Platinum Equity Acquires Nampak Cartons and Healthcare Packaging Businesses in Europe

A transition team of Platinum in-house operations specialists is working to establish the newly acquired businesses as a standalone company. A rebranding campaign is underway and a new company identity will be announced as that process unfolds.

3/1/2011 --- Platinum Equity announced that it has completed the acquisition of Nampak Cartons and Nampak Healthcare from South Africa-based Nampak Limited.

Nampak Cartons produces cartons for the food and beverage sectors from two sites in the United Kingdom and one in Holland. Nampak Healthcare manufactures cartons, leaflets, labels, and blister pack foils for the pharmaceutical industry from 11 sites across Europe.

“These are sound businesses with great people and a lot of potential,” said Brian Wall, partner at Platinum who led the team pursuing the acquisition. “We see real opportunity as a standalone enterprise for growth and value creation through operational improvement and strategic acquisitions.”

Mr. Wall said the acquisition is the culmination of discussions that first started with Nampak in 2006.

“Over the last five years we have developed a strong relationship with the management team and Nampak, which helped facilitate this transaction opportunity,” said Mr. Wall.  “We look forward to working alongside Tom Reid, Leon Taviansky and the rest of the talented team in Cartons and Heathcare.”

Tom Reid, former managing director, Nampak Europe, who has overseen Nampak Cartons and Nampak Healthcare since 2007, will continue leading the businesses under the new ownership.  Mr. Reid had been with Nampak in a variety of positions since 1990.

“We are excited about the change in ownership and are very optimistic about the new opportunities this transition presents for our company and our customers,” said Mr. Reid. “We are eager to move forward and are already acting on plans to upgrade and improve our business.”

Last week the healthcare business announced plans to invest in a new facility that would replace and provide an upgrade to the company’s current factory in Portsmouth, England. All current Portsmouth staff would be retained and transfer to the new site in nearby Segensworth, which is scheduled to be fully functional by the end of 2011.

A transition team of Platinum in-house operations specialists is working to establish the newly acquired businesses as a standalone company. A rebranding campaign is underway and a new company identity will be announced as that process unfolds.

“We are focused on executing a seamless transition while maintaining the highest standards of quality manufacturing and customer service,” explained Mr. Wall.

Affiliates of Platinum Equity signed a definitive agreement to acquire the two Nampak businesses in December 2010. The European Commission approved the acquisition in February.

“We collaborated closely with Nampak and executed a European divestiture solution while creating an excellent investment opportunity for Platinum,” added Seth Romans, vice president at Platinum and M&A lead for the Nampak transaction. “Our ability to complete this transaction with speed and certainty also proved beneficial to all parties involved.”