One of France´s leading manufacturers of plastic packaging for food applications, Groupe Guillin (Ornans; www.groupeguillin.com), is strengthening its position in Spain. Through its newly established subsidiary Veripack Embalajes, Guillin has acquired the packaging assets of the former Autobar Group, now Autobar Packaging (Saint Priest / France; www.autobarpackaging.com), at Barbera del Valles, near Barcelona. No purchase price has been announced.

With EUR 31m in annual intake from the sale of plastic food containers to fruit and vegetable producers and packers, the new group company will give Guillin a strong position in the Spanish market. Prior to this move, Spain accounted for only 3% of sales.

Autobar, acquired by private equity group Charterhouse Development Capital (London / UK; www.charterhouse.co.uk), from Kuwait Investment Authority (Safat / Kuwait; www.kia.gov.kw) at the end of 2004 for around EUR 800m, is undergoing restructuring in preparation for an initial public offering. Charterhouse is also the main shareholder of Lucite International (London / UK; www.lucite.com).

The family-managed Guillin group had sales of EUR 247.3m in 2005, an increase of 7.5% against 2004. The packaging segment accounts for 90% of turnover. The operating result improved by 14% last year to EUR 13.8m. Further improvement is expected for 2006, as export trade accelerates.