Saica Group acquires Americk Packaging

Subject to approval by the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Saica Group will acquire 100 percent of the Irish-owned Americk Packaging Group of companies, consisting of six manufacturing sites in Ireland and the UK, employing 691 staff, plus additional operations PP Global and Starfish Brand Solutions, which operate as independent brands in the same market. The Americk Packaging Group achieved a combined turnover in 2015 of around 134 million USD.

Americk Packaging said the acquisition will not affect its current operations, which will continue to be managed by the existing senior management team.

Formed more than 70 years ago, Saica is a family-owned business. Its core focus has been the development of sustainable options for the recycled paper and board packaging market. With more than 8,000 employees and presence in Spain, Italy, Portugal UK, Ireland, Turkey and Luxembourg, Saica produce 2.5 million tonnes of recycled paper per year.

Saica’s four divisions include recycled paper production for corrugated cardboard, recyclable materials recovery, production of corrugated packaging and flexible packaging. Saica Group’s flexible packaging division has plants in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Luxemburg. The group also has four paper mills in Spain, France and the UK, housing seven paper machines, 49 paper collection/recycling sites in Spain, Portugal, France and the UK, and 47 corrugating plants in Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, the UK and Turkey. The consolidated turnover of the multinational group in 2015 was around 2.6 million USD.

Americk Packaging CEO Patrick Doran said: ‘This approach has taken some careful consideration by me and our senior management team. Saica is a family run business with a strong code of ethics and compliance that has been of paramount importance when considering the fit with our business, culture, and most importantly our staff and customer base.

‘I have informed our staff, customers and suppliers of this positive move that will catapult the Americk Packaging brand into the international packaging market; whilst adding value and opportunities for our loyal staff, customers and suppliers.’

Ramon Alejandro, Saica president, said: ‘This agreement allows us to enter the flexible packaging market in Ireland and the UK more actively, hand in hand with a leading player, enabling Saica Group to continue its development in the flexible packaging sector with the aim of offering a wider range of products and services to our customers.’

IBI Corporate Finance advised the seller on this transaction. Whitney Moore and Geldards LLP provided legal advice and PwC Dublin provided vendor assistance.