Sealed Air Corporation acquired by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R)

On 9 April 2026, private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) finalized the take-private acquisition of Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE: SEE), following a definitive merger agreement announced on 17 November 2025. Under the terms of the all-cash transaction, Sealed Air common shareholders received $42.15 per share in cash, representing an equity consideration of $6.3 billion and an approximate 41% premium over the company’s unaffected share price, concluding a transaction framework that included shareholder approval, regulatory clearances, and the expiration of a 30-day go-shop solicitation period. The buyout was capitalized through equity committed by CD&R-managed funds alongside $7.9 billion in committed debt financing arranged by a syndicate led by J.P. Morgan Securities, BofA Securities, BNP Paribas Securities, Goldman Sachs, UBS Investment Bank, and Wells Fargo, with supplemental debt commitments provided by Citi, Mizuho, and RBC Capital Markets. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and led by Chief Executive Officer Dustin Semach, Sealed Air transitions into a privately held platform after reporting consolidated revenue of $1–10bn in 2024 and net annual sales of $1–10bn in 2025 across an operating footprint of roughly 16,400 employees serving clients in more than 117 countries. The investment thesis focuses on deploying CD&R’s operational leadership to accelerate R&D, product innovation, and automation technologies across the group’s core Food and Protective packaging divisions, leveraging flagship brands including CRYOVAC, SEALED AIR, LIQUIBOX, AUTOBAG, and BUBBLE WRAP. On the sell-side, Sealed Air was advised by exclusive financial adviser Evercore and legal counsel Latham & Watkins LLP. CD&R was advised financially by a syndicate comprising BofA Securities, BNP Paribas Securities, Citi, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Securities, Lazard, Mizuho, RBC Capital Markets, UBS Investment Bank, and Wells Fargo, with Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP serving as buy-side legal counsel.

The acquisition of Sealed Air Corporation is part of the growth strategy of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, which already has several external growth operations under its belt, notably Opella in 2024.