US packaging giant gatecrashes £3.3bn deal for East Mids counterpart

An American firm has gatecrashed a proposed £3.3bn move for East Midlands packaging firm RPC Group.

Earlier this month, RPC’s board recommended the deal, which would see it snapped up by New York head-quartered Apollo Global Management, a private equity firm, to its shareholders.

However, US packaging giant Berry Group considering a possible cash offer for the company.

In a statement, RPC said: “RPC confirms that it has received a request for diligence information on the company from Berry. The Board of RPC confirms that it will engage with Berry in order to advance discussions in the interests of delivering best value to shareholders.

“A further announcement will be made when appropriate. There can be no certainty that any offer by Berry will be made for the company, nor as to the terms on which any offer might be made.”

Berry is based in Indiana and employs 23,000 people worldwide.