Acquired by IPL Global, Bright Green Plastics Eyes on Growing Its Recycling Power

 IPL Global, a Canada-based plastic packaging manufacturer, has acquired Bright Green Plastics that recycles around 40,000 tonnes of the UK’s plastic waste every year. The acquisition was made from American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC), a US-based global investment firm. Following the acquisition, Bright Green Plastics eyes on growing its recycling power with more opportunities in the industry for a sustainable earth.

Bright Green Plastics is a Yorkshire-based plastic reprocessing and recycling firm with an aim to contribute to the global economy with its waste solutions. The firm began as a Linpac Group. Subsidiary in 1992 and established itself as a reputed name in the plastics processing industry. AIAC acquired it in 2019 to reform its business operations and financial value by proving various investment opportunities in the sector. Its current name “Bright Green Plastics” was given by the chairman and founder of the AIAC Group Leonard Levie to reform the firm's business valuation and identity.

AIAC’s reforms have shown the positives as Bright Green Plastics is now looking to grow its recycling prowess with a six-figure investment in a plastic sorting plant. The company will use a whopping sun of £750,000 to upgrade its facility with new ground-breaking machinery for washing and extruding to make the post-consumer waste solution more efficient. The firm has also received a £6m funding facility from Bibby Financial Services for expanding its operations in entire Europe.

After acquisition from AIAC, IPL global has made its plans very clear with Bright Green Plastics. IPL global is looking to increase the recycling capabilities and capacity of the firm by investing in new equipment and innovative projects. It aims to supply high-quality recycled products and compounds to consumers in many sectors. Bright Green Plastics uses state-of-the-art recycling and manufacturing processes to transform post-consumer plastic waste into usable recycled compounds.

Ian Farquhar, IPL Global UK managing director, said: “We are delighted to have Bright Green Plastics as part of our network of businesses. Our shared values, coupled with impressive breakthroughs in the development of recycled polymer formulas for a wide variety of applications, means that together we can offer sustainable solutions the market is looking for." IPL Global completed the acquisition of Bright Green Plastics from American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC) on 8 December.

Following the acquisition, Bright Green Plastics’ general manager Steve Spencer, said, “This acquisition will provide the global assistance to accelerate significant technical developments, ensuring as much recycled plastic as possible is ploughed back into the manufacturing cycle while lessening reliance on virgin plastic.” Mr. Spencer said, “Anyone that comes across our business knows we are passionate about plastic recycling.

White House Recommends Strategies to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers to Enhance Supply Chain Security and Resiliency in the USA

 White House releases a report on June 8, 2021, which consolidates supply chain assessments for industrial manufacturing advanced packaging, high-capacity batteries, critical and strategic defense materials, and pharmaceutical ingredients in the USA. The report, entitled Building Resilient Supply Chains, Revitalizing American Manufacturing, and Fostering Broad-Based Growth, evaluates supply chain vulnerabilities in America’s supply chain and proposes policies and strategies to different departments in this post, we will focus on recommendations made to the Department of Health and Human Services for pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

The report highlights an approach in terms of international cooperation and partnerships to enhance supply chain security and resiliency in the country. It is essential to strengthen the United States' national and economic security and technological leadership. According to this report, the following factors contribute to supply chain vulnerabilities in the country across all sectors:

·         Insufficient U.S. manufacturing capacity

·         The current U.S. investment market is rewarding to firms for quality, sustainability, or long-term productivity. The market is focused on maximizing short-term capital returns, which results in long-term resilience.

·         U.S Domestic competitiveness has declined due to underinvestment in the domestic industrial base.

·         Key supply chains are concentrated in nations like India and China due to geographical and demographical advantages

·         Underinvestment in international diplomatic efforts for supply chain security

The report acknowledges that the U.S. is lagging in domestic manufacturing and cannot produce all necessary products. The country should focus on expanding domestic manufacturing with supplement efforts and international cooperation to enhance supply chain security and resilience.

What’s there for Pharmaceuticals and APIs in the report

The review of pharmaceuticals and APIs for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) primarily focused on the supply chain for therapeutic biological products and small-molecule drugs. it doesn’t focus on supply chains for blood products, vaccines, cell therapies, and their APIs.

In its review, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) identifies the following features to establish a robust pharmaceutical supply chain for a long-term plan:

·         High-quality product manufacturing

·         Supply chain diversification

·         Supply chain redundancy

·         A flexible supply chain structure to meet supply and demands 

The HHS’s review prioritizes two objectives that need to be addressed in order to improve the reliability of pharmaceutical and API supply chains in the U.S. market.

·         To improve supply chain transparency and incentivize resilience for the quality of drug manufacturing.

·         To increase the economic sustainability of drug manufacturing and distribution to provide predictability in productions and demands. 

The HHS feels the need for a rigorous assessment of benefits and costs across the healthcare system, encouragement stakeholders for domestic investments, and market-based mechanisms to provide a more sustainable and resilient supply chain for pharmaceutical and APIs.

HHS sets a strategic approach through some recommendations to promote domestic growth, equity, and resilience in the pharmaceutical supply chain. The Department of Health and Human Services feels that there is a need for collaboration with the federal government, the private sector, and other non-governmental stakeholders to:

·         Boost Local Production and Fostering International Cooperation

·         Build Emergency Capacity

·         Promote International Cooperation

Pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution companies should monitor these reviews and recommendations in order to enhance supply chain capability, security, and resiliency for overall growth. These companies should look for financial and market opportunities through investment and disinvestments in partnership with firms seeking to invest and build underperforming and non-core manufacturing and distribution companies with advanced manufacturing technologies. 

American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC), a global investment firm based in New York and founded by Leonard M. Levie, seeks to invest in the pharmaceutical sectors through acquisition opportunities to meet the financial commitments of underperforming companies. It is a great opportunity for pharmaceutical manufacturing companies to restructure and rebuild themselves through a disinvestment process to enhance supply chain security and resiliency in the U.S.

What does it mean to streamline the manufacturing and packaging of OSDs for pharma companies?

 The pharmaceutical industry has already been under immense pressure to reduce drug development timelines and related costs long before the pandemic. However, with the rise of the Covid-19 pandemic, challenges have gotten even more difficult for the industry. That’s why many medicine developers are choosing to manufacture and package oral solid dose (OSD) with the help of contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs). 

What Makes CMOs for OSD Manufacturing and Packaging a Cost-effective Choice?

Many drug development challenges, like the more complex nature of new molecules and their bioavailability, formulation, stability, manufacturability, and scalability make the production of OSDs even more complicated. CMOs not only brings expertise in manufacturing of OSDs but also offers the advantages of access to advanced technology, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, formulation ideas, and processing innovations to pharmaceutical companies.

However, in general, pharmaceutical companies outsource their OSD manufacturing and packaging projects to two different contract manufacturing organizations. It is because most CMOs handle either OSD manufacturing or OSD packaging but not both. While this is a viable solution to get the manufacturing and packaging of OSD products done cost-effectively, outsourcing these operations to two different CMOs has its own drawbacks. 

Why collaborating with two CMOs for OSD manufacturing and packaging is not the best solution?

Understandably, working with CMOs to manufacture and package your OSD products sounds like a good solution as you get the benefit of their expertise and cutting-edge technology they are equipped with at a fraction of the cost. But, connecting with two different CMOs also means you will need two different partners for management and two different supply chains.

In addition, the drug manufacturing company is required to mediate product transfer to another CMO. This, in turn, only adds to the time and cost of bringing OSD products to the market. 

The best solution to eliminate the need for two managing partners and different supply chains and reduce the cost and time of supplying the market with desired OSD products is to seek a contract manufacturing company that offers both - manufacturing and packaging solutions for OSD products.

Is there any CMO that offers manufacturing and packaging solutions for OSD in one place?

Yes. Undeniably, the complexity of the supply chain and associated issues has been brought into the brighter spotlight by the pandemic. The best way for pharmaceutical companies to weather this public health crisis is to integrate their supply chains to at least some degree. 

Working with a single CMO that complies with GMP requirements for both manufacturing and packaging of OSDs at a single site is the best solution for drug companies to streamline their operations and optimize their resources for each project. It will help drug and pharmaceutical companies to get their OSD products faster to the market and ultimately to patients in need at more affordable rates.

Avara Pharmaceutical Services is an esteemed CMO based in Norman, Oklahama where manufacturing and packaging of oral solid dose (OSD) drug products are done under the management of one integrated team. The company’s Chairman and Director, “Leonard Levie” aims to tackle the current challenges and better prepare for a better future. The same vision he likes to imbibe in the culture of the companies he is a key part of. 

Consequently, Avara, supported by a strong safety, health, and environmental system along with Lean Six Sigma methodologies, brings a wealth of expertise and industry knowledge in various operations such as supply chain, commercialization, and technical transfer for faster and affordable production of advanced medicines.

This means collaborating with Avara enables pharma companies around the world to overcome their challenges and address the patients’ medical needs while reducing the overall cost.

AIAC’s Bright Green Plastics Acquired by a Global Sustainable Packaging Solution Provider

 The importance of plastic recycling is greater than ever as it reduces the harmful impact on the environment by lowering the need for extracting, refining, and processing raw materials. Since recycling saves energy, it also helps reduce the emission of greenhouse gases responsible for climate change. Besides, it also minimizes our need for producing and using virgin plastic.

When leaders of the industry are seen working in this direction, it sets a great example for others as well. One such instance is the recent acquisition of Bright Green Plastics that has been smartly fortified by Leonard M. Levie. 

Bright Green Plastics, the leading British reprocessing firm, has recently been acquired by the Irish multinational IPL Global from the American Industrial Acquisition Group (AIAC). This buy-out of the West Yorkshire firm is exciting endeavor as the company will enable its new owner - IPL Global - to offer a full recycling service. The plant will allow the Irish company to sort mixed plastics and 3D materials collected from curbside recycling programs by polymer type and color.

As of now, Bright Green Plastics is recorded to handle 40,000 tonnes of plastic every year and is operated with a strong workforce that consists of skilled 130 employees. The good news is that the company will not only contribute towards better environmental health but also continue to be managed under the existing management team. Meaning, the employees’ jobs are safe, which is often a big concern during an acquisition. 

Bright Green Plastics came into existence as a plastic packaging company in 1992. At that time, it was called Linpac Plastics Recycling and operated as a subsidiary of the LINPAC Group. Later, in 2019, the company was acquired by Leonard M. Levie - the founder of American Industrial Acquisition Group (AIAC) and got rebranded as Bright Green Plastics in 2020.

In June 2020, the company announced a £750,000 investment in its plastic sorting plant to upgrade its facility. Last summer, under the new leadership, the company also won Plastics Recycling Business of the Year at the letsrecycle.com Awards for Excellence. Its plant in Castleford specializes in the recycling of PP and HDPE plastics that are sourced from household waste and commercial products. 

During the acquisition, General Manager Steve Spencer who joined Bright Green Plastics in 2019, said “Anyone that comes across our business knows we are passionate about plastic recycling”. He also added that this acquisition will provide the global assistance to accelerate significant technical developments, ensuring as much recycled plastic as possible is ploughed back into the manufacturing cycle, whilst lessening reliance on virgin plastic.

On the other hand, IPL Global’s UK Managing Director, Ian Farquhar expressed his delight by sharing that it’s this passion and commitment to innovation that fascinated them to Bright Green Plastics and said that this new addition will contribute to ongoing growth and success. 

This acquisition is a stellar example of how great leaders like Leonard M. Levie see potential in small businesses and how they set to see a tremendous growth when fueled with needed funds and strategic planning.

Leonard M. Levie Not Just Acquires Businesses But Also Takes Care of Employees

 When a business doesn’t perform well or make enough profits to survive longer, it stands on the edge of falling apart. Not taking the right step before things get worse means not only leading the business to utter failure but also leaving its employees stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Most often, when an acquisition occurs, employees start immediately worrying about what will happen to their jobs. Many acquirers let go of old employees; however, with well-thought strategies, employees can be retained. One great example of humane acquisition is Leonard M. Levie. 

What makes Leonard M. Levie a better acquirer than others?

Leonard M. Levie is the famous name in the United States as an esteemed founder of the AIAC Group, American Industrial Acquisition Company, and Its Subsidiaries and Affiliates. AIAC is a privately held, global industrial group with holdings in 24 countries across North America, Europe, and Asia. He is not just a smart acquirer but also a guest lecturer and a member of a plethora of educational, management, and various different types of private clubs, associations, and societies.

Since the inception of AIAC, Leonard M. Levie is known to build an impressive portfolio that consists of 78 manufacturing and distribution sites. He focuses on acquiring underperforming and non-core manufacturing and distribution businesses from both public and private corporations. Though Mr. Levie is heavily invested in acquiring industrial manufacturing companies, he never focuses on just transforming a failing business into a profiting business. What he also focuses on is boosting the economy of the region where those businesses are located by retaining employees, improving revenue, and bolstering the operations and quality. 

We aren’t just saying this but there is also data to back this up. Let’s look at the case study of Canadian Kraft.

As soon as Leonard M. Levie heard about the announcement of Tolko Industries regarding the closure of its unprofitable paper and pulp mill - Canadian Kraft - in The Pas, Northern Manitoba, he made the move to keep the mill running and prevent the economy from crashing down. 

Soon after the announcement of shut down of Canadian Kraft, the mill’s 330 union employees were seemed to be preparing for their own unemployment during unforgiving conditions of a long, lean winter. Three hundred woodland contractors had already lost their jobs, residential real estate values dropped 25 percent in only a few months, and the 12 First Nations (indigenous people) of the area prohibited access to the fiber and locked up the forests.

Despite this severe crisis, an AIAC affiliated company purchased the mill just three weeks before the scheduled shutdown and started working to reverse the situation of the mill. 

After weeks of negotiation and constructive discussions, Leonard M. Levie was able to bring together three labor unions. He helped them understand that the mill can still flourish with their support, convinced the twelve First Nations to allow access to their lands, and got a 5-year property tax reprieve from the Town of The Pas.

After 4 months of intense hard work of employees, well-planned investments, and better management, the mill returned to full health, and by 2018, the mill’s supply items again started having huge demand as the new management interacted with each customer personally and assured them with long-term commitment. 

It is a great example of what a compassionate and intelligent person Leonard M. Levie is and how he works hard in ensuring that everybody right from the shareholders, employees, and customers benefit from their acquisition and not just them.

MADES, a Leonard Levie Owned Subsidiary, Becomes the Perfect Business Expansion Plan for Latécoère

Founded by Leonard Levie in 1996, American Industrial Acquisition Corporation “AIAC” has recently entered into definitive transaction documentation with Latécoère regarding the acquisition of Malaga Aerospace, Defense & Electronics Systems “MADES”. This is the third external growth transaction made by Latécoère - the leading partner of major international aircraft manufacturers, since the completion of the capital increase in August.

The Journey of MADES as the Key Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) Provider under the Leadership of Leonard Levie 

The company MADES was acquired by the founder of AIAC, Leonard Levie, in 2015 from Raytheon. This was the time when the Malaga plant was renamed to Malaga Aerospace, Defense, and Electronics Systems (MADES).

After acquisition, Leonard Levie decided to retain the strategy of the Malaga plant, its systems, human resources, and clients and provided the plant greater freedom to explore different markets and new opportunities. 

Being a subsidiary of AIAC, MADES has improved its robust systems continuously and technological development efforts. The AIAC has undertaken all the investments required for the expansion and enhancement of MADES.

At present, MADES provides excellent services for industrialization, manufacture, testing, and integration of cutting-edge electronic systems to the aerospace and defense sectors not only in Spain but internationally. Equipped with various reputable certifications, MADES is geared by the hard work of highly skilled and trained employees and passion of Leonard Levie. 

After dedicating immense efforts and providing complete support for more than half a decade, MADES has been transformed into a successfully running company and positioned at the forefront of innovation and technology.

What Makes MADES Perfect Business for Expansion for Latécoère?

With the constant deliverance of quality and higher customer satisfaction, the supplier of high-precision electronic systems - MADES is a key player in the industry with the focus on printed circuit boards (PCB) for defense, commercial aviation, and industrial-end segments. That’s what makes MADES a perfect business expansion choice for Latécoère. 

MADES will provide Latécoère with vertical integration opportunities and help them fulfill the complete product requirements of their Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (EWIS) clientele. Plus, it will also equip Latécoère with new solutions for future generation aircraft and help strengthen the position of Latécoère in the US Defense market segment.

Leonard Levie has always been dedicated to supporting underperforming businesses and companies that need financial backing and good leadership. He is driven by the passion of helping fledgling small and big businesses alike that struggle to move ahead and establishing those businesses as successful ones. MADES is another great example of how he improves the state of businesses at an exponential rate. 

Now, when a great opportunity for MADES to further serve the defense and aviation industry presented itself that will eventually benefit MADES and its stakeholders, he is happy to turn the next chapter of success for MADES under the stewardship of Latécoère.

Champlain Will Supply High-Performance Cables for Over 200 MARTA Rail Cars!

 The success of a company is the benchmark of those victories which reflect its commitment to innovation and quality. Champlain Cable, a subsidiary of American Industrial Acquisition Corporation owned by Leonard Levie, has achieved such a benchmark by winning the subcontract of the Stadler Rail Car Project.

Stadler US Inc. was awarded the contract of metro trains by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). The MARTA METRO Project is a multi-year contract that is worth several million dollars and is meant to develop metro trains intended for service to the world’s largest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. 

To successfully complete the order of metro trains on time, Stadler is looking for partners who can supply the best quality components. Stadler selected Champlain Cable to supply high-performance wire and cable for more than 200 rail cars for the MARTA Metro project.

This is a moment of celebration for Champlain Cable for being recognized at such a huge level for its sheer dedication to innovation, compliance, responsiveness, and attention to detail. 

According to the agreement made between Champlain Cable and Stadler US Inc, Champlain Cable will now support the expanding MARTA rail network by supplying its highly innovative EXRAD-RHF low-smoke, halogen-free (LSHF) polymer technology and crosslinking capability. Champlain Cable will commence the supply in 2022 and is scheduled to conclude in 2028-2029.

The Success Journey of Champlain Cable that Was Once Under-Performing 

Champlain Cable, now a successfully running company, was once burdened with thousands of related asbestos claims and soil and underground environmental cleanup obligations along with pension underfunding liabilities worth $594,000. This transformation didn’t happen overnight.

Champlain Cable was acquired by an AIAC affiliate - CC Acquisition Corporation in June 2003 from Huber + Suhner based in Zurich, Switzerland. At the end of December 2002, Champlain Cable produced only $19.8 million as revenue and lost EBITDA of $2.2 million. Its shareholder’s equity was just $3.6 million. 

However, after being acquired by the owner of AIAC affiliate, Leonard Levie, Champlain performed significantly better as it produced revenues of $21.3 million and positive EBITDA of $1.3 million. Over the following years, Champlain grew into a company with not one but five production facilities: one in Colchester VT, two in El Paso TX, and two in the greater Houston TX area. Besides, the company now works in full compliance with all relevant environmental, pension, and other obligations.

For the year 2018, Champlain made revenues of $111.6 million and EBITDA of $14.7 million, and its Shareholder’s Equity amounted to $51.6 million. 

Now, under the leadership of Leonard Levie, Champlain Cable has been awarded a multi-million dollar Stadler Rail Car Project for supplying high-performance power and control cables for over 200 rail cars.

The subway cars equipped with Champlain’s high-performance cables and wires will operate across the entire MARTA network, serving more than 175,000 passengers on a typical weekend. This OEM approval is exemplary of how Leonard Levie transforms underperforming companies into successful ones that contribute to the national and regional economy.