Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12012 – MADISON DEARBORN PARTNERS / SCHOELLER GROUP) – Candidate case for simplified procedure
Date: 2025-06-05
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, food industry, industrial production, investment company, merger control, motor vehicle industry, packaging product, plastics industry, retail trade








C_202503175EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2025/3175


5.6.2025






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.12012 – MADISON DEARBORN PARTNERS / SCHOELLER GROUP)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(C/2025/3175)


1.   
On 26 May 2025, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).
This notification concerns the following undertakings:






—


Intelligent Packaging Sub Limited Partnership (‘IPL Parent’ together with its subsidiaries, ‘IPL’, Canada), controlled by Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC (‘MDP’, United States),










—


Schoeller Packaging B.V. (the Netherlands), Schoeller Rental B.V. (the Netherlands) and Schoeller Allibert GmbH (Germany) (together the ‘Schoeller Group’) controlled by funds managed and/or advised by Brookfiled Corporation and/or its affiliates (United States).




MDP will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of the Schoeller Group.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are the following:






—


MDP is a US-based private equity investment firm focusing on investments in basic industries, financial services, healthcare and technology & government globally,










—


Schoeller Group is a European manufacturer of returnable plastic packaging for material handling. The Schoeller Group offers a range of standard and tailor-made returnable plastic packaging solutions including foldable containers, beverage crates and trays, handheld boxes, and pallets. Its customers include those active in the automotive, beverage, food, industrial manufacturing, pooling and retail sectors globally.






3.   
On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.
Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified treatment for certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.


4.   
The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed concentration to the Commission.
Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:
M.12012 – MADISON DEARBORN PARTNERS / SCHOELLER GROUP
Observations can be sent to the Commission by email or by post. Please use the contact details below:
Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

Postal address:





European Commission




Directorate-General for Competition




Merger Registry




1049 Bruxelles/Brussel




BELGIQUE/BELGIË







(1)  
            OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

(2)  
            OJ C 160, 5.5.2023, p. 1.


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/3175/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)