SAMCA Group has announced the acquisition of the packaging company Envases Soplados (“ENSO”), part of the portfolio of the private equity firm GED Capital since January 2018.
In January 2018, GED Capital acquired a majority stake in ENSO from its founders. Established in 1989 and with three plants in Andújar (Jaén), Marinha Grande and Lordelo-Guimarães (Portugal), ENSO is the Spanish leader in packaging solutions and has a broad portfolio of customized PET containers for the food sector (excluding beverages), bag-in-box, caps, closures and preforms.
Its containers, mostly manufactured with blow moulding technology, are mainly aimed at the edible oil, honey, vinegar, sauces, cocoa, coffee, spices, cookies, candies and pickles sectors. ENSO's successful business model is based on the high quality of its production and its ability to serve its customers in very short lead times, thanks to its finished product warehouse.
Since GED Capital first invested in the company in January 2018, ENSO's sales have nearly tripled from €22 million to over €60 million expected in 2024. Its employee headcount has increased from 140 to more than 260, thanks to both organic and inorganic growth. ENSO has made four strategic bolt-on acquisitions in recent years: Envases Plásticos Alimenticios Iberia and Plásticos Jaén in Spain, and Espaçoplas and Vertical Bag in Portugal.
The company has also made a significant effort to reinforce its commitment to sustainability and environment. On the one hand, in 2020 it adapted its facilities and production processes to produce bottles made from recycled raw materials (rPET). In 2023, it also completed the installation of photovoltaic panels with a capacity of approximately 4 MWp, which enabled it to cover 20% of its total energy demand, both at its facilities in Andújar and in Marinha Grande in Portugal. And in 2023 it launched an innovative line of eco-sustainable packaging which needs up to 30% less plastic and is made of 100% recyclable materials.
The transaction will enable SAMCA Group to consolidate a packaging business division that is fully vertically integrated in the PET value chain. Up until today, the company owned two industrial complexes in Barbastro (Huesca) and Fuenlabrada (Madrid). From this moment onwards, the business will be clearly strengthened given the productive, logistical and commercial synergies that the Group expects to generate through this acquisition.
