The RPC Group, a UK-listed pan-European manufacturer of rigid plastics packaging, including UN-approved pails and jerrycans, has announced a 2009 net loss of £7.7m compared to 2008 net profit of £4.4m, largely as a result of “significant restructuring costs and impairment charges”. Despite this, annual sales were up 11 per cent from £695.2m to £769.1m. Likewise, the company achieved a “strong cash performance”, finishing with a pre-exceptional free cash flow of £87.7m as opposed to £22.2m in 2008 while debt was down from £149.4m to £116.6m.