The US Federal Trade Commission in July announced it had filed a complaint aimed at stopping Ardagh’s acquisition of the Verallia North America (VNA) unit, which makes jam jars and drinks bottles for the US market.
Ardagh said that if the VNA deal went ahead, it would sell the four glass container manufacturing plants to a single buyer to create a “strong, viable competitor for the manufacture and sale of glass containers in the United States, in particular in the beer and spirits sectors”.
The four plants are Ardagh facilities in Florida and Georgia and VNA facilities in Illinois and North Carolina.
In a statement, Ardagh said: “The manufacturing capacity of the standalone business is equivalent to more than 100% of Ardagh’s existing beer business and more than 100% of VNA’s existing spirits business.
“Ardagh is currently defending its acquisition of VNA in litigation with the Federal Trade Commission. Whilst Ardagh firmly believes that its acquisition of VNA, as originally structured, is fully consistent with the antitrust laws, it is very clear that the amended transaction would more than overcome any possible regulatory concerns.”
