Gerresheimer: Sale of Global Primary Plastic Packaging Business – 16 Plants and 2,400 Employees Affected

Gerresheimer is selling its US subsidiary Centor and its global primary plastic packaging business to funds advised by Apax Partners. The agreed total purchase price is based on a combined enterprise value of approximately €1.5 billion. The Düsseldorf-based packaging and medical technology manufacturer intends to use the expected proceeds primarily to reduce its debt and restructure its capital and financing arrangements.

The definitive agreements were entered into by Gerresheimer Glass Inc., Gerresheimer Glas GmbH, Gerresheimer Group GmbH and Gerresheimer AG with a subsidiary of the Apax funds. The companies did not disclose any further contractual terms.

Advert

The sales of Centor and the global Primary Packaging Plastics business will be completed as legally separate transactions. Both transactions remain subject to customary regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. The sale of Centor is expected to be completed by the end of Gerresheimer’s 2026 financial year. Completion of the global plastic packaging transaction is expected in the first half of the 2027 financial year.

16 Plants and Around 2,400 Employees Affected
Centor manufactures packaging systems for dispensing prescription medicines in the United States. The Primary Packaging Plastics business, which is also being sold, produces plastic packaging for pharmaceutical and medical applications.

In addition to the Centor plant in the United States, the transaction includes a total of 15 production sites belonging to the plastic packaging business in nine countries. In 2025, the two business units employed around 2,400 people. According to Gerresheimer, their combined annual revenue amounted to approximately €570 million.

Under the new ownership, Centor and Primary Packaging Plastics are to be combined into an independent company and further developed. Apax announced investments in areas including production capacity, product development and the expansion of the business in the United States. No specific details have yet been provided regarding the future corporate structure, headquarters or management.

Greater Focus on Pharmaceutical and Biotech Products
Gerresheimer says the divestment is intended to sharpen its strategic focus. The remaining business will concentrate in particular on drug delivery systems, medical devices and primary packaging for injectable medicines.

This includes drug delivery systems and high-quality packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Through the sale, Gerresheimer is divesting a significant portion of its standardised plastic packaging business.

Proceeds Intended to Significantly Reduce Debt
A key purpose of the transaction is to ease the Group’s financial burden. Gerresheimer intends to use the expected cash proceeds to repay liabilities, thereby significantly reducing its leverage.

According to the company, the sale forms part of a broader restructuring of its financing. Together with a planned refinancing, the transaction is intended to reduce interest costs and stabilise the capital structure over the long term. Gerresheimer is also implementing a transformation programme designed to improve operating cash flow and free cash flow.

Gerresheimer did not disclose the expected net proceeds after transaction costs, taxes and other obligations. The stated enterprise value of approximately €1.5 billion therefore does not necessarily correspond to the amount that will actually be available to the Group once the sales have been completed.

More information: www.gerresheimer.com, www.apax.com

Gerresheimer AG, Düsseldorf, Germany

back to news list