Smurfit Kappa and WestRock Combine to Form Smurfit Westrock plc

Westrock Coffee Company Completes Business Combination with Riverview Acquisition Corp.

April 3, 2022

Food & Beverage

Westrock Coffee Company entered into a business combination with Riverview Acquisition Corp., becoming a publicly listed company on the Nasdaq under the ticker "WEST". The transaction delivered approximately $500 million of gross cash proceeds including $250 million in PIPE commitments and secured new credit facilities to refinance debt and fund Westrock's manufacturing expansion and international growth initiatives.

Swire Shipping Acquires Westwood Shipping Lines

June 30, 2022

Transportation

Swire Shipping has completed the acquisition of Westwood Shipping Lines from J-WeSco Ltd., expanding Swire’s liner network and vertically integrating its Pacific Northwest–Northeast Asia services. Westwood, headquartered in Puyallup, Washington, will continue operating its niche vessel services while benefiting from Swire’s broader container, network and project capabilities.

PaperWorks Acquires The Standard Group

June 23, 2023

Packaging

PaperWorks Industries Inc. has completed the acquisition of The Standard Group, a custom printed paperboard packaging converter with a manufacturing facility in Louisville, Kentucky. The deal adds ~120 employees and expands PaperWorks' integrated folding carton footprint and vertical integration across North America; PaperWorks is PE-backed (Gamut Capital Management).

Mill Rock Packaging Acquires Keystone Paper & Box Company

February 13, 2023

Packaging

Mill Rock Packaging Partners LLC, a specialty packaging platform backed by Mill Rock Capital, has acquired Keystone Paper & Box Company, a custom folding carton manufacturer based in South Windsor, Connecticut. Keystone's management has made a significant investment in the platform and will remain in place; the deal expands Mill Rock Packaging's footprint to the Eastern U.S. and builds the platform's national specialty packaging capabilities. Terms were not disclosed.

International Paper to Acquire DS Smith in All-Share Combination

April 16, 2024

Packaging

International Paper (IP) has agreed to acquire DS Smith in a recommended all-share combination valuing DS Smith at 415 pence per share and implying an enterprise value of approximately $9.9 billion. The transaction will give pro forma IP shareholders ~66.3% and DS Smith shareholders ~33.7% of the combined company, creating a global leader in sustainable fiber-based packaging with expanded European and North American scale; the deal is expected to close by Q4 2024, subject to approvals.

Rock West Composites Acquires Assets of Performance Plastics, Inc.

September 8, 2023

Aerospace & Defense

Rock West Composites acquired the assets of Performance Plastics, Inc. on September 8, 2023, integrating PPI’s staff, facility and equipment into RWC operations. The deal expands Rock West’s product offering and manufacturing capabilities—adding metallic manufacturing, machining, forming and bonding—and brings approximately 80 PPI employees into RWC’s employee‑owned business.