Guala Closures has launched Pharma by GC, a new division for primary pharmaceutical and healthcare packaging, unveiled at CPHI Milan on 6-8 October 2026. The division combines Guala's manufacturing sites in Poland and India with the engineering expertise of Austrian medical packaging specialist KWK, acquired by Guala at the end of 2025. Chief executive Andrea Lodetti said the group plans further technology investment and targeted M&A to grow the unit.
Why this mattersA beverage closures maker now offers GMP-grade pharmaceutical closures, adding a supplier for drug and nutraceutical packagers and signalling further acquisitions in the segment.
- Guala Closures launched the Pharma by GC division at CPHI Milan, held 6-8 October 2026
- The division integrates KWK, an Austrian medical packaging manufacturer with 75 years of experience, acquired by Guala at the end of 2025
- Production is based at Guala sites in Poland and India
- The range splits into Care, for prescription drugs under GMP and ISO 15378 standards produced in ISO 8 cleanrooms, and Vitality, for over-the-counter and nutraceutical products using ROPP and GPI closures in plastic and aluminium
- CEO Andrea Lodetti said the group intends further technology investment and targeted M&A to accelerate the division's growth
Guala Closures has agreed to acquire most of the production equipment from G3 Enterprises' aluminium wine screwcap business. The equipment will add to the Italian closures maker's manufacturing capacity in Mexico as it builds out its supply network across the Americas.
Why this mattersGuala adds Mexican screwcap capacity by taking over an existing supplier's production equipment, strengthening its supply position with wine producers across the Americas.
- Guala Closures agreed to acquire most production equipment from G3 Enterprises' aluminium wine screwcap business
- The equipment will expand Guala Closures' manufacturing capacity in Mexico
- The deal is intended to strengthen Guala Closures' supply network across the Americas
Guala Closures has launched Pharma by GC, a new division dedicated to pharmaceutical and healthcare closures, combining its Polish and Indian manufacturing sites with the engineering and regulatory expertise of KWK, the Austrian closures maker it acquired at the end of 2025. The division covers two product lines, Care for prescription solutions and Vitality for OTC and nutraceutical closures, and will be presented at CPHI Milan 2026 on 6-8 October. Chief executive Andrea Lodetti said the company plans further investment and targeted M&A to grow the unit.
Why this mattersGuala Closures turns spirits-closure capacity in Poland and India towards pharma formats, where GMP and cleanroom requirements raise the entry barrier for rival closure makers.
- Pharma by GC launched 6 October 2026 as a standalone division of Guala Closures.
- The division integrates KWK, an Austrian closures producer with 75 years of engineering experience, acquired by Guala Closures at the end of 2025.
- Manufacturing is based in Poland and India.
- Product architecture spans two portfolios: Care (prescription solutions, GMP/ISO 15378, ISO 8 cleanroom) and Vitality (OTC and nutraceutical plastic and aluminium closures, including ROPP and GPI systems).
- CEO Andrea Lodetti said the group will pursue further technology investment and targeted M&A for the division.
- The division is being presented at CPHI Milan 2026, 6-8 October, hall 11, stand 11K11.
Guala Closures, the Italian closures maker owned by Investindustrial, has completed a EUR 1bn issuance of senior secured floating rate notes due 2033, with proceeds used to refinance existing debt. The company also amended and restated its EUR 175m revolving credit facility in parallel.
Why this mattersExtends Guala Closures' main debt maturities to 2033 and refreshes its EUR 175m revolver, easing refinancing pressure at the Investindustrial-owned closures maker.
- Guala Closures issued EUR 1bn of senior secured floating rate notes maturing in 2033.
- The company amended and restated its existing EUR 175m revolving credit facility.
- Proceeds from the notes were used to refinance existing indebtedness.
- Guala Closures is a portfolio company of private equity firm Investindustrial.
- Paul, Weiss advised Guala Closures on the transaction.
- The company makes closures for the beverage, spirits, wine and pharmaceutical sectors.
Fitch Ratings has assigned Guala Closures S.p.A. a first-time long-term issuer default rating of B+ with a Stable Outlook. The agency points to the group's leadership in closures and EBITDA margins above 20%, but flags leverage still elevated after recent acquisitions and capacity investment. Fitch expects strong free cash flow to support gradual deleveraging.
Why this mattersA first-time credit rating gives Guala Closures a benchmark for debt pricing as it works through leverage built up from acquisitions and capacity spending.
- Fitch assigned Guala Closures S.p.A. a B+ long-term issuer default rating with a Stable Outlook
- Fitch cites Guala's global leadership in closures and EBITDA margins above 20%
- Fitch says leverage remains high after recent acquisitions and capacity investments
- Fitch expects strong free cash flow to drive gradual deleveraging
- Fitch assigned an expected B(EXP) rating with RR4 recovery on Guala's planned senior secured debt on 22 September 2026, ahead of a refinancing
- Fitch-defined EBITDA leverage estimated at 5.8x at end-2026, expected to fall below 5.5x during 2028
- Estimated senior debt claims of EUR 1,195m, comprising EUR 1,000m senior secured notes and a EUR 175m super senior secured revolving credit facility
- Guala's 2025 EBITDA margin of 19 percent is cited by Fitch as above peers CANPACK (11 percent) and Ardagh Metal Packaging (11 percent)
Guala Closures has launched an enhanced version of its Alusnap premium aluminium closure, adding advanced embossing and debossing options and a new tamper-evident indicator feature. The upgrade targets counterfeiting in the spirits sector, which the company cites industry estimates put at 25% to 40% of global consumption. The closure is made across Guala's plants in Italy, Ukraine, India and Bulgaria.
Why this mattersAnti-counterfeiting features on closures give premium spirits brands a differentiator as illicit product estimates run as high as 40% of global consumption.
- Alusnap closure upgraded with new embossing, debossing and surface-texture options for aluminium shells.
- New tamper-evident feature called Indicator can now be integrated into the platform.
- Guala Closures cites industry estimates that 25% to 40% of spirits consumed globally may be counterfeit or illicit.
- Alusnap is produced across Guala Closures facilities in Italy, Ukraine, India and Bulgaria.
- Guala Closures reported over EUR 923m in revenue in 2025 with more than 5,000 employees and 39 production facilities.
- Alusnap's anti-refill technology uses a dual glass-ball valve system
- Alusnap's anti-pull-out mechanism uses a hook that locks the pourer onto the bottle neck
- Alusnap production has been extended to include facilities in Mexico and Scotland, in addition to Bulgaria, Italy, India and Ukraine
- The upgraded Alusnap closure adds an anti-extraction hook design that locks the pourer to the bottle neck.
- Guala Closures introduced a new manufacturing technology intended to make premium closures harder to reproduce.
- Diageo has begun rolling out a smartphone-verifiable security seal across its spirits portfolio in Brazil.
- SpiritSeal has launched an NFC-based bottle authentication and provenance platform.
