In a deal still subject to approval by regulatory authorities, the Hueck family is selling 70% of its stake in the packaging films segment of Hueck Folien (Weiden / Germany; www.hueck-folien.de) to Constantia Flexible. The subsidiary of Constantia Packaging (Vienna / Austria; www.constantiapackaging.com) also has the option to acquire the remaining 30%. The technical films division, which is headquartered at Baumgartenberg / Austria and has annual sales of EUR 43m and 225 employees, is not part of the agreement. A Hueck family spokesman said the link-up with Constantia is expected to benefit international sales and R&D.

Hueck´s portfolio covers – mostly plastic – flexible packaging, in particular for food and pharmaceutical products. The family-managed company with a workforce of 850 has production sites at four locations in Germany, Belgium and the US. Sales in 2005 totalled some EUR 160m.

Constantia produces packaging made of a variety of materials, including aluminium, plastic, paper and corrugated cardboard. The group employs 6,000 people worldwide and plans to achieve a sales volume of EUR 1 bn for the first time in 2006. Sales in 2005 totalled EUR 991.6m, up from EUR 945m in 2004. EBIT came in at EUR 83m (EUR 78.8m). Flexible packaging accounted for sales of EUR 745.1m (EUR 710.6m).

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