Owens-Illinois,
Inc.,
the world's largest glass container manufacturer, announced
the acquisition of VDL Company, a single-furnace glass container plant in Vergeze, France,
effective August 1, 2011. The acquisition is the result of a new strategic
relationship with Nestlé Waters, the world's leading bottled water company. The
Vergeze plant is located near Nestlé Waters' Perrier bottling facility and has
a long-standing supply relationship with the bottler. Under the terms of the
acquisition agreement, O-I will become the leading supplier of glass bottles
for the Perrier brand, as well as Nestlé Waters' other water brands worldwide.
O-I announced the intent to acquire the Vergeze plant in
November 2010, pending the completion of a restructuring plan to bring the
facility's costs in line with those of other O-I Europe plants. O-I will pay
approximately $15 million related to the acquisition of the Vergeze plant,
which employs 132 people.
