Packaging Industry M&A Activity Tracking
Global Packaging M&A activity recorded 19 transactions, down four deals from November activity levels and significantly below last December’s levels. The decline in activity levels stemmed from less acquisitive private equity-backed strategic buyers, as add-on transactions accounted for four fewer deals month-over-month. Packaging M&A has varied throughout 2022, recording between 17 and 25 deals per month. Overall, 2022 was a down year for packaging M&A as transaction levels fell below pre-pandemic volumes.
- Strategic buyers accounted for 53% of recorded transactions in December, which marked the seventh time in 2022 that strategic buyers have accounted for over 50% of transaction volumes
- Private equity platform transactions bounced back in December, posting four transactions, up three from the prior month. On average, three platform acquisitions were announced per month in 2022, which was consistent with December volumes
- Private equity add-on transactions pulled back from 2021 levels, but still had a strong year in 2022. Add-on transactions accounted for 99 transactions in 2022, which is 21 deals higher than the average four-year activity levels
- The Paper subsector recorded 10 deals for the second consecutive month and accounted for 53% of overall activity in December, which was the fifth time in 2022 that the Paper subsector has accounted for over 50% of the deal volume
Global Packaging M&A experienced a pullback in transaction activity in December 2022, as financing challenges and macroeconomic uncertainty continued to suppress activity levels. Packaging deals continue to be completed at attractive multiples but at lower levels of activity. Recovery in packaging M&A volume in 2023 will largely be dependent on improvements in the macroeconomy and the credit markets. If you are a packaging company considering a merger, acquisition, sale or recapitalization in the short or longer 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 December 31, 2022
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
- U.S. Inflation Slowed for Sixth Straight Month in December (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-inflation-december-2022-consumer-price-index-11673485441 - U.S. Jobless Claims Tick Up, Economy Grows Faster Than Previously Thought (The Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/jobless-claims-rose-by-2-000-last-week-remain-below-prepandemic-average-11671716760 - Lawmakers Urge Biden to Set ‘Meaningful Standards’ for Plastics Treaty (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/public-policy/lawmakers-urge-biden-set-meaningful-standards-plastics-treaty#:~:text=Noting%20ongoing%20talks%20toward%20a,and%20Alan%20Lowenthal%20and%20Sens - Los Angeles, San Diego Pass New Plastic Bans (Plastics News)
https://www.plasticsnews.com/public-policy/los-angeles-san-diego-pass-new-plastic-bans - Packaging Trends: Balancing Sustainability with Profits (Plastics Today)
https://www.plasticstoday.com/packaging/packaging-trends-balancing-sustainability-profits
Download Packaging M&A Update – December 2022
Packaging M&A Update – February 2026
Global Packaging M&A tapered in February as 20 deals were announced in the sector, down more than 30% from prior month and prior year levels.
Plastics M&A Update – February 2026
Global Plastics M&A cooled off in February following a record-setting January with 31 transactions – down 21 from the prior month and seven from last February.
Packaging M&A Update – January 2026
Global packaging M&A maintained steady volume to open 2026 with 30 deals in January, which was in-line with historical levels for January but below the record 45 transactions announced in January 2025.
Plastics M&A Update – January 2026
52 global plastics M&A transactions were recorded in January 2026, which represented one of the most active months for plastics M&A since PMCF began tracking the sector.
Plastics M&A Update – December 2025
Global Plastics M&A posted 34 transactions in December, one deal fewer than both November and the 2025 monthly average.