BLITZ LUXCO acquired by GERRESHEIMER

Sonoco has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Eviosys from KPS Capital Partners. This landmark transaction establishes Sonoco as the global leader in metal food can and aerosol packaging, combining Eviosys’s dominant EMEA footprint with Sonoco’s leading position in the United States. The strategic rationale is built on creating a global $25 billion total addressable market platform with unparalleled innovation and sustainability capabilities. Sonoco expects to achieve over $100 million in annual synergies within 24 months through procurement savings, supply chain optimization, and manufacturing footprint alignment. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Adjusted EPS, marking a pivotal milestone in Sonoco’s portfolio transformation strategy.

Blackstone acquired a majority stake in Seves Group (Sediver's parent company) from Triton Partners. This deal concludes a 10-year turnaround by Triton, which rescued the group from near-bankruptcy in 2015. Under Triton, the group was streamlined (divesting non-core units like PPC and Vitrablok) to refocus entirely on Sediver's high-margin glass insulator business.

Axiom Groupe, a logistics and packaging player based in Brittany, continues its national expansion by acquiring Osmea. This acquisition allows Axiom to establish a strong foothold in the South-East of France (Occitanie and PACA regions) and to reinforce its expertise in high-value industrial packaging (crate manufacturing) and industrial transfers.

The Navigator Company reached an agreement to acquire Accrol Group Holdings through a recommended cash offer. The deal is defensive for Accrol, whose board cited a "challenging future environment" with massive new capacity (500k tonnes) entering the UK market. For Navigator, it secures a massive distribution channel in the UK for its tissue parent reels.

International Paper and DS Smith have reached an agreement on the terms of a recommended all-share combination. Under the terms, DS Smith shareholders are entitled to receive 0.1285 new International Paper shares for each DS Smith share, valuing the target at 415 pence per share (a 47.7% premium over the undisturbed share price). The transaction creates a truly global leader in sustainable packaging, with industry-leading positions in both Europe and North America. The strategic rationale is built on optimizing the combined mill network and supply chains, with expected pre-tax cash synergies of at least $514 million (£413 million) annually by the end of the fourth year. Upon completion, DS Smith shareholders will own approximately 33.7% of the combined entity. To facilitate the merger, International Paper will seek a secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange. The deal is expected to be EPS accretive in year one and is slated to become effective in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.

Arcosa has successfully finalized the acquisition of 100% of Ameron Pole Products from NOV Inc. This strategic transaction marks a significant expansion of the organization's Engineered Structures segment, providing an immediate foothold in the attractive concrete and steel lighting pole market. The strategic rationale for the move centers on the high degree of complementarity between the target's traffic and telecommunication structure offerings and the group's existing industrial portfolio. By incorporating the target’s specialized manufacturing facilities and experienced management team, the group enhances its nationwide presence and reinforces its capability to support high-growth infrastructure verticals, including the rollout of 5G small-cell networks. The partnership is designed to be margin-accretive, leveraging the target's high-margin "premium" product profile and strong operational track record. This integration consolidates the group’s vision of becoming a primary technical partner for sustainable urban development and utility grid modernization. The transaction highlights the group's disciplined focus on acquisitions that offer both geographic densification and technical operational depth.

Constantia Flexibles has successfully completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Aluflexpack AG. The transaction was structured in two phases: the acquisition of a 57% controlling block from the main shareholders, followed by an all-cash public tender offer for all remaining publicly held shares. The strategic rationale for the merger is to create a European champion in flexible packaging with an enhanced technology portfolio and a significantly broader geographical footprint, specifically expanding Constantia's presence in Poland, Türkiye, and Southeast Europe. The combination is expected to drive substantial synergies in R&D and sustainable product development, particularly in the aluminum-based segments for coffee and pharma. Following the acquisition, Aluflexpack will be integrated into the Constantia Flexibles Group, though it will continue to leverage its specialized production facilities to serve its established customer base under the new unified growth trajectory.

This transaction represents the enterprise's fifth consecutive leveraged buyout, orchestrated as a majority primary acquisition by the incoming private equity consortium. The operation allows the historical financial sponsors to achieve a complete and successful exit. A crucial element of this newly structured capitalization is the significant reinvestment from the incumbent executive team, alongside the integration of new key managers into the shareholder base, ensuring total strategic alignment. The acquisition is robustly supported by a comprehensive senior debt package syndicated by a consortium of major historical banking partners. The overarching strategic rationale is to perfectly align the company's capital structure with the operational leaders, aggressively fueling the next phase of its ambitious international roadmap.

Greif has finalized the acquisition of Ipackchem. The transaction was funded through Greif's existing credit facility and is expected to be immediately accretive to EBITDA margins. This strategic move allows Greif to capture $14.7 million in annual synergies by integrating Ipackchem's global operations into the Greif Global Industrial Packaging segment. The acquisition is a cornerstone of Greif's expansion into high-performance small containers, providing the group with advanced barrier technology capabilities and a stronger presence in the agrochemical market worldwide.

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) has completed the acquisition of Veritiv Corporation in a public-to-private transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, CD&R acquired all outstanding shares of Veritiv common stock for $170.00 per share in cash. The strategic rationale for the acquisition is to support Veritiv’s ongoing transformation into a pure-play leader in specialty packaging distribution. By moving to a private ownership structure, Veritiv gains the financial and operational flexibility necessary to accelerate its "buy and build" strategy and invest in further supply chain optimizations. Post-transaction, Veritiv will focus on expanding its value-added services and consolidating its dominant position in the fragmented North American packaging market. Sal Abbate continues as CEO, supported by a newly appointed Board of Directors featuring veteran industrial advisors.