Smurfit Kappa Group to acquire Bates Container

Smurfit Kappa Group (SKG), a global paper company headquartered in Dublin, has announced plans to acquire Bates Container LLC, a nonintegrated corrugated packaging manufacturer headquartered in North Richmond Hills, Texas, with multiple locations in Texas.

SKG says that as a result of the acquisition Bates will have a substantial amount of its nearly 135,000 metric tons of containerboard supplied by Smurfit Kappa Orange County’s (SKOC's) recycled containerboard mill in Dallas.

Tony Smurfit, SKG COO, says, “This acquisition fits perfectly with our integrated model, complementing in a significant way the successful integration of SKOC, which was acquired in December 2012, and provide us with substantial scope for further synergies in both businesses.”

He continues, “These synergies will be primarily delivered through additional integration of the containerboard needs of Bates into SKOC’s 350,000-metric-ton recycled containerboard mill, with additional savings expected through a range of operational efficiency measures. Importantly, the group’s enlarged packaging footprint in the United States will further enhance SKG’s capacity to provide innovative, insight-led and value-enhancing packaging solutions to both current and prospective customers.”