Ball to acquire majority stake in Benepack

Group 1 - Benepack has been operating in Europe since 2020, with its first plant in Belgium and a second plant in Hungary opened in 2023 [3][5] - The Bundeskartellamt approved Ball's acquisition of Benepack, stating that the deal does not raise serious competition concerns and that customers will still have multiple suppliers to choose from [3][4] - The investigation indicated that the deal's effects would primarily impact suppliers and customers in western Germany and the Benelux countries due to high transport costs [4] Group 2 - Ball has initiated several mergers and acquisitions over the past two years, including the divestiture of its aerospace business for $5.6 billion, transitioning to a pure-play packaging company [6] - The acquisition of an 80% stake in Benepack is valued at approximately 184 million euros ($215.9 million), with the deal expected to close in the first quarter of 2026 [7] - This acquisition will enhance Ball's presence in Eastern Europe and provide further growth opportunities, as it currently lacks operations in Belgium and Hungary [5][7]