Gerresheimer buying Wilden

One of Europe’s most renowned injection molders, Wilden AG (Regensburg, Germany) seems certain to be acquired in the next days by Düsseldorf-based Gerresheimer Group GmbH, a firm with deep roots in the glass-packaging industry that has in the last years greatly expanded its plastics-processing operations. Gerresheimer filed paperwork with German cartel authorities on November 7 requesting they approve the acquisition.

Privately owned Wilden is run and was founded by Hans Wilden. The molder has processing facilities in Germany in Pfreimd, Wackersdorf, Schönau, and Regensburg as well as plants in Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, the Czech Republic, the U.S., China, Bulgaria, Dubai, and Mexico. It employs almost 1500; has approximately €200 million annual sales; and owns more than 450 injection molding machines. Almost 20% of its 65,000 sq m of processing area is cleanroom.

Gerresheimer announced in early October it was pursuing an acquisition that would greatly boost its position in the pharmaceuticals industry and had taken a €300 million credit to finance this. Private equity firm Blackstone Group acquired Gerresheimer in 2004. New York-based Blackstone is also the majority owner of massive packaging blowmolder Graham Packaging. Wilden is active in a number of industries including medical/pharmaceutical, automotive, E/E, and cosmetics packaging.

Gerresheimer has 21 production facilities in Asia, the Americas and Europe, with about 6000 employees and annual sales of more than €600 million, mostly reaped in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic packaging. In late 2005 it acquired Denmark’s Superfos Group: a €25 million/yr processor of closures and packaging, primarily for pharmaceuticals.—[email protected]