Glaverbel was founded in 1961 in Belgium out of the merger of
Glaver S.A. (Glaces et Verres) and
Univerbel S.A. (Union des Verreries Mécaniques Belges). In 1972, the French
BSN (Boussois-Souchon-Neuvesel) group (now
Danone) gained control over Glaverbel. In 1981, BSN shed its flat glass activities and the
Asahi Glass Co. Ltd. of
Japan acquired Glaverbel. In 1987, Glaverbel was registered at the
Brussels stock exchange and in 1991, expanded into
Central Europe with the acquisition of
Glavunion in
Czechoslovakia. Glaverbel was the first western industrial company to invest in Czechoslovakia, and in 1997, the first western glass producer to invest in Russia. In 1998, Glaverbel acquired the European glass activities of
PPG Glass Industries, mainly located in
France and
Italy. In 2002, AGC acquired the whole of Glaverbel, and was deregistered from the Brussels stock exchange. In 2007, Glaverbel was renamed as
AGC Flat Glass Europe and in 2010,
AGC Glass Europe. Jean-François Heris is AGC Glass Europe President and CEO to date. AGC Glass Europe employs around 14,500 people. ==Price-fixing scandal==