H.I.G. Europe, the European arm of global private equity firm H.I.G. Capital, today announces that it has completed the simultaneous acquisitions of ARMetallizing, a Belgium based European leader in the manufacture of metallized paper from Ackermans & van Haaren, and Vacumet Paper, a Massachusetts based US leader in the manufacture of metallized paper from Scholle Corporation.
The combined Group will be the global market leader in metallized paper for use in the beverage and consumer packaged goods markets. The Group’s metallized paper is currently used as the base paper in premium beer labels, spirit labels, food packaging, consumer product packaging and gift wrap, and can be found on many household brands such as Becks beer, Lurpak butter in Europe, and Coors Light and Hasbro in the US. With revenues in excess of €120m, the Group will supply clients globally from 3 manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Italy and the US and will be led by ARM’s CEO, Paul Van Emmerick and CFO, Martin Raeymakers, who will retain a significant shareholding in the business.
Dr. Matthias Allgaier, Managing Director of H.I.G. Europe, said: “The simultaneous acquisitions of ARM & Vacumet reinforces H.I.G.’s ability to execute on complex transatlantic transactions; over the coming years, Paul and his team will leverage H.I.G.’s presence across Europe, the US and South America to grow the business organically and through bolt-on acquisitions.”
Paul Van Emmerick, Chief Executive of ARMetallizing, said: “We are very pleased to have completed the MBO of ARM and the simultaneous acquisition of Vacumet Paper with H.I.G. Europe. With H.I.G.'s backing, we have already taken a major step in being able to supply our customers’ global packaging needs."
Mark Kelly, of H.I.G. Europe added: “Paul and his team have done an outstanding job building ARM into the #1 player in Europe; through the acquisition of Vacumet, we have now created the global market leader in a niche segment of consumer packaging. We look forward to supporting Paul and Martin in expanding ARM’s global footprint and extending the company’s product offering into adjacent CPG markets.”
This transaction represents H.I.G. Europe’s 21st new European investment since the beginning of 2011.
Other recent investments include ALTEO, formerly known as the specialty aluminas business of Rio Tinto, the international mining group. The €300m revenue business has four plants – three in France and one in Germany and is the leading global integrated producer and supplier of non-metallurgical grade alumina, a key ingredient for everything from the manufacture of glass and ceramics to abrasives and flooring.