Packaging firm Amcor to buy Berry for $8.43 bln
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By Sabrina Valle
Nov 19 (Reuters) -Switzerland-based Amcor Plc 485.F, AMCR.N on Tuesday agreed to buy U.S. peer Berry Global BERY.N for $8.43 billion in an all-stock deal, creating a consumer and healthcare packaging giant with combined revenues of $24 billion.
As part of the transaction, Berry's shareholders will receive $73.59 per share, representing a premium of 9.75% to the stock's last close. Berry's shares were up 1% in afternoon trading.
A sharp slowdown in demand for packaging material following a boom fueled by e-commerce during the pandemic has sparked consolidation in the sector.
In April, U.S.-based International Paper IP.N agreed to an all-share deal for DS Smith that valued the British packaging firm at 5.8 billion pounds ($7.2 billion).
Amcor and Berry make cartons, closures and containers for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home and personal-care, industries, and will have footprint across more than 140 countries.
The deal is by far Amcor's largest acquisition to date. In 2019, it bought U.S. rival Bemis in a $5.25 billion all-stock deal but had to divest three manufacturing facilities to gain approval from the U.S. Justice Department.
On a call with analysts, Amcor CEO Peter Konieczny said he did not foresee any exposure to regulatory approvals in the deal with Berry, pointing toward relatively lesser overlaps.
Konieczny will serve as CEO of the combined company, which is expected to generate adjusted earnings of $4.3 billion. The transaction is expected to result in synergies of about $650 million by the end of the third year after the closing of the deal, which is expected to happen in the middle of 2025.
The combined entity will be named Amcor Plc, with a primary listing on the NYSE. The transaction, which will result in Amcor holding 63% in the combined entity, has been unanimously approved by the boards of both companies.
Amcor and Berry initiated talks on a potential deal earlier this year, according to a person familiar with the matter.
UBS UBSG.S, Goldman Sachs GS.N, and Kirkland & Ellis advised Amcor on the deal, while Lazard LAZ.N, Wells Fargo WFC.N and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom advised Berry.
Separately, Berry posted a fourth-quarter adjusted profit of $2.27 per share, compared with analysts' average estimate of $2.25, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Reporting by Sabrina Valle in New York, additional reporting by Savyata Mishra, Ananya Mariam Rajesh and Utkarsh Shetti in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala, Sriraj Kalluvila and Jonathan Oatis
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