Vienna, Austria-based Mondi Packaging is the new name for the recently merged Frantschach AG and its sister group Mondi Packaging. The two European converting operations are also reorganizing into five divisions for paper, corrugated, bags, flexibles and coating products. The new Mondi Packaging will now convert materials in 124 plants worldwide, with its largest teams in Austria, Germany, the UK and Poland. Overall, it has a workforce of 14,000 employees and annual sales of about US$3 billion.

Manila, The Philipines-based San Miguel Corp. acquires the packaging business of Malaysian firm Guolene Packaging Industries Berhad. The buy will boost not only the company's packaging portfolio but also its presence in the Malaysian market, the company says. The acquisition, valued at US$35 million, is consistent with San Miguel's strategy to become one of the major food, beverage and packaging firms in the Asia-Pacific region. The deal will also transform its packaging division, San Miguel Packaging Products (SMPP), into a regional flex-pack converter, San Miguel Corp. says.