CMPC stock sells packaging business for USD 420 million

CMPC stock is anchored by a USD 420 million packaging sale agreed on September 23, 2026, while the transaction reshapes the company’s debt profile. As Smurfit Westrock reported, the buyer will acquire CMPC’s Chilean containerboard and corrugated business, with completion expected in the first half of 2027 subject to regulatory approvals.

USD 420 million changes the mix

The deal covers 100 percent of Envases Impresos Cordillera SpA and Chilena de Moldeados SpA. The assets include one recycled containerboard mill, three corrugated plants, one molded tray facility and a paper recovery network with 12 collection points.

The transaction represents less than six times adjusted EBITDA on a post-synergy basis, according to Smurfit Westrock. For CMPC, the strategic effect is a narrower packaging footprint and a clearer emphasis on pulp, forestry and consumer products.

Leverage improves on paper

Fitch Ratings said on September 24, 2026, that the sale was neutral to CMPC’s ratings and projected 2027 net leverage of 2.8x after the transaction, versus 3.1x without it. The comparison gives the deal a measurable balance-sheet benefit, although Fitch projects 2026 net leverage at 3.8x, above its 3.5x negative sensitivity.

The rating agency also cited softer pulp prices as a pressure point. Its report said pulp averaged USD 586 per unit from January through August 2026, leaving commodity pricing as the main counterweight to the debt reduction.

Santiago close stays dated

CMPC reported Q2 2026 profit of USD 33.4 million, a 74.4 percent decline from the year-earlier period, according to La Tercera on September 2, 2026. That result explains why investors may weigh the debt benefit against the earnings sensitivity of the pulp cycle.

On the Santiago Stock Exchange, CMPC last closed at CLP 966.10 on September 22, 2026. The dated quote puts the company’s restructuring story alongside a still demanding operating backdrop.