LASER ALSACE PRODUCTION (LAP) acquired by GROUPE GRIS

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.

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. Due to "Change of Control" clauses in current financing agreements, Verallia has initiated a massive consultation process with its lenders and bondholders to obtain waivers or amendments. To ensure financial stability, the company has secured a comprehensive "backstop" and "bridge" financing package of up to €1.6 billion from a banking syndicate to refinance existing credits or reimburse bondholders who might exercise their "Put Option." The offer is subject to the reasoned opinion of Verallia’s Board of Directors and the approval of the AMF.

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.

Macfarlane Group UK Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Macfarlane Group PLC, has acquired 100% of The Pitreavie Group Limited. This strategic acquisition is designed to significantly enhance Macfarlane’s manufacturing presence in Scotland and provide internal supply capabilities for its distribution businesses in the North of England. The transaction includes a structured earn-out mechanism based on profit growth targets over the next two years, ensuring the continued commitment of Pitreavie’s senior management team, who will remain with the business post-completion. The merger creates substantial synergy opportunities by leveraging Pitreavie’s specialized corrugate manufacturing capacity and temperature-controlled expertise alongside Macfarlane’s extensive national distribution network. The acquisition is being funded through Macfarlane’s existing bank facilities, demonstrating the Group's ability to execute earnings-enhancing deals while maintaining a strong balance sheet. This move further consolidates Macfarlane’s position as the leading consolidator in the UK protective packaging market.

The acquisition of the target by Aperam marks a definitive structural expansion into the North American market. The strategic rationale for this transaction centers on a "portfolio-decommoditization" play, merging the target's technical operational depth in aerospace-grade alloys with the group’s global leadership in stainless and specialty steel solutions. This fusion effectively creates a specialized powerhouse in the high-performance metals arena, providing the organization with the necessary technical resources to address the increasing complexity of aerospace and industrial supply chains in the United States. This operation allows the group to execute a definitive structural transformation of its Alloys & Specialties segment, moving into high-margin segments that reduce exposure to traditional steel cycles.

Alliance Etiquettes has strengthened its foothold in the Italian market with the acquisition of Gruppo Samorani. This transaction represents the group's second major build-up in Italy, following the purchase of Tonutti Tecniche Grafiche in late 2022. By acquiring the three entities of the Samorani group (Samorani, Etica's, and Procom) from the founding family, Alliance Etiquettes adds approximately EUR12 million in revenue to its top line. The deal marks the group's fourth acquisition in 2024 alone (following Berjon, L’Eperon, and L’Enclos in France) and fits its strategy of consolidating the fragmented Southern European label market. It also diversifies the group's service offering into broader packaging and communication solutions for the Italian food sector.

Weinberg Capital Partners has arranged to acquire a majority shareholding in Cosmogen, a leading developer of innovative application solutions for the cosmetics industry. The investment, which is the third from its WCP#4 LBO fund, was made in partnership with its co-investment vehicle, WCP Co-Invest, and with co-investor BNP Paribas Développement. This transaction marks the exit of the former majority shareholder, MBO+, which had supported Cosmogen's growth over an eight-year period. The acquisition was structured as a leveraged buyout (LBO) and was deemed a strategic fit for Weinberg Capital Partners' investment criteria. The firm was attracted to Cosmogen's B2B services model, its position in a sector where Weinberg has deep expertise, its mature environmental, social, and governance (ESG) framework, and its strong focus on client satisfaction. Under the new ownership, Cosmogen is expected to accelerate its development and pursue a consolidation strategy within its sector, both domestically in France and on an international scale. Weinberg Capital Partners plans to leverage its extensive experience in executing add-on acquisitions to support Cosmogen's management team, led by CEO Priscille Allais, in achieving this next phase of expansion and solidifying its market leadership.

Veritiv Operating Company has successfully completed the acquisition of Orora Packaging Solutions (OPS) from Orora Limited (ASX: ORA). This landmark transaction represents a major step in Veritiv’s consolidation strategy within the North American packaging sector. The deal allows Veritiv to integrate OPS' extensive distribution network and its nearly 3,000 employees into a unified specialty packaging platform. The strategic rationale for the acquisition is to enhance the combined entity's geographic footprint, particularly in the U.S. and Mexico, and to broaden the range of value-added solutions offered to customers with complex supply chain requirements. For the seller, Orora Limited, the divestiture allows for a strategic refocusing on its core beverage packaging business while significantly strengthening its balance sheet. The transaction was supported by a large syndicate of international lenders, underscoring the market's confidence in the combined group’s scale and synergy potential. This acquisition further solidifies Veritiv’s position as the leading specialty packaging distributor in North America.

Amcor and Berry Global have entered into a definitive agreement to combine in an all-stock transaction, creating a global consumer and healthcare packaging powerhouse. Under the terms of the agreement, Berry shareholders will receive $73.59 per share in Amcor stock, representing a 9.75% premium to the last close. Post-merger, Amcor shareholders will own approximately 63% of the combined entity, while Berry shareholders will own 37%. The strategic rationale for the combination is to create a leader with unprecedented scale and geographic reach across 140+ countries. The merger unites Amcor’s global flexibles strength with Berry’s regional container and closure leadership, particularly in North America and Europe. The combined group expects to generate $650 million in annual synergies by the third year, driven by cost optimizations and incremental growth in high-value categories. This transaction accelerates both companies' shift toward a sustainable, circular economy-focused product mix, positioning the new Amcor as the largest buyer of resin and the most capable innovator in the global packaging landscape.