Rexam sells beverage closures business to Berry Plastics

By Guy Montague-Jones

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Sales

Rexam has signed a deal to sell its loss-making beverage closures business to Berry Plastics for $360m.

The closures business is focused on the North American market and employs about 1,500 people. It generated sales of £343m in 2010 but turned in a £177m loss before tax.

Rexam initially announced in December that it was considering the sale of the business, after identifying beverage closures as a weak spot in its product portfolio.

In its full year statement 2009, the UK-based company referred to the “enduring weakness in beverage closures”. ​And in its half year trading update last summer, the packaging company said: “In closures, performance continued to be disappointing. Although sales increased owing to resin pass through, volumes decreased 9 per cent with the continued decline in the demand for beverage closures.”

Despite the declining fortunes, plastics packaging specialist Berry Plastics is confident that it can make a success of the business.

“We are excited about the opportunities the Rexam SBC business will bring to Berry’s customers, employees and investors,” ​said Berry CEO Jonathan Rich, in a statement.

The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to closure in Q3.

Related topics Processing & Packaging

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