Ahlström Capital, Accent Equity Form New European Packaging Group

Ahlström Capital, Helsinki, Finland, and the Accent Equity, Stockholm, Sweden, investment fund are combining their operations in the packaging industry to form a new group to be known as Arch Packaging Group AB. The merger strengthens the competitiveness of the constituent companies, A&R Carton, a key European folding carton packaging company, and Flextrus, a leading flexible packaging provider in northern Europe, which will continue to operate in the market as separate companies and brands. The change is a step in the direction of a possible future IPO.

Arch Packaging will have an annual turnover of about EUR 500 million and 2,000 employees at 18 factories in 8 countries in Europe. The Group will be headquartered in Malmo, Sweden. A&R Carton's President and CEO Per Lundeen will be CEO, and Flextrus's CEO Per Nystrom will be deputy CEO.

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