Packaging Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Packaging M&A recorded 23 deals in April, up three transactions from March levels and April of last year. Increased deal activity in the month was driven by a rebound in strategic buyer deal volume. Although there was an uptick in month-over-month deal activity, April’s figures were below the 2023 monthly average of 25 deals. Overall, Global Packaging M&A activity is outpacing 2023 to date in 2024 but lags demand levels seen in the second half of last year due in part to weaker activity from financial buyers.
- Strategic buyers accounted for 13 deals in April, representing an increase of three deals from the prior month. Furthermore, strategic buyers posted activity levels above the monthly 2023 average of 12 deals
- Financial buyers recorded 10 deals in April, which is consistent with March. However, this falls below the average monthly deal volume observed in Q1 2024. The lower level of activity for financial buyers can be attributed to platform acquisitions, which recorded only one deal in April
- The Printing & Labels subsector was the most active subsector from a deal volume standpoint for the second consecutive month. The subsector recorded seven deals, accounting for 30% of April’s monthly deal volume
- Deal activity in the month was driven by domestic transactions which accounted for over 50% of the deal volume in April, which was a significant increase over year-to-date levels
- The Consumer end market has recorded an increase in activity in each month of 2024. The end market led all subsectors from a deal volume standpoint in April, recording nine transactions, or 39% of the overall monthly deal volume
Sources: S&P Capital IQ, Company Websites, Pitchbook, Company Reports, PMCF
Major News
- We’re Still Waiting for the US Manufacturing Sector to Recover (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/manufacturing-data-shows-delayed-economic-recovery - Slower Hiring Boosts Hopes of a Late-Summer Rate Cut (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/jobs-report-april-unemployment-a8a1ac1a - International Paper to Buy DS Smith for $7.2 Billion in All-Share Deal (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/finance/stocks/international-paper-to-buy-ds-smith-for-7-22-billion-in-all-share-deal-d5009764 - Berry Buys F&S as it Expands its Global Tooling Capabilities (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/berry-buys-fs-it-builds-its-global-tooling-capabilities - How Flexible Packaging is Revolutionizing Retail (Packaging Gateway)
https://www.packaging-gateway.com/features/how-flexible-packaging-is-revolutionising-retail
Download Packaging M&A Update – April 2024
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.