John Hart

    Managing Director
   Plastics & Packaging

Plenary Speaker


The Influence of Private Equity on the Blow Molding Sector and Trends in Plastics & Packaging M&A

General Session Il

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

11:55 a.m. to 12:25 p.m.

(see full conference schedule)

Presentation Description:


Three Points on Presentation:

  • There continues to be interest from private equity in blow molding firms, with more than 50 percent of blow molding transactions in 2023 and 2024 being to private equity buyers. (https://pmcf.com/industry-updates/plastics-ma-pulse-2024-year-in-review/)
  • The presentation will focus on the implications of increased private equity interest in the blow molding industry
  • The goal is to inform owners, executives and management teams of the changing industry landscape driven by organizational consolidation and growth fueled by private equity investment.


 What are the emerging trends regarding private equity interest in the blow molding

 industry?



Since 2005, PMCF has been monitoring the plastics M&A landscape and publishing a comprehensive monthly report on the sector's activity.  Our research has led to the creation of a proprietary deal database that provides us with unique insights into the plastics M&A landscape. Private equity has materially changed the competitive landscape in plastics and packaging, which provides both challenges and opportunities for business owners.

This presentation will explore emerging trends in private equity investment within the blow molding industry, drawing on insights from PMCF’s proprietary transaction data. We’ll exam broader trends within plastics M&A, spotlight prominent blow molding consolidators, and review notable recent transactions.


Finally, we will explore various transaction pathways available to business owners, whether engaging with private equity or strategic buyers, and provide key insights for companies preparing for imminent or future sales.


This presentation will serve as a resource for owners and executives of blow molding firms, offering a comprehensive, data-driven view of industry consolidation, growth strategies, and the expanding influence of private equity.

Speaker Biography:

John Hart is a Managing Director of PMCF Investment Banking, a national middle market investment bank that is an affiliate of Plante Moran. John currently serves on the senior leadership team at PMCF and leads the firm’s Plastics & Packaging industry vertical.

 

He has more than 20 years of professional experience advising clients with company sales, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations, and capital raises. John has led the successful completion of more than 40 plastics and packaging transactions since 2010 and has provided M&A advisory in a planning capacity to numerous other companies. His clients have included entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, private equity groups, family offices, and large international corporations.


John has authored numerous plastics and packaging industry M&A reports and is a regular contributor to multiple industry publications. He is also a frequent speaker at trade conferences and is often sought out for his insight in plastics and packaging M&A.



Prior to joining PMCF, John served in a leadership role at a privately held distribution company and helped the shareholders with the ultimate sale of the company. He also worked in the Corporate Value Consulting Group at PricewaterhouseCoopers.


John earned a BA in accounting with a finance emphasis from the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. He currently serves on MSU’s Financial Markets Institute Advisory Board and has held this position since 2007. He is a licensed securities representative holding his Series 7, 24, and 63 registrations.