Industry mergers continue apace, including in the reusable plastic packaging sector. They may provide shareholder and investor value, but what does it mean for customers and competition in the market?
IPL, a manufacturer of rigid-plastic products is merging with Schoeller Allibert, a manufacturer of reusable transport packaging. The proposed merger creates an international sustainable packaging producer with a manufacturing footprint in 27 locations across Europe and North America, and a combined proforma annual revenue of over US $1.4 billion in 2024.
IPL manufactures sustainable, rigid-plastic products for the food, consumer, environmental and agriculture sectors, largely in North America, with significant manufacturing operations in the UK. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, it has approximately 2,500 employees across 16 manufacturing sites and reported revenue of US$822 million in 2024.
Multiple Acquisitions
Schoeller Allibert manufactures returnable transport packaging and provides related services, serving customers across sectors such as automotive, beverage, food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, retail, and material handling, primarily in Continental Europe. The company is the amalgamation of eight different plastic pallet and container companies brought together over the last couple of decades.
Arca Systems of Sweden were acquired by Schoeller in 2005. Interestingly there is now a Romanian company with the same name. Perstorp Plastic Systems was another Swedish company acquired, leaving Perstorp to focus on its chemicals business. Wavin Systems was a Dutch business that Schoeller bought prior to that.
The big merger was in 2013 with French plastics manufacturer Allibert. Allibert merged with British manufacturer, Linpac Materials Handling in 2007, becoming Linpac Alibert. Linpac had already acquired Paxton of the UK. American manufacturer Buckhorn (containers and pallets) merged with Allibert prior to the Linpac deal. Today Buckhorn Inc. is a division of Myers Industries in Ohio.
Schoeller is a family-owned company that developed out of traditional roots from Gebrüder Schoeller in Düren, founded in 1799 and Alexander Schoeller & Co, Jülich, founded in 1880 and is now held by Martin and Christoph Schoeller and their families in the 7th generation.
The merged company will be headquartered in Dublin and led by current IPL CEO Alan Walsh (left). The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. Walsh said: “The future of packaging lies in sustainability, innovation and adaptability. This merger will allow IPL and Schoeller Allibert to combine our strengths on both sides of the Atlantic to meet that future together. With an unwavering commitment to innovation, we will not only enhance the way we serve our customers but also optimise the skillsets of both companies to build a strong, resilient foundation for growth.”
Schoeller Allibert CEO Alejandro Cabal Uribe (right) added: “Our combined strength in packaging solutions is well positioned to benefit from the tailwinds for the sector, driven by corporate sustainability ambitions and evolving regulations to improve value chains and reduce the environmental impact of packaging waste. We look forward to together delivering leading customer service and innovative global solutions.”
Advisors & Investors
IPL is owned by investment funds managed by Madison Dearborn Partners, a private equity investment firm based in Chicago, and CDPQ, a global investment group. Schoeller Allibert is owned by Brookfield Asset Management’s private equity business and the Schoeller family. The new company will be 55% owned by the existing IPL shareholders and 45% owned by the existing Schoeller Allibert shareholders.
As a European market leader with a legacy spanning 65 years, Schoeller Allibert has led the charge in revolutionizing supply chains with returnable transport packaging solutions that are both efficient by design and circular by nature. Headquartered in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands, Schoeller Allibert has a worldwide presence in over 50 countries, with approximately 1,600 employees, 11 production locations producing more than 30m products annually. Its global turnover in 2024 was €550m.
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