Italian Company Moves to Acquire Kenyan Metal Crowns Firm

Italian joint stock company Guala Closures S.p.A. has moved to acquire 100% of the issued share capital of Metal Crowns Limited, a move that would grant the Italian firm full control over one of Kenya’s prominent packaging manufacturers.

The transaction is set to be executed through the acquisition of shares in Mantiax Investments Limited, a holding company that owns 99.9999% of Metal Crowns Limited.

According to a notice of inquiry from the COMESA Competition Commission issued on December 12, 2025, the proposed deal is expected to create operational efficiencies for the Kenyan firm while offering current owners an opportunity to realise their investment.

“It is hereby notified in terms of Article 26(6) of the COMESA Competition Regulations (the “Regulations”) that the COMESA Competition Commission (the “Commission”), after receiving a notification in terms of Article 24 of the Regulations regarding the Proposed Acquisition by Guala Closures S.P.A (“Guala” or the “Acquiring Firm”) of 100% of the issued share capital of Metal Crowns Limited (Kenya) (“MC Kenya” or the “Target Firm”), intends to embark on an inquiry in terms of Article 26 of the Regulations,” read the notice

The COMESA Competition Commission has launched an inquiry into the proposed acquisition under its regulations, following notification of Guala Closures S.p.A.’s intent to acquire 100% of Metal Crowns Limited.

Italian Company Moves to Acquire Kenyan Metal Crowns Firm

Guala Closures is a major producer of high-value-added closures for the beverage industry, specifically targeting segments such as wines, spirits, and bottled mineral water. While headquartered in Italy, the company is already active within the COMESA region, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eswatini, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe.

On the other hand, Metal Crowns Limited, the target firm, is a Kenyan private limited company specializing in the manufacturing and sale of plastic closures and metal crowns.

Its market reach extends across several African nations, with metal crown sales in Burundi, Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, and plastic closure sales in the DRC, Mauritius, and Uganda.

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Market Impact and Regulatory Review

According to the Commission, the merging parties have submitted to the Commission that the acquisition will result in minimal geographic overlap, noting that their operations only coincide specifically regarding the sale and distribution of metal crowns in Zambia and Zimbabwe.

They further stated that there is no vertical relationship between the two entities within the Common Market.

The inquiry will determine if the merger may significantly affect competition or public interest within the Common Market.

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Stakeholders, including competitors, suppliers, and customers, have been invited to submit written representations regarding the acquisition.

Stakeholders seeking further clarification have been directed to contact Mr. Mengistu Debessay, Principal Analyst in the Competition Division on Tel: +265 (0) 111 772 466 огmdebessay@comesacompetition.org.

All submissions will be treated confidentially and used solely for the inquiry.

The Commission will accept these submissions until January 17, 2026, as it moves toward a final determination on the deal.

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