Guala Closures continues to expand in the wines and spirits closures market. The Group, worldwide leader in the production of non-refillable closures and aluminium screwcaps for the international wine and spirits industry, has just completed its purchase of a 70% stake in Polish aluminium drinks closures manufacturer DGS from the Polish Enterprise Fund VI, L.P.

Guala Closures’ acquisition, costing 51 million Euros for 70% of the share of capital, has been authorised by the Polish Office for Competition & Consumer Protection.

Established in 1991, DGS SA is the world’s third largest manufacturer of aluminium closures for spirits and wine, as well as for fruit juices and the pharmaceutical industry. Today, the company (which showed a turnover of 50 million Euros in 2010) has approximately 560 employees and supplies key markets in Eastern Europe including Russia, the Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Marco Giovannini, President and Managing Director of Guala Closures, comments: “The aim of the transaction is to consolidate Guala Closures’ global leadership with further expansion in the growing markets of Eastern Europe. The acquisition of DGS confirms our expansion strategy, based on the selection of reliable local partners with whom to share and develop business, which has permitted Guala Closures Group to become the market leader in the sector.”

This is the fourth acquisition for Guala Closures in the last 16 months, following hot on the heels of its purchase of Spanish closure manufacturing company Plastivit, with facilities in Barcelona and Veracruz (Mexico). Bulgarian company Danik, active in the production of injection moulds for plastic resins, components and closures for the spirits industry, was incorporated into the Group in May 2010. Two months later, the company bought a plant for aluminium coating and printing in Magenta (Milan) and immediately put plans into effect for a new process here to eliminate the use of chromium for metal degreasing - a first for the packaging world.

Guala Closures (www.gualaclosures.com) is the global leader in the manufacture of safety closures for spirits, beverages and liquid foods. The group focuses very strongly on research and development, with five research centres in India, China, Mexico, Scotland and Italy which have created 20 new products over the last three years and holds 70 international patents. In 2010, Guala Closures Group showed a turnover of €371.4 million (+19% on 2009) and an increasing adjusted EBITDA at €81.6 million. Guala Closures Group has a strong presence in North America with spirits, wine, water, and olive oil closures. Guala Closures North America offices are located in Napa, California.