Lincoln International’s Global Packaging Team Reports Strong 2022 and Continued Demand for Packaging in 2023

Packaging activity in 2022 was strong but experienced a continued cooling as the year finished. While the latter half of this year showed a decline in the total number of completed transactions, we continue to see both private and public companies engage sell-side advisors to best position themselves for when uncertain market dynamics subside. Although difficult to predict exactly when that will happen, it is possible we will see a rebound of M&A market activity in the second half of 2023 across the flexible, label, rigid and paperboard verticals.

A number of factors contribute to our outlook, including private equity hold period expirations, the availability of dry powder that must be spent in the near term and a continuous desire for “must-have assets” even in challenging market conditions. Furthermore, with fewer companies engaging in sell-side processes, we expect the demand for high-quality assets in sale processes to be stronger, driving competitive tensions that ultimately benefit sellers.

Summary

  • Lincoln International’s unwavering commitment to bring the best packaging companies to market with thoughtful and unique insights, intimate strategic and financial buyer knowledge and global commitment positions our clients for outsized outcomes and ideal partners for growth.

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