Tableware Purchase

Libbey has acquired the Portuguese tableware maker Crisal-Cristaleria Automatica (Crisal) in Marinha Grande from Vista Alegre Atlantia for Euros 28M. Crisal produces blown and pressed tumblers, stemware and glassware accessories for sale mainly in Spain and Portugal. The move complements Libbey's Royal Leerdam subsidiary in the Netherlands, which supplies stemware mainly to northern Europe. Libbey still plans to start producing glassware at a new factory in China by 2007, but its CEO says he does not want to close any more US factories after its plant at City of Industry in California closes. Libbey says it will not use its most advanced equipment in China, and will spread out its technology to make it more difficult to copy.