Brookfield Business Partners (NYSE:BBU) has agreed to acquire Fosber, a global leader in corrugated‑packaging machinery, in a transaction valued at approximately $900 million. The deal will be financed with $480 million of equity from Brookfield’s private‑equity arm and $170 million of equity from Brookfield Business Partners itself, and will be carved out of Guangdong Dongfang Precision. The transaction is expected to close in 2026 after regulatory approvals.
The acquisition comes at a time when Brookfield’s Q3 2025 results showed a net loss attributable to unitholders of $59 million, a sharp reversal from the $301 million net income reported in Q3 2024. Adjusted EBITDA and revenues also slipped year‑over‑year, largely due to asset sales, lower ownership stakes in portfolio companies, and reduced tax benefits. The company’s corporate reorganization, aimed at simplifying its structure, is slated to complete in Q1 2026. In this context, the Fosber purchase signals Brookfield’s confidence in its industrial strategy and its intent to strengthen its portfolio amid recent headwinds.
Fosber, headquartered in Lucca, Italy, designs and manufactures high‑speed corrugating machines and provides after‑sales parts, maintenance, and digital monitoring solutions to box manufacturers worldwide. Its operations span Italy, the United States, and China, positioning it as a truly global player in the packaging sector. By adding Fosber, Brookfield expands its industrial footprint into a high‑growth, technology‑driven market and gains access to a customer base that spans three continents.
Brookfield’s CEO of the Private Equity Group, Anuj Ranjan, said the deal aligns with the firm’s strategy of investing in European industrial champions that have global reach. He added that the partnership will leverage Brookfield’s operational expertise and scale to accelerate Fosber’s digital transformation and broaden its after‑sales and service offerings worldwide. The transaction is expected to create synergies through shared technology and market access, and to accelerate the adoption of Industry 4.0 solutions across Fosber’s customer base.
The acquisition is a strategic move to counterbalance the recent decline in Brookfield’s earnings and to position the firm for long‑term growth. By integrating Fosber’s advanced machinery and digital capabilities, Brookfield aims to enhance its service revenue streams and deepen its presence in the packaging industry, a sector that benefits from rising e‑commerce demand and a shift toward sustainable packaging solutions.
The deal underscores Brookfield’s commitment to its core investment thesis: acquiring market leaders in Europe, applying operational and digital transformation, and expanding service‑based revenue. The addition of Fosber strengthens Brookfield’s industrial portfolio and provides a platform for future cross‑sell opportunities in the packaging and manufacturing sectors.
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