Huhtamaki expands the joint venture relationship in Arabian Paper Products Company
HUHTAMÄKI OYJ STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 22.3.2016 AT 16:00
Huhtamaki expands the joint venture relationship in Arabian Paper Products Company
Huhtamäki Oyj expands and revises its long-standing joint venture relationship in Arabian Paper Products Company (APPCO) with Olayan Saudi Holding Company (OSHCO). Huhtamaki's ownership in APPCO will increase to 50% and the operative territory of APPCO expands from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates to include also Middle Eastern and Northern African countries of Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen. At the same time APPCO's product range is broadened to include all Huhtamaki Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania business segment's foodservice packaging products.
The revised Shareholders' Agreement relating to APPCO enables Huhtamaki to consolidate the joint venture company as a subsidiary in the Group's financial reporting as of April 1, 2016. As a result of the transaction, a non-recurring gain of approximately EUR 8 million will be booked in the second quarter of 2016 in the Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania business segment. The additional shares are acquired at a price of approximately EUR 4 million.
APPCO is a joint venture company between Huhtamaki and OSHCO, operating in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia since 1985. The annual net sales of the company in 2015 were app. EUR 24 million. Earlier Huhtamaki ownership in APPCO was 40%. With the expansion of the joint venture relationship Huhtamaki continues to implement its growth strategy and strengthens its position in Middle-East and North Africa.
For further information, please contact:
Jukka Moisio, CEO, tel. +358 10 686 7801
Thomas Geust, CFO, tel. +358 10 686 7880
HUHTAMÄKI OYJ
Group Communications
Huhtamaki is a global specialist in packaging for food and drink. With our network of 71 manufacturing units and 23 sales offices in 34 countries, we're well placed to support our customers' growth wherever they operate. Mastering three distinctive packaging technologies, approximately 15,800 employees develop and make packaging that helps great products reach more people, more easily. In 2015 our net sales totaled EUR 2.7 billion. The Group has its head office in Espoo, Finland and the parent company Huhtamäki Oyj is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. Additional information is available at www.huhtamaki.com.