CD&R Completes $6.3B Acquisition of Sealed Air, Taking Iconic Plastic Packaging Giant Private

Private equity firm CD&R has officially completed its acquisition of Sealed Air, taking the iconic plastic packaging giant private in a deal worth approximately $6.3 billion to shareholders, with an overall enterprise value of $10.3 billion.

Sealed Air — known worldwide for its Bubble Wrap, Cryovac, and Autobag brands — will continue operating under its name and remain headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company has ceased trading on the New York Stock Exchange following the acquisition.

Key Highlights

• Deal Value: $6.3B to shareholders, $10.3B enterprise value
• Status: Sealed Air is now privately held by CD&R
• Strategy: CD&R commits to supporting growth in protective and food packaging segments
• Brands: Bubble Wrap, Cryovac, Autobag, Liquibox remain key assets
• Debt Reduction: Company reduced debt by ~$300M in 2025

Looking Ahead

CEO Dustin Semach said the company was making progress on a turnaround, pointing to a “positive inflection” in protective packaging volumes — the first since 2021. However, analysts are closely watching to see whether CD&R will optimize the portfolio or potentially spin off отдельные brands as standalone entities.

Sealed Air has faced challenges in recent years, notably as major customers like Amazon shifted away from plastic air pillows — one of Sealed Air’s signature products. Despite this, the company’s strong brand portfolio is widely viewed as underutilized.

Source: Packaging Dive