SMC firms up overseas packaging business

MANILA, Philippines - Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has firmed up its packaging business overseas with the acquisition of an Australian supplier of wine bottle closures and customized bottles.

In a statement, SMC said its international packaging business San Miguel Yamamura Packaging International Ltd (SMYPIL) has completed the purchase of Vinocor Worldwide Direct Pty. Ltd.

The acquisition was done through SMYPIL’s new Australian subsidiary, SMYV Pty Ltd.

“The acquisition will enable our packaging business to tap the expanding premium wine markets in Australia and New Zealand. Vinocor will complement our current packaging operations, the Cospak Group, in both countries,” SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang said.

Vinocor is the leading provider of wine bottle closures and customized bottles in Australia.

Through its facilities and operations in Adelaide, South Australia, Vinocor’s product portfolio includes cork, screw caps, customized glass bottles and champagne hoods and capsules.

San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corp. (SMYPC), SMC’s packaging unit, is the biggest packaging company in the country and also operates facilities in China, Malaysia and Vietnam through SMYPIL.

SMYPC and SMYPIL are both joint venture firms between SMC and Nihon Yamamura Glass Co. Ltd. of Japan.

Aside from the packaging business, SMC operates food, beverage, beer and liquor businesses through units San Miguel Pure Foods Co. Inc., San Miguel Brewery Inc., and Ginebra San Miguel Inc.

The conglomerate is also behind leading oil player Petron, SMC Global Power, and infrastructure projects, namely the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), the NAIA Expressway, Skyway Stage 3, the Star Tollway upgrade, and Boracay Airport project.