Greif Completes Sale of Containerboard Business to Packaging Corporation of America, Adjusts Guidance

Greif Inc has completed the sale of its containerboard business to Packaging Corporation of America, aiming to unlock shareholder value and accelerate debt reduction. The company has adjusted its 2025 full-year guidance due to the exclusion of the containerboard business. This strategic divestment is expected to enhance Greif's capital efficiency and focus resources on core business areas, potentially leading to more stable and predictable earnings.

Greif Inc. (NYSE: GEF, GEF.B), a global leader in performance packaging and services, has completed the sale of its containerboard business to Packaging Corporation of America. The transaction, announced on September 02, 2025, is expected to unlock immediate value for shareholders and enhance Greif's capital efficiency [1].

The sale of the containerboard business marks a strategic move for Greif, as it aims to deliver stronger and more consistent earnings power. Ole Rosgaard, President and CEO of Greif, stated that the transaction "unlocks immediate value for our shareholders and allows Greif to deliver stronger and more consistent earnings power, enhances our capital efficiency, and accelerates debt reduction" [1].

As a result of this divestment, Greif has adjusted its 2025 full-year guidance. The revised Adjusted EBITDA guidance for the full fiscal year 2025 is $507 million to $517 million, excluding the previously disclosed $168 million of year-to-date Adjusted EBITDA performance and the implied fourth quarter performance of $50 million related to the containerboard business [1]. The Adjusted Free Cash Flow guidance remains as previously presented, inclusive of discontinued operations, and is adjusted by $15 million to a range of $290 million to $300 million to account for the lack of expected September cash contribution from the containerboard business operations [1].

Goldman Sachs acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Greif on the transaction [1]. The sale of the containerboard business is part of Greif's broader strategy to focus resources on its core business areas, including Customized Polymer, Sustainable Fiber, Durable Metal, and Integrated Solutions. This strategic shift is expected to lead to more stable and predictable earnings for the company [1].

Greif, founded in 1877, is a global leader in performance packaging located in 40 countries. The company delivers trusted, innovative, and tailored solutions that support some of the world’s most demanding and fastest-growing industries. With a commitment to legendary customer service, operational excellence, and global sustainability, Greif packages life’s essentials – and creates lasting value for its colleagues, customers, and other stakeholders [1].

References:
[1] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/09/02/3143144/0/en/Greif-Completes-Sale-of-Containerboard-Business.html
[2] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4489883-greif-non-gaap-eps-of-1_03-revenue-of-1_13b
[3] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/greif-completes-sale-containerboard-business-200500773.html
[4] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/greif-inc-gef-q3-2025-070612105.html