'Baring Asia' snaps up HCP Packaging

Private equity firm TPG Capital Management sold on the packaging supplier, known for working with L'Oreal, Revlon and Shiseido just before the New Year rang in, returning $1.55 billion to investors in 2015, according to Reuters.

The acquisition, made official in December is one of fourteen deals the equity firm managed to close across eight Asian countries despite the volatile market.

TPG established its presence in Asia in 1994 in an effort to tap into opportunities in high-growth markets.

By 2012, it had acquired HCP from the Chen family through its 'Asia V fund'.

A look at HCP's expansion efforts in Asia in recent years..​

In 2013, the cosmetics packaging manufacturer announced its' plans to carry out expansions in China as it had already established a “brain trust” ​in the area, and with an aim of doubling its sales of more than $200m over the next five years.

Company reps revealed the goal at the time was to target markets in the AP region and further invest in Europe, which is the only major geographic zone it has yet to establish a facility in.

At the time, CEO Eddy Wu noted that HCP was looking at options besides adding manufacturing capacity in Europe and expanding its Chinese plant, as well as moving into other geographic regions.

He commented: “Adding European manufacturing would certainly help HCP’s competitiveness. However, this is not the only option. We also look at potentially going into other product categories while we are looking…into other geography. At this point, we have many options.”​

By 2014, HCP opened its fourth China based plant, the second in Luzhi County, Suzhou which company reps reported as dedicated to house injection, coating, metallisation, printing, final assembly and quality lab/testing. 

The chairman of company's board along with senior management were among forty five participants attending the ceremony that included employee representatives from both the Shanghai and Suzhou plants.

Chairman Steve Schneider, inspired by the state-of-art design and lean layout of the facility, said HCP's results justified the decision of the board in 2014 to expand capacity and invest in the building.

Following the ribbon cutting Schneider expressed his excitement at the five-month fast track construction of the new plant and that he firmly believed the new platform offered by 'Suzhou no.2' can better serve HCP's customers in areas like delivery, quality and quick-response times.

He also emphasised that; "growth’ and technology will be the key competitive edges for HCP’s future and the whole management will continue to support these initiative."​