DUBLIN, IRELAND – Luxembourg-based Ardagh Group, a glass and metal packaging solutions giant, is reportedly finalizing a deal to acquire Saint Gobain’s Verallia glass packaging unit for about EUR3 billion (USD3.2 billion).

The Irish Independent reported that Ardagh, which operates 89 facilities in 21 countries, is nearing the close of its biggest ever acquisition.

Saint Gobain, a French multinational corporation, has placed its Verallia glass packaging unit up for sale for months, getting the attention of Ardagh and other global private equity giants.

In January 2013, Ardagh Group agreed to acquire Saint Gobain’s Verallia North America for €1.275 billion.

Ardagh is controlled by Dublin financier Paul Coulson.

Ardagh Group is a global leader in glass & metal packaging solutions and a key supplier to most of the world’s leading food, beverage and consumer care brands.

Operating 89 manufacturing facilities across 21 countries, Ardagh employs almost 19,000 people and has global sales of approximately $6.2 billion (Eur 4.7 billion).

Early this month, Ardagh Group, Glass – North America, a division of Ardagh Group and a leading producer of glass containers for the food and beverage industries in the United States, announced the debut of its 750ml Belgian style glass beer bottle.

Providing a more authentic touch for Belgian-style ales, Ardagh Group’s new 750ml is now available for purchase on Ardagh Group’s BOB site.

“The BOB platform is specifically designed for craft brewers interested in purchasing glass beer bottles by the pallet or truckload directly from us, the manufacturer,” said Robert Shanteau, Vice President of Beer Sales for Ardagh Group’s North American Glass division.

“The addition of the 750ml Belgian provides increased flexibility for craft brewers, and the BOB site is the perfect platform with its convenient online ordering.”

With the addition of the 750ml Belgian, the BOB site now offers five different amber bottles, including two variations of the 12 ounce bottle, a 22 ounce bottle and two variations of the 750ml bottle.

Craft brewers can buy direct on the BOB site with a major credit card or through a PayPal™ account and will receive shipment within a few days from one of four warehouse sites strategically located in New York, Georgia, Missouri and California. – BusinessNewsAsia.com 

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