The European Commission has approved the acquisition of Aluflexpack AG (“Aluflexpack”) by Constantia Flexibles GmbH (“Constantia”) under the EU Merger Regulation. This approval relies on the parties’ commitment to divest certain assets.
“Constantia and Aluflexpack are leading suppliers of sterilisable aluminium containers for various food uses. Aluminium is key to achieve Europe’s circular economy and sustainability goals, due to its high degree of recyclability. The parties’ commitment to sell-off one of their packaging plants ensures that food manufacturers will continue to have access to sufficient suppliers and that European consumers benefit from competitively priced packaged food,” Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, said.
Constantia, an Austrian company controlled by One Rock Capital Partners, LLC since January 2024, is a global provider of flexible packaging solutions for human and pet food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals. Aluflexpack is a Swiss manufacturer specialising in aluminium-based packaging for various industries.
The Commission’s investigation revealed potential competition issues, particularly regarding sterilisable aluminium containers and lids used for wet pet food and specific human foods. This means a significant market share concentration in the European Economic Area (EEA). To address these concerns, Constantia agreed to divest Aluflexpack’s entire sterilisable business for wet pet and human food in the EEA, along with its Omiš, Croatia production facility.
After positive feedback during a market test, the Commission concluded that this divestiture would sufficiently mitigate competition concerns, allowing the new owner, expected to be the MTX Group, to operate as a viable competitor. The decision is contingent on full compliance with these commitments, and an independent trustee will oversee their implementation.
