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Packaging M&A Update – January 2023

February 21, 2023

Packaging Industry M&A Activity Tracking

Global Packaging M&A began the year on a high note recording 25 deals in January, which represents a month-over-month increase of six deals. Deal activity in the month was primarily driven by private equity add-on transactions, which accounted for 13 deals. After historic levels of transaction activity in 2021, Packaging M&A over the past year has been hampered by macroeconomic uncertainty and rising interest rates, but January deal activity rose above the average monthly volume from 2022 and was a welcome uptick in deal activity.

  • Private equity platform transactions continued to be lower in January 2023, given challenging credit markets. Meanwhile, private equity add-on activity remained strong, accounting for 52% of deal volume
  • Strategic volume was down one transaction in the month relative to January 2022. Strategic buyers remained on pace with the average monthly volume seen in H2 2022
  • Paper Packaging transactions led all Packaging subsectors, accounting for 12 deals in the month. January’s transaction volume represents the subsector’s best month since last July
  • Rigid Plastic transactions accounted for six deals on the month, which was above the subsector’s monthly average of four in 2022
  • The Consumer end market accounted for 14 deals in the month and led all end markets. Deal activity for the end market in January matched the 2022 high and represented a month-over-month increase of seven deals

Overall, Global Packaging M&A transaction activity posted a strong month when compared to the second half of 2022. Notably, the current level of packaging deal volumes is in line with pre-pandemic levels. It remains too early to tell if January levels will continue in the first half 2023. If you are a packaging company considering a merger, acquisition, sale, or recapitalization in the short or long term, please consider leveraging PMCF’s transaction planning and execution expertise to best position your company in a transaction.

Sources: Capital IQ, PitchBook, Thomson Reuters, Company Reports, PMCF. Data as of January 31, 2023

 

Packaging M&A By Subsector

 

Total Packaging M&A By End Market

 

Packaging Transactions By Buyer Type

Notable M&A Activity

Public Entity Performance

Major News

 

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Preview

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