Mergers & Acquisitions

Novolex®, a leader in packaging choice, innovation and sustainability, has acquired Vegware, a rapidly growing international provider of compostable foodservice packaging headquartered in Edinburgh, U.K. Vegware's teams in both the U.K. and U.S. are expected to join the Novolex family. The Vegware brand will remain intact as part of Novolex's Eco-Products portfolio of brands and will continue to sell its products under the Vegware label.

CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc. announced its Triple T joint venture has reached a definitive agreement with a client of the Hancock Natural Resource Group, Inc., a Manulife Investment Management company, to sell 301,000 acres of prime East Texas timberlands for approximately $498 million in cash, or approximately $1,656 per acre.

Mercer International Inc. said it is very, very pleased to announce that it received approval from the applicable Bankruptcy Court for a sales Order approving the acquisition by its wholly-owned subsidiary of a state-of-the-art CLT manufacturing facility located at Spokane, Washington (the "Facility") for a price of $50 million, subject to customary adjustments. The closing of the sale is scheduled to occur shortly.

Stockholders of Domtar Corporation today approved a proposal to adopt a business combination with Paper Excellence B.V. whereby Karta Halten B.V., an affiliate of Paper Excellence, will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Domtar common stock for $55.50 per share in cash pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger dated May 10, 2021 (the "Merger").

A newly formed company, Roaring Spring Park, LLC, has just closed on the facility and has been actively involved in identifying and supporting potential uses for the plant and the site, including restarting the paper mill and/or repurposing the assets.

The acquisition will increase Glatfelter's diversification into attractive and complementary segments serving the growing wipes, healthcare and hygiene categories.

Rayonier Inc. has sold the rights to manage two timber funds (Fund III and Fund IV) that were previously managed by its Olympic Resource Management (ORM) subsidiary, as well as its co-investment stake in both funds, to BTG Pactual's Timberland Investment Group (TIG) for an aggregate purchase price prior to closing costs of $35.9 million. The transaction will be reflected in third quarter financial results.

Avery Dennison announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Vestcom, a privately held market-leading provider of pricing and branded labeling solutions at the shelf-edge for retailers and consumer packaged goods companies, for $1.45 billion in a cash transaction, subject to certain closing and post-closing adjustments.

Smurfit Kappa says it is buying Verzuolo, a containerboard business in northern Italy, for a cash consideration of €360 million. The Verzuolo mill owned by the Burgo Group, is situated close to the port of Savona in the northwest of Italy. The PM9 machine was newly constructed in 2002 and converted into a 600,000 tonne capacity recycled containerboard machine in 2019.

DS Smith Plc. announced Friday the proposed sale of its De Hoop paper mill in the Netherlands to De Jong Packaging for 50 million euros or about 43 million pounds in cash.

Verso Corporation confirmed that it has received an unsolicited proposal from Atlas Holdings LLC regarding a potential transaction to acquire all outstanding shares of Class A common stock of Verso for $20.00 per share in cash.

Atlas Holdings LLC, in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission said the company is offering $20 per share for Verso's outstanding stock shares, buying out Verso entirely. The estimated value of the company is $866 million, according to Atlas Holdings.

Interfor Corporation has completed the previously announced transaction to acquire four sawmill operations from Georgia-Pacific, located in Bay Springs, Mississippi; Fayette, Alabama; DeQuincy, Louisiana and Philomath, Oregon.

Paper Excellence, a global diversified manufacturer of pulp and specialty, printing, writing, and packaging papers, announced that Paper Excellence and its subsidiaries ("Paper Excellence") have received a debt commitment letter from leading financial institutions for the commitment of an aggregate of $1.95 billion of financing.

Weyerhaeuser Company announced the completion of the sale of 145,000 acres of timberlands in the North Cascades region of Washington to Hampton Resources for $266 million.

Cascades Inc. is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with an affiliate of funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, "Apollo") to sell its 57.6% equity interest in Reno De Medici S.p.A. ("Reno de Medici", or "RDM") for an all-cash price of €1.45 per share, corresponding to a total net cash consideration of approximately €315.3 million (approximately CAN$461 million).

Novolex, an industry leader in packaging choice, innovation, and sustainability, announced it has acquired the business of Flexo Converters USA, Inc. and certain of its affiliates. The intention to acquire was originally announced May 17.

Essity has finalized its acquisition of the remaining 63.8% of the shares in the Australian hygiene company Asaleo Care. Essity AustralAsia, which is the name of the regional unit going forward, will be consolidated into Essity's accounts as of July 1st , 2021.

CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc. announced a definitive agreement to sell 18,063 acres of prime Oregon timberlands - known as the Bandon property - for $100 million in cash, or approximately $5,536 per acre, to Roseburg Resources Co.

The Mayr-Melnhof Group ('MM') and a subsidiary of funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. ('Oaktree') have reached a firm intention on the sale of MM's virgin fiber cartonboard mills located in Eerbeek, Netherlands, and Baiersbronn, Germany, to Oaktree for an equity value of EUR 104.6 million and net debt subject to final closing accounts.

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. announced that it has acquired a portion of the issued ordinary share capital of Elopak ASA (President & CEO: Thomas Körmendi, "Elopak"), a Norway-based liquid paper packaging company operating in Europe and North America, as a Cornerstone investor in Elopak's initial public offering on the Oslo Børs.

Sappi North America, Inc., a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper, packaging products and pulp, announced that it will sell its hydroelectric assets on the Presumpscot River in Maine to Dichotomy Power LLC, pending satisfactory completion of regulatory and other approvals. The move is designed to allow Sappi to focus on its core competencies and is consistent with Sappi's recent restructuring of the Westbrook site.

Billionaire Tom Gores' private equity firm Platinum Equity would acquire textbook publishing and educational technology company McGraw Hill for $4.5 billion from Apollo Global Management Inc, the companies said.

The process following the acquisition of the remaining 25% of the shares of ABIGO Medical AB is completed and the company is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Essity. As per the terms of the transaction, ABIGO Medicals pharma business has been divested and sold to the company's founder Jan G. Smith.

DIC Corporation has closed on the acquisition of BASF's global pigments business, known as BASF Colors & Effects (BCE).