Packaging Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Packaging M&A activity increased in April with 29 deals announced, representing a three-deal rise over March 2025 and a six-deal increase compared to April 2024. Financial buyer interest remained strong, while deals involving a strategic buyer declined for the fourth consecutive month. Overall, Global Packaging M&A activity has exceeded prior-year levels in each of the first four months of 2025; however, this growth has been driven primarily by smaller transactions, as larger deals have been subdued. While macroeconomic uncertainty has impacted the M&A appetite of some buyers and sellers, deal volumes remain strong, and transactions continue to close.
- The Paper packaging subsector announced 11 deals in April, more than doubling April 2024 volume and posting its most active month of 2025
- Financial buyers accounted for 17 transactions, with add-on activity rebounding from subdued levels in March and platform deal flow remaining consistent with year-to-date trends
- Strategic buyer activity declined by three deals month-over-month, totaling 12 transactions in April. This group represented just 41% of overall deal volume—the lowest monthly share recorded this year
- 18 deals involving a foreign buyer and seller were announced in April, representing 62% of all volume in the month. In contrast, domestic activity witnessed its weakest month of the year, recording only eight transactions
- The Food & Beverage end market led all others with 13 announced transactions, its highest monthly total since late 2021. Meanwhile, the Consumer end market saw a meaningful slowdown in April, falling below its year-to-date average of 12 transactions following a strong first quarter
Major News
- Packaging Manufacturers Post Q1 Results (Packaging Dive) https://www.packagingdive.com/news/packaging-q1-2025-earnings-results/746624/
- Novolex Completes $6.7B Acquisition of Pactiv Evergreen (Packaging Dive) https://www.packagingdive.com/news/novolex-closes-acquisition-pactiv-evergreen/744049/
- U.S. Economy Shrank in First Quarter as Imports Surged Ahead of Tariffs (The Wall Street Journal) https://www.wsj.com/economy/us-gdp-q1-2025-1f82f689
- IPL, Schoeller Allibert Merge to Create $1.4B Packaging Business (Plastics News) https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/ipl-schoeller-allibert-merge-create-14b-packaging-business
- Maryland, Washington Pass Packaging EPR Laws (Plastics News) https://www.plasticsnews.com/public-policy/maryland-washington-join-states-passing-packaging-epr
- U.S. Jobless Claims Rise Slightly (The Wall Street Journal) https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/u-s-jobless-claims-rise-slightly-a8f73cad
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.
Plastics M&A Update – April 2026
Global Plastics M&A recorded 31 transactions in April, moderating from March levels but bringing year-to-date volume to 152 deals, up 12 transactions from the prior-year period and 29 deals above the trailing three-year average through April.
Plastics M&A Update – March 2026
Global Plastics M&A experienced recorded 38 transactions in March, representing an uptick of seven deals from the prior month and five deals from last March.