Acquisitions grow ÅR Packaging's presence in healthcare & beauty segments

ÅR Packaging Group, is expanding its presence in the European healthcare and beauty packaging market with two further acquisitions. The Swedish packaging company has acquired all outstanding shares in Swiss pharmaceutical packaging specialist K+D AG, entered into an agreement to acquire all outstanding shares in Germany's rlc Packaging GmbH and, through the latter, a significant share in Polish cardboard and paper packaging supplier BSC Drukarnia Opakowań.

The companies are well-reputed packaging producers with substantial market presence in the central European market for healthcare and beauty products. This move is set to strongly boost ÅR Packaging's already strong market position in the healthcare, pharma and beauty packaging segment.

The acquisitions are mart of ÅR's plan to expand in selected market segments. The healthcare business of the Group includes both carton based and flexible packaging for customers in the pharma, medical and beauty industry in Europe and Asia.

K+D specialises in pharmaceutical and cosmetics packaging and provides GMP-compliant, finished and counterfeit-proof cartonboard solutions. The company is based in Switzerland, and employs around 70 people.

rlc Packaging is a premium packaging manufacturer specialised in high quality folding cartons to the beauty, pharma, food and confectionery industry. The Group comprises of four production facilities in Germany and one in Switzerland. Additionally, the group holds a significant share in BSC Drukarnia Opakowań in Poland, which has two plants. In total rlc has around 1,500 employees.

“We are excited to welcome these companies, which are a good fit for our group’s growth strategy. Together with our existing activities it will put ÅR Packaging at a top 3 position in Europe in the healthcare, pharma and beauty segments, served by 11 plants in 6 countries”, said Harald Schulz, President and CEO of ÅR Packaging. “The customers of K+D and, following completion, rlc will benefit from our Group’s unique product portfolio including multi substrate packaging.”

Former K+D owner, Stefan Kuhn, said: “We are very happy to join the ÅR Packaging family. It is a strategic step for us which follows the market dynamics and is in favour of our national and international customers as well as for our employees. Personally I will support the integration and further development of K+D in an active role for some time.”

“As a family business in its fifth generation, we have always focused on sustainable and long-term perspectives for our employees and a reliable relationship with our customers", say Hans-Christian and Stephan Bestehorn at rlc Packaging. "Becoming part of ÅR Packaging, we see excellent opportunities to further increase packaging expertise and commitment available to pharma and brand owners. For this reason, we both remain within the company and are therefore fully committed to the strategic idea behind this decision.”

The acquisition of rlc still subject to closing conditions and regulatory approval. Financial details have not been disclosed.

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