Combined group serves diverse customer base of 3,500 clients in the Multi-Billion Dollar US rigid packaging distribution industry

Reflects Investcorp's strategy of enhancing the value of portfolio companies

Manama, 05 April 2010 - Investcorp, the asset management firm specialising in alternative investments, announced today that its US portfolio company, Berlin Packaging, a leading full-service supplier of plastic, glass, and metal containers and closures, has acquired All-Pak, Inc., a US-based rigid packaging supplier.

Bringing together these two world-class suppliers of rigid packaging products and services, will increase Berlin's market share by more than 40%. This transaction also solidifies Berlin's position as the second largest company in the multi-billion dollar wholesale packaging distribution market in the US and creates a company that is three times the size of the next largest competitor in the industry.  Berlin operates in a sector that is expected to see continued growth as its end markets, such as food, beverage, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, have underlying demand that tends to be stable and recession resistant. Berlin's track record also shows organic growth that is faster than that of its industry.

Commenting, Mohammed Al Shroogi, Investcorp's President Gulf Business, said: "This is yet another example of Investcorp's strategy of growing the value of its portfolio companies by investing in excellent add-on acquisitions. It also shows that Investcorp will find opportunities to create value for its investors, even during tough market conditions. 

"Companies in our private equity portfolio, in aggregate, are outperforming the industry.  This is precisely because, in addition to making significant cost savings and operational improvements to see them through difficult times, we've also worked with our companies to pursue growth initiatives through selective acquisitions; particularly as difficult market conditions have resulted in the availability of some interesting acquisition possibilities."

Founded in 1898, Berlin was acquired in 2007 by Investcorp and its investors along with Andrew Berlin, Berlin Packaging's current CEO. Berlin has solid relationships with 3,500 customers of different sizes across diversified markets, as well as long-standing relationships with over 600 packaging suppliers worldwide. It can therefore link smaller customers that lack the scale or volume to source packaging products directly with manufacturers who lack the resources to service effectively these customers of rigid packaging. At the same time, Berlin provides larger customers with packaging products and related services customised to their special needs such as logistics, supply chain management and design. All-Pak will enable Berlin to expand its presence in the attractive Northeast United States as well as address some new and attractive market sectors such as the hazardous goods packaging and laboratory packaging and supplies sectors.

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About Investcorp
Investcorp is a leading provider and manager of alternative investment products. It has offices in New York, London and Bahrain and is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange (IVC) and Bahrain Stock Exchange (INVCORP). Investcorp has five lines of business: private equity, hedge funds, real estate, technology investment and gulf growth capital. Founded in 1982, Investcorp has grown to become one of the largest and most diverse alternative investment managers in terms of both product offerings and geography. As of December 31, 2009 Investcorp had $12.4 billion in total assets under management.  Further information is available at www.investcorp.com. 

About Berlin Packaging
Berlin Packaging is one of North America's largest stocking suppliers of plastic, glass, and metal containers and closures. With 100 salespeople and over 40 sales and warehouse locations across the United States, along with its headquarters in Chicago, Berlin Packaging supplies billions of containers and closures, as well as design, labeling, filling, and sourcing services to companies both small and large. The company serves national and private-label brands in a multitude of markets including personal care, pharmaceutical and health care, food and beverage, chemical and industrial, veterinary, laboratory, and other vital sectors.

For further information:
Investcorp (Bahrain)
Firas El Amine
+973 1753 2000

Brunswick Gulf Ltd
Jeehan Balfaqaih
+971 4 365 8260

© Press Release 2010