RPC Group (GB-Northamptonshire NN10 8RP; www.rpc-containers.co.uk), which bills itself as Europe´s leading manufacturing of rigid plastic packaging, has paid GBP 23m (around EUR 33m) to acquire the UK-based blow moulding activities of South African packaging producer Nampak (ZA-2146 Sandton; www.nampak.com), as well as the plastics packaging businesses in mainland Europe of Nampak Plastics Europe (GB-Woburn Sands MK17 8SE; www.eu.nampak.com). RPC will not acquire the freehold of the Woburn Sands factory and will cease production there by 31 October 2006. This is expected to cost the company around GBP 6m but will result in synergies of GBP 3.5m, to be realised progressively over the next two years.

Nampak´s European business comprises three operations in the UK, two in The Netherlands, one in Belgium and one in France. The units, which Nampak describes as “short run,” produce blow moulded plastic containers primarily for lubricating oils, agrochemicals and industrial chemicals and are aligned with sectors currently served by RPC. In the fiscal year ended 30 September 2004, the businesses acquired had sales of around GBP 77m, EBITDA of GBP 6m and a net asset value of GBP 31.6m. The deal excludes Nampak´s “long run” dairy and food packaging business, which the South African company will continue to develop.