The top management of Bruni Glass will remain shareholders in the new combined company.
Last year, Berlin generated turnover of over $1 billion, supplying plastic, glass, and metal containers and closures to more than 10,000 customers across every market that uses packaging. Berlin Packaging is partnered with Oak Hill Capital Partners, a U.S.-based private equity firm.
Founded in Milan in 1974 with the name Vetrerie Bruni S.r.l., Bruni Glass is active in the distribution of glass containers for 7,000 clients in more than 100 countries. With offices in Italy, France, Spain, China, Canada, and the U.S., Bruni supplies an innovative collection of glass packages designed in-house for spirits, wine, food, and gourmet applications. The custom lineup spans more than 3,000 items, including patented shapes with various capacities and colors, plus seasonal and promotional items ranging from maple leaf- to Christmas tree-shaped packages. New offerings are added on a monthly basis.
In 2015, Bruni had turnover of about 140 million euros and continued its track-record of strong growth and customer engagement.
Ardian, a majority shareholder since 2012, has supported Bruni Glass in strengthening its core Italian business as well as expanding its presence at an international level, in particular in the French and Spanish markets through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.
Nicolò Saidelli, Managing Director and Head of Ardian in Italy, said: “We are glad that Bruni Glass, an Italian company excelling in the packaging sector, found a partner like Berlin Packaging. I’m confident that the combined Berlin and Bruni will work together to create an even higher level of performance in Europe and North America.”
“Specialty glass has been our stock in trade for more than four decades, and joining forces with a glass/plastic/metal packaging powerhouse like Berlin offers new opportunities for business growth that will benefit our customers and suppliers as well as our employees,” said Gino Del Bon, Executive Chairman of Bruni Glass.
Roberto del Bon, Bruni CEO, added: “With our entire team soon to be working under the Berlin umbrella, we will be supplying the same creative package solutions and level of customer service but as part of a larger organization that can meet a wider range of needs.”
The transaction is expected to close within the next 45 days.
ABOUT BRUNI GLASS
Bruni Glass is a leading supplier of premium and specialty glass packaging for the spirits, wine, food, and gourmet markets. Headquartered in Italy and with locations in France, Spain, the United States, Canada and China, the Company offers more than 3,000 products and strong custom-design capabilities.
ABOUT ARDIAN
Ardian, founded in 1996 and led by Dominique Senequier, is an independent private investment company with assets of US$ 55 billion managed or advised in Europe, North America and Asia. The company, which is majority-owned by its employees, keeps entrepreneurship at its heart and delivers investment performance to its global investors while fuelling growth in economies across the world. Ardian’s investment process embodies three values: excellence, loyalty and entrepreneurship.
Ardian maintains a truly global network, with more than 430 employees working through twelve offices in Beijing, Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Singapore and Zurich. The company offers its 490 investors a diversified choice of funds covering the full range of asset classes through Ardian Funds of Funds (comprising primary, early secondary and secondary activities), Ardian Private Debt, Ardian Direct Funds (comprising Ardian Mid Cap Buyout, Ardian Expansion, Ardian Growth and Ardian Co-Investment), Ardian Infrastructure, Ardian Real Estate and customized mandate solutions with Ardian Mandates.
ABOUT BERLIN PACKAGING
Berlin Packaging is the only Hybrid Packaging Supplier® of plastic, glass, and metal containers and closures. Now with 40,000+ available SKUs, 200+ packaging consultants, and 100+ sales and warehouse locations across North America and Europe, the company has the right products, expertise, and geographic proximity to help customers increase their net income through packaging products and services. Berlin Packaging supplies billions of containers and closures annually as well as warehousing and logistics services for customers of all sizes in all industries. With the acquisition of Bruni Glass, 2016 global turnover of Berlin Packaging will surpass $1.2 billion.