Packaging

Graham Packaging to Acquire Assets of Techne – Technipack Engineering Italia, S.r.l.

Thursday 21. April 2011 - Graham Packaging Company Inc. (NYSE: GRM) today announced that its subsidiary, Graham Packaging Company Italia S.r.l., has committed to acquire the assets of Techne - Technipack Engineering Italia S.r.l. ("Techne"), for total consideration of euro 8.8 million.

Techne manufactures extrusion blow molding machines and has an installed customer base of over 1000 machines with over 200 customers representing more than 70 countries. Techne’s machines produce bottles for end use applications in the dairy, household, industrial, personal care, pharmaceutical, food, and beverage markets. Graham intends to acquire intellectual property, inventory, fixed assets, customer relationships, and trade agreements, and intends to continue to operate Techne’s manufacturing site in Bologna, Italy.
Techne is under liquidation proceedings with the Court of Bologna, Italy. Graham’s intention to purchase the assets of Techne is subject to the approval by Techne’s creditors of the composition plan filed by Techne and its subsequent ratification by the Court of Bologna and is subject to other customary conditions as well.
“Techne’s assets significantly expand our proprietary machine technology and allow us to continue to drive innovation and cost effectiveness with our customers,” said Mark Burgess, CEO of Graham. “Their installed base of over 1000 machines gives us additional opportunities to expand our activity in international markets and other market adjacencies.”