Italian injection moulding machinery manufacturer Negri Bossi (I-20093 Monzese; www.negribossi.it) is the subject of a takeover bid by compression moulding machinery producer Sacmi Imola Scri (I-40026 Imola). In a surprise announcement, Sacmi said it wants to acquire 60% of the injection moulding company´s equity for EUR 41m or EUR 3.1 per share. The offer, which both parties describe as “friendly,” comes less than a month after Negri Bossi was listed on the Milan stock exchange and scant days after the company announced plans to acquire 70% of another injection moulding machinery maker, Oima (I-31041 Signoressa di Trevignano TV; www.oima.com). Sacmi, which said it wants to add strength in plastics, hopes to complete the Negri Bossi takeover by early February 2002.

Known primarily as a manufacturer of ceramics production equipment, around 23% of Sacmi´s sales are to the packaging industry. Along with being world´s leading manufacturer of metal bottle cap machinery it also produces high-speed extrusion compression moulding machinery for plastic caps. Negri Bossi is acquiring the Oima stake for a total of EUR 5.5m. It also will take on some EUR 10m in debt. This deal, expected to be finalised by March 2002, will improve the company´s position in large machinery of 20,000 kN and higher. Negri Bossi also has hinted at acquisitions in Germany.