Article: Bemis buying Rio Tinto food packaging division $1.2 billion deal could mean market dominance

With its largest acquisition ever, Neenah-based Bemis Co. could become the world's dominant maker of plastic wrap used in the food industry.

The company, which makes flexible plastic wrap for foods such as steaks and cheese, has agreed to pay $1.2 billion in cash and stock for the U.S. food packaging business of Rio Tinto PLC, an Australian mining company.

The deal is expected to close by the end of the year, Bemis said Monday. It could increase the company's sales by 40% and increase its share of the global food packaging market to 70% from 57% at a time when rivals are struggling in the recession.

It boosts the company's "critical mass" in the packaging business for only a modest amount of ...

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