Berlin Packaging LLC is expanding in Europe again. The Chicago-based packaging distributor and manufacturer announced Nov. 20 that it has a definitive agreement to buy Rixius AG, a Mannheim, Germany-based supplier of specialized rigid packaging serving the chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and food & beverage markets.
Terms were not disclosed. Rixius was founded 145 years ago and offers a wide range of plastic and glass packaging products plus value-added services including labeling and decoration.
"Targeted acquisitions play a crucial role in our European growth strategy, and this combination with Rixius will not only strengthen our footprint in Germany but will also expand Berlin Packaging's offering for the industrial end market," said Marcel Schröder, a Europe-based senior vice president for Berlin Packaging.
The seller is private equity firm BWK, which has been a major shareholder of Rixius since 2007. The deal is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter.
Berlin is primarily a packaging distributor, but it has acquired some manufacturing operations in recent years. When it bought Premi SpA in early 2022, that marked the company's 16th acquisition in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.