Gerresheimer Buys Plastic Vials Maker Centor

Advanced healthcare glass and plastic products manufacturer Gerresheimer (Düsseldorf, Germany) has agreed to purchase plastic vial maker Centor (Perrysburg, OH, USA) for USD 725 million in cash.

Gerresheimer is a leading global partner to the pharmacetical and healthcare industries specializing in glass and plastic products. The comprehensive product portfolio includes safe drug-delivery systems such as insulin pens, inhalers, pre-fillable syringes, vials, ampoules, bottles and containers for liquid and solid pharmaceuticals with closure and safety systems, as well as cosmetic packaging products. The deal is designed to extend Gerresheimer’s footprint by leveraging Centor’s position as the leading manufacturer of plastic vials and closures for oral drugs in the United States.

Centor, which will be integrated in the plastics and devices division of Gerresheimer, manufactures the Screw-Loc child resistant package, an industry standard for over 40 years, and the 1-Clic vial for dispensed medications, which opens easily with minimal tab pressure and a slight turn, emitting an audible "click" to ensure it is properly secured. The US prescription industry is structured around the “pour-and-count” system, whereby the exact number of prescribed oral drugs is delivered in secure plastic vials.

“Centor is the highly profitable market leader for plastic vials and closures in the prescription retail market,” said Uwe Röhrhoff, CEO of Gerresheimer. “This is a perfect fit to extend our product offering from packaging of parenterals to the packaging of oral drugs in the United States. We expect that this acquisition will increase shareholder value significantly.”

“We are happy to join the Gerresheimer Group with its high expertise in primary pharmaceutical packaging,” said Paul Arsenault, president of Centor. “In the future we will contribute to Gerresheimer’s success with our market leadership in the North American prescription plastic vial retail market.”

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