Moorgate Capital News

	FPA reveals line up for annual Environment Seminar 9 January 2023 The Foodservice Packaging Association's (FPA) annual Environment Seminar is to take place on 19 January.

	Perfect storm of factors create ideal conditions for M&A deals Wednesday, August 31, 2022 Barely a day has gone by in recent months without reports emerging of yet another industry acquisition or merger.

	AWA hosts Mergers & Acquisition Executive Forum 06.21.22 The event brought together C-level executives, private equity firms, investment bankers and suppliers to create an industry-focused platform.

	Smurfit Kappa announces acquisition of Atlas Packaging 4 May 2022 Smurfit Kappa UK has hit the acquisition trail, snapping up Barnstaple-based Atlas Packaging for an undisclosed fee.

	Label Appeal SEP 2021 Consolidation looks set to continue according to experts at Finat's ELF.

	All shook up April 2021 Mergers and acquisitions activity in the plastics packaging sector appears to be bouncing back after 12 months of stagnation, but how will the post-Covid landscape impact future investment opportunities?

	A.P. Moller Holding to buy Faerch for $2.3bn December 14, 2020 Family-owned A.P. Moller Holding, owner of Danish shipping giant Maersk, has agreed to buy food packaging thermoformer Faerch Group for €1.9 billion ($2.3bn).

	Has COVID killed sustainable packaging? September 18, 2020 As health and safety becomes consumers' top concern, some fear the coronavirus may have halted sustainable packaging's progress.

	UK-based Lioncroft completes acquisition of Lioncroft Wholesale from East End Foods LONDON, July 6, 2020 30th June 2020 marked the completion by Lioncroft Holdings of the acquisition of Lioncroft Wholesale (trading as East End Wholesale Stores).

	Moorgate Capital acts as exclusive financial adviser in UK firm’s buyout of wholesaler July 6, 2020 London-based Moorgate Capital has acted as the exclusive financial adviser to British firm Lioncroft Holdings in acquiring 200m-euro ($225m) food and beverage wholesaler Lioncroft Wholesale (trading as East End Wholesale Stores) in a deal completed on June 30.

	AWA hosts global release liner conference 10 Jun 2020 The annual Global Release Liner Industry Conference and Exhibition took place in Amsterdam in late February and attracted around 180 delegates who spanned the broad release liner supply chain and end-use markets. The programme addressed the major items of interest, and concern, surrounding this industry.

	Why did beauty packaging makers attract so much investment in 2019? 16-Dec-2019 Sarah Gibbons A competitive market for beauty packaging is resulting in increased numbers of mergers and acquisitions.

	Print’s major trends of 2019 December 1, 2019 Maddie Ballard It has been a lively – some would say tumultuous – year for print. Brexit aside, the sector saw a number of major trends in 2019, but perhaps most notably M&A activity, business failures, and sustainability.

	Better together: print M&A activity shows no sign of abating Monday 22 July 2019 Richard Stuart-Turner While mergers and acquisitions are nothing new in print, the latest PrintWeek Top 500 found that there were at least 77 deals involving UK printers between March 2018 and March 2019 – the busiest period in M&A activity in recent years.

	Ardagh reaps £2.5bn reward from metal merger with Exal 15 July 2019 Ardagh has agreed a £2.5bn merger with aluminium containers firm Exal to form one of the largest metal packaging companies globally.

	DS Smith opens new HQ in USA as it targets expansion in North America 17 June 2019 This growth in the North American market follows its acquisition of Interstate Resources and Corrugated Container Corporation and The Display Connection – a clear indication that it plans to aggressively push established competitors in the USA such as International Paper.

	Berry Global given 13 March deadline to submit rival RPC bid 25 February 2019 US-based Berry Global has been given a deadline of 13 March to submit a rival offer to Apollo Global's £3.3bn bid to acquire plastic packaging giant RPC.

	Berry ponders bid for RPC Group January 31, 2019 US-based packaging converter Berry Global Group is said to be considering a possible cash takeover offer for RPC Group.

	Further M&A activity forecast in packaging sector after RPC deal 24 January 2019 Following the announcement that private equity firm Apollo has made a firm bid for plastic packaging giant RPC, which has been recommended for approval by its shareholders, M&A experts are expecting the sale to finally go through.

	Brexit, what Brexit? 24 Jan 2019 Joshua Poole US private equity firm Apollo has struck a US$4.3 billion deal to acquire UK plastic packaging giant RPC.

	Great British manufacturers taken on in latest M&A flurry Monday 15 October 2018 Richard Stuart-Turner A busy year of M&A action among manufacturers appears to have come to a head with Heidelberg's MBO buy, Plockmatic Group’s acquisition of Watkiss Automation and Kolbus Group's purchase of Autobox Machinery all announced in the past few weeks alone.

	Moorgate Capital organises Digital Transformation in packaging event 9 October 2018 Tony Corbin Moorgate Capital has organised the 2018 Packaging Convention at Stationers' Hall – 'Digital Transformation Drives Packaging Industry Disruption'.

	RPC sale "attractive to buyers, but not inevitable" 13 September 2018 RPC has been ripe for a buy-out approach given its recent struggles, although a sale is not inevitable, according to industry analysts.

	Bosch tasks investment bank to "explore sale of packaging business" 30 July 2018 Bosch has appointed investment bank Macquarie to explore options for the sale of its packaging machinery unit.

	Hedge funds target RPC as plastic packaging debate rages on 9 July 2018 RPC Group has been targeted by City firms hedging the plastic packaging firm's shares will drop in value.

	Bosch packaging sale ‘may be dampened by current hysteria about plastic’ 06-Jul-2018 Bosch has announced it will sell its packaging machinery business (PA), more specifically the pharmaceuticals and food units of its Packaging Technology division, to focus on its core business.

	DS Smith records revenue and profit growth on wave of ecommerce boom 18 June 2018 DS Smith has recorded 21% revenue and profit growth along with strong organic box volume growth in its full year results.

	DS Smith acquires Europac in £1.45bn deal 4 June 2018 Tony Corbin DS Smith has announced its acquisition of leading European integrated packaging company Europac.

	International Paper rules out fresh bid for Smurfit Kappa despite 6 June deadline 17 May 2018 Deadlock continues as International Paper (IP) has said it will not make a hostile bid for Smurfit Kappa, after an Irish regulatory panel gave a 6 June deadline to make a binding offer.

	Reports claim Smurfit Kappa under pressure to sell 17 April 2018 Corrugated packaging giant Smurfit Kappa is reportedly under pressure from some of its investors to negotiate a possible sale to International Paper.

	Smurfit Kappa rejects unsolicited bid from International Paper 6 March 2018 IP reportedly proposed to acquire Smurfit Kappa, and Smurfit Kappa shareholders would receive a combination of cash and a minority holding in the combined business.

	WestRock blazes acquisition trail with $5bn deal for KapStone 29 January 2018 US corrugated packaging giant WestRock has swooped for rival company KapStone Paper and Packaging in a $5bn (£3.55bn) deal.

	Crown strikes £3bn deal to acquire Signode Industrial Group 20 December 2017 The metals giant is expecting to seal the deal with private equity owner The Carlyle Group during the first quarter of 2018. The size of the deal once again shows the importance of private equity firms involved in the packaging sector.

	WestRock taps into 'Box on Demand' growth with Plymouth Packaging acquisition 14-Dec-2017 WestRock has entered into an agreement to acquire Plymouth Packaging, a corrugated packaging company.

	Türk Plastik Sanayicileri Vakfı 10 October 2017 Morgate Capital’in Kurumsal Finans Uzmanı Nicholas Mockett, Ambalaj Sektöründe Şirket Birleşme ve Satınalmaları konusuyla PAGEV Ambalaj Kongresi’nde sizlerle

	Upbeat multinational buys Moscow packaging maker August 25, 2017 Smurfit Kappa, a Dublin-headquartered multinational packaging manufacturer, has boosted its presence in Russia by buying out a Moscow-based packaging producer.

	Smurfit Kappa boosts Russian presence with Soyuz deal 22 August 2017 Smurfit Kappa has acquired Russian corrugated packaging company Soyuz, reinforcing its position in the region.

	Spotlight on Corrugated \| Packaging in 2017 August 4, 2017 How the corrugated sector is likely to perform in 2017 and what challenges are on the horizon

	Future unlimited 12 June 2017 Projections have the labelling market seeing steady growth, with linerless labelling in particular becoming more commonly used. Converting Today looks at what the experts think about labelling trends in 2017.

	RPC revenue and profits jump but share prices drop 8 June 2017 RPC has reported a huge jump in revenue and profits but seen share prices dive simultaneously.

	Sealed Air sells New Diversey to Bain Capital for $3.2bn 29 March 2017 Sealed Air Corporation is selling its Diversey Care division and the food hygiene and cleaning business within its Food Care division.

	RPC Group to acquire North American plastic packaging firm for £552m 13-Feb-2017 RPC Group has announced plans to acquire Letica, a North American manufacturer and distributor of rigid plastic packaging, for £552m

	Bullish RPC continues foreign drive with US acquisition 10 February 2017 RPC Group has snapped up US thermoforming packaging business Letica Group, in a £391m deal.

	Mondi acquires Excelsior Technologies 6 February 2017 Packaging giant Mondi has snapped up flexible pack firm Excelsior Technologies.

	13th edition of the Polymer Sourcing & Distribution conference will be held in Hamburg from 16-17 May 2017 31.01.2017 The line-up includes speakers from Ineos, Moorgate Capital, Nordmann & Rassmann and Elix Polymers.

	WestRock to acquire Multi Packaging Solutions 24 Jan 2017 WestRock has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Multi Packaging Solutions (MPS) for a total enterprise value of 2.28 billion USD.

	WestRock swoops for MPS 24 January 2017 US packaging giant WestRock has announced it is to buy Multi Packaging Solutions (MPS).

	M&A trend looks set to continue in '17 Monday 09 January 2017 Although the UK print industry has always experienced its fair share of M&A activity, the past few months have been particularly busy in that regard.

	Spotlight on… Rigid ¦ Plastics Packaging in 2017 6 January 2017 From innovation to M&A activity, Des King reports on how the rigid plastics sector is likely to perform in 2017.

	Spotlight on… Corrugated ¦ Packaging in 2017 6 January 2017 How the corrugated sector is likely to perform in 2017 and what challenges are on the horizon.

	Moorgate Capital reports second 'milestone' deal for 2016 December 28, 2016 Clondalkin Flexible Packaging, a manufacturer of a wide range of flexible packaging products with turnover of about $365m operating in Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States, was sold to private equity firm Egeria.

	Clondalkin acquisition completion Thursday 22 December 2016 Richard Stuart-Turner Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Group has officially transferred ownership to Dutch private equity firm Egeria.

	A Year in Review December 21 2016 2016 started with China at the forefront of the news, as its "One Belt, One Road" policy and "Made in China 2025" programme began to reveal themselves in concrete deals.

	CCL Industries to acquire Innovia Group 20 Dec 2016 The Smithfield Group, the managing shareholder of Innovia, has agreed an offer from CCL Industries of 1.13 billion CAD (842 million USD).

	Egeria completes Clondalkin Flexible Packaging acquisition 19-Dec-2016 Egeria has completed its acquisition of Clondalkin Flexible Packaging.

	Egeria completes acquisition of Clondalkin Flexible Packaging 16 December 2016 Waqas Qureshi Dutch private equity group Egeria has completed the acquisition of Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Group.

	Winners announced at the 2016 PPI Awards 21 November 2016 UPM takes top spot in both Bio Strategy and Financial Strategy categories.

	Label and package printing industry predictions for 2017 01 Nov 2016 The label and package printing industry again looks ahead to what the next year will bring, with members of the supply chain telling Labels & Labeling what they expect to be making the headlines over the next 12 months.

	A business case for sustainable packaging October 27, 2016 Sustainable packaging is not an oxymoron – to embrace it as part of the solution, not part of the problem, is good for resilience on a resource-poor planet.

	SAICA Group signs agreement to acquire Americk Packaging 14 October 2016 Spanish paper giant SAICA has agreed a deal to buy Americk Packaging, for an undisclosed fee.

	Egeria acquires Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Group 12-Sep-2016Jim Cornall Dutch private equity firm Egeria has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Group from an affiliate of Warburg Pincus.

	Dutch private equity firm snaps up Clondalkin Flexible Packaging September 9, 2016 Dutch private equity group Egeria has signed an agreement to acquire Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Group.

	Dutch private equity firm buys Clondalkin Friday, September 09 2016 Steven Pacitti Packaging group Clondalkin Flexible Packaging has been sold to Dutch private equity firm Egeria Capital Management for an undisclosed sum, bringing to an end 12 years of ownership by US firm Warburg Pincus.

	Egeria acquires Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Group 09 Sep 2016 Egeria, a Dutch private equity firm, has signed an agreement to acquire 100 percent of the shares of Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Group from an affiliate of Warburg Pincus.

	UK Packaging Awards 2016 ¦ Shortlist revealed 8 August 2016 Tony Corbin This year's judging day took place in July and entries were assessed by senior packaging experts from many of the biggest household names.

	High-end UK converters may see Brexit vote boost: Moorgate Capital 28-Jul-2016 PolymerScan UK converters -- companies which process polymer pellets into plastic -- making high-end products may have gained a competitive edge from sterling's fall since the vote to leave the EU.

	Schur Flexibles Group sold to US private equity firm 28 July 2016 New York based private equity firm Lindsay Goldberg is to acquire Schur Flexibles Group, for an undisclosed fee.

	Schur Flexibles Group sold to US private equity firm July 27, 2016 Private equity firm Lindsay Goldberg is to acquire Schur Flexibles Group.

	Brexit implications on the cost of UK polymer imports July 13, 2016 The British pound's sharp slide to 31-year lows versus the US dollar in the volatile aftermath of last month's Brexit vote could potentially hike the United Kingdom's polymer import costs by $100 million.

	More dairy companies will expand into the dairy alternative category to offset flat liquid milk sales 08-Jul-2016 More dairy companies will look to expand into the dairy alternative category to offset flat liquid milk sales and take advantage of the +15% compound annual growth rate witnessed by the plant based dairy alternative category.

	Packaging industry can weather the Brexit storm 4 July 2016 Waqas Qureshi The packaging industry is likely to be one of the better performers in the Brexit uncertainty.

	Labels and Labelling Q&A: Nicholas Mockett, Moorgate Capital July 2016

	EU Referendum ¦ Britain dramatically votes to leave June 24, 2016 Ratings agency Moody's has warned that a prolonged period of policy uncertainty following the "leave" vote will weigh on the UK's economic and financial performance.

	RPC deal 'emulates Berry and Coveris acquisition strategy' 16-Jun-2016 RPC, which makes rigid plastic packaging for the food, dairy and beverage market among others, is set to acquire British Polythene Industries (BPI) for £261m ($379m), in August, subject to regulatory clearance.

	RPC to buy BPI for £261m Thursday, June 09 2016 Steven Pacitti UK-based RPC Group has agreed to purchase British Polythene Industries (BPI) for £261 million ($377m) in a cash and share offer.

	RPC stuns market with £261m deal for BPI 9 June 2016 Rigid plastics packaging giant RPC has agreed to buy one of Europe’s leading flexibles groups, British Polythene Industries (BPI), in a £261m deal.

	RPC agrees deal to buy BPI 09 Jun 2016 RPC Group, a global design and engineering company specializing in polymer conversion in packaging and non-packaging markets, and British Polythene Industries (BPI) have reached an agreement on the terms of a recommended cash and share offer to be made by RPC for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of BPI.

	De La Rue sells cash handling business Monday 23 May 2016 Jo Francis De La Rue has sold its Cash Processing Solutions business to private equity house Privet Capital.

	Merging the market May 2016 Paul Hill Mergers and acquisitions in the plastics packaging industry continue to take place at an increasingly rapid rate.

	Packaging in 2016 ¦ Plastic proves its worth for brands 21 March 2016 The numbers stack up for the rigid plastics market with steady growth forecast over the next decade.

	Xolution partnership to fund next generation xo2.0 resealable can prodcution 12-Jan-2016 Xolution has closed an equity investment round with Inventure Management, in Singapore, to fund production of its next generation x02.0 resealable beverage can technology.

	DuPont, Dow merger – ‘likely to be one of the biggest M&A transactions of 2016’ 14-Dec-2015 DuPont and The Dow Chemical Company announced they will merge to become DowDuPont.

	Mondi takes top spot in global packaging industry 24 November 2015 Mondi has outperformed its rivals this year, making it the best performer of the world’s 10 largest packaging companies. The South-African company’s dual-listed shares have gained 70% in Johannesburg and 44% in London.

	Nestlé and Iceland to addresss the big issues October 28, 2015 The inaugural conference takes place from 11-12 November and a full programme of speakers will be going live this week. It takes place at Olympia, London.

	EU raises objections to Rexam-Ball deal 23 October 2015 Rexam and Ball could be forced to divest before receiving clearance for their proposed merger. Rexam has received a statement of objections from the EU Competition Commission regarding the proposed £4.4bn acquisition of the company by Ball Corporation, and it could be instructed to sell its UK operations to rival firms.

	Future of Packaging 01 October 2015 Packaging a Trillion-Dollar Circular Economy The packaging industry is moving into a circular economy of materials rotating in a sustainable loop of smart design, carbon-efficient manufacture, reuse and recycle.

	M&A activity shows the attractiveness of the packaging sector September 17, 2015 Global packaging mergers and acquisitions (M&A) amounted to $29.9 billion in 2014. Four major deals, including the RockTenn-MeadWestvaco merger, have already been announced, taking the value of such deals to near $30 billion in 2015.

	‘What is the attraction for investors in carton packaging companies?’ September 16, 2015 The carton industry is fragmented and there is a high probability it will evolve through acquisition, according to Nick Mockett, head of Packaging M&A, Moorgate Capital.

	Today an ELF - Tomorrow a Label Industry Giant 26/08/2015 Fast-paced change in the label production market prompted the creation of the new FINAT European Label Forum, which attracted more than 300 participants from Europe and beyond.

	Bunzl to acquire Meier Verpackungen packaging distributor 25-Aug-2015 Bunzl has agreed to acquire Meier Verpackungen, which distributes packaging products to food processors throughout Austria.

	Ileos to sell folding cartons business to MM Packaging 24-Jun-2015 Andrew McDougall As it looks to increase its focus on other product lines, it looks like Ileos is selling its folding carton operations to Austrian-based Mayr-Melnhof Packaging (MM Packaging).

	'Rapidly changing landscape as packaging suppliers build multi-national footprints' 22-Jun-2015

	Mayr-Melnhof Packaging makes an offer to acquire a specialty packaging company in France 18 June 2015 MM Packaging has made an offer to acquire the folding carton operations of Ileos SA, owned by funds of Oaktree Capital Management L.P.

	Mayr-Melnhof Packaging to acquire specialty packaging company in France 18 Jun 2015 Mayr-Melnhof Packaging has made an offer to acquire the folding carton operations of Ileos, an international specialty packaging company headquartered in France.

	Mayr-Melnhof Packaging makes bid for Ileos June 17, 2015 Waqas Qureshi Mayr-Melnhof Packaging (MM Packaging) has made an offer to acquire the folding carton operations of Ileos.

	Kraft shareholders to vote on H.J. Heinz acquisition 10-Jun-2015 Jenny Eagle Kraft shareholders will vote on a proposed acquisition of Kraft Foods Group by H.J. Heinz following a waiting period set by the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act, which has now expired.

	Apollo to buy Verallia for €2,945m from Saint Gobain 09-Jun-2015 Jenny Eagle ‘There has been some substitution into rigid plastics and stand-up pouches but glass remains a premium product for luxury goods such as beverages’

	Study shows UK leading European packaging industry M&A June 5, 2015 Tony Corbin A new study reveals that, over the 2010-2014 period, the UK struck the most packaging industry M&A deals, followed by France and Germany.

	DS Smith completes Duropack acquisition 02-Jun-2015 Jenny Eagle DS Smith Group has completed its acquisition of Duropack taking ownership of 14 corrugated packaging sites, two paper mills and 18 recycling sites across nine countries.

	Owens-Illinois snaps up Mexican rival in $2.15bn deal May 15, 2015 Waqas Qureshi Glass packaging giant Owens-Illinois (O-I) is to buy Vitro – the largest supplier of glass containers in Mexico, in a deal worth $2.15bn (£1.36bn)

	Who banked $30 billion in one year? Thursday, 30 April 2015 Investor appetite for packaging sector is good news for entrepreneurs.

	BLOOMBERG TELEVISION April 22 2015 Sir Peter Heap, Moorgate Capital Chairman, discusses the coming 2015 U.K. election. He speaks with Anna Edwards and Guy Johnson on Bloomberg Television.

	Logson Group sets out strategy after Inspirepac sale to Smurfit Kappa April 17, 2015 Philip Chadwick Corrugated specialist Logson Group is to focus on its “chosen market sectors” in the wake of its sale of Inspirepac to Smurfit Kappa

	International Paper podría adquirir Smurfit Kappa abril 13, 2015Mariano Saludjian Según versiones periodísticas International Paper (IP) podría estar considerando realizar una oferta pública audaz de adquisición de su rival Smurfit Kappa, por más de 6 mil millones de libras esterlinas.

	International Paper reportedly considers £6bn Smurfit Kappa bid April 13, 2015 Waqas Qureshi International Paper (IP) could be considering an audacious takeover bid for rival Smurfit Kappa in a £6bn-plus deal.

	New Constantia Flexibles supervisory board approved after completion of Wendel takeover 31 Mar 2015 Following the completion of the acquisition of Constantia Flexibles by French investment house Wendel Group, the company’s new supervisory board has been officially approved.

	Amcor buys South Africa's Nampak Flexibles Thursday, March 26 2015 Steven Pacitti Australian packaging giant Amcor has acquired South Africa's market leader in flexible packaging, Nampak Flexibles, for ZAR 250 million

	Amcor has acquired Nampak Flexibles 26-Mar-2015 Jenny Eagle ‘Flexibles industry is more fragmented than glass or metal packaging but there has been significant M&A activity’

	Amcor has acquired South African flexible packaging giant Nampak Flexibles March 26, 2015 Waqas Qureshi The $94m business services multi-national and domestic customers in the beverage, food, and home care end markets.

	Amcor acquires Nampak 26 Mar 2015 David Pittman Amcor has acquired South Africa’s Nampak Flexibles in a move intended to allow it to ‘leverage our product innovation and design capabilities’ into the African market.

	Amcor takes Nampak Flexibles 26 Mar 2015 AMCOR Flexibles Europe, Middle East & Africa has completed the acquisition of Nampak Flexible and has launched Amcor Flexibles South Africa (AFSA).

	Packaging industry responds to the Budget March 19, 2015 The Chancellor’s Budget is good news for packaging, as it is for manufacturing in general, according to several industry insiders.

	Revised order of service 13 Mar 2015 Des King Although patterns of consumer behaviour are redefining the established retail model, packaging is holding its own as the sector's go-to marketing solution

	European cartonboard market tightens up 12 March 2015 PPI Europe After a very quiet period at the end of last year and a slow beginning in the first two weeks of 2015, the European cartonboard market started to gradually pick up from the second half of January, when a dry pipeline at converters reportedly led to a resumption of orders.

	DS Smith ‘cements its position in Europe’ with latest acquisition 23-Feb-2015 Jenny Eagle DS Smith has acquired Duropack Group (Duropack) recycled corrugated board packaging for approximately €300m ($339m), the transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2015.

	Metal giant Ball in takeover talks with rivals Rexam February 5, 2015 Philip Chadwick Metal can making giant Rexam has admitted that it is in discussions over a potential takeover bid from rival Ball Corporation.

	‘Financial investors have woken up to the attractions of packaging’ 03-Feb-2015 Jenny Eagle Wendel has acquired plastic packaging firm CSP Technologies (CSP) for $360m.

	US packaging giants RockTenn and MWV in $16bn merger January 28, 2015 US packaging companies RockTenn and MeadWestvaco (MWV) are to merge to create a global provider of consumer and corrugated packaging.

	ECB’s €1.1tr QE programme could cut paper costs for UK printers Friday 23 January 2015 Simon Nias The asset purchase scheme follows similar Quantitative Easing (QE) programmes in the US and UK and is intended to increase inflation to around 2% and stave off the risk of deflation (as happened last year when prices in the Eurozone fell by 0.2% in the year to December).

	Packaging in 2015 ¦ It could be busiest year yet for sector deals January 7, 2015 Nicholas Mockett, head of packaging M&A, Moorgate Capital, contemplates the year ahead

	Packaging in 2015 ¦ Spotlight on… Rigid Plastics January 7, 2015 How converters and packaging specifiers are innovating to improve rigid plastics’ sustainability story and making businesses in the sector stronger than ever

	Packaging in 2015 ¦ Spotlight on… Flexible Plastics January 7, 2015 Flexible plastic packaging is buoyant as it benefits from greater demand for pouches and snacks and adapts to demands for new patterns of production. Sally Cousins reports

	Wendel to acquire Constantia Flexibles for €2.3bn 05-Jan-2015 Jenny Eagle ‘Most significant deal in flexible packaging since Amcor’s Alcan bid’

	Wendel agrees deal to acquire Constantia Flexibles from OEP 05 Jan 2015 Funds advised by One Equity Partners (OEP) and the H. Turnauer Foundation have agreed to sell Constantia Flexibles to French investment house Wendel Group, valuing the business at around 2.3 billion EUR (2.8 billion USD).

	OEP sells Constantia Flexibles to Wendel January 5, 2015 Tony Corbin Investement firm Wendel Group is to acquire a majority stake in flexible packaging and labels company Constantia Flexibles.

	Investor Wendel souhlasí, že převezme Constantia Flexibles 5. leden 2015 Fondy spravované One Equity Partners (OEP) a H. Turnauer Stiftung souhlasily s prodejem společnosti Constantia Flexibles francouzskému investičnímu domu Wendel Group, ceníce si ji asi na 2,3 mld. eur.

	Osborne calls on business to fuel engine of commerce Monday 08 December 2014

	RPC Group buys Promens in €386m deal Monday 01 December 2014 RPC, the UK-based plastic packaging supplier, has announced the €386m (£306m) acquisition of Iceland-based Promens Group.

	Private equity firm Onex snaps up SIG Combibloc Thu Nov 27 06:22:00 EST 2014 Switzerland's SIG Combibloc is about to get a new owner. The private equity firm Onex announced at the beginning of the week that it has agreed to acquire the provider of aseptic carton packaging for up to Euro 3.75 billion ($4.66 billion).

	SIG acquired by private equity firm Onex for $4.6bn November 24, 2014 Private Equity firm Onex has agreed to acquire cartons giant SIG Combibloc Group in a reported $4.6bn deal

	Essentra swoops for Clondalkin SPD in £285m deal November 12, 2014 Tony Corbin Essentra is to acquire Clondalkin Group’s Specialist Packaging Division (Clondalkin SPD) for £285m

	Essentra signs deal to acquire Clondalkin SPD 13 Nov 2014 Essentra has signed an agreement to acquire Clondalkin Group’s Specialist Packaging Division (Clondalkin SPD) in a move designed to enhance Essentra’s existing geographic presence in healthcare packaging and, through leveraging the combined footprint of both businesses, to exploit both existing and new growth opportunities. The deal, for a cash consideration of approximately 455 million USD, is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2015, and represents Essentra’s largest acquisition to date.

	Medica Packaging splits from Benson Group November 4, 2014 Waqas Qureshi Medica Packaging is to separate from the Benson Group and become an independent specialist packaging provider

	Medica Packaging becomes standalone business 04 Nov 2014 Medica Packaging has separated from Benson Group and become an independent specialist packaging provider

	Plastics Capital hits acquisition trail with Flexipol Packaging deal November 4, 2014 Plastic products manufacturer Plastics Capital is to acquire Flexipol Packaging Plastics Capital said the acquisition will “complement its existing packaging business” and is expected to result in near-term cost synergies and long-term cross-selling opportunities.

	All roads lead to accelerated M&A frenzy October 16, 2014 Waqas Qureshi It’s been a busy year for packaging with investors keen to snap up a raft of the industry’s players, both big and small.

	Straco acquires Cedo from UK private equity firm October 15, 2014 Philip Chadwick Flexible plastics group Cedo has been sold to a private Belgium family investment company

	International Paper stock forecast to surge over next 12 months July 1, 2014 International Paper (IP) could see shares rise up to 40% in the next 12 months, according to American financial magazine Barron’s.

	Mergers and acquisitions return to pre-downturn levels Monday 30 June 2014 Low cost of capital is driving M&A market The big macro issue that is affecting the whole market is quantitative easing. QE has increased demand for real assets, and shares are real assets. Stock markets are at, or are close to, their highest levels and quite a lot of that is down to quantitative easing.

	Dubai International Capital to sell packaging firm Mauser in £1bn deal May 12, 2014 Dubai International Capital (DIC) has signed a $1.7bn (£1bn) agreement for the sale of Germany-based packaging group Mauser to private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R).

	Consolidation Continues in the Packaging Market 08 May 2014 Magazine Acquisition and consolidation have continued across the global package printing market in the first semester of 2014, with major tie-ups and deals announced across the supply chain.

	Rexam to sell closures division to Berry Plastics March 24, 2014 Global can maker Rexam has agreed a $135m (£81m) cash deal with Berry Plastics for its remaining Containers & Closures division.

	‘Pro business’ Budget attempts to address rising energy costs March 21, 2014 Key figures from the packaging industry have broadly welcomed the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne’s business-friendly measures in this year’s Budget, particularly an initiative to address spiralling energy costs.

	Matthews International to acquire Schawk in £347m deal March 18, 2014 Matthews International has announced it is to acquire brand development competitor Schawk in a deal reportedly worth $577m (£347m).

	Graphic Packaging acquires Benson Group 19 Feb 2014 UK carton converter Benson Group has been acquired by Graphic Packaging.

	Graphic Packaging buys Benson Group for $165m 19-Feb-2014 Graphic Packaging Holding Company has announced its European subsidiary will acquire Benson Group, a food and healthcare packaging company based in the UK for $165m.

	Benson Group acquired for £100m Wednesday 19 February 2014 UK food and healthcare packaging firm Benson Group has been acquired by Graphic Packaging, 15 months after the US giant bought Contego Packaging’s UK and European food and drink carton operations.

	Graphic Packaging International buys Benson Group in £99m deal February 19, 2014 US packaging firm Graphic Packaging International has announced a major deal to buy UK food and healthcare packaging company Benson Group.

	The Big Question ¦ Is the sector seeing a recovery? February 12, 2014 In the first month of the year, statistics suggested that the sluggish economy was finally moving in an upward direction. Critics suggest that the figures don't tell the full story.

	Suppliers and Partners to the Package Printing Market Look Forward to 2014 20 Dec 2013 As 2013 draws to a close, suppliers and partners from across the package printing industries, including those involved in flexible packaging, folding carton and labels, give their predictions for the next 12 months.

	LA paper and board suppliers expand capacity to meet demand; RISI gathers 150 people in Miami Tue Nov 26 13:42:00 EST 2013 “Central America is the place to be if you are a paper or packaging supplier”, said Mike Harwood, president and CEO of World Containerboard Organization

	Speculation mounts over sale of Rexam Healthcare division November 18, 2013 Josh Brooks Three packaging businesses have been mooted as potential buyers for Rexam’s Healthcare business, although it could go to private equity.

	RISI anuncia novos palestrantes do Congresso Latino-Americano de Embalagem Novembro, 2013 A RISI, líder mundial em informações sobre o setor florestal, vem anunciar novos palestrantes do Congresso Latino-Americano de Embalagem, que acontece de 18 a 20 de novembro, em Miami, nos Estados Unidos.

	Moorgate Capital Presents at First Annual Latin American Packaging Conference, Nov-19-2013 10:40 AM Oct 15 13 Moorgate Capital Presents at First Annual Latin American Packaging Conference, Nov-19-2013 10:40 AM. Venue: Eden Roc Miami Beach, 4525 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140-3226, United States.

	RISI Announces Speakers and Programme Lineup for First Latin American Packaging Conference Friday 20. September 2013 Industry Leaders to Discuss Hot-Button Issues The conference is RISI’s first packaging event with a dedicated focus on the market in Latin America, a region expected to undergo phenomenal growth and change in the coming years.

	Investing for Growth 27 Aug 2013 David Pittman Constantia Flexibles is investing heavily in its global operations to support growth in both the flexible packaging and label markets.

	Carlyle asset manager buys out packaging producer Chesapeake July 8, 2013 Andrei Skvarsky Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group has announced it has bought Chesapeake, one of the world's largest manufacturers of paper-based packaging, from two US-based companies, private equity firm Irving Place Capital and asset manager Oaktree Capital Management.

	The Carlyle Group buys British packaging supplier Chesapeake July 4, 2013, 1:26am GLOBAL asset manager The Carlyle Group yesterday announced that it has acquired UK-headquartered packaging supplier Chesapeake from private equity house Irving Place Capital and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management. The deal value is understood to be near £500m, with debt already in place.

	Carlyle Group compra britânica Chesapeake 04/07/13, 01:03 O grupo Carlyle informou ontem que adquiriu a Chesapeake, uma das maiores fornecedoras mundiais de produtos de embalagem de papel para o setor farmacêutico e de consumo, detida pela Oaktree Capital e pela Irving Place.

	Carlyle wins chance to take Chesapeake on next steps 4th July 2013 Chesapeake Corp has been sold for “north of £400 million” to Carlyle Group by Irving Place Capital and Oaktree Capital Management.

	The Carlyle Group acquires Chesapeake July 4, 2013 Bonnie Howard Headquartered in Nottingham, UK, and with nearly 5,000 employees across 38 sites in 9 countries, Chesapeake is a high quality and premium producer of paper-based leaflets, labels and cartons, primarily for the pharmaceutical, confectionery and premium drinks markets for a blue-chip client base. Chesapeake has grown significantly in recent years to produce revenues of €580m in 2012.

	The Carlyle Group Acquires Chesapeake, a Global Supplier of Pharmaceutical and Consumer Packaging Products 04.07.2013 Global Alternative Asset Manager The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) today announced the acquisition of Chesapeake, one of the largest global suppliers of value-added paper-based packaging products and services, from Irving Place Capital and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management.

	Carlyle Acquires Chesapeake July 04, 2013 The Carlyle Group has acquired Chesapeake, a global supplier of paper-based packaging products and services, from Irving Place Capital and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management. Capital for this investment will come from Carlyle Europe Partners III.

	Carlyle Buying U.K. Packaging Co. Chesapeake for More Than GBP400M July 03, 2013 Shasha Dai Carlyle Group emerged as the winner of an auction for U.K. paper-based packaging products provider Chesapeake Ltd., acquiring the company from sponsors that include Irving Place Capital Management and Oaktree Capital Management for north of 400 million U.K. pounds, said a person briefed on the deal.

	Pharma packaging firm Chesapeake sold to private equity firm Carlyle Group 3-Jul-2013 The Carlyle Group has bought Chesapeake, a global supplier of packaging products and services, from Irving Place Capital and a group of funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management.

	The Carlyle Group acquires Chesapeake, a global supplier of pharmaceutical and consumer packaging products July 3, 2013 Global Alternative Asset Manager The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) today announced the acquisition of Chesapeake, one of the largest global suppliers of value-added paper-based packaging products and services, from Irving Place Capital and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management.

	Chesapeake Acquired by The Carlyle Group 03/07/2013 Global Alternative Asset Manager The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) has announced the acquisition of Chesapeake, one of the largest global suppliers of value-added paper-based packaging products and services, from Irving Place Capital and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management.

	Carlyle picks up Oaktree's Chesapeake 03 JULY 2013 Alice Murray Carlyle has acquired packaging company Chesapeake from Irving Place Capital and Oaktree Capital Management. It is understood that Carlyle invested between £400m and £500m. Investment for the deal comes from the €5.3bn Carlyle Europe Partners III fund.

	US private equity giants ponder bid for Chesapeake June 5, 2013 Internationally renowned as a well-known supplier of cartons, labels and leaflets, and specialist plastic packaging, the Buckinghamshire-based Chesapeake has served a variety of big-name manufacturers, including Glaxo Smith Kline, Pfizer, Diageo, Nestlé and Johnson & Johnson.

	Concentrate to succeed May 30, 2013 The industrial economics behind merger and acquisition activity in the packaging market is primarily driven by the sector’s concentration level, with lower levels offering a bigger opportunity to buy and sell.

	Packaging industry holds the potential for growth Thursday, 25 April 2013 Printed packaging markets are likely to grow and these companies will come together for the usual reasons: synergy, access to one another’s customers, a broader geographic footprint, one-stop supply of various products, integration and access to complementary technologies.

	Moorgate Capital advises on $243m buyout March 22, 2013 Andrei Skvarsky Investment consultancy Moorgate Capital advised on a $243m buyout

	Contego Healthcare sold to Filtrona March 20, 2013 Filtrona, an international supplier of speciality plastic, fibre and foam products, has acquired Contego Healthcare for £160 million.

	Platinum Boxing Up Contego Healthcare, Selling to Filtrona March 20, 2013 Platinum Equity has agreed to sell Contego Healthcare, a portfolio company that makes packaging for the healthcare industry, to a subsidiary of Filtrona for a cash consideration of £160 million ($242 million).

	Filtrona announces £160m Contego acquisition Tuesday, 19 March 2013 Sarah Cosgrove Plastic, foam and fibre products supplier Filtrona has today (19 March) announced its acquisition of Contego Healthcare for £160m.

	Filtrona to acquire Contego Healthcare for £160m March 19, 2013 Liz Gyekye Plastic and fibre products supplier Filtrona, owner of Payne, has announced that it will buy Contego Healthcare for £160m

	Acquisitive dispositions March 2013 Paul Gander The plastics packaging industry has seen plenty of mergers and acquisitions in recent months, with more promised for this year.

	Osborne expected to push lending scheme Friday, 15 March 2013 Simon Nias The chancellor George Osborne is expected to revamp the faltering Funding for Lending scheme (FLS) in next week's Budget in a bid to get credit flowing to SMEs.

	Sun European deal boosts Paragon growth plans Friday, 11 January 2013 Hannah Jordan UK-based Paragon Print and Packaging says that a majority share deal with Sun European Partners will enable it to progress future acquisition plans.

	Graphic Packaging completes Contego food arm acquisition January 2, 2013 Josh Brooks Graphic Packaging completed its £81m acquisition of Contego’s food cartons business on Christmas Eve

	Contego Offloads Carton Business to Graphic Packaging January 1, 2013 Contego Packaging Group, a Platinum Equity portfolio company, has completed the sale of its Contego Cartons business to Graphic Packaging (NYSE: GPK) for £81 million ($130.8 million).

	Funding for Lending users cut borrowing by £1.1bn 03 December 2012 Tom Allsop Lending decreased by £1.1bn across the six banks that borrowed from the Bank of England during the first two months of its Funding for Lending Scheme.

	Contego Cartons in takeover November 16, 2012 Graphic Packaging Holding Company has signed an agreement to acquire Contego Cartons, a leading food and consumer product packaging company based in the UK.

	Contego sells food carton business to Graphic Packaging for £81m November 16, 2012 Josh Brooks Contego is to sell its food cartons business to the US group Graphic Packaging in an £81m deal that will allow it to focus on its pharmaceutical operations

	ECMA maps out the future of carton November 01, 2012 David Pittman ECMA is planning to further its role in supporting the European carton market, starting with mapping out the future of the industry at its recent 2012 Congress.

	Go East - Europe offers huge potential for growth Oct. 30, 2012 Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is offering packaging companies huge potential for growth and expansion. A change in consumer trends and a boost in consumption have meant packaging demand has increased. According to Moorgate Capital's Nicholas Mockett, although some CEE countries have experienced a recession or slow down, the area remains an attractive market for investment.

	Will Fruit Shoot recover from cap disaster? October 16, 2012 Liz Gyekye Britvic has endured the kind of summer that is the stuff of nightmares: a product recall on its children’s drink Fruit Shoot, costing the soft drinks giant around £25m.

	Mexican wave? Smurfit Kappa Group’s strategic advance into emerging markets Oct. 2, 2012 Making an inroad into the US and Latin American packaging market is difficult in these highly consolidated market areas, but European market leaders are achieving a presence in the US and the emerging economies of Latin America.

	DS Smith looks West and a strategic alliance with RockTenn Oct. 1, 2012 Strategic alliances are another way of making valuable inroads into the US market. Recent news of DS Smith and RockTenn's recent strategic alliance demonstrates just that.

	M&A activity in the packaging sector in 2012 31 August 2012 Mergers and acquisitions are continuing to shape and change the packaging industry as a whole and within the different material sectors, as the industry becomes more consolidated

	FFL scheme may be used to boost bank profits Friday, 10 August 2012 Melanie Defries Banks may use the new Funding for Lending (FFL) scheme to make profit rather than extend lower lending rates to borrowers, the Bank of England (BoE) has admitted.

	Time for a change 27 Jul 2012 With the commercial sector struggling to position itself within a cross media environment, an ever-expanding packaging market could be the print industry's salvation - but there'll be both winners and losers in the process

	Reasons to be cheerful – but not complacent July 21, 2012 Des King It’s widely agreed that the pronounced focus upon packaging print at last month’s drupa exhibition was no coincidence, nor indeed a one-off. Whilst commercial print is struggling to compete within a cross-channel communications culture where the printed page increasingly plays second fiddle to what’s on the screen, innovative packaging print unequivocally rules the retail roost

	Plastic is now fantastic for Mondi after German deal 12 July 2012 The packaging giant Mondi has opted for plastic over paper in a £516 million deal to buy Nordenia of Germany Mondi, which makes mostly paper packaging, is betting that Nordenia's products, such as stretchable plastic films, will generate strong demand from a growing global pool of consumers.

	Moody's downgrade could hit UK print borrowing costs Friday, 22 June 2012 Simon Nias UK print businesses could face higher borrowing costs after ratings agency Moody's downgraded all four of the UK's leading high street banks yesterday.

	De La Rue silent on drachma as revenues rise Wednesday 30th May 2012, 1:19am De La Rue chief executive Tim Cobbold refused to comment on rumours that the money-printing company is preparing to make a new Greek drachma as the firm unveiled a 73 per cent rise in underlying profits.

	De La Rue posts profit surge in half-year results Tuesday, 29 May 2012 Simon Nias De La Rue has recorded a surge in underlying profits in its preliminary half-year results as the impact of its three-year Improvement Plan took hold.

	UK Packaging Awards - The judging process The UK Packaging Awards are judged by an independent panel of high-profile packaging buyers, specifiers and consultants.

	Pira Packaging Summit 2012 Hilton on Park Lane, London Pira's Packaging Summit is a leadership forum which brings together the senior decision makers in the global packaging industry to debate and strategise on achieving a sustainable future. As in previous years, the spotlight will shine firmly on the packaging people, with an aim to establish future scenarios, commercial impacts and immediate opportunities in packaging.

	Stationers hold M&A Roundtable 04 May 2012 News Desk The Stationers' Company is holding a roundtable event on 21 May focusing on realising shareholder value through mergers and acquisitions.

	The Innovations Driving Packaged Brands 24th – 25th April 2012 Kingsway Hall Hotel, 66 Great Queen Street, London The conference focuses on packaged brands and in particular how innovation is being used -and created- in packaging to strengthen the brand proposition in all respects, shelf presence, functionality, profitability, value adding, cost optimising and more.

	Fortune favours bold innovators April 20, 2012 At first glance the outlook for the rigid plastics industry looks rosy. In a survey published by the British Plastics Federation in July last year, more than 60% of plastics companies predicted an increase in annual turnover and many of those businesses have since gone on to deliver on this prediction.

	API Group's major shareholder calls for company to be sold Friday, 10 February 2012 Melanie Defries API Group's largest minority shareholder Steel Partner Holdings has called for the foil, holographics and laminates manufacturer to be put up for sale.

	AGI-Shorewood plans high end packaging acquisition Thursday, 02 February 2012 Melanie Defries AGI-Shorewood is looking to strengthen its presence in the high end packaging market by acquiring another company, European chief executive Tony Garnish has confirmed.

	More consolidation likely as DS Smith takeover of SCA changes packing landscape 20-Jan-2012 Rory Harrington DS Smith’s €1.7bn (£1.4bn) takeover of SCA Packaging is a game changer both for the company and the European packaging sector

	DS Smith’s SCA deal is a ‘game-changer’ 17 January 2012 Josh Brooks DS Smith’s planned £1.4bn acquisition of SCA Packaging is a “game-changer” for the corrugated business.

	DS Smith launches £1.4bn bid for SCA Packaging Tuesday, 17 January 2012 Simon Nias DS Smith has launched a £1.4bn reverse takeover bid for SCA's packaging division, in a deal that would make it the largest corrugated and second largest packaging business in Europe with a turnover of more than £4.6bn.

	A shake-up is on the carton cards 5 January 2012 Simeon Goldstein The last 12 months in the folding cartons sector has resulted in further consolidation. The big players are snapping up smaller rivals and getting into new markets.

	Plastics Caps and Closures Europe Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 November 2011 Leveraging innovations and identifying strategies to reduce cost and achieve efficiency

	Flexible thinking as flexibles market grows 1 November 2011 Simeon Goldstein A recent report into the flexible plastics sector showed that while Amcor is now the dominant player, overall volumes are growing too.

	Sun European Partners acquires Kobush-Sengewald Tuesday, 18 October 2011 Melanie Defries Private equity firm Sun European Partners, owner of Polestar, has expanded its portfolio of flexible packaging companies by acquiring Kobush-Sengewald from Pregis.

	Ambient emerges from the shadow September 1, 2011 Staff Consumers may leave ambient food in their cupboards but designers aren’t so quick to forget, finds Gordon Carson

	HIG Europe signs off Bezier MBO 24 Aug 2011 Susannah Birkwood HIG Europe, the European arm of private equity firm HIG Capital, has acquired Bezier, a UK marketing services provider as part of a management buyout.

	POS group Bezier sheds debt and eyes growth after MBO 23 August 2011 Josh Brooks Point of sale group Bezier has shed much of its debt after it was sold in a private equity-backed management buy-out led by its chief executive Trevor O’Reilly.

	Bezier sold in private equity-backed MBO Monday, 22 August 2011 Adam Hooker Bezier has been sold in a management buyout backed by HIG Europe, the European arm of private equity firm HIG Capital.

	Economy - Opinion - Lending and investment will return to changed landscape Friday, August 12 2011 Nicholas Mockett, Partner Moorgate Capital

	Britton buyer Sun expands again with Unterland acquisition 3 August 2011 Liz Gyekye Sun European Partners, owner of UK plastic packaging firm Britton Group, has added to its growing portfolio of packaging companies by buying Austrian-based flexible plastic specialist Unterland from Mondi.

	Buyers get stuck in to label sector 18 July 2011 Staff Gordon Carson finds that M&A activity in the labels sector is a result of its central position in the supply chain.

	Pira Packaging Summit 2011 Future scenarios, commercial impact and immediate opportunities in packaging 03 - 04 Oct 2011 Sophia Country Club, Antibes, Nice, France What is the future for packaging... In 2010 Pira launched its flagship Packaging conference - the Pira Packaging Summit. The unique format of the Summit was designed for senior decision-makers and strategists and provided an excellent platform for assessing current drivers and future scenarios. For 2011 the Pira Packaging Summit will once again bring together the global packaging industry's senior leadership to discuss all of the issues that are set to shape the future of the packaging sector.

	Apollo firm buys £220m Rexam assets Tuesday 21st June 2011, 2:02am M&A REXAM, the FTSE 100 packaging maker, has signed a deal to sell its closures business, which makes bottle lids, to US manufacturer Berry Plastics for $360m (£222m). The deal was announced to markets yesterday following a report in City A.M. on Friday that Berry, owned by US private equity giant Apollo, had been in exclusive talks with Rexam for weeks and was poised to sign for the closures unit. Berry paid cash for the business, which recorded a pre-tax loss of £177m. Rexam is believed to have made a loss on the assets, which it bought as part of a $1.83bn acquisition from Owens Illinois in 2007. Nicholas Mockett, a partner at Moorgate Capital and specialist in the industry, said: “It’s unusual for a company like Rexam to sell a business so soon after the acquisition but its new chief executive has taken the decision following the impact of the recession on that particular business unit.” Rexam said it now plans to “right-size” – that is, cut down – its plastic packaging operations. Despite analysts broadly welcoming the deal, Rexam’s shares closed down 2.8 per cent.

	UK Packaging Awards 2011: Final deadline this Friday 21 June 2011 Staff

	Rexam plastics restructure rolls on with Closures sale 20 June 2011 Josh Brooks Rexam’s restructure of its plastics business has taken another step with a $360m deal to sell its North American closures business to Berry Plastics. The deal was announced to markets yesterday following a report in City A.M. on Friday that Berry, owned by US private equity giant Apollo, had been in exclusive talks with Rexam for weeks and was poised to sign for the closures unit.

	Hart gazumps Silgan in bid for Graham Packaging 17 June 2011 Graham Packaging is set to become part of billionaire Graeme Hart’s packaging empire after he outbid rival Silgan’s $1.3bn attempt to buy the plastics multinational.

	Business Finance Friday, June 10 2011 With lenders getting fussier about to whom and how much they're prepared to offer finance, setting out to secure a loan can be a daunting prospect. However, it needn't be, provided you do your homework.

	The art of persuasion: how to get hold of an umbrella Friday, 10 June 2011 Simon Nias With lenders getting fussier about to whom and how much they're prepared to offer finance, setting out to secure a loan can be a daunting prospect. However, it needn't be, provided you do your homework

	UK Packaging Awards 2011: Deadline two weeks away 31 May 2011 Time is running out to enter the UK Packaging Awards 2011, with the entry deadline just two weeks away.

	Ardagh plans US listing as more consolidation predicted 10 May 2011 Josh Brooks Glass and metals giant Ardagh Group is planning a stock-market listing in the US this year in a move that experts have predicted could fuel more consolidation in packaging.

	UK Packaging Awards 2011 1 May 2011 Heinz, Innocent and PZ Cussons are the latest brands to confirm they will be judging the UK Packaging Awards 2011.

	UK Packaging Awards 2011: Kraft, Reckitt Benckiser and Arla join judging panel 26 April 2011 Kraft, Reckitt Benckiser and Arla Foods are the latest brands to confirm they will be judging the UK Packaging Awards 2011.

	UK Packaging Awards 2011: P&G, Sainsbury’s, PepsiCo and Asda join judging panel 18 April 2011 Procter & Gamble, Sainbury’s, PepsiCo and Asda are the latest brands and retailers to confirm they will be judging this year’s UK Packaging Awards.

	UK Packaging Awards 2011: Morrisons, Unilever, Boots and M&S on judging panel 11 April 2011 Major brand owners and retailers including Morrisons, Unilever, Marks & Spencer, Findus and Alliance Boots are among the first confirmed judges for this year’s UK Packaging Awards.

	Polestar in talks with US-based Sun Capital, reports claim Tuesday, 05 April 2011 Simon Nias Polestar could be on the verge of being sold to a major US-based private equity group, according to reports.

	Briefing: Little for print to get excited about in 'Budget for growth' Friday, 01 April 2011 Simon Nias In his epic struggle to balance the country's books, the chancellor had very little leeway for generosity. However, he did miss a couple of open goals

	Finance experts' reaction to the Budget 2011 Wednesday, 23 March 2011 Simon Nias Cuts to corporation tax and fuel duty and a one year extension to the Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) holiday were the main news for business from today's "fiscally neutral" budget.

	Budget Live!: Real-time updates and expert commentary 23 March 2011 Liz Gyekye Join Packaging News and a panel of industry experts for live updates and commentary on the Budget 2011.

	Is the time right to be selling up? February 15, 2011 There are many reasons to sell a business – from wanting to cash in on years of hard work to finding a new partner to grow the company. But the process requires plenty of careful planning

	Double-dip fears as Q4 GDP figures show shock contraction Thursday, 27 January 2011 Simon Nias The UK economy shrunk 0.5% in Q4 2010, according to preliminary figures from the ONS, sparking fears that the country could be headed back into recession.

	European gravure giant fails to refinance Tuesday, 18 January 2011 Simon Nias One of Europe's largest gravure printers has failed to refinance its debt resulting in its insolvency.

	RPC to buy Superfos December 17 2010 Michael Kavanagh RPC, the plastic packaging specialist, is to buy Danish rival Superfos for €240m ($319m, £204m) in an attempt to extend its reach across Europe into Scandinavia, Turkey and North Africa.

	The Big Question – Is packaging going to create jobs in 2011? 1 December 2010 In October’s spending review, Chancellor George Osborne called on private firms to assume public sector job losses and create half a million new jobs in the coming years. We asked the sector for its view on the jobs market in packaging in the year ahead

	UK Packaging Awards 2010: The Judges 4 November 2010 Josh Brooks Meet the judges who picked the winners of the UK Packaging Awards 2010.

	CSR spells public and private sector pain Friday, 29 October 2010 Matt Whipp When chancellor George Osborne put half a million public sector jobs on the line in his Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), he was betting the farm on a recovery.

	Pira Packaging Summit 2010 05 - 06 Oct 2010 Future scenarios, commercial impact and immediate opportunities in packaging The Pira Great Packaging Debates take expert commentary, lively debate and audience interactivity to a completely new level. Each panel of experts, thought leaders and high-profile industry representatives will be on hand at the Pira Packaging Summit on 5 & 6 October 2010 at the Copthorne Tara Hotel, London, to debate the most pressing questions facing the packaging industry today.

	Ardagh buys Impress for EUR1.7bn 28 September 2010 Ardagh Glass is buying metal-packaging giant Impress for EUR 1.7bn from private equity firm Doughty Hanson in a move that creates a packaging group with a turnover of more than EUR 3bn.

	Asda and Coke among brands to reveal all at Pira summit 28 September 2010 Josh Brooks Asda, Coca Cola, Dell and Puma are among the brands set to speak at next week’s Pira European Packaging Summit.

	Ardagh buys Impress for EUR1.7bn 27 September 2010 Josh Brooks Ardagh Glass is buying metal-packaging giant Impress for EUR 1.7bn from private equity firm Doughty Hanson in a move that creates a packaging group with a turnover of more than EUR 3bn.

	Doing Business in Brazil: New Trajectories for Growth 30 June 2010 Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer, Southbank Centre, London Our speakers will share their insights concerning the increasingly significant role of Brazil on the international stage and the positive shifts in the political and business landscape that are drawing international investors to its shores.

	Industry calls for quicker tax cuts after Osborne’s first budget 23 June 2010 Josh Brooks Industry groups including the British Plastics Federation have called for George Osborne to accelerate cuts to corporation tax after the Tory chancellor’s first budget yesterday.

	Sainsbury’s, SAB Miller and B&Q join judging panel for UK Packaging Awards 11 May 2010 Josh Brooks Top packaging buyers from Sainsbury’s, SAB Miller and B&Q are among the latest industry experts to join the judging panel for this year’s UK Packaging Awards.

	Hung parliament bodes ill for print businesses 7 May 2010 The UK print industry faces an uncertain future after the nation awoke to its first hung parliament in a generation this morning (7 May).

	Interest rates stay at 0.5% for 11th month The Bank of England (BoE) has kept interest rates on hold for the 11th consecutive month as the fragile economic recovery continues to supersede inflationary fears.

	Economists predict hard times ahead despite end to recession Friday, January 29 2010 The UK economy is officially out of recession after the latest GDP figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed less-thanexpected growth of 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2009. Prior to Q4 2009, the UK economy contracted by a total of 6.1% over a record six consecutive quarters from April 2008 in what was the longest and deepest recession on record.

	Rio seeking sale of Alcan Beauty December 2009 The article reports on the move of mining company Rio Tinto PLC. to sell the Beauty division, the remaining part of Alcan Packaging in Great Britain. It states that Rio appointed Ernst and Young Inc. to look for potential buyers of Beauty division which generated 932 million U.S. dollars in 2008. Nicholas Mockett of Moorgate Capital stresses that there is a possibility that rigid packaging companies are interested to buy the said part.

	2010年展望：摩基特资本公司的尼古拉斯·莫克特 2009-12-29 近日，摩基特资本（Moorgate Capital）公司的尼古拉斯·莫克特向英国印刷媒体的记者介绍了他对新年的新期望。

	New year's prediction: Nicholas Mockett, Moorgate Capital 27-12-2009

	Businesses escape significant tax increases in PBR 09-12-2009 Businesses will not bear the brunt of the government's need to reduce the deficit, Alistair Darling revealed in his pre-Budget report (PBR) today.

	UK Packaging Awards 2009: The Judges 5 November 2009 Josh Brooks Nicholas Mockett - M&A consultant, Moorgate Capital: Nicholas is an M&A consultant who has focused on the packaging, paper and printing industries for more than 15 years and advised on deals worth more than €4bn.

	ONS figures illuminate longest recession since records began Friday, October 30, 2009

	Majids return with Europackaging buy 30 September 2009 David Elliott Europackaging founders the Majid family have bought the firm back in a pre-pack deal less than three years after they sold the business to private equity.

	Europackaging bought back in job-saving deal Sep 8 2009 Jon Griffin Nearly 200 jobs have been saved at Birmingham-based Europackaging after it was bought back by former owners the Majid family, it was revealed yesterday.

	Europackaging acquired by former owners 07 September 2009 Moorgate Capital, Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland and KPMG were all instrumental in the deal, which will safeguard 800 jobs worldwide.

	Amcor suspends shares ahead of imminent Alcan announcement 17 August 2009 Jill Park Amcor’s long-awaited purchase of part of Alcan Packaging looks set to finally be completed this week after the Australian group suspended trading of its shares this morning.

	Amcor’s $2.8bn Alcan deal ‘will happen in next 10 days’ 10 August 2009 Jill Park Speculation is mounting that Amcor’s planned buyout of Alcan Packaging will happen in the next 10 days as the company comes close to finalising a US$1.2bn loan to fund the acquisition.