Ahlström Capital and Accent Equity form new European packaging group
6/15/2011 11:00 PM EST
Ahlström Capital and the Accent Equity 2008 investment fund are combining their operations in the packaging industry to form a new group: Arch Packaging Group AB. The merger strengthens the competitiveness of the constituent companies A&R Carton and Flextrus, which will continue to operate on the market as separate companies and brands. The change is a step in the direction of a possible future IPO.
A&R Carton is one of Europe’s leading folding carton packaging companies, while Flextrus is a leader in northern Europe within flexible packaging. Together, the two specialist companies will be better equipped to compete on the packaging market.
“The new group creates added value for customers via a broader offering and a deeper knowledge of packaging. The new ownership structure will give two strong companies with similar values greater resources to grow both organically and by acquisition,” says Morten Ahlström of Ahlström Capital.
“A&R Carton and Flextrus will continue to do business as two separate companies on the market but will collaborate where this offers advantages. This will give the companies a stronger base for development of new innovative packaging solutions and in the ongoing restructuring of the packaging market,” says Jan Ohlsson, Accent Equity Partners AB, investment advisor to Accent Equity 2008.
“The Öresund region has a packaging cluster in strong growth, with world-leading research at its doorstep. This makes the region attractive for investment,” Morten Ahlström and Jan Ohlsson point out.
Arch Packaging Group AB will have an annual turnover of about EUR 500 million and 2,000 employees in 18 factories and 8 countries in Europe. The Group will be domiciled in Malmö, Sweden. The Board of Directors will be chaired by Morten Ahlström, with Jan Ohlsson as Deputy Chairman. A&R Carton’s President and CEO, Per Lundeen, will be CEO and Flextrus’s CEO, Per Nyström, will be Deputy CEO. With the formation of the joint group structure, Capman will divest its interest in A&R Carton. The transaction is conditional upon approval from competition authorities.
Helsinki and Stockholm, 16 June 2011
For further information, please contact:
Per Lundeen, tel: +46 705 18 33 47, e-mail:
Per Nyström, tel: +46 730 88 31 45, e-mail:
Morten Ahlström, tel: +358 50 492 41 64, e-mail:
Jan Ohlsson, tel +46 705 15 69 15, e-mail:
Facts
Ahlström Capital
Ahlström Capital is a private investment company that focuses on active direct equity investments primarily in industrial companies. With a portfolio turnover exceeding EUR 1 billion, the company is one of Finland’s biggest private equity investors. Ahlström Capital’s strengths are its solid industrial expertise, long entrepreneurial traditions and substantial financial resources.
Accent Equity
Founded in 1994, Accent is a private equity pioneer in the Nordic region. Since the start, funds to which Accent Equity Partners AB has been an advisor have invested in 60 companies and divested 43 of them. Accent Equity Partners AB has served as an advisor to six funds with managed assets in excess of EUR 1 billion. The Accent Equity 2008 fund’s objective is to develop the portfolio companies into Nordic, European or global players via enduring improvements of the companies’ business operations and strategic positions. Based in Stockholm, Accent Equity Partners AB has a staff of some fifteen investment professionals with backgrounds in both industry and finance.