Rexam announced in November 2001, the closure of its beverage can manufacturing plant in Brunswick, New Jersey, US, in a further move to bring can-making capacity in line with market demand. This follows the closure of its Houston plant, Texas, announced in July 2000. Rexam entered the US beverage can market following the acquisition of American National Can in July 2000. On 14 December 2001, Rexam also announced that the European Commission has approved the company's proposal to divest its beverage-can making plant in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. In another statement, Rexam reported that it is to boost its presence in the beauty market with the £75M purchase of American group Crown Cork & Seal's pump packaging operations. Rexam said it would fund the purchase through a placement, completed on 13 Dec, of 31m new shares, raising £108.5m
