By Soyoung Kim and Greg Roumeliotis
NEW YORK, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Private equity firm AEAInvestors is nearing an agreement to buy packaging equipmentcompany Pro Mach Inc for around $1 billion, according to peoplefamiliar with the matter, the latest in a series of privateequity deals in the packaging sector.
Loveland, Ohio-based Pro Mach provides packaging products,including bottle-capping machinery and labeling equipment, forfood and drink, pharmaceutical, consumer goods and industrialcompanies.
The people asked not to be named because the matter is notpublic. Representatives for AEA Investors and Pro Mach did notrespond to requests for comment. Jordan Co, the New York-basedbuyout firm that owns Pro Mach, also did not respond to requestsfor comment.
Reuters reported in May that Jordan was working withBarclays Plc to prepare a sale. Jordan and some membersof Pro Mach's management team acquired the company in 2011 fromOdyssey Investment Partners LLC, another private equity firm,for an undisclosed amount. (Reporting by Soyoung Kim and Greg Roumeliotis in New York.Editing by Andre Grenon)