This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback.
The first quarter of 2025 brought more than 30 M&A deals that Packaging Dive followed, involving companies that are either based, or have a notable presence, in the United States and Canada. Here’s a look at some of the notable developments from early this year. Find a complete list in this ongoing M&A tracker.
- Major packaging manufacturers made progress on previously announced multibillion-dollar transactions. International Paper completed its acquisition of DS Smith in January, after agreeing to divestitures in Europe. And though not yet finalized, in February, Amcor received necessary shareholder approvals in its bid to take over Berry Global.
- Ball was both a buyer and a seller. It acquired Florida Can Manufacturing for $160 million in February. In March, the company sold a majority stake in its aluminum cups business, forming a joint venture with Ayna.AI called Oasis Venture Holdings.
- Some companies announced multiple packaging-related acquisitions, including in food service ware, labels, glass and other rigid packaging solutions. These include Imperial Dade (acquired Athens Janitor Supply and Chittom Industries and S. Freedman & Sons), Novvia Group (acquired Saxco International and MegaChem), Resource Label Group (acquired Screenprint/Dow’s label business and Imprimerie Ste-Julie) and TricorBraun (acquired Euroglas and Glaspack).
- Private equity firms swapped packaging assets in Q1. Nautic Partners in February completed its $540 million purchase of Berry Global’s specialty tapes business, calling the new standalone business Vybond. Additionally, in March, Crestview Partners purchased labels and flexibles provider Smyth Companies from Novacap. That same month, Nonantum Capital Partners bought contract packaging and manufacturing company MSI Express from HCI Equity Partners.
- In Q1, labels-related deals included RLG and Crestview’s acquisitions, plus Brook + Whittle’s January acquisition of Stouse. Investment bank PMCF noted in a January packaging update that the printing and labels subsector showed a notable year-over-year increase in deal volume compared with other packaging subsectors. Investment bank Harris Williams recently reported on opportunities in packaging labels. Looking ahead, “Many segments throughout the labels landscape are well positioned for M&A,” said Tim Webb, head of the firm's industrials group.
