Thomas Blaige, chairman and CEO of Blaige & Co., will lead-off activities on Thursday, February 12 at ICE USA 2015 with a keynote address titled, “Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way: Global Consolidation in Flexible Packaging.” His keynote will focus on the impact of global consolidation on the flexible packaging market, based on Blaige & Company’s comprehensive Twelve Year Plastics and Packaging Merger & Acquisition Consolidation Study.

With consolidation activity showing strong momentum in the coming years, Blaige will provide summary analysis from the 70-page study, and cover valuable strategies to help company owners understand how to survive and thrive in an increasingly competitive market.

“There are three things owners look at in terms of selling: their company’s performance, the external market, and are they psychologically ready,” said Blaige. “My presentation will address these areas.”

Blaige founded Blaige & Company, an international investment banking firm dedicated exclusively to the plastics, packaging and chemicals industries. He has 28 years of transaction experience and he and his team of transaction and operations experts have completed over 150 transactions and visited over 400 plastics, packaging, and chemicals operations in over 40 countries. Blaige & Company’s proprietary research department tracks and analyzes over 500 plastics industry M&A transactions annually on a worldwide basis.

“Having someone with Tom’s global perspective in the industry and nearly 30 years of experience in sales, acquisition and recapitalization of companies present at ICE USA is an exceptional opportunity for attendees,” said Bob Chiricosta, Director, North American Exhibitions.

There will be three keynote presentations, one leading off each day of the Conference Sessions from February 10-12.