December 10, 2024 – A&M Capital Strategic Investments (“AMCSI”) is pleased to announce a minority investment in Groupe SPHERE (“SPHERE” or the “Company”), the European leader in sustainable household packaging, alongside majority investor Hivest Capital Partners S.A.S. (“Hivest Capital”), an independent European private equity firm. AMCSI and Hivest are making the investment in partnership with the Persenda family, SPHERE’s executives, and employee shareholders. AMCSI’s partnership in SPHERE follows other investments made by A&M Capital funds in the packaging industry, including Carton Pack, ProAmpac, and STOK.
Founded in 1976, SPHERE is a French family-owned group known for its commitment to sustainable packaging, with approximately 70% of its sales derived from recycled or compostable bio-based materials. As a leading European provider of household packaging, SPHERE manufactures and distributes a broad range of products for consumer, professional, and public sector markets. Its offerings include waste bags, collection bags, fruit and vegetable bags, freezer bags, cooking bags, reusable shopping bags, films and papers for food and non-food contact, aluminum trays and rolls, disposable tableware, and containers for take-away food, among others.
SPHERE’s development strategy focuses on creating packaging solutions for future generations, with key objectives to:
With 15 production sites across Europe, including seven in France, and an annual production capacity of 235,000 tons of films and bags, SPHERE generated sales close to €800 million in 2023 and employs over 1,600 people. This capital reconfiguration enables SPHERE to accelerate its ambitious development plan, strengthening its position as a leader in its European markets and facilitating potential external growth opportunities.
About AMCSI
AMCSI, with total commitments under management of ~$635 million, is A&M Capital’s dedicated active minority investment strategy focused on partnering with middle market private equity firms in their core areas of expertise. AMCSI leverages the experience of its dealmaking professionals and its exclusive and strategic association with A&M Consulting’s market-leading private equity services business to generate deal flow from multiple proprietary origination channels and to facilitate value-added partnership. AMCSI’s investments span a variety of industries, supporting companies with sustainable growth and value creation objectives.
About Alvarez & Marsal Capital
Alvarez & Marsal Capital is a multi-strategy private equity investment firm with approximately $5.9 billion in commitments under management across its funds and accounts. The firm is led by a highly experienced investment team, which is augmented by a strategic association with Alvarez & Marsal (“A&M”), one of the largest operationally-focused advisory firms in the world. Alvarez & Marsal Capital combines a focus on middle-market private equity investing, with deep operational expertise, industry knowledge and global corporate relationships, making Alvarez & Marsal Capital an attractive partner to management teams and business owners. Alvarez & Marsal Capital is headquartered in Greenwich, CT with offices in Los Angeles, CA and London, England. For more information, visit www.a-mcapital.com.
About SPHERE
Founded in 1976, SPHERE is a French family-owned group and the European leader in household packaging, as well as one of the world’s top producers of bio-based compostable materials for films and bags.
For more information: https://www.sphere.eu
About Hivest Capital Partners
Hivest Capital Partners is an independent European private equity firm authorized by the Financial Markets Authority. Specializing in buyout and expansion projects, Hivest Capital invests in mid-sized businesses with revenues between €100 million and €1 billion, aiming to help them reach their full potential through operational improvements and ambitious growth strategies.
For more information: https://hivestcapital.com
