UPM Price Increase Effective July 1, 2018

The Koehler Group is to convert its power plant at the Koehler Paper site in Greiz from pulverized lignite to fine wood fraction fuel. The experts at Koehler Renewable Energy, a part of the Koehler Group, have succeeded in developing an innovative technique that will allow a type of biomass to be used as fuel in the existing coal‐fired power plant in a completely new way. It is an innovation on the market. The plant’s conversion from lignite to fine wood fraction as the fuel, is part of the Group’s climate strategy. It is an important contribution to keeping Koehler’s promise of producing more energy from renewable sources by 2030 than is required for its paper production operations. In total, the conversion will save 24,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions per year at the Greiz site. In addition, converting the fuel will also significantly reduce sulfurous emissions and pollutants compared with pulverized lignite.

Norske Skog has completed a transaction for the sale of the Tasman mill industrial site and remaining mill assets to the Australasian pulp, paper, and packaging group Oji Fibre Solutions for approximately NOK 70 million (NZD 10.9 million). The sale of the mill site and realisation of certain other related assets, including buildings, electricity equipment, piping, water, and other infrastructure, will generate a total financial gain on sale of approximately NOK 57 million (NZD 8.8 million). “We are pleased to finally have concluded this sales agreement with Oji after lengthy process of negotiations and obtaining all required regulatory approvals for the sale. The sale of the Tasman industrial site to Oji is a material steps towards concluding Norske Skog’s long-term business commitment in New Zealand,” commented Geir Drangsland, President and CEO of Norske Skog.

With the U.S. uncoated groundwood papers industry starting to see a level playing field against unfairly traded imports, North Pacific Paper Company (NORPAC) CEO Craig Anneberg announced the hiring of 50 new full- and part-time employees and the limited restart of operations for Paper Machine 1 (PM1) idled this past year: "NORPAC has a world-class facility that can compete with anyone in the world on a level playing field. With the recent trade case preliminary determinations made by the Department of Commerce, important steps toward fair competition for American producers, NORPAC is excited to announce the hiring of 50 new employees and the limited restart of operations for Paper Machine 1 at our Longview facility to meet growing demand. Click Read More below for additional information.