International plastic packaging manufacturer Linpac Group (Birmingham / UK; www.linpac.com) says it is evaluating strategic options for Viscount Plastics (Hawthorn East, Victoria / Australia; www.viscount.com.au), a division of the group that operates exclusively in Australasia and the Asia Pacific region. Linpac acknowledges that it has received strong, unsolicited interest in the business from prospective strategic and financial buyers. A statement of 21 April said it is “currently considering its options and a final decision has not been made”.

Following its financial restructuring at the end of 2009 – see Plasteurope.com of 27.01.2010 – Linpac’s ownership has been in the hands of a consortium of senior banking providers. Early in 2010, they appointed Bank of America Merrill Lynch (www.bankofamerica.com) to review the options for realising the group’s value for its shareholders. Initially, this led to the sale of five stand-alone, non-core businesses to funds managed by Chamonix Private Equity (London / UK; www.chamonixpe.com), effective 31 December 2010 – see Plasteurope.com of 11.01.2011. The purchase price for the units was not disclosed.

Viscount Plastics was acquired by Linpac in 2001. It manufactures rigid plastic containers, packaging and other plastic products from eight facilities in Australia, two in New Zealand, three in China and two in Malaysia. Customers include leading consumer brands in the industrial, chemical, food services and building markets. It generates some 13% of Linpac Group revenues, but has no major trading relationships with other group companies. The business’ regional focus means, therefore, that any change in ownership would not affect continuity of supply to customers elsewhere.