Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers

On October 29, 2009, Matthews International Corporation ("Matthews" or "the Company") announced the election of Alvaro Garcia-Tunon to the Matthews Board of Directors. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. Mr. Garcia-Tunon will be nominated for election as a director by the Company's shareholders at the 2010 Annual Meeting. It is expected that Mr. Garcia-Tunon will be appointed to the Audit Committee.

Mr. Garcia-Tunon will be compensated as a director of the Company in accordance with the provisions of the 1994 Director Fee Plan, as amended, which are discussed in the Company's 2009 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2008.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits

99.1 Press Release, dated October 29, 2009, issued by Matthews International Corporation.

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