Turkey's largest glassmaker, Sisecam, has said its Pasabahce tableware unit has started talks to acquire shares in French-based Arc International. In a filing to the Istanbul Stock Exchange, Siscame stated that Pasabahce had signed a non-disclosure agreement regarding the non-binding talks. Pasabahce's share in the global glass household goods market is currently 12%, putting it third in the market, while Arc International is the leader with 13%. If the talks between the companies finalise with an acquisition, Pasabahce will rise to become market leader, ahead of US company Libbey. The French company, which has an annual turnover of around a billion Euros, produces some 4.3M items of household glass every day. The company earns 47% of its income from Europe, but outside France it has production activities in China, Russia and the UAE. Arc International is privately held and has been owned by members of the Durand family since 1916.
