Packaging group Ardagh unveils new boss and details €3bn spend

Irish-founded glass and metal packaging group Ardagh has named former Smurfit Kappa Group executive Ian Curley as its new chief executive, coinciding with an announcement confirming its $3.42bn (€3bn) purchase of certain assets currently owned by US beverage can makers Ball and Rexam.

Luxembourg-based Ardagh — which has its roots in Irish Glass — had been linked with assets having to be offloaded to allow for the merger of the US businesses for some weeks.

It yesterday launched a bond offering aimed at raising $2.85bn in fresh debt to cover the bulk of the consideration.