INTERVIEW: RPC Eyes Return To Growth Following Restructuring

By Jason Douglas Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES LONDON (Dow Jones)--Plastic packaging maker RPC Group PLC (RPC.LN) said Wednesday it is eyeing a return to growth now a broad restructuring program is approaching its end. Chief Executive Ron Marsh told Dow Jones Newswires that Northamptonshire, England-based RPC, which makes plastic bottles and containers for food, personal care products and chemicals, is examining opportunities for both organic and acquisitive growth. Marsh said RPC's customers, which include multinationals like Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT) and Nestle SA (NESN.VX), are preparing to launch new products that need packaging and are expanding sales of existing brands into new markets. He added the company is also examining acquisitions to add to growth. Marsh said some of RPC's peers are owned by private equity firms eager to sell up. Others have struggled during the downturn, he added. Marsh said RPC will examine acquisitions that offer the opportunity to consolidate packaging supply to customers or expand overseas to regions like South America and the Far East. RPC had GBP225 million of undrawn credit at the end of March, which it could call on if needed to help fund deals, said Marsh. The company reported a return to fiscal-year profit Wednesday due to a broad, ongoing restructuring scheduled to end next March. -By Jason Douglas, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9272; jason.douglas@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 16, 2010 04:18 ET (08:18 GMT)