Carton Group, a prominent player in the packaging industry and a portfolio company of private equity firm Waterland, has inked a deal to acquire the operational business of Europoligrafico. Europoligrafico, an Italian innovator in high-quality packaging solutions, boasts a €60 million turnover and a workforce of 210 across two Italian production sites.

This acquisition marks a pivotal milestone in Carton Group's journey toward becoming a European leader in quality and innovation for packaging solutions. The Colleoni family, the current owner, will retain a stake in the new group. The financial specifics of the transaction, pending customary regulatory approvals, will not be disclosed, with the anticipated closing in early autumn 2023.

Carton Group, under the ownership of Waterland with a substantial track record, seeks to elevate its capabilities through this strategic acquisition. Andrea Wildies, Carton Group's CEO, envisions pioneering solutions through intelligent processes, aiming to redefine the intersections of product, packaging, and process. The company looks forward to embarking on this transformative journey with its customers.

Federico Riccio, General Manager of Europoligrafico, expresses confidence in joining the robust Carton Group, viewing this merger as the next logical step in their success story. Leveraging Carton Group's customer network and expertise, Europoligrafico aims to amplify its strengths and thrive in the evolving market landscape.

Dr. Carsten Rahlfs, Managing Partner at Waterland, underscores the buy-and-build strategy integral to Carton Group's growth plans. The strategic alignment with Europoligrafico aligns with ambitions to not only expand in the fragmented Italian market but also establish a multinational network of customer-centric packaging specialists, tapping into new industries across Europe in the years to come.