Gerresheimer completed the sale of its US closures subsidiary Centor to funds advised by Apax Partners on 1 October 2026, about two months after signing on 29 July 2026. Centor accounts for roughly half of the combined enterprise value of about EUR 1.5bn (USD 1.7bn) agreed for Centor and the group's global Primary Packaging Plastics business. The proceeds go to debt reduction; the Primary Packaging Plastics sale is still expected to close in the first half of 2027, followed by a group refinancing.
Why this mattersThe closures exit funds deleveraging and leaves Gerresheimer concentrated on primary pharmaceutical packaging and drug-delivery systems, with one disposal still to run.
- Centor sale completed on 1 October 2026, about two months after the agreement signed on 29 July 2026
- Buyer is funds advised by Apax Partners
- Centor represents about half of the combined enterprise value of roughly EUR 1.5bn (USD 1.7bn) agreed for Centor and Primary Packaging Plastics
- Proceeds are earmarked for debt reduction, according to CFO Wolf Lehmann
- Primary Packaging Plastics disposal is expected to close in the first half of 2027, with a comprehensive group refinancing prepared with lenders afterwards
- Gerresheimer reports Q3 2026 results on 31 October 2026
Packaging Corporation of America will permanently close its Baltimore Street plant in Middletown, Ohio, affecting all 91 employees, under a WARN notice filed with the state and the city. Most staff finish on 1 December 2026 and the site is to be vacant by the end of the year, with the work consolidated into larger operations including a newly opened PCA plant elsewhere in Ohio. A separate WARN notice covers a Gas City, Indiana plant and its 78 workers in the week of 26 October.
Why this mattersThree converting closures in 2026 by the third-largest US containerboard producer point to consolidation of volume into newer, larger plants.
- PCA will permanently close its Baltimore Street plant in Middletown, Ohio, affecting all 91 employees
- Most employees finish on 1 December 2026; the plant is expected to be vacant by the end of the year
- The company says the work will be consolidated into larger and more efficient operations, including a newly opened plant elsewhere in Ohio
- A separate WARN notice covers the permanent closure of a Gas City, Indiana plant and its 78 workers in the week of 26 October
- Media reports earlier in 2026 said PCA planned to close a Richmond, Virginia converting operation affecting 110 employees
- Hourly production and maintenance staff are represented by USW Local No. 1676
- The consolidation plant is in Newark, Ohio, cost USD 275m and covers 550,000 square feet.
- The Newark plant started operating ahead of schedule in early summer 2026.
- PCA has invested more than USD 5.2bn in its paper mill and box plant network over the past decade.
- New c.51,000 sq m converting plant in Newark, Ohio started operations in July 2026, ahead of schedule.
- PCA closed its Richmond, Virginia integrated plant from June 2026, after idling the No. 2 paper machine and kraft pulp production at its Wallula, Washington mill from February 2026.
- PCA has invested more than USD 5.2bn in paper mills and box plants over the past decade, including integrating assets from its September 2025 acquisition of Greif's containerboard business.
Mercer International has deferred an interest payment of about USD 25.8m due 1 October 2026 on its 12.875% Senior Notes due 2028, invoking a 30-day grace period under the indenture. The pulp and lumber producer is in advanced talks with an ad hoc group holding more than 75% of the outstanding principal of both the 2028 notes and its 5.125% Senior Notes due 2029 on a comprehensive recapitalisation to cut funded debt and interest expense. Mercer says no definitive agreement has been reached and operations continue as normal.
Why this mattersA deferred coupon and talks with holders of more than 75% of two bond issues point to a balance-sheet restructuring at a significant market pulp supplier.
- Mercer deferred approximately USD 25.8m of interest due 1 October 2026 on its 12.875% Senior Notes maturing 2028.
- The company is using a 30-day grace period under the indenture and says this does not constitute an event of default.
- An ad hoc group holds more than 75% of the aggregate outstanding principal of the 2028 notes and the 5.125% Senior Notes due 2029.
- Talks aim at a recapitalisation to reduce funded debt and interest expense, address maturities and improve liquidity.
- A special committee of independent directors is leading the talks; the 8-K was signed by CFO Richard Short.
- Mercer says its pulp, lumber and mass timber operations continue normally, with customers, suppliers and employees served and paid as usual.
Spanish glass packaging group Vidrala has completed the acquisition of 100% of Chilean glass manufacturer Cristalerías Toro, known as Cristoro, for an enterprise value of EUR 75m (USD 84m) including assumed debt. The business has been renamed Vidrala Chile and gives the group its first production base in South America, after more than 70 years as an independent family company. Vidrala said net debt will remain at around 0.5 times annual EBITDA following the deal.
Why this mattersVidrala gains its first South American production base and takes out an independent Chilean producer, extending European glassmakers' consolidation of regional capacity.
- Vidrala acquired 100% of Cristalerías Toro's share capital for an enterprise value of EUR 75m (USD 84m), including assumed debt.
- The target is renamed Vidrala Chile, ending more than 70 years of Cristoro as an independent glass packaging brand.
- Cristalerías Toro generated sales of USD 79.915m and adjusted EBITDA of USD 13.216m last year.
- Vidrala said its net debt will remain at around 0.5 times annual EBITDA after the acquisition.
- Cristoro supplies glass packaging to the food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and household-goods segments in Chile and export markets.
- Vidrala CEO Raúl Gómez said the group will deploy its glassmaking model in Chile and recognise the Toro family's industrial legacy.
Electronics for Imaging, backed by private equity firm Siris, and Agfa-Gevaert have signed a definitive agreement to merge Agfa's Digital Printing Solutions business into EFI. A Siris affiliate will hold 60% of the new jointly held company and Agfa 40%, with the combined business expected to generate about EUR 540m (USD 625m) of revenue in 2026 on a pro forma basis. The deal, which follows a 2024 partnership between the two, is expected to close by the end of 2026 subject to regulatory approvals.
Why this mattersCreates a larger-scale industrial inkjet supplier spanning corrugated packaging, display and textile printing, consolidating a fragmented digital press market.
- Siris affiliate to hold 60% and Agfa 40% of the combined company
- Combined pro forma 2026 revenue estimated at EUR 540m (USD 625m)
- EFI brings Nozomi, VUTEK and Reggiani platforms; Agfa DPS brings Jeti TAURO, Onset PANTHERA and SpeedSet ORCA
- Deal follows a global technology partnership the two companies formed in 2024
- Transaction expected to close by end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals
- DC Advisory and Sidley Austin LLP advised EFI and Siris on the deal
- Combined business covers industrial inkjet for corrugated packaging, display graphics, décor and textiles
- Deal closing is subject to employee consultation in addition to regulatory approval
Antalis, part of Japan's Kokusai Pulp & Paper Group, has signed a binding agreement to acquire Papyrus' paper distribution operations in Germany, Switzerland and eight Central and Eastern European countries. The businesses generated combined net sales of around EUR 215m in 2025 and employ 255 people; completion is subject to customary conditions and antitrust clearance.
Why this mattersThe deal consolidates paper and packaging distribution across Central and Eastern Europe, reducing the number of independent merchants serving printers and office-paper customers in the region.
- Antalis and Papyrus have signed a binding agreement covering operations in Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
- The acquired businesses generated combined net sales of around EUR 215m in 2025 and employ 255 people.
- No purchase price was disclosed; completion requires customary closing conditions and clearance by the relevant European competition authorities.
- Combined operations will serve more than 13,000 customers with around 21,000 products, mainly printing and office papers, from 12 warehouse locations.
- Antalis belongs to Japan's Kokusai Pulp & Paper Group, which reports annual sales of around EUR 4.1bn; Antalis employs around 4,300 people in 34 countries.
- Seller Optigroup generated net sales of EUR 1.42bn in 2025 and retains the Papyrus and Scaldia operations in the Benelux, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland.
- OptiGroup CEO Niklas Berntsson said the sale follows a strategic review of the group's business.
- OptiGroup CEO Niklas Berntsson said the sale of the Papyrus paper wholesale business followed a strategic review.
Henkel has closed its acquisition of Netherlands-based Stahl, a specialty coatings maker serving mobility, fashion, luxury and packaging markets, for EUR 2.1bn (USD 2.4bn) from Wendel, BASF and Clariant. The deal, agreed in February 2026, closed on 1 October 2026 after regulatory approvals and adds Stahl's leather finishing, performance and packaging coatings to Henkel's Adhesive Technologies unit.
Why this mattersA major specialty-coatings supplier to flexible packaging converters now sits inside a larger adhesives group, consolidating a key input for the supply chain.
- Deal value EUR 2.1bn (USD 2.4bn), agreed February 2026 and closed 1 October 2026
- Seller consortium comprised Wendel, BASF and Clariant
- Stahl employs around 1,800 staff and generated adjusted sales of EUR 725m in fiscal 2025
- Stahl's portfolio includes leather finishing, performance coatings and packaging coatings
- Henkel says three Adhesive Technologies deals this year (Stahl, ATP Adhesive Systems, Wetherby Laroc) add about EUR 1bn combined sales
- Stahl becomes part of Henkel's Adhesive Technologies business unit
Exchange for Change, administrator of the UK deposit return scheme, has selected Suez, Cirqlr, Re.Group (with Hargreaves Services), Bywaters and Re-Gen to run collection and processing across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The appointments underpin a network of six new purpose-built facilities and about 400 collection vehicles, targeting recovery of 90% of the 25 billion single-use drinks containers in scope when the scheme launches in October 2027.
Why this mattersFive named operators, six purpose-built plants and 400 vehicles set the cost base and the recycled PET and metal volumes converters can count on from October 2027.
- Suez, Cirqlr, Re.Group with Hargreaves Services, Bywaters and Re-Gen appointed as regional logistics and processing partners
- Six processing facilities, in Scotland, Scunthorpe, Guildford, Isle of Dogs, Newry and Avonmouth, operational from October 2027, with three more in Ely, Knowsley and Avonmouth from October 2030
- Around 400 new recycling vehicles and about 700 jobs expected to be created
- Scheme targets collection of 90% of an estimated 25 billion single-use containers a year
- A deposit of USD 0.26 (GBP 0.20) applies to single-use PET, aluminium and steel drinks containers of 150ml to 3L from October 2027
- Hargreaves Services was named preferred bidder on 1 October 2026 for collection, transport and transfer station services in Scotland and has still to finalise terms with Re.Group
- Regional allocation confirmed: Re-Gen covers Northern Ireland, Suez covers North-West, West Central and South West England, CIRQLR covers North East, East Central, South and South East England, Re.Group with Hargreaves Services covers Scotland, and Bywaters covers London
- More than 6.5 billion cans and bottles are wasted annually in the UK, against a 90% average container return rate in European countries that operate a deposit return scheme
The US Department of Commerce has preliminarily found a 3.95 per cent weighted-average dumping margin for Nan Ya Plastics on polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet and strip from Taiwan for the review period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025. Commerce also intends to rescind the review in part for Shinkong Materials Technology and Shinkong Synthetic Fiber, treated as a single entity, after finding no reviewable entries in the period. Interested parties have seven calendar days from the 2 October 2026 publication date to comment.
Why this mattersContinuing antidumping exposure on Taiwanese PET film keeps sourcing costs uncertain for US converters of flexible packaging and labels.
- Preliminary weighted-average dumping margin for Nan Ya Plastics Corporation: 3.95 per cent.
- Period of review runs from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.
- Commerce intends to rescind the review for Shinkong Materials Technology/Shinkong Synthetic Fiber after CBP data showed no shipments during the period.
- The preliminary results are applicable from 2 October 2026, the Federal Register publication date.
- Comments from interested parties are due seven calendar days after publication, with rebuttals seven days thereafter.
- Commerce extended the preliminary results deadline by 113 days, to 30 September 2026, after shutdown-related tolling of 47 and 21 days.
