DLA Piper has advised the international beverage can producer, Ardagh, on the acquisition of production sites in Europe, Brazil and the United States for USD 3.42 billion from US-based Ball Corporation and the British company Rexam.

Ardagh is a globally active manufacturer of glass and metal packaging for the food and beverage industry. With 19,000 employees at 89 locations the company most recently generated a turnover of 5.2 billion euros. Rexam is a London listed packaging manufacturer and beverage can producer with approximately 8,500 employees in 23 countries. The US industrial group Ball Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of recyclable beverage containers. The company is listed at the New York Stock Exchange and employs approximately 14,550 people.

In the course of the transaction, Ardagh acquired 22 production sites from Ball Corporation and Rexam. In addition, Ball will sell several corporate and support functions to Ardagh. The current transaction is regarded as a strategic step on the way to an anticipated merger of the two market leaders.

In Austria, Ardagh was represented by Christoph Mager, M&A partner and Head of the Corporate practice at DLA Piper's Vienna office. He was supported by counsel Johanna Höltl (Corporate) and senior associate Christian Stuppnig (Employment, both Vienna).

Christoph said: "Advising the client within this global and complex structure was exciting and challenging at the same time. I am pleased that our internationally experienced team was able contribute to the desired result."