MaxVIL to enter into a JV with Toppan Printing, Japan, for Max Speciality Films

The respective Boards of Max Speciality Films (MSF) and Max Ventures and Industries Limited (MaxVIL) have approved the induction of Toppan Printing, Japan (Toppan) as a joint venture partner with a 49% stake in MaxVIL’s flagship manufacturing business - MSF.

The new partnership with Toppan, a multinational corporation with interests in Information & Communication, Living & Industry, and Electronics, will help strengthen the speciality films business and serve as a testimony of MaxVIL’s commitment to expanding its manufacturing business.

Established in 1900, Toppan (Market Cap of US$ 6.8 bn) will serve as a strategic partner in MSF and share their expertise in managing a global speciality films business, as well as, leverage their global sales network. Under this partnership, Toppan, which is a large global buyer of BOPP products (MSF’s key offering), will also serve as a customer of MSF.

As part of the partnership, Toppan will invest approximately INR 200 crore, through a combination of primary and secondary share issuance. The investment by Toppan is subject to customary closing conditions, including but not limited to shareholder or other approval(s).

MSF has undertaken key expansion efforts in the past 12-18 months. The MSF Board last year approved an investment of INR 250 crore to set-up its 5th BOPP line, which will help augment production capacity by a significant 60% to over 70,000 tons per annum. A substantial portion of the proceeds from this transaction will be utilized for MSF’s on-going capacity expansion.

The transaction will also result in MaxVIL’s treasury corpus growing to INR 290 crore, including the expected capital infusion of INR 148 crore from the New York Life subsidiary and MaxVIL promoters, announced in January 2017.

Speaking of the investment,  Analjit Singh, Founder & Chairman Emeritus of the Max Group and Chairman of MaxVIL said, “We are delighted to welcome Toppan to an already illustrious set of joint venture partners in the Max Group, which includes Japan-based Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, South Africa’s Life Healthcare and Bupa Finance from the UK. I am confident that their partnership and strategic support will play an instrumental role in setting MSF’s future growth trajectory. We have worked successfully with Japanese companies and are most pleased to continue our friendship with Japan.”

Sahil Vachani, Managing Director of MaxVIL said, “Toppan’s industrial experience of over 100 years, their expansive global sales network and cutting-edge technological capabilities make them an ideal partner for us at this juncture in MSF’s journey. I am confident the partnership will provide us the necessary global market access and technological support to drive long-term growth in new and existing markets.”

Speaking of the development, Shingo Kaneko, President & Representative Director of Toppan Printing, said, “We see enormous opportunity in India and in this business specifically. MSF has emerged as a front-runner in their unwavering commitment towards R&D and constantly innovating and upgrading technology to stay at the top of the leader-board across a wide field of applications from labelling to flexible packaging. We are excited to partner them and help the business scale new heights.”