Sealed Air to sell Diversey Care to Bain Capital for $3.2 billion




Sealed Air said it would sell its cleaning and chemicals systems division, Diversey Care, and its food hygiene and cleaning business to Bain Capital Private Equity for about $3.2 billion, as it focuses on its higher-margin businesses.

The food hygiene and cleaning business, which is part of Sealed Air's food care division, and Diversey Care together will be called New Diversey, the company said on Monday.

New Diversey generated net sales of about $2.6 billion in 2016.

The Diversey Care business has been weighed down by a strong dollar and a slowdown in some of its end-markets.

Sealed Air acquired Diversey in 2011 from its controlling shareholders, the Johnson family and private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, in a $4.3 billion cash and stock deal.

Charlotte, North Carolina-based Sealed Air said on Monday it would use the proceeds to repay debt, repurchase shares, maintain its net leverage ratio in the range of 3.5-4.0 times and fund core growth initiatives.

Reuters earlier this month reported that Sealed Air was in talks to sell Diversey Care.

The deal, which is expected to close in the second half of this year, would allow Sealed Air to focus on its food, product and medical packaging businesses.

Sealed Air's portfolio includes the Cryovac food packaging brand and cushioning brand Bubble Wrap.

Citi is the financial adviser to Sealed Air and Barclays and RBC Capital Markets were Bain Capital's financial advisers.

