------------
In 2001, gross profit decreased $16.5 million or 6.1% from $272.8 million to
$256.3 million. The gross profit percentage decreased 0.6% (from 39.5% to
38.9%). Gross profit for 2000 included charges for restructuring, integration,
and asset impairments of $0.9 million, $0.9 million, and $7.2 million,
respectively.

In 2000, security gross profit was 39.4% of sales. The decrease in 2001 of 0.8%
(39.4% to 38.6%) compared to 2000 resulted primarily from the Company's effort
in 2001 to decrease inventory levels by reducing manufacturing production
schedules. The labeling services gross profit percentage decreased from 29.2% in
2000 to 26.5% in 2001, primarily as a result of restructuring charges. The gross
profit percentage for retail merchandising was 50.6% in 2000. The increase in
2001 compared to 2000 of 3.0% (50.6% to 53.6%) was primarily the result of a
favorable product and geographic mix, partially offset by restructuring charges.

Field service and installation costs for 2001 and 2000 were 8.8% and 9.1% of net
revenues, respectively. The decrease in 2001 was principally due to the effects
of prior restructuring programs that reduced the field service workforce by 14%.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

During 2002, SG&A expenses decreased $2.8 million or 1.3%. The decrease is
primarily caused by no goodwill amortization in 2002, following the Company's
adoption of SFAS 142, partially offset by increased expenses for compensation
costs associated with executive management changes and legal fees for the ID
Security Systems Canada Inc. litigation. Amortization expense for goodwill and
workforce in place was $11.1 million in 2001. SG&A expenses, as a percentage of
revenues, increased to 33.3% from 32.8%.

In 2001, SG&A expenses decreased $18.8 million or 8.0% from $234.5 million to
$215.7 million. As a percentage of net revenues, SG&A expenses decreased by 1.1%
(from 33.9% to 32.8%). The decrease as a percentage of net revenues resulted
from the full year impact of the Meto integration and a further 4% reduction in
headcount during 2001, partially offset by an increase in post employment
benefits of $2.5 million and an increase in the accounts receivable reserve of
$1.2 million related to the Company's operation in Argentina. Included in SG&A
expenses was $10.3 million of goodwill amortization.

Other Operating (Income)/Expense

In 2002, the Company recorded $0.5 million of severance costs related to the
rationalization of an under-performing sales office. Due to changes in
management, the Company reviewed and modified the 2001 restructuring plans in
order to reduce the future cash outlays necessary to execute these plans. The
principal modification was to move a manufacturing facility to a location closer
than originally planned. This, and other modifications, resulted in the
retention of certain employees included in the original plan. These changes in
estimates resulted in the reversal of $2.6 million of the restructuring accrual
in 2002. Of this amount, $1.7 million was credited to cost of revenues and $0.9
million to other operating (income)/expense.

In 2001, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $6.9 million related to
the rationalization of certain under-performing sales offices and a $0.4 million
goodwill impairment upon exit of a business segment in Belgium. In addition, the
termination of certain contracts related to the 1999 and 2000 restructuring
plans was renegotiated on more favorable terms than expected. These changes in
estimates resulted in the reversal of $1.4 million of restructuring accrual, of
which $1.2 million was recorded as a reduction in goodwill arising from the Meto
acquisition and $0.2 million was credited to other operating (income)/expense.

Restructuring expenses of $1.3 million and integration costs of $9.3 million
relating to the Meto integration plan were recorded in 2000.

Refer to Note 15 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail on
the restructuring and asset impairment charges.

Interest Income and Interest Expense

Interest income for fiscal year 2002, 2001, and 2000, was $1.9 million, $2.7
million, and $4.3 million, respectively. The decreases in 2002 and 2001 were
directly attributable to a decrease in cash investments, primarily resulting
from the payment of interest and principal on the Company's debt along with the
cash paid for restructuring. In 2002, lower interest rates further reduced
interest income. Interest expense was $15.1 million, $21.8 million, and $24.1
million for 2002, 2001, and 2000, respectively. The decrease in interest expense
in 2002 is directly attributable to debt repayment and lower Euro-based interest
rates.

Other Gain/(Loss), net

Other gain/(loss), net resulted from net foreign exchange gains/(losses) of $0.9
million, $(0.7) million, and $(2.5) million for 2002, 2001, and 2000,
respectively.





Income Taxes

The Company's effective tax rate before the cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle for fiscal 2002, 2001, and 2000, was 31.9%, 50.0%, and
57.2%, respectively. The lower tax rate in 2002 results primarily from the
Company's adoption of SFAS 142. The tax rate decreased in 2001 due to the
increase in earnings, which reduced the effect of the non-deductible goodwill,
and the utilization of foreign tax losses. This was partially offset by $1.7
million of foreign losses for which valuation allowances were established. The
higher rate in 2000 was a result of the non-deductible goodwill associated with
the acquisition of Meto in December 1999.

The Company's net earnings generated by the operations of its Puerto Rico
subsidiary are exempt from Federal income taxes under Section 936 of the
Internal Revenue Code until December 31, 2005 and are substantially exempt from
Puerto Rico's income taxes.

Cumulative Effect Of Change In Accounting Principle

In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) approved the
issuance of Statements of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 (SFAS 142),
"Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets". SFAS 142 primarily addresses the
accounting for goodwill and intangible assets subsequent to their acquisition
(i.e. the post-acquisition accounting). The most significant changes made by
SFAS 142 are: (1) goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets will no longer
be amortized, (2) goodwill will be tested for impairment at least annually at
the reporting unit level, (3) intangible assets deemed to have an indefinite
life will be tested for impairment at least annually, and (4) the amortization
period of intangible assets with finite lives will no longer be limited to 40
years. Previously, the Company amortized goodwill over the estimated future
periods to be benefited, ranging from 20 to 30 years. In 2002, no amortization
of goodwill was recorded.

Pursuant to SFAS 142, the Company performed an assessment of the carrying value
of goodwill by comparing each individual reporting unit's carrying amount of net
assets, including goodwill, to their fair value. The reporting units' fair value
is based on their expected future discounted cash flows. The completion of the
transitional goodwill impairment test resulted in a goodwill impairment charge
of $72.9 million, which has been accounted for as a change in accounting
principle in fiscal 2002. The impairment of $4.8 million in the security segment
resulted from the economic downturn that occurred in South America. The $27.3
million impairment in the labeling services segment is primarily attributable to
revenues not achieving growth expectations from the date of acquisition of Meto
AG in December 1999. The impairment of $40.8 million in the retail merchandising
segment is attributable to declining revenues as hand-held labeling products are
replaced by scanning technology. The expected future decline in retail
merchandising revenues will lead to future impairments of the goodwill
associated with this segment. The Company performs its annual assessment during
the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. The 2002 annual assessment did not
result in an additional impairment charge. Future annual assessments could
result in additional impairment charges, which would be accounted for as an
operating expense.

In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued Staff
Accounting Bulletin No. 101 (SAB 101), "Revenue Recognition in Financial
Statements". SAB 101 summarizes certain of the staff's views in applying
generally accepted accounting principles to revenue recognition in the financial
statements. In accordance with SAB 101, the Company changed its accounting
method for recognizing revenue on the sale of equipment where post-shipment
obligations exist. Previously, the Company recognized revenue for equipment when
title transferred, generally upon shipment. Beginning with the first quarter of
2000, the Company began recognizing revenue when installation was complete or
other post-shipment obligations have been satisfied. During the first quarter of
2000, the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle was a non-cash
reduction in net earnings of $5.0 million, or $0.16 per diluted share.

Net (Loss)/Earnings

Net (loss)/earnings was $(47.3) million or $(1.10) per diluted share, $6.6
million or $.21 per diluted share, and $(2.8) million or $(.09) per diluted
share for fiscal years 2002, 2001, and 2000, respectively. The weighted average
number of shares used in the diluted earnings per share computation were 39.3
million, 31.7 million, and 30.6 million for fiscal years 2002, 2001, and 2000,
respectively. The increase in the weighted average number of shares from 2001 to
2002 was primarily due to the conversion of the subordinated debentures being
dilutive for fiscal 2002 but anti-dilutive for fiscal 2001 and 2000.

Financial Condition

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company's liquidity needs have related to, and are expected to continue to
relate to, capital investments, acquisitions, and working capital requirements.
The Company has met its liquidity needs over the last three years primarily
through funds provided by long-term borrowings and, more recently, through cash
generated from operations. The Company believes that cash provided from
operating activities and funding available under its current credit agreements
should be adequate to service debt, meet its capital investment and product
development requirements, and satisfy any adverse judgement resulting from
litigation in which it is currently a defendant.

The Company's operating activities during fiscal 2002 generated approximately
$110.2 million compared to approximately $102.7 million during 2001. This change
from the prior year was primarily the result of a decrease in working capital.

In connection with the acquisition of Meto AG, the Company entered into a $425
million six and one-half year senior collateralized multi-currency credit
facility with a consortium of 21 banks led by the Company's principal lending
bank. The credit facility, which expires on March 31, 2006, includes a $275
million equivalent multi-currency term note and a $150 million equivalent
multi-currency revolving line of credit. On March 15, 2001, the $150 million
revolving line of credit was reduced to $100 million. Interest on the facility
resets monthly and is based on the Eurocurrency base rate plus an applicable
margin. During 2002, unscheduled repayments of EUR 66.0 million (approximately
$63.2 million) were made on the EUR 244 million collateralized term loan and the
amount outstanding on the $100 million multi-currency revolving credit facility
was reduced by JPY 1.9 billion (approximately $15.6 million). At December 29,
2002, EUR 61.7 million (approximately $64.4 million) and $7.9 million were
outstanding under the multi-currency term loan. The outstanding borrowings under
the revolving credit facility were JPY 300 million (approximately $2.5 million).
The availability under the $100 million multi-currency revolving credit facility
has been reduced by letters of credit totaling $25.0 million, primarily related
to the surety bond posted in connection with ID Security Systems Canada Inc.
litigation.

The Company has never paid a cash dividend (except for a nominal cash
distribution in April 1997, to redeem the rights outstanding under the Company's
1988 Shareholders' Rights Plan). The Company does not anticipate paying any cash
dividend in the near future and is limited by existing covenants in the
Company's debt instruments with regard to paying dividends.

The contractual obligations and commercial commitments of the Company at
December 29, 2002 are summarized below:

Total Due in
amounts less than Due in Due in Due after
due 1 year 1-3 years 4-5 years 5 years
------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(Thousands)
Contractual obligations
Long-term debt $194,831 $ 17,363 $166,483 $ 10,985 $ -
Lines of credit 2,085 2,085 - - -
Capital lease
obligations 12,409 1,064 2,100 1,491 7,754
Operating leases 42,194 12,193 17,140 8,170 4,691
Unconditional
purchase
obligations 6,266 6,266 - - -
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total contractual
cash obligations $257,785 $ 38,971 $185,723 $ 20,646 $ 12,445
======== ======== ======== ======== ========

Management believes that its anticipated cash needs for the foreseeable future
can be funded from cash and cash equivalents on hand, the availability under the
$100 million revolving credit facility, and cash generated from future
operations.

On May 24, 2002, the jury in the Civil Action No. 99-CV-577 in the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, filed by plaintiff ID
Security Systems Canada Inc. against Checkpoint Systems, Inc., held in favor of
the Company on the plaintiff's claim for Monopolization of Commerce, but against
the Company on claims of Attempted Monopolization and Conspiracy to Monopolize.
In addition, the jury held against the Company on two tort claims related to
tortious interference and unfair competition. Judgement was entered on the
verdict in favor of the plaintiff, after trebling, in the amount of $79.2
million plus attorneys' fees and costs to be determined by the Court.

The Company is currently appealing the verdict (see Note 17 of the Consolidated
Financial Statements) and has posted a bond in the amount of $26.4 million,
principally secured by a letter of credit, and placed into escrow 4,375,000
shares of the Company's treasury stock. Although management expects to prevail
upon appeal, should the appeal be unsuccessful, management anticipates that the
final judgement would not be paid prior to the end of 2004 and is of the opinion
that the Company will have sufficient financial resources in the form of cash
and borrowing capacity, due to the cash flow generated during the intervening
period, to satisfy any judgement. The posting of additional security during the
appeals process, the recording of a liability, or a final judgement, could cause
the Company to be in default of certain bank covenants. In this event,
management would pursue various alternatives, which may include, among other
things, debt covenant waivers, debt covenant amendments, or refinancing of debt.
While management believes it would be successful in pursuing these alternatives,
there can be no assurance of success.

Capital Expenditures

The Company's capital expenditures during fiscal 2002 totaled $7.5 million
compared to $9.6 million during fiscal 2001. The reduction in expenditures
occurred in manufacturing equipment, IT hardware, and tooling and dies. The
Company anticipates capital expenditures to upgrade technology and expand its
global label production capabilities to approximate $14 million in 2003.

Stock Repurchase

There have been no stock repurchases since 1998. Furthermore, certain
restrictions exist under the terms of the senior secured facility, which
prohibit the repurchase of the Company's stock.

Exposure to International Operations

The Company manufactures products in the USA, the Caribbean, Europe, and the
Asia Pacific region for both the local marketplace, as well as for export to its
foreign subsidiaries. The subsidiaries, in turn, sell these products to
customers in their respective geographic areas of operation, generally in local
currencies. This method of sale and resale gives rise to the risk of gains or
losses as a result of currency exchange rate fluctuations.

The Company has been selectively purchasing currency exchange forward contracts
on a regular basis to reduce the risks of currency fluctuations on short-term
receivables. These contracts guarantee a predetermined exchange rate at the time
the contract is purchased. This allows the Company to shift the risk, whether
positive or negative, of currency fluctuations from the date of the contract to
a third party.

As of December 29, 2002, the Company had currency exchange forward contracts
totaling approximately $22.5 million. The contracts are in the various local
currencies covering primarily the Company's Western European operations along
with the Company's Canadian and Australian operations. Historically, the Company
has not purchased currency exchange forward contracts where it is not
economically efficient, specifically for its operations in South America and
Asia.

The Company has historically not used financial instruments to minimize its
exposure to currency fluctuations on its net investments in and cash flows
derived from its foreign subsidiaries.


Other Matters

New Accounting Pronouncements and Other Standards

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 143 (SFAS 143), "Accounting for Asset Retirement
Obligations" in August 2001. For the Company, SFAS 143 became effective on
December 30, 2002 (fiscal year 2003). The provisions of SFAS 143 address
financial reporting requirements for obligations and costs associated with the
retirement of tangible long-lived assets. Companies are required to record an
asset and related liability for the costs associated with the retirement of
long-lived tangible assets if a legal liability to retire the assets exists. The
Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS 143 to have a significant impact on
its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
146 (SFAS 146), "Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal
Activities". SFAS 146 provides guidance on the recognition and measurement of
liabilities for costs associated with exit or disposal activities that are
initiated by the Company after December 29, 2002. The main impact on the
Company's consolidated financial statements resulting from the adoption of SFAS
146 is expected to be the timing of the recognition of future lease termination
expenses.

In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45 (FIN 45), "Guarantor's
Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, including Indirect
Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others". FIN 45 requires that a liability be
recorded in the guarantor's balance sheet upon issuance of a guarantee after
December 29, 2002. In addition, FIN 45 requires disclosures about the guarantees
that an entity has issued prior to December 29, 2002, including a rollforward of
the entity's product warranty liabilities. The Company does not expect the
adoption of FIN 45 to have a significant impact on its consolidated financial
statements.

The following table sets forth the movements on the warranty reserve for fiscal
2002:

Balance at the beginning of the year $3,303

Accruals for warranties issued during fiscal 2002 $1,347
Accruals related to pre-existing warranties, including
changes in estimates (486)
------
Total accruals in year $ 861
Settlements made during the year (628)
Exchange rate changes 466
------
Balance at the end of the year $4,002
======

In November 2002, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) of the FASB reached
consensus on Issue No. 00-21, "Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables".
The Standard provides guidance on how to account for arrangements that involve
the delivery or performance of multiple products, services, and/or rights to use
assets. The provisions of EITF Issue No. 00-21 will apply to revenue
arrangements entered into by the Company after June 29, 2003. The Company is
currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of EITF Issue No. 00-21 will
have on its consolidated financial statements.

In December 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 148 (SFAS 148), "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, Transition and
Disclosure". The Statement provides alternative methods of transition for a
voluntary change to the fair value-based method of accounting for stock-based
employee compensation. SFAS 148 also requires that disclosures of the pro-forma
effect of using the fair value method of accounting for stock-based employee
compensation be displayed more prominently and be disclosed in the interim
financial statements. The Company has adopted the enhanced disclosure provisions
of SFAS 148. The Company continues to account for stock-based compensation using
the intrinsic value method prescribed in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No.
25 (APB 25), "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees". Refer to Notes 1 and 7
of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In January 2003, the FASB issued interpretation No. 46 (FIN 46), "Consolidation
of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51". FIN 46 requires
certain variable interest entities to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary
of the entity if the equity investors in the entity do not have the
characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient
equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional
subordinated financial support from other parties. FIN 46 is effective for all
new variable interest entities created or acquired after January 31, 2003. For
variable interest entities created or acquired prior to February 1, 2003, the
provisions of FIN 46 must be applied to the Company's consolidated financial
statements for the period ending September 28, 2003. The Company does not expect
the adoption of FIN 46 to have a significant impact on its consolidated
financial statements.


Item 7a. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market Risk Factors

Fluctuations in interest and foreign currency exchange rates affect the
Company's financial position and results of operations. The Company enters into
forward exchange contracts denominated in foreign currency to reduce the risks
of currency fluctuations on short-term receivables. The Company has historically
not used financial instruments to minimize its exposure to currency fluctuations
on its net investments in and cash flows derived from its foreign subsidiaries.
(See "Accounting for Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions" in the
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Note 1 of the Consolidated Financial
Statements; and "Financial Instruments and Risk Management", Note 14 of the
Consolidated Financial Statements.) Sensitivity of the Company's financial
instruments to selected changes in market rates and prices, which are reasonably
possible over a one-year period, are described below. Market values are the
present value of projected future cash flows based on the market rates and
prices.

The Company's financial instruments subject to interest rate risk consist of the
fixed rate $120 million subordinated debentures. These debt instruments have a
net fair value of $111.6 million and $112.3 million as of December 29, 2002 and
December 30, 2001, respectively. The sensitivity analysis assumes an
instantaneous 100-basis point move in interest rates from their levels, with all
other variables held constant. A 100-basis point increase in interest rates at
December 29, 2002 would result in a $1.1 million decrease in the net market
value of the liability. Conversely, a 100-basis point decrease in interest rates
at December 30, 2001 would result in a $2.4 million increase in the net market
value of the liability.

The Company's $120 million subordinated debentures are also subject to equity
price risk. The fair value of these debentures was a liability of $111.6 million
and $112.3 million at December 29, 2002 and December 30, 2001, respectively. The
sensitivity analysis assumes an instantaneous 10% change in the year-end closing
price of the Company's common stock, with all other variables held constant. At
December 29, 2002, a 10% strengthening in the Company's common stock would
result in a net increase in the fair value liability of $3.5 million, while a
10% weakening in the Company's common stock could result in a net decrease in
the fair value liability of $1.8 million.

The Company's financial instruments subject to foreign currency exchange risk
include the EUR 244 million term loan, the $100 million multi-currency revolving
credit facility, and the EUR 9.5 million and EUR 2.7 million capital leases. At
December 29, 2002, EUR 61.7 million (approximately $64.4 million) was
outstanding under the term loan. The amount outstanding under the revolving
credit facility was JPY 300 million (approximately $2.5 million). The
outstanding amounts under the capital leases were EUR 8.9 million (approximately
$9.3 million) and EUR 1.7 million (approximately $1.8 million). The sensitivity
analysis assumes an instantaneous 10% change in foreign currency exchange rates
from year-end levels, with all other variables held constant. At December 29,
2002, a 10% strengthening of the US dollar versus the Euro would result in a
$7.1 million decrease in the liability of the term loan, revolving credit
facility, and capital leases, while a 10% weakening of the US dollar versus the
Euro would result in a $8.7 million increase in the liability of the term loan,
revolving credit facility, and capital leases. At December 29, 2002, a 10%
strengthening of the US dollar versus the Japanese Yen would result in a $0.2
million decrease in the liability of the revolving credit facility, while a 10%
weakening of the US dollar versus the Japanese Yen would result in a $0.3
million increase in the liability of the revolving credit facility.

Also subject to foreign currency exchange risk are the Company's foreign
currency forward exchange contracts which represent a net asset position of $0.3
million and $0.02 million at December 29, 2002 and December 30, 2001,
respectively. The sensitivity analysis assumes an instantaneous 10% change in
foreign currency exchange rates from year-end levels, with all other variables
held constant. At December 29, 2002, a 10% strengthening of the US dollar versus
other currencies would result in an increase of $0.1 million in the net asset
position, while a 10% weakening of the dollar versus all other currencies would
result in a decrease of $0.1 million.

Foreign exchange forward contracts are used to hedge certain of the Company's
firm foreign currency cash flows. Thus, there is either an asset or cash flow
exposure related to all the financial instruments in the above sensitivity
analysis for which the impact of a movement in exchange rates would be in the
opposite direction and substantially equal to the impact on the instruments in
the analysis. There are presently no significant restrictions on the remittance
of funds generated by the Company's operations outside the USA.






Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

Report of Independent Accountants......................................38

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 29, 2002 and
December 30, 2001................................................39-40

Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the years
in the three-year period ended December 29, 2002.................41-42

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for each of the
years in the three-year period ended December 29, 2002...........43-44

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for each of the
years in the three-year period ended December 29, 2002..............45

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the years
in the three-year period ended December 29, 2002.................46-47

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..........................48-84

Financial Statement Schedules
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts.....................94







REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Checkpoint Systems, Inc.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the accompanying
index present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of
Checkpoint Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries at December 29, 2002 and December
30, 2001, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of
the three years in the period ended December 29, 2002 in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In
addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the
accompanying index presents fairly, in all material respects, the information
set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated
financial statements. These financial statements and financial statement
schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management; our responsibility
is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement
schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in
accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of
America, which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

As discussed in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements, on December 31,
2001 the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142,
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Further, as discussed in Note 1 to the
consolidated financial statements, in 2000 the Company adopted Staff Accounting
Bulletin 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 13, 2003







CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


December 29, December 30,
2002 2001
------------ ------------
ASSETS (Thousands)
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 54,670 $ 43,698
Accounts receivable, net of allowances
of $14,420 and $12,182 130,667 145,768
Inventories 80,152 92,123
Other current assets 22,051 22,696
Deferred income taxes 10,326 9,288
-------- --------
Total current assets 297,866 313,573

REVENUE EQUIPMENT ON OPERATING LEASE, net 4,895 9,059
PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT, net 100,173 102,613
GOODWILL, net 185,758 231,138
OTHER INTANGIBLES, net 51,611 58,467
OTHER ASSETS 38,079 37,803
-------- --------
TOTAL ASSETS $678,382 $752,653
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Short-term borrowings and
current portion
of long-term debt $ 20,512 $ 31,423
Accounts payable 47,418 43,008
Accrued compensation and
related taxes 25,701 20,199
Other accrued expenses 27,969 25,941
Income taxes 17,860 9,586
Unearned revenues 28,493 22,964
Restructuring reserve 5,600 14,179
Other current liabilities 13,126 16,310
-------- --------
Total current liabilities 186,679 183,610

LONG-TERM DEBT, LESS CURRENT MATURITIES 68,813 142,088
CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES 120,000 120,000
ACCRUED PENSIONS 54,006 44,851
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES 10,608 9,230
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES 12,189 11,856
MINORITY INTEREST 841 755
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES




SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock, no par value, authorized
500,000 shares, none issued
Common stock, par value $.10 per share,
authorized 100,000,000 shares, issued
39,039,506 and 38,183,861 3,904 3,818
Additional capital 263,386 252,342
Retained earnings 67,811 115,093
Common stock in treasury, at cost,
6,356,190 shares and 6,359,200 shares (64,379) (64,410)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (45,476) (66,580)
-------- --------
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 225,246 240,263
-------- --------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $678,382 $752,653
======== ========

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.






CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
(Thousands, except per share data)

Net revenues $639,486 $658,535 $690,811

Cost of revenues 376,887 402,251 417,963
-------- -------- --------
Gross profit 262,599 256,284 272,848

Selling, general, and administrative
expenses 212,965 215,709 234,490

Other operating (income)/expense (399) 7,066 10,551
-------- -------- --------
Operating income 50,033 33,509 27,807

Interest income 1,861 2,742 4,257

Interest expense 15,141 21,841 24,093

Other gain/(loss), net 928 (694) (2,524)
-------- -------- --------
Earnings before income taxes 37,681 13,716 5,447

Income taxes 12,020 6,857 3,115

Minority interest 82 224 78
-------- -------- --------
Earnings before cumulative
effect of change in
accounting principle 25,579 6,635 2,254

Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle (72,861)(1) - (5,020)(2)
-------- -------- --------
Net (loss)/earnings $(47,282) $ 6,635 $ (2,766)
======== ======== ========
Earnings per share before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle:
Basic $ .79 $ .21 $ .07
======== ======== ========
Diluted $ .75 $ .21 $ .07
======== ======== ========
Net (loss)/earnings per share:
Basic $ (1.46) $ .21 $ (.09)
======== ======== ========
Diluted $ (1.10) $ .21 $ (.09)
======== ======== ========

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(1) No tax effect as goodwill amortization is non-deductible for tax. (2)
Net of income tax benefit of $2,703.





CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Accumu-
lated
Other
Addi- Compre-
Common tional Retained hensive Treasury
Stock Capital Earnings Loss Stock Total
------ -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(Thousands)
Balance,
December 26, 1999 $3,652 $233,617 $111,224 $(28,288) $(64,410) $255,795
(Common shares:
issued 36,522,584;
reacquired, 6,359,200)
Net loss (2,766) (2,766)
Exercise of stock
options
(120,156 shares) 12 790 802
Foreign currency
translation
adjustment (16,152) (16,152)
------ -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Balance,
December 31, 2000 3,664 234,407 108,458 (44,440) (64,410) 237,679
(Common shares:
issued 36,642,740;
reacquired, 6,359,200)
Net earnings 6,635 6,635
Exercise of stock
options
(1,541,121 shares) 154 17,935 18,089
Foreign currency
translation
adjustment (22,140) (22,140)
------ -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Balance,
December 30, 2001 3,818 252,342 115,093 (66,580) (64,410) 240,263
(Common shares:
issued 38,183,861
reacquired, 6,359,200)
Net loss (47,282) (47,282)
Exercise of stock
options
(855,645 shares) 86 11,044 11,130
Net loss of interest
rate swap (1,064) (1,064)
Treasury stock issued 31 31
Foreign currency
translation
adjustment 22,168 22,168
------ -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Balance,
December 29, 2002 $3,904 $263,386 $ 67,811 $(45,476) $(64,379) $225,246
(Common shares: ====== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
issued 39,039,506
reacquired, 6,356,190)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.





CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
(Thousands)
Net (loss)/earnings $(47,282) $ 6,635 $ (2,766)

Net loss on interest
rate swap, net of tax (1,064) - -

Foreign currency translation
adjustment 22,168 (22,140) (16,152)
-------- -------- --------
Comprehensive loss $(26,178) $(15,505) $(18,918)
======== ======== ========

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.






CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
(Thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss)/earnings $(47,282) $ 6,635 $ (2,766)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/
earnings to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle, net of tax 72,861 - 5,020
Revenue equipment on operating
lease (1,181) (740) 3,496
Long-term customer contracts 7,946 1,202 -
Depreciation and amortization 30,993 43,936 47,883
Deferred taxes 395 (1,016) 5,204
Provision for losses on accounts
receivable 3,394 3,490 7,506
Impairment of long-lived assets 466 7,467 7,110
Restructuring charges, net (312) 10,963 2,205
(Increase)/decrease in current assets, net of the effects of acquired companies:
Accounts receivable 24,918 15,983 (6,508)
Inventories 19,530 25,971 (25,914)
Other current assets (4,963) 7,985 (17,881)
Increase/(decrease) in current liabilities, net of the effects of acquired
companies:
Accounts payable 1,607 1,155 (3,300)
Income taxes 3,513 (11,059) (12,952)
Unearned revenues 2,874 1,402 3,354
Restructuring reserve (8,500) (13,793) (16,925)
Other current and accrued liabilities 3,893 3,155 7,640
------- ------- -------
Net cash provided by operating activities $110,152 $102,736 $ 3,172
------- ------- -------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property, plant, and
equipment $ (7,449) $ (9,572) $(13,172)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (681) (13,486) (15,774)
Other investing activities 1,001 2,266 2,581
------- ------- -------
Net cash used in investing activities $ (7,129) $(20,792) $(26,365)
------- ------- -------





Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from stock issuances $ 8,445 $ 12,731 $ 802
Net change in short-term debt (1,908) (919) (11,695)
Proceeds of long-term debt - 6,687 5,652
Payment of long-term debt (102,043) (83,132) (28,658)
------- ------- -------
Net cash used in financing activities $(95,506) $(64,633) $(33,899)
------- ------- -------
Effect of foreign currency rate
fluctuations on cash and cash
equivalents $ 3,455 $ (1,734) $ (2,505)
------- ------- -------
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and
cash equivalents $ 10,972 $ 15,577 $(59,597)

Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of year 43,698 28,121 87,718
------- ------- -------
End of year $ 54,670 $ 43,698 $ 28,121
======= ======= =======

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.





CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Operations
- --------------------
The Company is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of integrated system
solutions for loss prevention, labeling, and merchandising. The Company is a
leading provider of electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems and tags using
radio frequency (RF) and electromagnetic (EM) technology, security source
tagging, branding tags and labels for apparel, barcode labeling systems (BCS),
retail display systems (RDS), and hand-held labeling systems (HLS). The
Company's labeling systems and services are designed to consolidate labeling
requirements to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and furnish value-added
solutions for customers across many markets and industries. Applications for
labeling systems include brand identification, automatic identification
(auto-ID), retail security, and pricing and promotional labels. The Company also
markets closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems primarily to help retailers
prevent losses caused by theft of merchandise, as well as electronic access
control systems (EAC) for commercial and industrial applications. The Company
holds or licenses over 1,000 patents and proprietary technologies. The Company
has achieved substantial international growth, primarily through acquisitions,
and now operates directly in 30 countries. Products are principally developed
and manufactured in-house and sold through direct distribution.


Principles of Consolidation
- ---------------------------
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Checkpoint
Systems, Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiaries (Company). All inter-company
transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates
- ----------------
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses
during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Fiscal Year
- -----------
The Company's fiscal year is the 52 or 53 week period ending the last Sunday of
December. References to 2002, 2001, and 2000, are for: the 52 weeks ended
December 29, 2002, the 52 weeks ended December 30, 2001, and the 53 weeks ended
December 31, 2000, respectively.

Reclassifications
- -----------------
Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2001 and 2000 financial
statements and related footnotes to conform to the 2002 presentation.






Cash and Cash Equivalents
- -------------------------
Cash in excess of operating requirements is invested in short-term,
income-producing instruments or used to pay down debt. Cash equivalents include
commercial paper and other securities with original maturities of 90 days or
less at the time of purchase. Book value approximates fair value because of the
short maturity of those instruments.

Inventories
- -----------
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or
market.

Revenue Equipment on Operating Lease
- ------------------------------------
The cost of the equipment leased to customers under operating leases is
depreciated on a straight-line basis over the length of the contract, which is
usually between three and five years.

Property, Plant, and Equipment
- ------------------------------
Property, plant, and equipment is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation.
Maintenance, repairs, and minor renewals are expensed as incurred. Additions,
improvements, and major renewals are capitalized. Depreciation generally is
provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets;
for certain manufacturing equipment, the units-of-production method is used.
Buildings, equipment rented to customers, leasehold improvements, and leased
equipment on capitalized leases use the following estimated useful lives of 27.5
years, three to five years, seven years, and five years, respectively. Machinery
and equipment estimated useful lives range from three to ten years. The cost and
accumulated depreciation applicable to assets retired are removed from the
accounts and the gain or loss on disposition is included in income. The Company
reviews its property, plant, and equipment for impairment whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not
be recoverable. If it is determined that an impairment, based on expected future
undiscounted cash flows, exists, then the loss is recognized on the consolidated
statements of operations. The amount of the impairment is the excess of the
carrying amount of the impaired asset over the fair value of the asset.

Goodwill
- --------
Pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 (SFAS 142),
"Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets", effective December 31, 2001 (fiscal year
2002), goodwill is no longer being amortized. The Company performs, at least on
an annual basis, an assessment of the carrying value of goodwill by comparing
each individual reporting unit's carrying amount of net assets, including
goodwill, to their fair value. The adoption of this Standard resulted in a
goodwill impairment charge of $72.9 million, which is accounted for as a change
in accounting principle in fiscal 2002. The Company performs its annual
assessment during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. The 2002 annual
assessment did not result in an additional impairment charge. Future annual
assessments could result in additional impairment charges, which would be
accounted for as an operating expense. Refer to Note 4.






Other Intangibles
- -----------------
Other intangibles are amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful lives
(or legal lives if shorter). The Company reviews its other intangible assets for
impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the
carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. If it is determined that
an impairment, based on expected future undiscounted cash flows, exists, then
the loss is recognized on the consolidated statements of operations. The amount
of the impairment is the excess of the carrying amount of the impaired asset
over the fair value of the asset. The fair value represents expected future cash
flows from the use of the assets, discounted at the rate used to evaluate
potential investments. Refer to Note 4.

Deferred Financing Costs
- ------------------------
Financing costs are capitalized and amortized over the life of the debt. The net
deferred financing costs at December 29, 2002 and December 30, 2001 were $4.5
million and $6.7 million, respectively. Amortization expense was $2.9 million,
$1.7 million, and $1.2 million, for 2002, 2001, and 2000, respectively.

Revenue Recognition
- -------------------
In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued Staff
Accounting Bulletin No. 101 (SAB 101), "Revenue Recognition in Financial
Statements". SAB 101 summarized certain of the staff's views in applying
generally accepted accounting principles to revenue recognition in financial
statements.

In accordance with SAB 101, the Company changed its accounting method for
recognizing revenue on the sale of equipment where post-shipment obligations
exist. Previously, the Company recognized revenue for equipment when title
transferred, generally upon shipment. Beginning with the first quarter of year
2000, the Company began recognizing revenue when installation is complete or
other post-shipment obligations have been satisfied. During the first quarter of
year 2000, the cumulative effect of the change in accounting method was a
non-cash reduction in net earnings of $5.0 million, net of income tax benefit of
$2.7 million, or $0.16 per diluted share.

Equipment leased to customers under sales-type leases is accounted for as the
equivalent of a sale. The present value of such lease revenues is recorded as
net revenues, and the related cost of the equipment is charged to cost of
revenues. The deferred finance charges applicable to these leases are recognized
over the terms of the leases using the straight-line method, which approximates
the effective interest method. Rental revenue from equipment under operating
lease is recognized over the term of the lease. Installation revenue from EAS
equipment is recognized when the systems are installed. Service revenue is
recognized on a straight-line basis over the contractual period or as services
are performed. Sales to third party leasing companies are recognized as the
equivalent of a sale.

Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs
- ------------------------------------
Shipping and handling fees are accounted for in net revenues, shipping and
handling costs in cost of revenues.






Research and Development Costs
- ------------------------------
Research and development costs, which are included as part of cost of revenues,
are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs, which consist
primarily of employee-related costs, approximated $9.0 million, $8.7 million,
and $9.5 million, in 2002, 2001, and 2000, respectively.

Royalty Expense
- ---------------
Royalty expenses related to security products approximated $4.2 million, $4.0
million, and $4.8 million, in 2002, 2001, and 2000, respectively, and are
included in SG&A.

Stock Options
- -------------
At December 29, 2002, the Company has one stock-based employee compensation
plan, which is described more fully in Note 7. Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 123 (SFAS 123), "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation",
encourages, but does not require companies to record compensation cost for
stock-based employee compensation plans at fair value. The Company continues to
account for stock-based compensation using the intrinsic value method prescribed
in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 (APB 25), "Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees". Accordingly, compensation cost for stock options is
measured as the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the Company's
common stock at the date of grant over the amount an employee must pay to
acquire the stock. Since all options were granted at market value, there is no
compensation cost to be recognized.

Had compensation cost for the Company's stock option plans been determined based
upon the fair value at the grant date using the Black Scholes option pricing
model prescribed under SFAS 123, the Company's net (loss)/earnings and net
(loss)/earnings per share would approximate the pro-forma amounts as follows:

2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
(Thousands)

Net (loss)/earnings, as reported $(47,282) $ 6,635 $(2,766)
Total stock-based employee
compensation expense determined
under fair value based method,
net of tax (2,223) (2,514) (2,506)
-------- ------- -------
Pro-forma net(loss)/earnings $(49,505) $ 4,121 $(5,272)
======== ======= =======

Net (loss)/earnings per share:
Basic, as reported $ (1.46) $ .21 $ (.09)
======== ======= =======
Basic, pro-forma $ (1.53) $ .13 $ (.17)
======== ======= =======
Diluted, as reported $ (1.10) $ .21 $ (.09)
======== ======= =======
Diluted, pro-forma $ (1.16) $ .13 $ (.17)
======== ======= =======





The following assumptions were used in estimating fair value of stock options:

2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
Dividend yields None None None
Expected volatility .412 .562 .508
Risk-free interest rates 3.6% 4.5% 6.1%
Expected life (in years) 3.2 3.8 3.2

Income Taxes
- ------------
Income taxes are determined in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 109 (SFAS 109) "Accounting for Income Taxes". Under this method,
deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference
between financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using
enacted statutory tax rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Changes in
enacted tax rates are reflected in the tax provision as they occur. A valuation
allowance is recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when realization of a tax
benefit is less likely than not.

Accounting for Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions
- ------------------------------------------------------------
The Company's balance sheet accounts of foreign subsidiaries are translated into
US dollars at the rate of exchange in effect at the balance sheet dates.
Revenues, costs, and expenses of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are
translated into US dollars at the year-to-date average rate of exchange. The
resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of
shareholders' equity. In addition, gains or losses on long-term inter-company
transactions are excluded from the net (loss)/earnings and accumulated in the
aforementioned translation adjustment as a separate component of consolidated
shareholders' equity. All other foreign transaction gains and losses are
included in net (loss)/earnings.

The Company enters into certain foreign exchange forward contracts in order to
hedge anticipated rate fluctuations in Western Europe, Canada, and Australia.
Transaction gains or losses resulting from these contracts are recognized at the
end of each reporting period. The Company uses the fair value method of
accounting, recording realized and unrealized gains and losses on these
contracts. These gains and losses are included in other gain/(loss), net on the
Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company enters, on occasion, into an interest rate swap to reduce the risk
of significant interest rate increases in connection with floating rate debt.
This cash flow hedging instrument is marked to market and the changes are
recorded in other comprehensive income. Any hedge ineffectiveness is charged to
interest expense. No ineffectiveness occurred during fiscal 2002.






Note 2. INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of the following:
2002 2001
------ ------
(Thousands)
Raw materials $ 8,184 $ 10,631

Work-in-process 3,387 3,619

Finished goods 68,581 77,873
-------- --------
Total $ 80,152 $ 92,123
======== ========

Note 3. REVENUE EQUIPMENT ON OPERATING LEASE AND PROPERTY, PLANT, AND
EQUIPMENT

The major classes are:
2002 2001
------ ------
(Thousands)
Revenue equipment on operating lease
Equipment rented to customers $ 41,942 $ 45,677
Accumulated depreciation (37,047) (36,618)
-------- --------
$ 4,895 $ 9,059
======== ========

Property, plant, and equipment
Land $ 9,484 $ 8,706
Buildings 64,105 57,968
Machinery & equipment 184,713 178,588
Leasehold improvements 9,958 9,049
-------- --------
268,260 254,311

Accumulated depreciation (168,087) (151,698)
-------- --------
$100,173 $102,613
======== ========

Property, plant, and equipment under capital lease had gross values of $17.4
million and $15.4 million and accumulated depreciation of $4.7 million and $3.3
million, as of December 29, 2002 and December 30, 2001, respectively.

Depreciation expense on the Company's revenue equipment on operating lease and
property, plant, and equipment was $22.2 million, $26.3 million, and $28.1
million, for 2002, 2001, and 2000, respectively.






Note 4. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) approved the
issuance of Statements of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 (SFAS 141),
"Business Combinations", and No. 142 (SFAS 142), "Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets".

SFAS 141 supercedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 16 (APB 16),
"Business Combinations". The most significant changes made by SFAS 141 are: (1)
requiring that the purchase method of accounting be used for all business
combinations initiated after June 30, 2001, (2) establishing specific criteria
for the recognition of intangible assets separately from goodwill, and (3)
requiring unallocated negative goodwill to be written off immediately as an
extraordinary gain (instead of being deferred and amortized).

SFAS 142 supercedes APB 17, "Intangible Assets". SFAS 142 primarily addresses
the accounting for goodwill and intangible assets subsequent to their
acquisition (i.e. the post-acquisition accounting). The most significant changes
made by SFAS 142 are: (1) goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets will
no longer be amortized, (2) goodwill will be tested for impairment at least
annually at the reporting unit level, (3) intangible assets deemed to have an
indefinite life will be tested for impairment at least annually, and (4) the
amortization period of intangible assets with finite lives will no longer be
limited to forty years. Previously, the Company amortized goodwill over the
estimated future periods to be benefited, ranging from 20 to 30 years.

These statements were effective for the Company for fiscal 2002. Consequently,
effective December 31, 2001 goodwill is no longer being amortized. The total
amount of goodwill amortization recorded by the Company in fiscal 2001 and 2000
was $10.3 million and $9.5 million, respectively.

The Company had intangible assets with a net book value of $51.6 million and
$58.5 million as of December 29, 2002 and December 30, 2001, respectively.

The following table reflects the components of intangible assets as of December
29, 2002 and December 30, 2001:

2002 2001
---------------------- ---------------------
Amortizable Gross Gross
Life Carrying Accumulated Carrying Accumulated
(years) Amount Amortization Amount Amortization
----------- -------- ------------ -------- ------------
(Thousands)
Customer lists 20 $26,363 $10,544 $23,380 $ 7,941
Trade name 30 24,405 2,440 21,406 1,427
Patents, license
agreements 5 to 14 32,364 19,095 26,576 13,352
Other 3 to 6 778 220 3,545 2,224
Workforce in place 13 - - 10,050 1,546
------- ------- ------- -------
$83,910 $32,299 $84,957 $26,490
======= ======= ======= =======

In accordance with SFAS 141, the Company has reclassified an intangible asset,
"workforce in place," with a net book value of $8.5 million from intangibles to
goodwill effective December 31, 2001.

The Company has determined that the lives previously assigned to these
finite-lived assets is still appropriate, and has recorded $5.4 million, $6.0
million, and $7.1 million of amortization expense for 2002, 2001, and 2000,
respectively.

Estimated amortization expense for each of the five succeeding years is
anticipated to be:

(Thousands) 2003 $4,161 2004 $3,904
2005 $3,452 2006 $2,875
2007 $2,865

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the twelve months ended
December 29, 2002, are as follows:

Labeling Retail
Security Services Merchandising Total
-------- -------- ------------- -------
(Thousands)
Balance as of
beginning of
fiscal year 2002
(December 31, 2001) $83,488 $64,531 $91,623 $239,642
Goodwill acquired
during year 441 - - 441
Cumulative effect of
change in accounting
principle (4,828) (27,274) (40,759) (72,861)
Other - (1,578) (612) (2,190)
Exchange rate changes 11,971 1,216 7,539 20,726
------- ------- ------- --------
Balance as of
December 29, 2002 $91,072 $36,895 $57,791 $185,758
======= ======= ======= ========

Pursuant to SFAS 142, the Company performed an assessment of the carrying value
of goodwill by comparing each individual reporting unit's carrying amount of net
assets, including goodwill, to their fair value. The reporting units' fair value
is based on their expected future discounted cash flows. The completion of the
transitional goodwill impairment test resulted in a goodwill impairment charge
of $72.9 million, which has been accounted for as a change in accounting
principle in fiscal 2002. The impairment in the security segment resulted from
the economic downturn that occurred in South America. The impairment in the
labeling services segment is primarily attributable to revenues not achieving
growth expectations from the date of acquisition of Meto AG in December 1999.
The impairment in the retail merchandising segment is attributable to declining
revenues as hand-held labeling products are replaced by scanning technology. The
expected future decline in retail merchandising revenues will lead to future
impairments of the goodwill associated with this segment. The Company performs
its annual assessment during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. The 2002
annual assessment did not result in an additional impairment charge. Future
annual assessments could result in additional impairment charges, which would be
accounted for as an operating expense.





Net income and earnings per share for the periods ended December 30, 2001, and
December 31, 2000, excluding amortization for goodwill and "workforce in place",
is presented below along with the adjusted net income and earnings per share as
required under the transition provisions of SFAS 142:

Dec. 29, Dec. 30, Dec. 31, 2002 2001
2000
-------- -------- --------
(Thousands, except per share data)
Basic (loss)/earnings per share:
Earnings before cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle $ 25,579 $ 6,635 $ 2,254
Add back:
Goodwill/workforce in place
amortization, net of tax - 10,760 9,998
-------- -------- --------
Adjusted basic earnings before cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle 25,579 17,395 12,252
Cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle (72,861)(1) - (5,020)(4)
-------- -------- --------
Adjusted basic (loss)/earnings $(47,282) $ 17,395 $ 7,232
======== ======== ========

Earnings before cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle $ .79 $ .21 $ .07
Add back:
Goodwill/workforce in place
amortization, net of tax - .35 .33
-------- -------- --------
Adjusted basic earnings before cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle .79 .56 .40
Cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle (2.25) - (.16)
-------- -------- --------
Adjusted basic net (loss)/earnings $ (1.46) $ .56 $ .24
======== ======== ========

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share:

Earnings before cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle $ 29,422(2) $ 6,635(3) $ 2,254(3)
Add back:
Goodwill/workforce in place
amortization, net of tax - 10,760 9,998
-------- -------- --------
Adjusted diluted earnings before cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle 29,422 17,395 12,252
Cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle (72,861)(1) - (5,020)(4)
-------- -------- --------
Adjusted diluted (loss)/earnings $(43,439) $ 17,395 $ 7,232
======== ======== ========






Earnings before cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle $ .75 $ .21 $ .07
Add back:
Goodwill/workforce in place
amortization, net of tax - .34 .33
-------- -------- --------
Adjusted diluted earnings before cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle .75 .55 .40
Cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle (1.85) - (.16)
-------- -------- --------
Adjusted diluted net (loss)/earnings $ (1.10) $ .55 $ .24
======== ======== ========

(1) No tax effect as goodwill amortization is non-deductible for tax. (2)
Conversion of the subordinated debentures are included in the 2002
calculation as they are dilutive.
(3) Conversion of the subordinated debentures are not included in the 2001 and
2000 calculations as they are anti-dilutive.
(4) Net of income tax benefit of $2,703.

Note 5. SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS AND CURRENT PORTION OF LONG-TERM DEBT

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt at December 29, 2002
and at December 30, 2001 consisted of the following:

2002 2001
------ ------
(Thousands)
Overdraft facilities and lines of
credit with interest rates ranging
from 1.38% to 1.50%(1) $ 2,085 $ 3,584

Current portion of long-term debt 18,427 27,839
------- -------
Total short-term borrowings and
current portion of long-term debt $20,512 $31,423
======= =======

(1) The weighted average interest rates for 2002 and 2001 were 1.48% and 1.44%,
respectively.




Note 6. LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt at December 29, 2002 and December 30, 2001 consisted of the
following:
2002 2001
------ ------
(Thousands)
Six and one-half year EUR 244 million variable interest rate collateralized
term loan maturing
in 2006 $ 64,447 $132,037
Six and one-half year $25 million
variable interest rate
collateralized loan maturing in
2006 7,882 9,098
Six and one-half year $100 million
multi-currency variable interest
rate collateralized revolving
credit facility maturing in 2006 2,502 16,982
Twenty two and one-half year
EUR 9.5 million capital lease
maturing in 2021 9,267 8,050
Eight and one-half year
EUR 2.7 million capital lease
maturing in 2007 1,757 1,764
Other capital leases with maturities
through 2006 1,385 1,996
-------- --------
Total 87,240 169,927
Less current portion (18,427) (27,839)
-------- --------
Total long-term portion (excluding
convertible subordinated debentures) 68,813 142,088
Convertible subordinated debentures 120,000 120,000
-------- --------
Total long-term portion $188,813 $262,088
======== ========

In connection with the acquisition of Meto AG, the Company entered into a $425
million six and one-half year senior collateralized multi-currency credit
facility with a consortium of 21 banks led by the Company's principal lending
bank. The credit facility, which expires on March 31, 2006, includes a $275
million equivalent multi-currency term note and a $150 million equivalent
multi-currency revolving line of credit. On March 15, 2001, the $150 million
revolving line of credit was reduced to $100 million. Interest on the facility
resets monthly and is based on the Eurocurrency base rate plus an applicable
margin. During 2002, unscheduled repayments of EUR 66.0 million (approximately
$63.2 million) were made on the EUR 244 million collateralized term loan and the
amount outstanding on the $100 million multi-currency revolving credit facility
was reduced by JPY 1.9 billion (approximately $15.6 million). At December 29,
2002, EUR 61.7 million (approximately $64.4 million) and $7.9 million were
outstanding under the multi-currency term loan. The outstanding borrowings under
the revolving credit facility were JPY 300 million (approximately $2.5 million).
The availability under the $100 million multi-currency revolving credit facility
was reduced by letters of credit totaling $25.0 million, primarily related to
the surety bond posted in connection with ID Security Systems Canada Inc.
litigation.





The above loan agreements contain certain restrictive covenants which, among
other things, require maintenance of specified minimum financial ratios
including debt to earnings, interest coverage, fixed charge coverage, and net
worth. These agreements also limit the Company's ability to pay cash dividends
and redeem convertible subordinated debentures. In addition, under the loan
agreements, the Company's assets in the USA and Puerto Rico, including the
shares of certain of its overseas subsidiaries, have been pledged as collateral.


On February 8, 2002, the Company secured an amendment to one of the financial
covenants included in the credit facility, which allowed the Company to be in
compliance with its covenants for the year ended December 30, 2001. The Company
was in compliance with its covenants for fiscal 2002.

In November 1995, the Company completed the private placement of $120.0 million
of convertible subordinated debentures (debentures) with an annual interest rate
of 5.25%. The debentures are uncollateralized and subordinated to all senior
indebtedness. The debentures are convertible into common stock, at a conversion
price of $18.38 per share (equivalent to approximately 54.4 shares of common
stock for each $1,000 principal amount of debentures), at any time prior to
redemption or maturity at the option of the bond holder. The debentures will
mature on November 1, 2005, and are redeemable at any time prior to maturity, in
whole or in part, at the option of the Company. At December 29, 2002, the
Company has the option to call the debentures at par value. The net proceeds
generated to the Company from this transaction approximated $116 million.

The aggregate maturities on all long-term debt (including current portion) are:

(Thousands)

2003 $ 18,427
2004 22,289
2005 146,294
2006 11,750
2007 726
Thereafter 7,754
--------
Total $207,240
========






Note 7. STOCK OPTIONS

The Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan (1992 Plan) allows the Company to grant
either Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) or Non-Incentive Stock Options (NSOs) to
purchase up to 12,000,000 shares of common stock after giving effect to the
February 1996 stock split. Under the 1992 Plan, only employees are eligible to
receive ISOs and both employees and non-employee directors of the Company are
eligible to receive NSOs. NSOs and ISOs issued under the 1992 Plan through
December 29, 2002 total 11,781,005. At December 29, 2002, December 30, 2001, and
December 31, 2000, a total of 218,995, 1,194,141, and 1,464,179 shares,
respectively, were available for grant after giving effect to the February 1996
stock split.

All ISOs under the 1992 Plan expire not more than ten years (plus six months in
the case of NSOs) from the date of grant. Both ISOs and NSOs require a purchase
price of not less than 100% of the fair market value of the stock at the date of
grant.

The 1992 Plan is administered by the Compensation and Stock Option Committee of
the Company's Board of Directors. All of the options outstanding at December 29,
2002 were issued pursuant to the 1992 Plan. Stock options granted prior to July
1, 1997 were vested upon grant. In July 1997, the Compensation and Stock Option
Committee modified the vesting provisions contained in the 1992 Plan so that all
options issued on or after July 23, 1997, to persons other than non-employee
directors under the Plan, shall vest as set forth below:

Incentive Stock Options and Non-Incentive Stock Options issued to all
employees whose title is less than Vice President shall vest as follows:
(i) 34% on or after the first anniversary date of option grant; (ii) an
additional 33% on or after 18 months of the date of option grant; and (iii)
the remaining 33% on or after the second anniversary date of the option
grant.

Incentive Stock Options and Non-Incentive Stock Options issued to all
employees whose title is Vice President and above shall vest as follows:
(i) 34% on or after the first anniversary date of option grant; (ii) an
additional 33% on or after the second anniversary date of option grant; and
(iii) the remaining 33% on or after the third anniversary date of option
grant.

Options that were fully vested and exercisable totaled 2,531,205 as of December
29, 2002. Options that were outstanding but not yet vested or exercisable
totaled 1,278,998 as of December 29, 2002.

The estimated weighted average fair value of options granted during 2002, 2001,
and 2000 were $6.0 million, $5.3 million, and $1.1 million, respectively, on the
date of the grant using the option pricing model and assumptions referred to
below. The weighted average fair value per share of options granted during 2002,
2001, and 2000 was $4.82, $5.40, and $4.19, respectively.







The following schedules summarize stock option activity and status:

NUMBER OF SHARES
2002 2001 2000
--------- --------- ---------
Outstanding at beginning of year 3,690,702 4,940,038 5,228,284
Granted 1,236,500 977,000 270,500
Exercised (855,645) (1,541,121) (120,156)
Cancelled (261,354) (685,215) (438,590)
--------- --------- ---------
Outstanding at end of year 3,810,203 3,690,702 4,940,038
========= ========= =========
Exercisable at end of year 2,531,205 2,510,877 4,025,132
========= ========= =========

WEIGHTED-AVERAGE PRICE
2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
Outstanding at beginning of year $13.94 $13.01 $13.24

Granted $12.34 $ 9.72 $ 8.29

Exercised $ 9.87 $ 8.27 $ 6.67

Cancelled $19.65 $13.97 $14.59
------ ------ ------
Outstanding at end of year $13.94 $13.94 $13.01
====== ====== ======
Exercisable at end of year $15.25 $16.10 $14.09
====== ====== ======

Following is a summary of stock options outstanding as of December 29, 2002:


OPTIONS OUTSTANDING OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
Weighted
Number Average Weighted Number Weighted
Outstanding Remaining Average Exercisable Average
Range of as of Contractual Exercise as of Exercise
Exercise Price 12/29/02 Life Price 12/29/02 Price
- --------------- ----------- ----------- -------- ----------- --------
$ 4.47 - $ 9.68 986,831 7.72 $ 8.93 665,673 $ 8.66
$ 9.78 - $12.84 1,592,522 8.12 $11.88 646,462 $11.75
$12.87 - $24.75 858,850 5.04 $17.28 847,070 $17.33
$28.38 - $28.38 372,000 3.83 $28.38 372,000 $28.38
- --------------- --------- ---- ------ --------- ------
$ 4.47 - $28.38 3,810,203 6.90 $13.94 2,531,205 $15.25
=============== ========= ==== ====== ========= ======





Note 8. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

Cash payments in 2002, 2001, and 2000, included payments for interest of $15.0
million, $20.6 million, and $24.2 million, and income taxes of $10.1 million,
$17.8 million, and $15.1 million, respectively.

Note 9. SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

In March 1997, the Company's Board of Directors adopted a new Shareholder's
Rights Plan (1997 Plan) which replaced a prior plan which had been adopted in
1988. The Rights under the 1997 Plan attached to the common shares of the
Company as of March 24, 1997. No separate certificate representing the Rights
will be distributed until the occurrence of certain triggering events as defined
in the 1997 Plan. The Rights are designed to ensure all Company shareholders
fair and equal treatment in the event of a proposed takeover of the Company, and
to guard against partial tender offers and other abusive tactics to gain control
of the Company without paying all shareholders a fair price.

The Rights are exercisable only as a result of certain actions (defined by the
Plan) of an Acquiring Person, as defined. Initially, upon payment of the
exercise price (currently $100.00), each Right will be exercisable for one share
of common stock. Upon the occurrence of certain events as specified in the plan,
each Right will entitle its holder (other than the Acquiring Person) to purchase
a number of the Company's or Acquiring Person's common shares having a market
value of twice the Right's exercise price. The Rights expire on March 10, 2007.

Note 10. STOCK REPURCHASE

There have been no stock repurchases since 1998. Furthermore, certain
restrictions exist under the terms of the senior secured facility, which
prohibit the repurchase of the Company's stock.






Note 11. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Earnings per share are calculated under the provisions of Statements of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 128, "Earnings per share", adopted in
the fourth quarter of 1997.

The following data shows the amounts used in computing earnings per share and
the effect on income and the weighted average number of shares of dilutive
potential common stock:
2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
(Thousands, except per share data)
Basic (loss)/earnings per share:

Earnings before cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle $ 25,579 $ 6,635 $ 2,254

Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle (72,861)(3) - (5,020)(4)
-------- -------- --------
Net (loss)/earnings $(47,282) $ 6,635 $ (2,766)
======== ======== ========
Weighted average common stock
outstanding 32,298 31,230 30,219
======== ======== ========
Basic earnings per share before
cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle $ .79 $ .21 $ .07

Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle (2.25) - (.16)
-------- -------- --------
Basic (loss)/earnings per share $ (1.46) $ .21 $ (.09)
======== ======== ========


Diluted (loss)/earnings per share:

Earnings before cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle $ 25,579 $ 6,635 $ 2,254

Interest on subordinated debentures,
net of tax (1) 3,843 - -
-------- -------- --------
Net earnings before cumulative
effect of change in accounting
principle available for dilutive
securities 29,422 6,635 2,254

Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle (72,861)(3) - (5,020)(4)
-------- -------- --------
Net (loss)/earnings after cumulative
effect of change in accounting
principle available for dilutive
securities $(43,439) $ 6,635 $ (2,766)
======== ======== ========





Weighted average common stock
outstanding 32,298 31,230 30,219

Additional common shares resulting
from stock options (2) 487 506 405

Additional common shares resulting
from subordinated debentures(1) 6,528 - -
-------- -------- --------
Weighted average common stock
and dilutive stock
outstanding (1) 39,313 31,736 30,624
======== ======== ========
Diluted earnings per share before
cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle .75 .21 .07

Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle (1.85) - (.16)
-------- -------- --------
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share $ (1.10) $ .21 $ (.09)
======== ======== ========

(1) The conversion of 6,528 common shares from the subordinated debentures is
not included in 2001 and 2000 as it is anti-dilutive. (2) Excludes
approximately 1,917, 1,937, and 3,733 anti-dilutive outstanding stock options
for 2002, 2001, and 2000, respectively.
(3) No tax effect as goodwill amortization is non-deductible for tax. (4) Net
of income tax benefit of $2,703.








Note 12. INCOME TAXES

The domestic and foreign components of earnings/(losses) before income taxes
are:
2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
(Thousands)
Domestic(1) $ 15,267 $ (4,874) $ 2,680

Foreign 22,414 18,590 2,767
------- ------- -------
Total $ 37,681 $13,716 $ 5,447
======= ======= =======

(1) The domestic component includes the earnings of the Company's operations
in Puerto Rico.

The related provisions/(benefits) for income taxes consist of:

2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
Currently Payable (Thousands)
Federal $(1,361) $ (505) $ 155
State 161 248 721
Puerto Rico 1,392 156 273
Foreign 11,433 7,974 604
Deferred
Federal (175) (1,031) (2,311)
State - - (263)
Puerto Rico - - 87
Foreign 570 15 3,849
------- ------- ------
Total Provision $12,020 $ 6,857 $ 3,115
======= ======= =======






Deferred tax assets/liabilities at December 29, 2002 and December 30, 2001
consist of:

2002 2001
------ ------
(Thousands)

Inventory $ 3,324 $ 2,540
Accounts receivable 2,335 2,436
Net operating loss carryforwards 34,255 32,518
Restructuring 2,027 3,081
Deferred revenue 1,627 -
Pension 3,559 3,523
Warranty 394 434
Depreciation 960 510
Profit sharing 470 -
Litigation 187 -
Other 233 488
Valuation allowance (22,428) (18,124)
------- -------
Deferred tax assets 26,943 27,406
------- -------
Depreciation 7,429 8,864
Intangibles 20,842 20,835
Deferred revenue - 91
Other 535 184
------- -------
Deferred tax liabilities 28,806 29,974
------- -------
Net deferred tax liability $(1,863) $(2,568)
======= =======

The Company's net earnings generated by the operations of its Puerto Rico
subsidiary are exempt from Federal income taxes under Section 936 of the
Internal Revenue Code until December 31, 2005 and substantially exempt from
Puerto Rico's income taxes.

Repatriation of the Puerto Rico subsidiary's unremitted earnings could result in
the assessment of Puerto Rico "tollgate" taxes at a maximum rate of 3.5% of the
amount repatriated. During 2002, 2001, and 2000, a full provision was made for
tollgate taxes. The Company has not provided for tollgate taxes on approximately
$37.0 million of its subsidiary's unremitted earnings since they are expected to
be reinvested indefinitely.

The net operating loss carryforwards as of December 29, 2002 in the amount of
$113.9 million, include $25.0 million of loss carryforwards that were acquired
in connection with the acquisition of the ID Systems Group, Actron Group
Limited, and Meto AG. If the benefit of the pre-acquisition loss carryforwards
is realized, the Company will apply such benefit to goodwill in connection with
the acquisition. In 2002, foreign tax losses decreased $2.4 million due to loss
revaluations. In 2002, a valuation allowance was recorded due to certain foreign
losses where it is more than likely that tax loss carryforwards will not be
utilized. Of the total foreign net operating loss carryforwards available, $10.5
million expire beginning January 2003 through December 2010, and the remaining
portion may be carried forward indefinitely.





A reconciliation of the tax provision at the statutory US Federal income tax
rate with the tax provision at the effective income tax rate follows:

2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
(Thousands)

Tax provision at the statutory federal
income tax rate $13,188 $4,801 $1,907

Tax exempt earnings of subsidiary in
Puerto Rico (1,343) (683) (1,740)

Non-deductible goodwill - 3,602 3,842

Non-deductible meals and entertainment 219 226 265

State and local income taxes, net
of federal benefit 105 296 245

Benefit from extraterritorial income (501) (170) (571)

Foreign losses with no benefit 2,327 1,720 391

Foreign loss carryforwards utilized - (2,691) -

Foreign rate differentials (1,724) 479 (749)

Other (251) (723) (475)
------- ------ ------
Tax provision at the effective tax rate $12,020 $6,857 $3,115
======= ====== ======

In 2002, there is no tax benefit associated with the cumulative effect of the
change in accounting principle as the amortization of goodwill is non-tax
deductible. In 2000, the effective tax rate related to the cumulative effect of
the change in accounting principle approximates the statutory rate.





Note 13. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Under the Company's defined contribution savings plans, eligible employees (see
below) may make basic (up to 6% of an employee's earnings) and supplemental
contributions to a trust. The Company matches in cash 50% of the participant's
basic contributions. Company contributions vest to participants in increasing
percentages over one to five years of service. The Company's contributions under
the plans approximated $1.0 million, $1.2 million, and $1.0 million, in 2002,
2001, and 2000, respectively.

Generally, any full-time, non-union employee of the Company who has completed
one month of service, and any part-time non-union employee of the Company who
has completed one year of service, other than employees of the Company's foreign
subsidiaries, may participate in the Company's United States Savings Plan. All
full-time employees of the Puerto Rico subsidiary who have completed three
months of service may participate in the Company's Puerto Rico Savings Plan.
Part-time employees are not entitled to participate in the Company's Puerto Rico
Savings Plan.

Under the Company's non-qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan, employees in
Canada, Puerto Rico, and the USA, may contribute up to $80 per week to a trust
for the purchase of the Company's common stock at fair market value. The Company
matches employee contributions up to a maximum of $20.75 per week. The Company's
contributions under this plan approximated $0.2 million for each of the years
2002, 2001, and 2000.

Under the Company's 2002 Corporate Bonus Plan, as approved by the Board of
Directors, employees of the Company have a targeted bonus percentage based on
earnings per share. In 2002, 2001, and 2000, net earnings did not exceed the
required criteria and, accordingly, no bonuses were provided under the Corporate
Bonus Plan.






The Company maintains several defined benefit pension plans, principally in
Europe. The plans covered approximately 20% of the total workforce at December
29, 2002. The benefits accrue according to the length of service, age, and
remuneration of the employee. The table below sets forth the funded status of
the Company's plans and amounts recognized in the accompanying balance sheets.

December 29, December 30,
2002 2001
----------- -----------
(Thousands)

Change in benefit obligation
Net benefit obligation at the beginning of year $46,018 $47,495
Service cost 1,550 1,121
Interest cost 3,168 2,648
Net amortization and deferrals 95 1,027
Actuarial loss/(gain) 250 (991)
Gross benefits paid (3,042) (2,441)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes 8,011 (2,841)
------- -------
Net benefit obligation at end of year $56,050 $46,018
------- -------
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $ 68 $ 69
Employer contributions 3,042 2,441
Gross benefits paid (3,042) (2,441)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes 17 (1)
------- -------
Fair value of plan assets at end of year $ 85 $ 68
------- -------
Reconciliation of unfunded status
Unfunded status at end of year $55,965 $45,950
Unrecognized net actuarial (loss)/gain (1,959) (1,099)
------- -------
Accrued pensions $54,006 $44,851
======= =======

The projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation, and fair value
of plan assets for the pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in
excess of plan assets were $56.1 million, $50.8 million, and $0.1 million,
respectively, as of December 29, 2002, and $46.0 million, $39.4 million, and
$0.1 million, respectively, as of December 30, 2001.

The pension plans included the following net cost components:

2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
(Thousands)

Service cost $1,550 $1,121 $1,325
Interest cost 3,168 2,648 2,701
Net amortization and deferrals 95 1,027 (14)
------ ------ ------
Total pension expense $4,813 $4,796 $4,012
====== ====== ======


The weighted average rate assumptions used in determining pension costs and the
projected benefit obligation are as follows:

December 29, December 30,
2002 2001
------------ ------------
Discount rate 5.75% 6.00%
Expected rate of return on plan assets 5.75% 6.00%
Expected rate of increase in future
compensation levels 3.00% 3.00%

Note 14. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

The Company's adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133
(SFAS 133), "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities", on
January 1, 2001, did not materially impact results from operations. The major
market risk exposures to the Company are movements in foreign currency exchange
and interest rates. The Company has historically not used financial instruments
to minimize its exposure to currency fluctuations on its net investments in and
cash flows derived from it foreign subsidiaries. The Company enters into forward
exchange contracts denominated in foreign currency to reduce the risks of
currency fluctuations on short-term receivables. These contracts are entered
into with major financial institutions thereby minimizing the risk of credit
loss. The Company's policy is to manage interest rates through the use of
interest rate caps or swaps. The Company does not hold or issue derivative
financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes. The Company is
subject to other foreign exchange market risk exposure resulting from
anticipated non-financial instrument foreign currency cash flows which are
difficult to reasonably predict, and have therefore not been included in the
table on page 71. All listed items described are non-trading.

Notional Amounts of Derivatives
- -------------------------------
The notional amounts of derivatives are not a complete measure of the Company's
exposure to foreign exchange fluctuation. The amounts exchanged are calculated
on the basis of the notional amounts and the other terms of the derivatives,
which relate to exchange rates.

Foreign Exchange Risk Management
- --------------------------------
The Company enters into currency exchange forward contracts to hedge short-term
receivables denominated in currencies other than the US dollar from its foreign
sales subsidiaries. The term of the currency exchange forward contracts is
rarely more than one year. Unrealized and realized gains and losses on these
contracts are included in other gain/(loss), net. Notional amounts of currency
exchange forward contracts outstanding at December 29, 2002 were $22.5 million,
with various maturity dates ranging through the end of the first quarter, 2003.
At December 30, 2001, the notional amounts of currency exchange forward
contracts outstanding were $19.8 million. Counterparties to these contracts are
major financial institutions, and credit loss from counterparty non-performance
is not anticipated.

Aggregate foreign currency transaction gains/(losses) in 2002, 2001, and 2000,
were $0.9 million, $(0.7) million, and $(2.5) million, respectively, and are
included in other gain/(loss), net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Additionally, there were no deferrals of gains or losses on currency exchange
forward contracts at December 29, 2002.

Interest Rate Risk Management
- -----------------------------
In connection with the Company's floating rate debt under the senior
collateralized multi-currency credit facility, the Company purchased interest
rate caps to reduce the risk of significant Euro interest rate increases. The
fair value and premiums paid for the instruments were not material. The interest
rate caps expire on March 31, 2003.

On March 11, 2002, the Company entered into an interest rate swap to reduce the
risk of significant Euro interest rate increases in connection with the floating
rate debt outstanding under the Euro term loan. The cash flow hedging instrument
initially swapped EUR 50 million of variable rate debt for fixed rate debt and
expires in December 2004. The interest rate swap is marked to market and the
changes are recorded in other comprehensive income.

Fair Values
- -----------
The following table presents the carrying amounts and fair values of the
Company's financial instruments at December 29, 2002 and December 30, 2001:

2002 2001
-------------------- --------------------
Carrying Fair Carrying Fair
Value Value Value Value
-------- -------- -------- --------
(Thousands)
Long-term debt (including
current maturities and
excluding capital
leases)(1) $ 74,831 $ 74,831 $158,117 $158,117

Subordinated debentures(1) $120,000 $111,600 $120,000 $112,320
Currency exchange forward
contracts(2) $ 309 $ 309 $ 25 $ 25
Interest rate swap(3) $ (1,064) $ (1,064) $ - $ -

(1) The carrying amounts are reported on the balance sheet under the indicated
captions.
(2) The carrying amounts represent the net unrealized gain associated with the
contracts at the end of the period. Such amounts are included in other
current liabilities.
(3) The carrying amounts represent the net unrealized loss associated with the
contract at the end of the period. Such amounts are included in other
long-term liabilities.

Long-term debt is carried at the original offering price, less any payments of
principal. Rates currently available to the Company for long-term borrowings
with similar terms and remaining maturities are used to estimate the fair value
of existing borrowings as the present value of expected cash flows. The
long-term debt agreements have various due dates with none of the agreements
extending beyond the year 2006.

Convertible subordinated debentures are carried at the original offering price,
less any payments of principal. In order to estimate the fair value of these
debentures, the Company used currently quoted market prices.

The carrying value approximates fair value for cash, accounts receivable, and
accounts payable.

Note 15. PROVISION FOR RESTRUCTURING AND ASSET IMPAIRMENTS

Fiscal 2002
- -----------
The Company recorded in cost of revenues restructuring charges of $1.8 million
for severance costs and an asset write-off of $0.5 million related to leasehold
improvements abandoned due to leaving a facility. The book values of the assets
prior to write-off were $0.5 million. The charges are related to cost reductions
in hand-held labeling (HLS) and barcode labeling (BCS) manufacturing. In
addition, the Company recorded $0.5 million of severance costs in other
operating (income)/expense related to the rationalization of an under-performing
sales office. As of December 29, 2002, 20 of the 61 planned employee
terminations had occurred. The Company expects these terminations and actions to
be completed by the end of 2003.

Due to changes in management in 2002, the Company reviewed and modified the 2001
restructuring plans in order to reduce the future cash outlays necessary to
execute these plans. The principal modification was to move a manufacturing
facility to a location closer than originally planned. This, and other
modifications, resulted in the retention of certain employees included in the
original plan. These changes in estimates resulted in the reversal of $2.6
million of the restructuring accrual in 2002. Of this amount, $1.7 million was
credited to cost of revenues and $0.9 million to other operating
(income)/expense. As of December 29, 2002, 284 of the 322 planned employee
terminations, related to the 2001 restructuring, had occurred. The Company
expects these terminations and actions to be substantially complete by the first
half of 2003.

During 2002, the Company was able to negotiate more favorable terms than
originally estimated regarding the termination of a lease for an
office/warehouse facility and the severance for certain employees. This resulted
in a decrease in goodwill related to the acquisition of Meto AG of $0.9 million.

Fiscal 2001
- -----------
The Company recorded restructuring charges of $11.1 million and asset
impairments of $7.5 million related to the consolidation of some of its US and
Caribbean manufacturing facilities and the rationalization of certain
under-performing sales offices. Included in the charges are severance costs for
approximately 347 employees ($9.8 million), lease termination costs for three
manufacturing facilities and two warehouses ($1.4 million), and an asset
impairment charge ($7.4 million). The impairment charge consists of $5.0 million
of manufacturing equipment abandoned due to the rationalization of operations, a
further $2.0 million write-down of the manufacturing facility in Japan, and a
$0.4 million goodwill impairment upon exit of a business segment in Belgium. The
book values of the assets prior to write-down were $5.0 million, $5.7 million,
and $0.4 million, respectively.

In 2001, the termination of certain contracts related to the 1999 and 2000
restructuring plans was renegotiated on more favorable terms that expected.
These changes in estimates resulted in the reversal of $1.4 million of
restructuring accrual, of which $1.2 million was recorded as a reduction in
goodwill arising from the Meto acquisition and $0.2 million was credited to
other operating (income)/expense.

Fiscal 2000
- -----------
The Company recorded an asset impairment charge of $7.2 million relating to the
realignment of its manufacturing processes. This impairment charge is comprised
of a $3.7 million charge relating to the consolidation of the Company's
manufacturing facilities in Japan and a $3.5 million charge related to equipment
abandoned in the fourth quarter 2000 in connection with rationalizing
manufacturing operations in the Caribbean. The book values of the assets prior
to write-down were $10.4 million and $3.8 million, respectively. The charge
recorded in connection with consolidating manufacturing facilities in Japan was
determined on a "held for use" basis until manufacturing operations cease
(estimated to occur in the first half of 2003) at which time the facility will
be held for disposal.

During 2000, as part of the original Meto integration plan, the restructuring
accrual established in 1999 in connection with the Company's acquisition of Meto
was updated for additional severance costs for approximately 90 employees ($1.8
million) and lease termination costs for one office/warehouse facility ($0.4
million). An additional $5.0 million of severance costs for approximately 72
employees and $0.4 million of additional lease termination costs relating to the
acquired company were recorded as an increase to goodwill in connection with the
completion of the original Meto restructuring plan. As of December 29, 2002, all
of the planned actions had been completed with the exception of Japan, where the
building was still occupied.

In 1999, a restructuring accrual was established for costs related to the
acquisition of Meto AG. A portion of these costs resulted in a before-tax charge
of $10.9 million largely for severance costs for approximately 135 employees
($3.1 million), lease termination costs for 15 office/warehouse facilities ($3.3
million), and asset impairments ($4.5 million). The charge for asset impairments
relates to leasehold improvements ($1.0 million) on abandoned facilities and
related computer hardware and software ($1.0 million), as well as previously
acquired goodwill ($2.5 million). The book values of the assets prior to
write-down were $1.0 million, $1.0 million, and $2.5 million, respectively. An
additional $20.7 million associated with severance (for approximately 289
employees) and lease termination costs of the acquired company was recorded as
an increase to goodwill. Most of the 424 employees affected were in the support
services, including selling, technical and administrative staff functions. As of
December 29, 2002, all of the planned actions had been completed.

Termination benefits are being paid out over a period of one to 24 months after
termination. Leased facilities will be paid over the remaining life of the
lease.





Restructuring accrual activity was as follows:
Cash
Accrual Payments
at Charge Increase/ (and Accrual
Begin- Charged Reversed (Decrease) Exchange at
ning of to to in Rate End of
Year Earnings Earnings Goodwill Changes) Year
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------
(Thousands)
2000
Severance and
other employee
related charges $20,739 $ 1,766 $ - $ 5,014 $(15,763) $11,756
Lease termination
costs 6,308 439 - 366 (1,162) 5,951
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------
$27,047 $ 2,205(1) $ - $ 5,380 $(16,925) $17,707
======= ======= ======= ======= ======== =======

2001
Severance and
other employee
related charges $11,756 $ 9,789 $ (136) $(1,163) $(11,688) $ 8,558
Lease termination
costs 5,951 1,381 (71) - (1,640) 5,621
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------
$17,707 $11,170(2) $ (207) $(1,163) $(13,328) $14,179
======= ======= ======= ======= ======== =======

2002
Severance and
other employee
related charges $ 8,558 $ 2,325 $(2,534) $ (219) $ (4,342) $ 3,788
Lease termination
costs 5,621 - (103) (679) (3,027) 1,812
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------
$14,179 $ 2,325(3) $(2,637)(4)$ (898) $ (7,369) $ 5,600
======= ======= ======= ======= ======== =======

(1) $0.9 million is included in cost of revenues and $1.3 million in other
operating (income)/expense.
(2) $4.3 million is included in cost of revenues and $6.9 million in other
operating (income)/expense.
(3) $1.8 million is included in cost of revenues and $0.5 million in other
operating (income)/expense.
(4) $1.7 million is included in cost of revenues and $0.9 million in other
operating (income)/expense.






Note 16. OTHER OPERATING (INCOME)/EXPENSE

Other operating (income)/expense is comprised of the following amounts:

2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
(Thousands)

Restructuring costs $ 558 $6,868 $ 1,263
Integration costs - - 9,288
Asset impairments - 405 -
Restructuring charge reversal (957) (207) -
----- ------ -------
$(399) $7,066 $10,551
===== ====== =======

Restructuring costs, asset impairments, and the restructuring charge reversals
are discussed in Note 15.

Integration costs consist primarily of external consulting, legal, and marketing
costs incurred in connection with integrating Meto/Checkpoint operations.
Integration costs were charged to expense as incurred.

In addition to the reversal indicated above, cost of revenues for 2002 includes
a $1.7 million restructuring charge reversal offset by a restructuring charge of
$1.8 million for severance costs (see Note 15) and an asset impairment charge of
$0.5 million for leasehold improvements abandoned due to leaving a facility. The
charges are related to cost reductions in hand-held labeling (HLS) and barcode
labeling (BCS) manufacturing. Cost of revenues in 2001 includes $4.3 million for
restructuring and $7.1 million for asset impairments. In 2000, cost of revenues
includes charges for restructuring, integration, and asset impairments of $0.9
million, $0.9 million, and $7.2 million, respectively. These charges were
recorded in connection with the consolidation and rationalization of the
Company's manufacturing operations.

Note 17. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company leases certain production facilities, offices, distribution centers,
and equipment. Rental expense for all operating leases approximated $15.4
million, $13.2 million, and $13.7 million, in 2002, 2001, and 2000,
respectively. Future minimum payments for operating leases having non-cancelable
terms in excess of one year at December 29, 2002 are: $12.2 million (2003);
$10.1 million (2004); $7.1 million (2005); $4.3 million (2006); $3.9 million
(2007); and $4.7 million thereafter.

On October 1, 1995, the Company acquired certain patents and improvements
thereon related to EAS products and manufacturing processes from Arthur D.
Little, Inc. (ADL) for $1.9 million plus a royalty of 1% to 1.5% of future
RF-EAS products sold through 2008.

The Company, with its acquisition of Meto, has three principal license
agreements covering its EAS products, including Allied Signal, Inc. (now
Honeywell Intellectual Properties, Inc.) as licensor for EM markers, Miyake as
licensor for RF tags, and a group of former owners of Intermodulation and Safety
System AB as licensors of EM systems. These licenses expire in 2004, 2014, and
2004, respectively.






The Company is involved in certain legal and regulatory actions, all of which
have arisen in the ordinary course of business, except for the matters described
in the following paragraphs. Management does not believe that the ultimate
resolution of such matters will have a material adverse effect on its
consolidated results of operations and/or financial condition, except as
described below.

On May 24, 2002, the jury in the Civil Action No. 99-CV-577 in the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, filed by plaintiff ID
Security Systems Canada Inc. against Checkpoint Systems, Inc. held in favor of
the Company on the plaintiff's claim for Monopolization of Commerce, but against
the Company on claims of Attempted Monopolization and Conspiracy to Monopolize.
In addition, the jury held against the Company on two tort claims related to
tortious interference and unfair competition. Judgement was entered on the
verdict in favor of the plaintiff, after trebling, in the amount of $79.2
million plus attorneys' fees and costs to be determined by the Court.

On June 14, 2002, in response to Motions filed by the Company, the Court stayed
the execution of the judgement pending disposition of the Company's Motion for
Post-Trial Relief and ordered the Company to post a bond in the amount of $26.4
million and to place into escrow 3,179,600 shares of the Company's treasury
stock. The Company has complied with the Court's order.

On July 1 and August 14, 2002, the Company filed briefs in support of its Motion
for Post-Trial Relief. The Company also filed a Motion to Vacate Judgement on
Antitrust Claims Due to Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction on August 14, 2002.
Based on input from outside legal counsel, management is of the opinion that the
jury verdict is not consistent with the law and that judgement should be entered
in favor of the Company as a matter of law or, alternatively, that a new trial
should be granted. Accordingly, no liability has been recorded for this
litigation as management believes that, at this time, it is not probable the
judgement will be upheld and that the reasonably possible range of the
contingent liability is between zero and $80 million. If, however, the final
outcome of this litigation, after all appeals have been exhausted, results in
certain of the plaintiff's claims being upheld, the potential damages could be
material to the Company's consolidated results of operations and/or financial
condition and could cause the Company to be in default of certain bank
covenants. Although management expects to prevail upon appeal, should the appeal
be unsuccessful, management anticipates that the final judgement would not be
paid prior to the end of 2004 and is of the opinion that the Company will have
sufficient financial resources in the form of cash and borrowing capacity, due
to the cash flow generated during the intervening period, to satisfy any
judgement.

The Company continues to wait for the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Pennsylvania to rule on the various Post-Trial Motions filed
in the ID Security Systems Canada Inc. case. Management anticipates that,
regardless of how the Court rules, the case will be appealed to the Third
Circuit Court of Appeals.






A certain number of follow-on purported class action suits have arisen in
connection with the jury decision in the ID Security Systems Canada Inc.
litigation. The purported class action complaints generally allege a claim of
monopolization and are substantially based upon the same allegations as
contained in the ID Security Systems Canada Inc. case (Civil Action No.
99-CV-577) as follows:

On August 1, 2002, a civil action was filed in United States District Court for
the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, designated as Civil Action No. 02-6379(ER)
by plaintiff Diane Furs, Inc. t/a Diane Furs against Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
and served on August 21, 2002. On August 21, 2002, a Notice of Substitution of
Plaintiff and Filing of Amended Complaint was filed by the plaintiff, and the
named plaintiff was changed to Medi-Care Pharmacy, Inc.

On August 2, 2002, a civil action was filed in the United States District Court,
District of New Jersey (Camden) designated as Docket No. 02-CV-3730(JEI) by
plaintiff Club Sports International, Inc., d/b/a Soccer CSI against Checkpoint
Systems, Inc. and served on August 26, 2002.

On October 2, 2002, a civil action was filed in the United States District
Court, District of New Jersey (Camden) designated as Docket No. 02-CV-4777(JBS)
by plaintiff Baby Mika, Inc. against Checkpoint Systems, Inc. and served on
October 7, 2002.

On October 23, 2002, a civil action was filed in the United States District
Court, District of New Jersey (Camden) designated as Docket No. 02-CV-5001 (JEI)
by plaintiff Washington Square Pharmacy, Inc. against Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
and served on November 1, 2002.

On October 18, 2002, The United States District, District of New Jersey (Camden)
entered an Order staying the proceedings in the Club Sports International, Inc.
and Baby Mika, Inc. cases referred to above. In accordance with the Order, the
Stay will also apply to the Washington Square Pharmacy, Inc. case referred to
above. In addition, the Medi-Care Pharmacy, Inc. case, referred to above, will
be voluntarily dismissed, and it is expected to be re-filed in New Jersey and be
included in the Stay Order. The Stay is expected to remain in place until such
time as the ID Security Systems case, referred to above, is either terminated or
any appeals have been exhausted in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

On November 13, 2002, a civil action was filed in the United States District
Court, District of New Jersey (Camden) designated as Docket No. 02-CV-5319 (JEI)
by plaintiff 1700 Pharmacy, Inc. against Checkpoint Systems, Inc. and served on
November 15, 2002.

On December 30, 2002, a civil action was filed in the United States District
Court, District of New Jersey (Camden) designated as Docket No. 02-CV-6131 (JEI)
by plaintiff Medi-Care Pharmacy, Inc. against Checkpoint Systems, Inc. and
served on January 3, 2003.

Both the 1700 Pharmacy, Inc. case and the Medi-Care Pharmacy, Inc. case were
consolidated with the previously mentioned cases and are included in the Stay
Order referred to above. No liability has been recorded for any of the purported
class action suits as management believes that, based on input from outside
legal counsel, it is not probable the judgement will be upheld and that the
lower end of the reasonably possible range of the contingent liability is zero
at this time. The high end of the range cannot be estimated at this time.

On March 13, 2003, the Company deposited with the Escrow Agent an additional
1,195,400 shares of the Company's treasury stock, as a result of the reduction
in market value of the Company's publicly traded shares. Such deposit maintains
the Court's stay pending disposition of the Company's Motion for Post-Trial
Relief in the ID Security Systems Canada Inc. case referred to above. Should the
Company's market value decrease further, it may be necessary to deposit
additional treasury stock with the Escrow Agent.

Note 18. CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

The Company's foreign subsidiaries, along with many foreign distributors,
provide diversified international sales thus minimizing credit risk to one or a
few distributors. Domestically, the Company's sales are well diversified among
numerous retailers in the apparel, drug, home entertainment, mass merchandise,
music, shoe, supermarket, and video markets. The Company performs ongoing credit
evaluations of its customers' financial condition and generally requires no
collateral from its customers.

Note 19. ACQUISITIONS

All acquisitions have been accounted for under the purchase method. The results
of the operations of the acquired businesses are included in the consolidated
financial statements from the date of acquisition.

On January 1, 2002, the Company acquired various assets of Thomeko OY, its
former distributor of RF-EAS equipment in Finland. The acquisition consists of
an initial cash payment and delayed purchase price payments over two years. The
total transaction is estimated to be approximately EUR 0.8 million ($0.7
million). Due to the size and timing of the acquisition, pro-forma information
is not provided as it is not significant.

On January 9, 2001, the Company acquired A.W. Printing Inc., a leading provider
of high quality tags, labels, and packaging products for the apparel industry.
The acquisition was a cash transaction valued at approximately $13 million. Due
to the size and timing of the acquisition, pro-forma information is not provided
as it is not significant.






Note 20. BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

The Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 131 (SFAS 131), "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and
Related Information". The Company's reportable business segments are strategic
business units that offer distinctive products and services that are marketed
through different channels. The Company has three reportable business segments:

(i) Security - includes electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems,
access control systems, closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems, and
fire and intrusion systems.
(ii) Labeling Services - includes barcoding (BCS) systems, service bureau
(Check-Net), and radio frequency identification (RFID) systems.
(iii) Retail Merchandising - includes hand-held labeling systems (HLS) and
retail display systems (RDS).

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the
summary of significant accounting policies.

The business segment information set forth below is that viewed by the chief
operating decision maker:

(A) Business Segments
2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
(Thousands)
Business segment net revenue:
Security $395,033 $391,867 $419,696
Labeling Services 144,071 139,654 138,396
Retail Merchandising 100,382 127,014 132,719

-------- -------- --------
Total $639,486 $658,535 $690,811
-------- -------- --------
Business segment gross profit:
Security $173,107(1) $151,188(4) $165,363(7)
Labeling Services 41,893(2) 37,077(5) 40,377
Retail Merchandising 47,599(3) 68,019(6) 67,108
-------- -------- --------
Total gross profit 262,599 256,284 272,848
Operating expenses 212,566 222,775 245,041
Interest expense, net 13,280 19,099 19,836
Other gain/(loss) 928 (694) (2,524)
-------- -------- --------
Earnings before income taxes $ 37,681 $ 13,716 $ 5,447
-------- -------- --------

Business segment total assets:
Security $399,695 $381,808 $438,269
Labeling Services 139,376 171,117 176,453
Retail Merchandising 139,311 199,728 253,268
-------- -------- --------
Total $678,382 $752,653 $867,990
-------- -------- --------

(1) Includes a $0.1 million restructuring charge reversal. (2) Includes a $1.0
million restructuring charge, a $1.3 million
restructuring charge reversal, and a $0.5 million asset impairment charge.
(3) Includes a $0.8 million restructuring charge and a $0.3 million
restructuring charge reversal.
(4) Includes a $1.1 million restructuring charge and a $6.7 million asset
impairment charge.
(5) Includes a $2.4 million restructuring charge and a $0.4 million asset
impairment charge.
(6) Includes a $0.8 million restructuring charge.
(7) Includes $0.9 million restructuring charge, a $0.9 million integration
charge, a $7.2 million pre-tax asset impairment charge, and an inventory
write-off of $3.7 million.

(B) Geographic Information

Operating results are prepared on a "country of domicile" basis, meaning that
net revenues and gross profit are included in the geographic area where the
selling entity is located. Assets are included in the geographic area in which
the producing entities are located. A direct sale from the USA to an
unaffiliated customer in South America is reported as a sale in the USA.
Inter-area sales between the Company's locations are made at transfer prices
that approximate market price and have been eliminated from consolidated net
revenues. Gross profit for the individual area includes the profitability on a
transfer price basis, generated by sales of the Company's products imported from
other geographic areas.

The following table shows net revenues, gross profit, and other financial
information by geographic area for the years 2002, 2001, and 2000:

United Inter-
States and national Asia
Puerto Rico Europe Americas Pacific Total
----------- ------ -------- ------- -----
(Thousands)
2002
- ----
Net revenues from
unaffiliated customers $235,931 $327,104 $ 21,475 $ 54,976 $639,486
Gross profit $104,120(1) $131,284(4) $ 6,147 $ 21,048 $262,599
Long-lived assets $ 84,140 $218,737 $ 4,773 $ 34,787 $342,437


2001
- ----
Net revenues from
unaffiliated customers $233,513 $342,149 $ 31,320 $ 51,553 $658,535
Gross profit $ 83,657(2) $146,509(5) $ 10,542 $ 15,576(8)$256,284
Long-lived assets $113,277 $236,914 $ 13,216 $ 37,870 $401,277

2000
- ----
Net revenues from
unaffiliated customers $240,272 $357,418 $ 43,168 $ 49,953 $690,811
Gross profit $103,700(3) $134,173(6) $ 16,233(7)$ 18,742(9)$272,848
Long-lived assets $149,156 $256,055 $ 19,379 $ 61,002 $485,592


(1) Includes a $1.6 million restructuring charge reversal and an asset
impairment charge of $0.5 million. (2) Includes a $3.2 million restructuring
charge. (3) Includes $4.1 million in restructuring and impairment charges.
(4) Includes a $1.7 million restructuring charge. (5) Includes a $0.5 million
restructuring charge. (6) Includes a $0.9 million integration charge and a
$2.6 million inventory write-off.
(7) Includes a $1.1 million inventory write-off. (8) Includes a $7.7 million
restructuring charge. (9) Includes a $4.0 million restructuring charge and
impairment charges.

Note 21. MINORITY INTEREST

On July 1, 1997, Checkpoint Systems Japan Co. Ltd. (Checkpoint Japan), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, issued newly authorized shares to
Mitsubishi Materials Corporation (Mitsubishi) in exchange for cash. These shares
represented 20% of the adjusted outstanding shares of Checkpoint Japan. The
Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets include 100% of the assets and liabilities
of Checkpoint Japan. Mitsubishi's 20% interest in Checkpoint Japan and the
earnings therefrom have been reflected as minority interest on the Company's
Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Operations,
respectively.

Note 22. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS AND OTHER STANDARDS

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 143 (SFAS 143), "Accounting for Asset Retirement
Obligations" in August 2001. For the Company, SFAS 143 became effective on
December 30, 2002 (fiscal year 2003). The provisions of SFAS 143 address
financial reporting requirements for obligations and costs associated with the
retirement of tangible long-lived assets. Companies are required to record an
asset and related liability for the costs associated with the retirement of
long-lived tangible assets if a legal liability to retire the assets exists. The
Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS 143 to have a significant impact on
its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
146 (SFAS 146), "Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal
Activities". SFAS 146 provides guidance on the recognition and measurement of
liabilities for costs associated with exit or disposal activities that are
initiated by the Company after December 29, 2002. The main impact on the
Company's consolidated financial statements resulting from the adoption of SFAS
146 is expected to be the timing of the recognition of future lease termination
expenses.

In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45 (FIN 45), "Guarantor's
Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, including Indirect
Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others". FIN 45 requires that a liability be
recorded in the guarantor's balance sheet upon issuance of a guarantee after
December 29, 2002. In addition, FIN 45 requires disclosures about the guarantees
that an entity has issued prior to December 29, 2002, including a rollforward of
the entity's product warranty liabilities. The Company does not expect the
adoption of FIN 45 to have a significant impact on its consolidated financial
statements.






The following table sets forth the movements on the warranty reserve for fiscal
2002:

Balance at the beginning of the year $3,303

Accruals for warranties issued during fiscal 2002 $1,347
Accruals related to pre-existing warranties, including
changes in estimates (486)
------
Total accruals in year $ 861
Settlements made during the year (628)
Exchange rate changes 466
------
Balance at the end of the year $4,002
======

In November 2002, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) of the FASB reached
consensus on Issue No. 00-21, "Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables".
The standard provides guidance on how to account for arrangements that involve
the delivery or performance of multiple products, services, and/or rights to use
assets. The provisions of EITF Issue No. 00-21 will apply to revenue
arrangements entered into by the Company after June 29, 2003. The Company is
currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of EITF Issue No. 00-21 will
have on its consolidated financial statements.

In December 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 148 (SFAS 148), "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, Transition and
Disclosure". The Statement provides alternative methods of transition for a
voluntary change to the fair value-based method of accounting for stock-based
employee compensation. SFAS 148 also requires that disclosures of the pro-forma
effect of using the fair value method of accounting for stock-based employee
compensation be displayed more prominently and be disclosed in the interim
financial statements. The Company has adopted the enhanced disclosure provisions
of SFAS 148. The Company continues to account for stock-based compensation using
the intrinsic value method prescribed in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No.
25(APB 25), "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees". Refer to Notes 1 and 7
Notes of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In January 2003, the FASB issued interpretation No. 46 (FIN 46), "Consolidation
of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51". FIN 46 requires
certain variable interest entities to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary
of the entity if the equity investors in the entity do not have the
characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient
equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional
subordinated financial support from other parties. FIN 46 is effective for all
new variable interest entities created or acquired after January 31, 2003. For
variable interest entities created or acquired prior to February 1, 2003, the
provisions of FIN 46 must be applied to the Company's consolidated financial
statements for the period ending September 28, 2003. The Company does not expect
the adoption of FIN 46 to have a significant impact on its consolidated
financial statements.





SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
QUARTERS (unaudited)
----------------------
First Second Third Fourth Year
----- ------ ----- ------ ----
(Thousands, except per share data)
2002
- ----
Net revenues $143,454 $160,924 $158,800 $176,308 $639,486
Gross profit $ 59,432 $ 66,082 $ 65,613(5) $ 71,472(7) $262,599
Earnings before
cumulative effect
of change in
accounting
principle $ 4,114 $ 5,967 $ 6,374(6) $ 9,124(8) $ 25,579
Net (loss)/
earnings $(68,747)(2) $ 5,967 $ 6,374(6) $ 9,124(8) $(47,282)
Earnings per share
before cumulative
effect of change
in accounting
principle (1)
Basic $ .13 $ .19 $ .20 $ .28 $ .79
Diluted $ .13 $ .18 $ .19 $ .26 $ .75
Net (loss)/earnings
per share: (1)
Basic $ (2.15)(3) $ .19 $ .20 $ .28 $ (1.46)
Diluted $ (1.73)(4) $ .18 $ .19 $ .26 $ (1.10)

2001
- ----
Net revenues $163,728 $162,182 $155,322 $177,303 $658,535
Gross profit $ 67,145 $ 66,324 $ 62,762 $ 60,053(9) $256,284
Earnings/(loss)
before cumulative
effect of change
in accounting
principle $ 3,553 $ 6,179 $ 4,361 $ (7,458)(10)$ 6,635
Net earnings/
(loss) $ 3,553 $ 6,179 $ 4,361 $ (7,458) $ 6,635
Earnings/(loss)
per share before
cumulative effect
of change in
accounting
principle(1)
Basic $ .12 $ .20 $ .14 $ (.24) $ .21
Diluted $ .12 $ .19 $ .14 $ (.24) $ .21

Net earnings/(loss)
per share:(1)
Basic $ .12 $ .20 $ .14 $ (.24) $ .21
Diluted $ .12 $ .19 $ .14 $ (.24) $ .21


(1) Quarterly earnings per share are computed independently; therefore the sum
of the quarters may not equal full year earnings per share. (2) Includes a
goodwill impairment charge of $72.9 million for the cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle. The reported net earnings for the first
quarter, 2002, were $4.1 million.
(3) The reported net earnings were $0.13 per basic share. (4) The reported net
earnings were $0.13 per diluted share. (5) Includes a $1.6 million pre-tax
restructuring charge reversal related to
the fourth quarter 2001 restructuring program offset by a pre-tax $0.7
million restructuring charge, and a $0.5 million pre-tax asset impairment.
(6) Includes a $1.7 million restructuring charge reversal (net of tax) related
to the fourth quarter 2001 restructuring program offset by a $0.5
million restructuring charge (net of tax), and a $0.3 million asset
impairment (net of tax).
(7) Includes a pre-tax $0.1 million restructuring charge reversal related to
the fourth quarter 2001 restructuring program offset by a pre-tax $1.1
million restructuring charge.
(8) Includes a $0.1 million restructuring charge reversal (net of tax) related
to the fourth quarter 2001 restructuring program offset by a $1.1 million
restructuring charge (net of tax).
(9) Includes a $4.3 million pre-tax restructuring charge and a $7.1 million
pre-tax asset impairment.
(10) Includes a $8.2 million restructuring charge (net of tax), a $5.3 million
asset impairment (net of tax), and a restructuring charge reversal of $0.1
million (net of tax).



Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

There are no changes or disagreements to report under this item.


PART III

The information called for by Item 10, Directors and Executive Officers of the
Registrant (except for the information regarding executive officers called for
by Item 401 of Regulation S-K which is included in Part I hereof as Item A in
accordance with General Instruction G(3)); Item 11, Executive Compensation; Item
12, Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management; Item 13,
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, is hereby incorporated by
reference to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting
of Shareholders presently scheduled to be held on May 1, 2003, which management
expects to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of
the end of the Registrant's fiscal year.

Note that the sections of the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement entitled
"Compensation and Stock Option Committee Report on Executive Compensation" and
"Stock Price Performance Graph", pursuant to Regulation S-K Item 402 (a)(9) are
not deemed "soliciting material" or "filed" as part of this report.






PART IV

Item 14. DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Within 90 days prior to the date of this report, the Company carried out an
evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's
principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the
effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls
and procedures. Based on this evaluation, the Company's principal executive
officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company's disclosure
controls and procedures are effective in alerting them, on a timely basis, to
material information required to be included in the Company's periodic SEC
reports. It should be noted that the design of any system of controls is based
in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and
there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated
goals under all potential future conditions, regardless of how remote.

There have been no significant changes in the Company's internal controls or in
other factors that could significantly affect those controls subsequent to the
date of their last evaluation.

Item 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL SCHEDULE, AND REPORTS ON FOR 8-K

All other schedules are omitted either because they are not applicable, not
required, or because the required information is included in the financial
statements or notes thereto:

(a) 3. Exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K

Exhibit 3.1 Articles of Incorporation, as amended, are hereby
incorporated by reference to Item 14(a), Exhibit 3(i) of
the Registrant's 1990 Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on
March 14, 1991.
Exhibit 3.2 By-Laws, as Amended and Restated, are hereby
incorporated by Reference to the Registrant's 1992 Form
10-K, filed with the SEC on March 25, 1993.
Exhibit 4.1 Rights Agreement by and between Registrant and
American Stock and Transfer and Trust Company dated as of
March 10, 1997, is hereby incorporated by reference to
Item 14(a), Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant's 1996 Form
10-K filed with the SEC on March 17, 1997.
Exhibit 4.2 Indenture dated as of October 24, 1995 by and between
Registrant and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, is
hereby incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to
Registrant's Form 10-Q/A filed with the SEC on December
13, 1995.
Exhibit 4.3 First Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 27,
1998 (amending Indenture dated as of October 24, 1995) is
hereby incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to
Registrant's Form 10-K for 1997 filed with the SEC on
March 23, 1998.
Exhibit 4.4 Second Supplemental Indenture dated July 31, 2001
amending the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of
February 27, 1998 (amending Indenture dated as of October
24, 1995) is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.4 to Registrants From 10-K for 1997 filed with the SEC
on March 23, 1998.
Exhibit 10.1 2001 Bonus Plan.
Exhibit 10.2 Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan (1992) is
hereby incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form
10-K for 1997 filed with the SEC on March 23, 1998
Exhibit 10.3 Consulting and Deferred Compensation Agreement With
Albert E. Wolf, are incorporated by reference to Item
(a), Exhibit 10(c) of the Registrant's 1994 Form 10-K.
Exhibit 10.4 Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan as
Appendix A to the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement,
filed with the SEC on March 22, 1996, is incorporated by
reference.
Exhibit 10.5 Credit Agreement dated October 27, 1999, by and
among Registrant, First Union National Bank, as
Administrative Agent, and the lenders named therein, is
incorporated herein by reference to Item 7(c), Exhibit 10
of the Registrant's Form 8-K filed on December 27, 1999.
Exhibit 10.6 Employment Agreement with Michael E. Smith is
incorporated by reference to Item 6(a), Exhibit 10(iii)A
of the Registrants Form 10-Q filed on November 14, 2001
Exhibit 10.7 First Amendment to Employment Agreement with
Michael E. Smith is incorporated by reference
to Item 6(a), Exhibit 10(iii)A of the
Registrants Form 10-Q filed on
November 14, 2001
Exhibit 10.8 Second Amendment to Employment Agreement with
Michael E. Smith is incorporated herein by
reference to Item 6(a), Exhibit
10(iii)A of the Registrants Form 10-Q filed on
November 14, 2001
Exhibit 10.9 Third Amendment to Employment Agreement with
Michael E. Smith is incorporated herein by
reference to Item 6(a), Exhibit
10(iii)A of the Registrants Form 10-Q filed on
November 14, 2001
Exhibit 10.10 Employment Agreement with William J. Reilly, Jr.
is incorporated by reference to Item 6(a),
Exhibit 10(iii)A of the Registrants Form 10-Q filed
on November 14, 2001
Exhibit 10.11 First Amendment to Employment Agreement with
William J. Reilly, Jr. is incorporated herein by
reference to Item 6(a), Exhibit
10(iii)A of the Registrants Form 10-Q filed on
November 14, 2001
Exhibit 10.12 Second Amendment to Employment Agreement with
William J. Reilly, Jr. is incorporated herein by
reference to Item 6(a), Exhibit
10(iii)A of the Registrants Form 10-Q filed on
November 14, 2001
Exhibit 10.13 Third Amendment to Employment Agreement with
William J. Reilly, Jr. is incorporated herein by
reference to Item 6(a), Exhibit
10(iii)A of the Registrants Form 10-Q filed on
November 14, 2001
Exhibit 10.14 Employment Agreement with W. Craig Burns is
Incorporated by reference to Item 6(a), Exhibit 10(iii)A
of the Registrants Form 10-Q filed on November 14, 2001
Exhibit 10.15 First Amendment to Employment Agreement with W.
Craig Burns is incorporated herein by reference to Item
6(a), Exhibit 10(iii)A of the Registrants Form 10-Q filed
on
November 14, 2001
Exhibit 10.16 Employment Agreement with Neil D. Austin is
Incorporated by reference to Item 6(a), Exhibit
10(iii)A of the Registrants Form 10-Q filed on
November 14, 2001
Exhibit 10.17 Employment Agreement with Arthur W. Todd is
Incorporated by reference to Item 6(a), Exhibit
10(iii)A of the Registrants Form 10-Q filed on
November 14, 2001
Exhibit 10.18 Employment Agreement with George Off is
Incorporated by reference to Item 6(a), Exhibit 10.1 of
the Registrants Form 10-Q filed on November 12, 2002
Exhibit 10.19 Employment Agreement with John E. Davies, Jr., is
Incorporated by reference to Item 6(a), Exhibit 10.2 of
the Registrants Form 10-Q filed on November 12, 2002
Exhibit 10.20 First Amendment to Employment Agreement with
John E. Davies, Jr., Incorporated by reference
to Item 6(a), Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrants
Form 10-Q filed on November 12, 2002
Exhibit 10.21 Employment Agreement with Per Harold Levin is
Incorporated by reference to Item 6(a), Exhibit 10.4 of
the Registrants Form 10-Q filed on November 12, 2002
Exhibit 12 Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
Exhibit 21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
Exhibit 23 Consent of Independent Accountants.
Exhibit 24 Power of Attorney, contained in signature page.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K.

The Registrant filed the following reports:

(i) Form 8-K filed June 6, 2002 attaching a press release dated May 24, 2002,
announcing that the lawsuit brought by ID Securities Systems Canada Inc.
alleging antitrust violations and related matters was decided against the
Company.

(ii) Form 8-K filed June 26, 2002 attaching two press releases dated June 19,
2002 and June 24, 2002 announcing that the Company filed a Motion for Post-Trial
Relief in the lawsuit brought by ID Securities Systems Canada Inc., and
announcing the appointment of George Off as Interim Chief Executive Officer and
the resignation of Michael E. Smith as the Company's President and Chief
Executive Officer, respectively.

(iii) Form 8-K filed August 19, 2002 attaching a press release dated August 15,
2002, announcing the elections of George W. Off as Chairman of the Board of
Directors and Chief Executive Officer, R. Keith Elliott as Lead Independent
Director of the Board; and W. Craig Burns to the Board.

(iv) Form 8-K filed August 29, 2002 attaching a press release dated August 29,
2002, announcing management changes.

(v) Form 8-K filed November 25, 2002 attaching a press release dated November
21, 2002, announcing the election of Robert O. Aders, John E. Davies, Jr., and
Sally Pearson to the Company's Board of Directors.


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
- ------- -----------

EXHIBIT 10.1 . . . . 2002 Bonus Plan

EXHIBIT 12 . . . . . Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

EXHIBIT 21 . . . . . Subsidiaries of Registrant

EXHIBIT 23 . . . . . Consent of Independent Accountants

EXHIBIT 24 . . . . . Power of Attorney, Contained in Signature









EXHIBIT 24

SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in Thorofare, New
Jersey, on March 28, 2003.

CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.

/s/George W. Off
- ----------------
President and Chief Executive Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below
constitutes and appoints George W. Off and W. Craig Burns and each of them, his
or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution in their place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any
and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on
the dates indicated.

SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
- --------- ----- ----

/s/George W. Off Chairman of the Board March 28, 2003
- -------------------------- of Directors, President
and Chief Executive Officer

/s/W. Craig Burns Executive Vice President, March 28, 2003
- -------------------------- Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Director

/s/Arthur W. Todd Vice President, Corporate March 28, 2003
- -------------------------- Controller and Chief
Accounting Officer

/s/Robert O. Aders Director March 28, 2003
- --------------------------

/s/David W. Clark, Jr. Director March 28, 2003
- --------------------------

/s/John E. Davies, Jr. Executive Vice President, March 28, 2003
- -------------------------- Director

/s/R. Keith Elliott Director March 28, 2003
- --------------------------

/s/Alan R. Hirsig Director March 28, 2003
- --------------------------

/s/Jack W. Partridge Director March 28, 2003
- --------------------------

/s/Sally Pearson Director March 28, 2003
- --------------------------










SCHEDULE II VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

Balance Additions Charged Deductions Balance
at Through to Costs (Write-Offs at End
Beginning Acqui- and and Recover- of
Year of Year sition Expenses ies, net) Year
- ---- --------- --------- -------- ---------- -------
(Thousands)
Allowance For Doubtful Accounts

2002 $12,182 $ - $3,394 $(1,156) $14,420
------- ------ ------ ------ -------
2001 $12,427 $ - $3,490 $(3,735) $12,182
------- ------ ------ ------ -------
2000 $10,479 $ - $7,506 $(5,558) $12,427
------- ------ ------ ------ -------


Allowance Release of
Balance Additions Recorded Release of Allowance Balance
at Through on Current Allowance on Losses at End
Beginning Acqui- Year on Losses Expired or of
Year of Year sition Losses Utilized Revalued Year
- ---- --------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- -------
(Thousands)
Valuation Allowance

2002 $18,124 $ - $4,304 $ - $ - $22,428
------- ------ ------ ------- ------- -------
2001 $24,887 $ - $3,586 $(2,691) $(7,658) $18,124
------- ------ ------ ------- ------- -------
2000 $19,717 $5,639 $ 391 $ - $ (860) $24,887
------- ------ ------ ------- ------- -------













CERTIFICATION


I, George W. Off, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
of Checkpoint Systems, Inc., certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Checkpoint Systems,
Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
covered by this annual report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this annual report, fairly present in all
material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
annual report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and
we have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that
material information relating to the registrant, including its
consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within
those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual
report is being prepared;
b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date
of this annual report (the "Evaluation Date"); and
c) presented in this annual report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on
our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on
our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit
committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the
equivalent function):

a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal
controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to
record, process, summarize, and report financial data and have
identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in
internal controls; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
internal controls; and





6. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have indicated in this
annual report whether or not there were significant changes in internal
controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal
controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including
any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and
material weaknesses.


By: /s/ George W. Off
-------------------------------
Name: George W. Off
Title: Chairman of the Board,
President and
Chief Executive Officer

Date: March 28, 2003



CERTIFICATION


I, W. Craig Burns, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer of Checkpoint Systems, Inc., certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Checkpoint Systems,
Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
covered by this annual report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this annual report, fairly present in all
material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
annual report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and
we have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that
material information relating to the registrant, including its
consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within
those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual
report is being prepared;
b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date
of this annual report (the "Evaluation Date"); and
c) presented in this annual report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on
our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on
our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit
committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the
equivalent function):

a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal
controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to
record, process, summarize, and report financial data and have
identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in
internal controls; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
internal controls; and

6. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have indicated in this
annual report whether or not there were significant changes in internal
controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal
controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including
any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and
material weaknesses.


By: /s/ W. Craig Burns
-------------------------------
Name: W. Craig Burns
Title: Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer

Date: March 28, 2003





CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



The undersigned executive officers of the Registrant hereby certify that this
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year end December 29, 2002 (the
"Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the information contained in the Report
fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results
of operations of the Registrant.


By: /s/ George W. Off
-------------------------------
Name: George Off
Title: Chairman of the Board,
President and
Chief Executive Officer



By: /s/ W. Craig Burns
-------------------------------
Name: W. Craig Burns
Title: Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer



Date: March 28, 2003