CL bids for International Paper's Plants in Tarragona

The Extremadura-based conglomerate has submitted a formal offer to buy the two factories, which are at risk of closure.

A new step has been taken in the attempt to prevent the closure of the Tarragona plants belonging to the International Paper group . The Extremadura-based conglomerate CL Grupo Industrial, centered around Cristian Lay, has submitted a formal offer to acquire the facilities located in Valls and Montblanc.

For weeks, rumors have circulated that the group headed by Ricardo Leal is negotiating the acquisition of both factories, but until last Thursday, no offer had been officially submitted. Now it is up to the US group to analyze the details of the transaction, which have not yet been made public.

The Valls and Montblanc plants are under threat of closure, after a workforce reduction plan (ERE) was proposed that would affect the 200 workers at both factories.

If the acquisition goes through, CL, which operates in sectors such as packaging, steel, and chemicals, would strengthen its presence in the province of Tarragona. The group owns the paper recycling company Matias Gomà Tomàs, with a factory in La Riba, and the chemical company Iqoxe, with production facilities in La Canonja.