Fortaleza Capital acted as exclusive corporate finance adviser to P. Van De Velde Group in the acquisition of Wesly Printing & Packaging

About Wesly Printing & Packaging: Wesly Printing & Packaging, established in 1858, expanded from a small family-run business to a solid market player in the packaging industry with a strong reputation. Wesly, based in Maastricht (the Netherlands), operates state-of-the-art machinery and is specialised in the manufacture of cardboard products for both the food and non-food sector for its extensive customer base in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

Wesly Printing & Packaging adds 60 employees, 3,000 tons of packaging and ca. €10 million in turnover to P. Van De Velde Group.

About P. Van De Velde Group: P. Van De Velde Group is a family-owned business with a long-term growth strategy and an expansionary investment policy. Businesses within the group are led with considerable autonomy and leeway for local entrepreneurship while also benefiting from the support of centralised services. P. Van De Velde Group processes some 50,000 tonnes of packaging annually.

Van De Velde Packaging is the folding carton department within P. Van De Velde Group and is active in Lichtervelde (Belgium), Kruishoutem (Belgium), Eerbeek (the Netherlands) and Maastricht (the Netherlands). The folded carton packaging is mainly distributed throughout the food, drink and healthcare markets. In addition, P. Van De Velde produces solid carton packaging in its factory in Wetteren (Belgium) and in Poznan (Poland).

Set for Further Growth: Due to the complementary portfolios, the acquisition of Wesly Printing & Packaging shortly after the acquisition of Royal Schut strengthens Van De Velde Packaging’s position in Europe, and within the Dutch market in particular. Importantly, it offers the group new opportunities to embrace the market shift toward folding carton packaging and folding plastic packaging.

Ron van Gog, previous owner and director of Wesly Printing & Packaging, on the transaction: “I’m very enthusiastic about the opportunities that this will provide to our company. The complementarity with Royal Schut, international client portfolio and ambitions of P. Van De Velde Group will enable us to achieve our growth objectives.”

Wesly’s production facility will continue to operate in the present form and at the same location in Maastricht (the Netherlands). Wesly’s current management team, led by Ron van Gog, will remain responsible for daily business operations.