M&A: Page 4

  • Exterior view of DS Smith's packaging plant in Lebanon, Indiana
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by DS Smith
    Image attribution tooltip
    Acquisition of DS Smith

    DS Smith extends Mondi’s offer deadline, IP details its counterproposal

    The bidding war for DS Smith heats up as Mondi’s offer deadline is now set for the same day as International Paper’s. IP provided additional specifics about its proposal, including plans to create a second headquarters.

    By • April 4, 2024
  • A Gravis container
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Gravis
    Image attribution tooltip
    Q&A

    Gravis looks to lead B2B bulk transportation packaging market in North America

    The private equity-backed company recently launched as a combined platform with six acquired companies, including Bagwell and Bulk Lift International. New CEO Vishal Rao outlines plans to grow in the FIBC market.

    By • March 28, 2024
  • Close-up of brown corrugated packaging
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Acquisition of DS Smith

    Bidding war speculation brews as International Paper proposes DS Smith acquisition

    IP’s more than $7 billion proposal comes as next week’s deadline approaches for Mondi to make a formal offer for DS Smith.

    By • March 27, 2024
  • A plastic bag made with postconsumer recycled bag holding romaine hearts, featuring the Andy Boy logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Emerald Packaging
    Image attribution tooltip

    Emerald bullish on PCR as produce packaging company marks transition

    Co-owner Jim Kelly is stepping down from his EVP role as he reflects on decades of innovation in the produce market. The family business looks to forge ahead on recycled content implementation in flexible packaging.

    By • March 26, 2024
  • A large roll of kraft paper, part of Mondi Group's kraft paper production in Sweden
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Mondi Group Plc
    Image attribution tooltip
    Acquisition of DS Smith

    Mondi’s offer to buy DS Smith moving forward, not yet final

    The companies are now working to quantify “synergies” they expect from the combination. Each recently reported headwinds coming out of 2023.

    By • March 7, 2024
  • Sonoco EnviroFlex pouch
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Sonoco
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sonoco eyes selling off more businesses, touts Flex-Therm integration

    At an investor day, executives discussed simplifying Sonoco’s business structure, its divestiture strategy, brand partnerships and the path forward for metal packaging.

    By , • Feb. 26, 2024
  • Close up view of stacked corrugated cardboard.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Acquisition of DS Smith

    Mondi explores creating European fiber packaging giant with DS Smith

    The possibility of a mega-merger comes five months after a similar deal between sector competitors Smurfit Kappa and WestRock.

    By • Feb. 8, 2024
  • Smurfit Kappa flags
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Smurfit Kappa
    Image attribution tooltip

    Smurfit Kappa predicts Summer Olympics will provide financial boost

    2024 demand and volumes have shown improvement following challenges to both in 2023, executives said on Wednesday’s earnings call. The WestRock acquisition also is progressing smoothly, they said.

    By • Feb. 7, 2024
  • Berry Global's headquarters in Evansville, Indiana.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Berry Global
    Image attribution tooltip

    Berry to spin off health segment, creating new public company with Glatfelter

    Berry Global had been considering strategic alternatives for the Health, Hygiene & Specialties segment for months. The new company is valued at $3.6 billion.

    By • Feb. 7, 2024
  • Close-up of a sheet of white expanded polystyrene foam
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sonoco to divest protective solutions packaging business

    The company says the cash sale to an alternative asset management firm is part of its “portfolio optimization strategy.”

    By • Jan. 30, 2024
  • Customer holding and looking at pouch packaging
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    2023 packaging trends by the numbers

    These are some of the stats that defined policymaking, e-commerce, sustainability, dealmaking and more for the packaging industry across varied substrates and markets.

    By , , • Dec. 22, 2023
  • Unassembled (flat) cardboard boxes.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    After an uneven year, could packaging M&A be picking up speed?

    The sector saw blockbuster transactions such as Smurfit Kappa’s pending acquisition of WestRock alongside smaller private equity deals. Experts from Deloitte, Truist and Triad Securities weigh in on what it all means.

    By • Dec. 18, 2023
  • Cardboard partitions
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Greif details M&A strategy amid ongoing economic headwinds

    Greif executives discussed an “extremely weak industrial sector,” downtime at paper mills and other challenges after ending the fiscal year with a nearly 18% decline in total sales. The company is optimistic about growth from acquisitions.

    By • Dec. 8, 2023
  • Can manufacturing line
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Packaging companies prioritize sustainability, M&A during ‘turbulent’ year

    While paper and packaging companies previously considered sustainability an expense, many now leverage it as a cost reduction and revenue growth strategy, according to analysis by Bain & Co.

    By • Sept. 18, 2023
  • Flag for the Ilim Group, a major player in the Russian paper industry that recently acquired International Paper's remaining stake in the business
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Ilim Group
    Image attribution tooltip

    International Paper exits Russian joint venture with $508M sale

    IP divested its stake in the Ilim Group, which was formed in 2007 and describes itself as “the leader of the Russian pulp and paper industry.” It's the latest in a wave of companies looking to exit business in Russia.

    By • Sept. 18, 2023
  • Aerial view of a Smurfit Kappa corrugated production facility in Poland
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Smurfit Kappa
    Image attribution tooltip

    Smurfit WestRock: The transaction creating a global packaging giant

    The combination of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock is expected to make the world’s largest publicly traded packaging company. 

    By Packaging Dive Staff • Updated July 5, 2024
  • Aerial view of WestRock's headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by WestRock
    Image attribution tooltip
    Smurfit WestRock transaction

    Smurfit Kappa finalizes plan to acquire WestRock in 2024

    CEOs Tony Smurfit and David Sewell outlined their vision for a leading global packaging company and discussed the outlook for possible divestitures on Tuesday.

    By , • Sept. 12, 2023
  • Close up view of stacked corrugated cardboard.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Smurfit WestRock transaction

    Smurfit Kappa and WestRock deal not expected to face major barriers, analysts say

    The geographical diversity in the two companies’ assets could reduce competition concerns in what could become the largest containerboard company in the world.

    By • Sept. 11, 2023
  • Five paperboard mailer envelopes with various designs on the front.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Bell Incorporated on August 01, 2023
    Image attribution tooltip

    Graphic Packaging closes $262.5M acquisition of folding carton company Bell

    The deal, which includes three U.S. converting facilities, grows Graphic’s presence in food service packaging and offers an expansion opportunity into the mailer business.

    By • Sept. 11, 2023
  • A fiber box with partitions to protect glass containers
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sonoco completes $330M deal including WestRock’s stake in RTS Packaging

    The transaction, which also includes a mill in Tennessee, adds more than a dozen converting facilities to the company’s portfolio that are focused on protective fiber packaging.

    By • Sept. 8, 2023
  • Stacks of cardboard boxes in a logistics center
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Smurfit WestRock transaction

    Smurfit Kappa, WestRock in advanced talks to merge

    If finalized, Smurfit WestRock would bring together American and European paper packaging giants whose combined annual revenue this past year would have totaled approximately $34 billion, the companies said.

    By • Sept. 7, 2023
  • Ball cans and bottles.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Ball Corporation
    Image attribution tooltip

    Ball to divest aerospace business in $5.6B deal

    The pending sale of this business unit to BAE Systems will streamline Ball’s operations to solely focus on packaging, which accounted for more than six times its aerospace sales in 2022.

    By • Updated Aug. 17, 2023
  • Heavy-duty trucks with the Veritiv logo in front of a warehouse.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Veritiv Corp. on August 07, 2023
    Image attribution tooltip

    Veritiv to be acquired in $2.3B private equity deal

    Almost a decade after Veritiv was formed through a merger, the public company is slated to become private via a deal with an affiliate of a major firm.

    By • Aug. 7, 2023
  • Constantia Flexibles logo
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Constantia Flexibles
    Image attribution tooltip

    Constantia Flexibles to be sold in 1.1B-euro deal

    The world’s third-largest producer of flexible packaging is slated for a new private equity owner after more than eight years and nearly a dozen acquisitions of its own.

    By • July 31, 2023
  • Puzzle pieces with packaging
    Image attribution tooltip

    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

    Image attribution tooltip

    Tracking packaging mergers and acquisitions in 2026

    Berlin Packaging acquires New Jersey-based O.Berk Co., Supremex is growing in Toronto and Domtar sells EAM to private equity.

    By , , • Updated June 10, 2026