Packaging Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Packaging M&A tallied 27 deals in November, which was below October levels but was in line with 2024 monthly averages. Financial buyer activity was elevated during the month, while strategic buyer activity slightly lagged 2024 averages. Foreign transactions helped to drive deal volume in the month and have supported elevated volumes throughout the year. Looking at the year-to-date, 297 deals in the first 11 months of the year represents a 21-deal increase from the same point last year. Overall, 2024 has been strong from an M&A volume standpoint when compared to last year and pre-COVID levels, but these values have been bolstered by smaller deals and cross border transactions.
- Following heightened activity in October, the Rigid Packaging, Flexible Plastic, Protective Equipment, and Distribution subsectors saw modest declines from prior month activity. To counteract this, Printing/Labels, Paper, and Machinery/Equipment experienced an uptick in activity
- Strategic buyer activity, while less than October levels by more than 10 deals, exceeded August and September volumes and continued a strong Q4 for this buyer type
- November was a strong month for platform acquisitions with 6 deals posted. Financial buyers were generally more active in November, accounting for a higher share of total activity compared to the year-to-date average
- Foreign M&A drove over half of the deal volume during the month accounting for 15 deals, or 56% of the volume. Deals involving two domestic parties was just shy of 2024 averages with 8 deals closed in the month
- The Medical end market posted another strong month in November with 3 deals. Over the past three months, 11 of 2024’s 20 Medical deals have been recorded
Sources: S&P Capital IQ, Company Websites, Pitchbook, Company Reports, PMCF
Major News
- Amcor Acquiring Berry in $8.4B Deal to Create Global Plastics and Healthcare Packaging Giant (Packaging Dive)
https://www.packagingdive.com/news/amcor-acquire-berry-global-konieczny-plastic-film-healthcare/733299/ - International Paper, Georgia-Pacific Try for 2025 Fiber Price Increases (Packaging Dive)
https://www.packagingdive.com/news/international-paper-georgia-pacific-fiber-price-increase-2025/733824/ - Stories from Pack Expo International 2024 (Packaging Dive)
https://www.packagingdive.com/news/pack-expo-international-2024-stories/732357/ - Trump’s Win Means Changes in Plastics Environmental, Trade Policies (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/trump-win-set-bring-change-environmental-trade-and-plastics-treaty-policies - Hiring Bounced Back With 227,000 Jobs Added Last Month
https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/jobs-report-november-unemployment-economy-3088b8cc - Powell Says Solid Economy Allows Fed to Consider Rate Cuts ‘Carefully’ (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/powell-says-solid-economy-allows-fed-to-consider-rate-cuts-carefully-3055c890?mod=central-banking_more_article_pos69
Download Packaging M&A Update – November 2024
Packaging M&A Update – June 2026
Global Packaging M&A held steady in June with 27 transactions, in line with May and three deals above June 2025.
Plastics M&A Update – June 2026
Global Plastics M&A accelerated in June, with 46 transactions announced, an increase of 10 from May and eight from June 2025.
Packaging M&A Update – May 2026
Global Packaging M&A activity slowed slightly in May, with 27 deals announced. While this reflected only a one-deal decrease compared to April, activity rebounded meaningfully from May 2025, with ten more transactions announced.
Plastics M&A Update – May 2026
Global Plastics M&A recorded 36 transactions in May, increasing by five deals from April and seven from May 2025, bringing year-to-date volume to 188 transactions.
Packaging M&A Update – April 2026
Global Packaging M&A activity remained stable in April, with 28 deals announced, one fewer than April 2025 and slightly above March levels. Through the first four months of 2026, 105 deals have been announced, a 27-deal decrease from the prior-year period.