CCL Custom Manufacturing Europe and Colep have announced plans to merge, creating Europe’s largest contract manufacturer and packer of personal care, cosmetic, OTC pharmaceutical and household products.

The pan-European group would have facilities in Germany, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the UK, with strong links to North America.

The combined sales of Colep-CCL would be some EUR280M. Closing of the deal, expected by late this month, is subject to regulatory approvals. Colep managing director Vitor Neves will head up the operation.

CCL is a contract maker and packer of personal care, OTC, pharmaceutical and household consumer products employing around 500 people in the UK and Germany.

Colep is an aerosol and general industrial tinplate packaging producer and a contract manufacturer of personal care and household consumer products. It employs over 1200 people in the UK, Portugal, Spain and Poland.