Sonoco Acquires Matrix Packaging

On May 31, 2007, Sonoco, headquartered in Hartsville, S.C., is one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, completed the previously announced purchase of Matrix Packaging Inc., a leading manufacturer of custom designed blow molded rigid plastic containers and injected molded products, for an all-cash purchase price of approximately US$210 million. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Matrix Packaging operates six state of the art manufacturing facilities in the United States and Canada and employs approximately 860 workers.

Sonoco was represented by Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd P.A. with a team led by Randolph B. Epting (M&A, corporate and tax) and including George King (M&A and corporate); Alex Shissias (environmental); and Benton Williamson (real estate).

Sonoco was represented in Canada by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP with a team led by Gary Shiff (M&A and corporate) and including David Kruse, Paul Singh and Jatinder Chera (M&A and corporate); Carolyn Naiman and Tara Cochrane (competition); Bryan Bailey (tax); Lee Shouldice (labour and employment); and Michael Mercer (environmental).

Tricor Pacific Capital Partners (Fund III), Limited Partnership, the majority shareholder of Matrix Packaging, was represented in Canada by Lawson Lundell LLP with a team led by Brian Fulton (M&A and corporate) and including Khaled Abdel-Barr, Karen MacMillan (M&A and corporate); Michael Low (banking); Valerie Mann (competition); and Greg Hollingsworth (tax) and in the United States by Winston & Strawn LLP with a team that included Andrew McDonough and Jeffrey Wright (M&A and corporate); Jennifer Nijman (environmental); and Roger Lucas (tax).

MG Stratum II, Limited Partnership, another shareholder of Matrix Packaging, was represented by Lindsey Hutton (corporate and banking) of Bennett Jones LLP. CIBC Capital Partners, another shareholder of Matrix Packaging, was represented by in-house legal counsel, Mark Katz. Certain other shareholders of Matrix Packaging were represented by Douglas Grundy (M&A and corporate) of Grundy Cass Professional Corporation.

Matrix Packaging's senior lenders were represented by Joel Scoler (financial services) of McCarthy Tétrault LLP.