Industrial packaging manufacturer Mauser Group (Brühl / Germany; www.mausergroup.com) has been sold by one private equity group to another for EUR 850m. Seller is One Equity Partners (OEP, European HQ: Frankfurt / Germany; www.oneequity.com) and buyer is Dubai International Capital (DIC, Dubai / United Arab Emirates; www.dubaiic.com), the international investment arm of Dubai Holding. DIC, which manages around USD 6m worth of assets, said acquiring Mauser is "another important phase" of expanding its European and international portfolio. The new owner plans to continue management´s existing strategy, fixing the focus on "further growth, especially in Asia."

Mauser was acquired in 2003 by OEP, an investment subsidiary of JP Morgan Chase. Since then, its revenues have grown from around EUR 250m to an expected EUR 1 bn in 2007. The largest product group are plastic barrels, followed by metal barrels and IBC containers. The company currently employs 3,700 people at more than 50 locations in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia. At the end of 2006, Mauser extended its IBC reconditioning business to Brazil and Benelux – see Plasteurope.com Web of 23.02.2007.