Selling Two Business Units for 2.5 Trillion Won: German Packaging Company Focuses on Core Businesses

German pharmaceutical packaging specialist Gerresheimer is pursuing a strategic restructuring focused on higher-value businesses by selling two business units for approximately 2.55 trillion won.

According to U.S. biotech publication Fierce Pharma on the 3rd (local time), Gerresheimer agreed to sell its Centor US Holding and Primary Packaging Plastics business units to private equity group Apax Partners. The Centor sale is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, while the sale of the Primary Packaging Plastics business is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

The sales are part of Gerresheimer’s ongoing corporate restructuring. The company reported a net loss of 318.7 million euros (approximately 541.8 billion won) in 2025, swinging to a loss from net income of 84 million euros (approximately 142.8 billion won) the previous year.

An investigation by Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), excessive debt resulting from mergers and acquisitions, and declining demand for some products were cited as causes of the deterioration in its finances.

Uwe Röhrhoff, Gerresheimer’s chief executive officer (CEO), said in a statement, “These transactions will enable us to regain strategic flexibility,” adding, “As a global partner to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, we will further focus our business on higher-value drug delivery systems, medical devices and primary packaging for injectable products.”

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Wolf Lehmann added, “The proceeds from the sales will be used to reduce the company’s overall debt,” and said they “will mark an important milestone in optimizing our capital and financing structure.”

Centor, one of the businesses being sold, is based in Ohio and was acquired by Gerresheimer in 2015 for $725 million (approximately 1.0875 trillion won). The Primary Packaging Plastics business operates 15 production facilities in nine countries.