ASSOTECH acquired by UNIGASKET

This transaction involves the carve-out of Bodycote's French heat treatment operations, a UK-listed group, as part of a strategy to refocus on its core activities. The deal comprises the sale of ten French industrial sites, consolidated under a new entity called Methal, to an investment structure combining the Arcole fund, which holds a majority stake, and the Benalu-Legras industrial group, which takes a strategic minority interest. This partnership brings together financial capital and industrial expertise to support the creation of a new, independent heat treatment player in France

The transaction involves the acquisition of Sopano by FrenchFood Capital, supported by a pool of regional investors including BNP Développement, Caisse d’Epargne Normandie, Unexo, and Banque Populaire Nord. This secondary LBO marks the exit of NCI after a four-year holding period characterized by the group's successful diversification into the food sector. The deal is financed through an equity ticket of EUR 20–30 million and a unitranche debt facility provided by BNP Paribas AM, representing a leverage of approximately 3

FSN Capital IV and other minority shareholders have signed a definitive agreement to sell 100% of the shares in Fibo to Norcros. The transaction marks the conclusion of a successful 10-year growth journey under FSN Capital IV, which originally acquired Fibo as a carve-out from Byggma ASA in 2015. During this ownership period, Fibo underwent a transformation from a local Norwegian player into a robust international entity with a diversified revenue mix and highly automated manufacturing capabilities

Stirling Square Capital Partners has reached an agreement to sell 100% of Verescence to a consortium formed by Movendo Capital and Draycott. This transaction follows a competitive auction process managed by Rothschild & Co, which attracted interest from major international private equity firms (One Rock, Lone Star, ICG) and global industrial players (PGP Glass, Vitro, Heinz). The acquisition represents a strategic shift for Verescence toward long-term family-office ownership, moving away from traditional short-cycle private equity

BWGI, which currently holds 28.8% of Verallia's capital, has filed a voluntary tender offer to acquire control of the company. The offer proposes a price of 30 euros per share (with the 2024 dividend attached). Unlike typical private equity buyouts, BWGI has explicitly stated its intention to maintain Verallia's listing on Euronext Paris, seeking only to cross the regulatory threshold of 50% capital or voting rights. A critical component of this transaction is the management of Verallia's existing debt structure

Huhtamaki has acquired Zellwin Farms Company for an Enterprise Value of USD 18 million. The deal provides Huhtamaki with immediate additional capacity in the molded fiber segment to serve the North American market. This acquisition aligns with the legislative shift in the US away from foam/plastic towards renewable packaging. The transaction is expected to be EPS accretive from Year 1.

The private equity firm Astorg wins the auction to acquire the Solabia Group from TA Associates. This secondary LBO values the French biotech specialist at over EUR1.1 billion. The management team, led by CEO Jean-Baptiste Dellon, reinvests alongside Astorg. This new partnership aims to accelerate Solabia's international growth, particularly in the United States, and to continue its buy-and-build strategy to broaden its portfolio of natural ingredients for the beauty and health sectors.

Groupe GRIS acquired 100% of Laser Alsace Production from its founder. This operation allows the group to integrate a new cutting technology—laser—which complements its historical expertise in press-cutting.

UPM Raflatac acquired 100% of Metamark for a total consideration of �146 million. This acquisition accelerates UPM's transformation into a "complete product provider" for the adhesive industry. By integrating Metamark, UPM gains a respected portfolio of graphic films that complements its existing labeling business. The deal thesis relies on leveraging UPM's massive global sales and distribution network to export Metamark's products—currently strong in Europe—to new markets in the Americas and Asia

The Groupe SGT continues its expansion by acquiring Axium Packaging from private equity funds Cerea Partners and Bpifrance. This strategic move marks a significant diversification for SGT: while SGT is a leader in preforms for the beverage market, Axium specializes in finished containers (bottles, jars) for the hygiene, beauty, and food sectors. The acquisition creates a comprehensive European packaging player with strong synergies in recycled materials (rPET) and a combined industrial footprint of over 10 sites