Verso Corporation announced that Robert M. Amen, chairman of the company's board of directors, has decided not to stand for reelection at the company's 2018 annual meeting of stockholders and, in connection with his decision, has resigned as chairman of the board effective October 6, 2017. In connection with Amen's resignation as chairman, the Verso board has selected Eugene I. Davis, chair of the Strategic Advisory Committee and chair of the Finance and Planning Committee of the board, and Alan J. Carr, chair of the Compensation Committee of the board, as interim co-chairmen of the board. In a joint statement, Davis and Carr said, "On behalf of the entire board, we want to express our gratitude to Rob for his service to Verso. With grace, wisdom and dedication, Rob led by example as chairman of the board. We are pleased that he intends to remain on the board until the end of his term as a director, and we wish him the best in all of his future endeavors."

Sappi North America announces a transactional price increase of $2.00/cwt USD/($2.70/cwt CAD) on new and unconfirmed orders that book with confirmed delivery dates on or after Wednesday, November 1, 2017 on the following products: McCoy Web, Opus Web, Somerset Web, Flo Web, Galerie Web . Standard differentials and upcharges apply. The price increase includes all basis weights and finishes and all private label programs.

Mohawk, North America’s largest privately-owned manufacturer of fine papers, envelopes and specialty substrates for commercial and digital printing, announces the continued expansion of its wide format inkjet portfolio designed to meet the needs of the growing display graphics market. New products in Mohawk’s Wide Format Inkjet portfolio include Fine Paper for art reproduction, metallic-faced adhesives, economy canvas, and a non-skid product for floor display graphics. New items are designed to support a wide variety of printing applications. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Next week, Midland Paper, Packaging + Supplies, one of North America's largest independent distributors of media for business communications, will be participating for a third year in a row as a Gold Sponsor in the thINK 2017 Customer Conference. This exclusive industry event will take place in Boca Raton, FL from October 9 - 11. thINK 2017 is one of the largest invitation-only, hosted summits designed for senior managers and business executives who want to understand how Canon Solutions America’s production inkjet printing technology, software and solutions will help them grow their business now and in the future. The event is sold out with over 500 Canon Solutions America customers, industry leaders and solution partners coming together as a powerful community designed to connect, collaborate and inspire. “We are honored and excited to once again participate as a founding partner of this incredibly important independent user group and industry event. Our goal at Midland is to help Canon customers across the country address their most challenging inkjet media needs with new products and solid solutions”, said David Field, Midland’s Senior Business Manager, Inkjet Technologies. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Appleton Coated sale 'like a death in the family,' worker says after Thursday ruling Industrial Assets Corp., a used machine dealer and liquidator based in Los Angeles, will be the new owner of the Appleton Coated paper mill as of Friday. The $20 million sale, plus a $1.5 million backstop fund, was approved by Outagamie County Judge Gregory Gill in a hearing on Thursday morning. It included $2.25 million to cover employee health insurance through October and wages for about 100 employees to be recalled for a few weeks to keep the mill at "hot idle" status. That number will then be reduced to 30 employees. The new modified agreement includes the stipulation that Industrial Assets will market the mill for 90 days to see if a new buyer can be found who will restart and operate the mill as a going concern. According to the modified purchase agreement, Industrial Assets met with Appleton Coated management and “determined that the management’s projections for profitable short-term operations were not achievable.” Click Read More below for more of the story.

After the release of the stock exchange notice of today at 17:21, the company has been informed that the board of Norske Skog AS has decided to support an extension of the consent solicitation deadline for the board's recapitalization proposal. However, due to practical matters, it was not possible to make the Norske Skog AS resolution within the deadline at 17:00 CET, and consequently, the offer period has expired. The discussions with the key stakeholder groups will continue in order to achieve a consensual recapitalization solution for the Norske Skog group during the next days even though the offer period has expired. If these discussions are successful, an updated recapitalization proposal will be launched.

International Paper (IP) intends to stop newsprint production at the Madrid mill in Spain in mid-September, according to Euwid. The sites PM62 will be converted to production of containerboard slated to start in the fourth quarter of this year, as planned. The company is targeting a full ramp-up of the machine for early 2018. IP acquired the Madrid mill from Holmen in mid-2016 with the aim to make it a mill for recycled corrugated case material. PM 62 has the capacity to produce 330,000 tpy of newsprint.

Appvion, Inc. announced that it has received approval from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware of all of the first day motions related to its Chapter 11 filing. Collectively, the orders issued by the Bankruptcy Court will help ensure that the Company continues operating its business in the ordinary course during its restructuring process. “We remain focused on operating our business as usual and serving our customers’ needs as we continue constructive discussions with our lenders on an expedited restructuring and emergence,” said Kevin Gilligan, Chief Executive Officer of Appvion. “The approval of our first day motions transitions us smoothly into our restructuring process, from which we expect to emerge with a sustainable capital structure, well positioned to compete, and primed to further invest in the innovation that has made Appvion a market leader in coated paper.” Click Read More below for additional detail.

Avery Dennison Corporation said it has made an investment in Gauzy, an Israeli-based developer and manufacturer of liquid-crystal-based materials, films, applications and solutions for a variety of end markets including construction, automotive, consumer electronics, home appliances, the solar industry and more. Based in Tel Aviv, Israel, Gauzy has successfully commercialized several initial “smart glass” products, including an embedded switchable window film that can alternate from clear and frosted with the touch of a button. Gauzy is the lead provider that offers a fully warranted, integrated solution that includes window films, hardware controllers for film operation and preservation, and complete certification and training with verification tools for worldwide partners. The film is currently used in architectural applications and is under evaluation for automotive applications. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Mondi, the international packaging and paper Group, will exhibit its wide range of professional paper solutions for book printing at the Frankfurt Bookfair held from 11 to 15 October in Frankfurt, Germany. The Mondi booth is located in Hall 4 / Booth F94. As a professional printing paper manufacturer, Mondi offers sustainable paper solutions for all printing technologies and needs. Book printing customers will find more than they expect at the Mondi booth. Johannes Klumpp, Marketing & Sales Director at Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper, explains, “We can offer the right solution for any printing technology – whether digital, hybrid, offset, HP indigo or high-speed inkjet. At the Frankfurt Bookfair, customers can explore the quality of Mondi’s design papers, tinted portfolio and our high-speed inkjet papers.” Click Read More below for additional detail.

Norske Skog has decided to extend the consent solicitation deadline for the ongoing recapitalization proposal from 3 October until Thursday 5 October at 17:00 CET. Norske Skog will use the period up to the new expiration deadline to speed up the continued discussions with the various stakeholder groups to try to achieve sufficient support for a consensual recapitalization solution for the Norske Skog group. The Board of Directors will continue to follow and evaluate the situation thoroughly during this period. We need some extra time to align initiatives among the various stakeholders. We believe that the extension of the consent deadline will improve the chances of reaching a solution," said Mr. Christen Sveaas, Chairman of Norske Skogindustrier ASA.

Five years ago this week, many in the Strait of Canso area breathed a collective sigh of relief when its largest single employer restarted production after a yearlong shutdown. The reopening of what is now Port Hawkesbury Paper came after a year of legal wrangling and negotiations with the various groups that have a stake in the future of the mill, formerly NewPage Port Hawkesbury, which had shut down when its parent company filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States. It’s a very different company than when it shut down in September 2011. Only one of the mill’s two paper machines — the newer supercalendered machine that produces paper for the magazine and catalogue market — went back into production, cutting the number of employees by about half to around 300. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Appleton Coated’s employees were left hanging Monday afternoon with no news on their mill's sale to Industrial Assets Corp., a used machine dealer and liquidator based in Los Angeles. Last Monday, Outagamie County judge Gregory Gill asked lawyers to have the modified purchase agreement complete in five business days. On the fifth day, which was Monday, the court closed at 4:30 p.m. with nothing filed. Many questions linger about what's going to be in the final documents. Will the mill still get a 45-day reprieve in which an estimated 195 workers will be called back to operate some of the paper machines? Will Industrial Assets use that time to seek a new buyer who could potentially operate the mill going forward? About 550 of the 620 employees were laid off on Sept. 19 and 20. Click Read More below for more of the story.

American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman and Clearwater Paper Corporation President and CEO and AF&PA Board Chair Linda Massman issued the following statement after attending the White House “Cut the Red Tape” event where Vice President Mike Pence outlined the administration’s regulatory agenda. “We support the administration in its mission to achieve regulatory reform that will allow the paper and wood products industry to innovate, invest, create jobs and compete at home and around the globe,” said Harman. “Our companies account for four percent of U.S. manufacturing GDP, employ 900,000 men and women in rural and urban communities across 45 states and meet a roughly $50 billion annual payroll. When we work together to advance regulatory policies that unleash economic growth, our industry’s future only brightens.” Click Read More below for more of the story.

The company will exhibit its full range of premium coated and uncoated papers for the publishing industry. Once again, Lecta will attend the Frankfurt Book Fair, October 11th to 15th, bringing together professionals worldwide at the largest publishing event of the year. This year, Lecta will present its new book "Vertical", a suggestive series of photographs taken vertically from a variety of perspectives and distances. The book is printed on Lecta's premium range of publishing papers, showing the excellent print results that can be achieved on a number of different papers. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Appvion, Inc. announced that it and certain of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to facilitate a balance sheet restructuring and better position the business for long-term growth and success. The Company expects to continue operations as usual and has obtained a commitment for $85 million in new debtor-in-possession ("DIP") financing from a group of its first lien lenders. Subject to Bankruptcy Court approval, this DIP financing, combined with cash generated by the Company, is expected to provide more than adequate liquidity to support ongoing operations during the process. "We thoroughly explored various alternatives to address our debt and have been engaged in constructive discussions with our lenders regarding sponsorship of a plan to delever the Company and enhance our liquidity," said Kevin Gilligan, Chief Executive Officer of Appvion. "While those discussions are active and continuing, we determined that pursuing a restructuring through Chapter 11 is the best path forward for Appvion and our stakeholders. We believe this process will result in a sustainable capital structure for our business." Click Read More below for additional detail.

Norske Skog has decided to extend the consent solicitation deadline for the ongoing recapitalization proposal from 29 September until Tuesday 3 October at 17:00 CET. The consent solicitation deadline has been extended from Friday 29 September until Tuesday 3 October 2017 at 17:00 CET. Norske Skog will use the period prior to the new expiration deadline to continue discussions with various stakeholder groups to try to achieve sufficient support for a consensual recapitalization solution for the Norske Skog group. The Board of Directors will continue to follow and evaluate the situation thoroughly during this period. - The recapitalization process is challenging, as we knew it would be, but we want to allow time to finalize our discussions with the various stakeholders. We believe that the extension of the consent deadline will improve the chances of reaching a solution, especially after the last day's actions from different stakeholders. As we have previously made clear, the board of Norske Skogindustrier ASA firmly believes that only less beneficial alternatives to a consensual solution exist. Norske Skog has 7 profitable business units that will continue normal operations regardless of the outcome of the consent solicitation process," said Mr. Christen Sveaas, Chairman of Norske Skogindustrier ASA.

UPM Plywood starts using a new sustainable lignin based WISA BioBond gluing technology in plywood manufacturing. In the new technology 50% of the fossil-based phenol has been replaced with lignin obtained as a by product of kraf pulp production. "Our long term goal has been to develop a gluing technology that utilizes lignin as raw material. The technological breakthrough that now has been achieved is the most significant innovation in plywood gluing in five decades" says Susanna Rinne, Vice President, Business Development at UPM Plywood. UPM Plywood plans to take the new gluing technology into use gradually in all of its plywood mills. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Irving Consumer Products broke ground on the construction of their new $400 million state-of-the-art tissue plant in Macon, Georgia today at an event at the site of their future home. Joined by Mayor Robert Reichert and Charlie Gatlin, Special Projects Advisor for Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), President Robert K. Irving acknowledged the next step in the construction of the new facility. “We’re excited to begin construction on this new plant. The plant will create over 200 permanent, skilled jobs and allow us to continue to meet our customers’ growing demands,” said Robert K. Irving, President of Irving Consumer Products. “It will also provide growth in our home province. The pulp will be from Irving Woodlands, manufactured at our New Brunswick pulp mill.” The new plant will produce ultra-premium quality household paper products including soft bath tissue and high quality paper towel that is both strong and absorbent. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Questions remain on exact details of Appleton Coated's sale to Industrial Assets Corp. after a marathon six-hours-plus hearing Monday in Outagamie County court. Questions also remain on exactly what its 600-plus employees can expect – or hope for – in the long run. It appears the mill has dodged the bullet of an immediate shutdown and liquidation, but might only operate in a limited capacity for 45 days with a staff of 195, about a third of its workers. Still, that's a victory some are celebrating. “We get a second chance,” said Tom Nelson, Outagamie County executive. Nelson had initially objected to the mill's sale to the liquidator and petitioned for more time for a different buyer to come forward in a joint statement with Combined Locks village president John Neumeier. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Fortress Paper Ltd. reports that it has completed an assessment of the failure of a pressurized auxiliary gas collection system at the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill (the "FSC Mill") in Thurso, Québec that was reported on September 21, 2017. The Company has identified the source of the failure and is in the process of repairing and replacing the damaged components. The Company has dispatched personnel to multiple supplier and repair locations to further attempt to expedite the work to be completed. Based on best effort commitments provided by equipment and parts suppliers, management believes that production at the FSC Mill will be restarted on or prior to October 9, 2017. The Fifth Digester Project continues to advance in the normal course and the cogeneration facility continues to operate at a reduced rate. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Norske Skog has today received a recapitalization proposal from a majority of senior unsecured noteholders (the "Unsecured Proposal"), and Norske Skog will for the purpose of information parity publish the Unsecured Proposal. The board of Norske Skogindustrier ASA will review the Unsecured Proposal in an appropriate manner. The approval deadline for Norske Skog's ongoing consent solicitation is set to Friday 29 September at 17.00 CET.

The suspense is not completely over for Appleton Coated and its 620 employees. The struggling paper mill's sale to Industrial Assets Corp., a used machinery dealer based in Los Angeles, progressed in a six-hour marathon hearing Monday before Outagamie County Circuit Court Judge Gregory Gill. "I'm not going to take any action," Gill said late Monday. "We have definitive things in place but we're not at the finish line." Lawyers have a maximum of five days to hash out the details of a hybrid agreement that states Industrial Assets will pay $20 million for Appleton Coated and at the same time market the mill as an ongoing operation for 45 days. Mark Freedlander, an attorney for Industrial Assets, said "we have reached an agreement and we are responsible for marketing the entity as a going concern." Click Read More below for additional detail.

Please be advised that, effective with shipments November 1, 2017, Catalyst Paper will be implementing a $2.00/cwt. ($40/ST) USD price increase on its Rumford Offset grade for new and existing orders. This increase applies to all basis weights, finishes and grade extensions.

Members of Unifor Local 10-B voted 80 per cent in favour of a new four-year contract that helps secure the future of the pulp mill with significant investments over the next two years. "Our new collective agreement is good for workers and good for the community," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "We're proud to work with Domtar to ensure a future for this mill and hundreds of good jobs that Kamloops can rely on." The new collective agreement commits the parties to finding solutions on retiree health benefits, it also works on retention and training of trade workers, and streamlines administration while improving benefits. Unifor says that these gains will be important for the next generation of mill workers as a wave of retirements creates openings. "The collaborative working relationship we have with the union is something that I'm very proud of" stated Jean-Claude Allaire, General Manager of the Domtar Kamloops Mill. "It's our commitment to finding innovative solutions that resulted in a meaningful agreement for both parties". The framework of the new contract is built on Unifor's Western Canada pulp and paper pattern agreement. Click Read More below for additional detail.

A hearing ended Monday after nearly seven hours of discussion, to decide the future of Appleton Coated and its more than 600 workers. It looks like the future could be a little bit brighter for those workers. During Monday's hearing the judge was supposed to either approve of the $21 million purchase agreement or deny the sale. However, some changes were made to those original purchase agreements after a different offer came through from the employee union and a lending firm. "We will work to do our very best to provide an operating budget to each of the steelworkers and the receiver. We will work very hard. That's not a guarantee, but if it's not done by the end of the day tomorrow it will be done the following day," explained Mark Friedlander, Industrial Assets attorney. Now, Industrial Assets says it will pay $20 million , with more money to provide an operating budget to keep the plant open for 45 days. Over those 45 days Appleton Coated will run with only 200 employees to fulfill current orders. The mill typically employs more than 600 people. Click Read More below for more of the story.

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of certain uncoated groundwood paper from Canada that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value. Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Vice Chairman David S. Johanson, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson and Meredith M. Broadbent voted in the affirmative. As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on imports of this product from Canada, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about November 2, 2017, and its preliminary antidumping duty determination due on or about January 16, 2018. Click Read More below for additional detail.

A bi-partisan group of the House of Representatives on September 18 asked the International Trade Commission (ITC) to deny a petition filed by the North Pacific Paper Company (Norpac) that requests antidumping and/or countervailing duties of over 50 percent on newsprint imported from Canada. The bipartisan letter, led by Representatives Chuck Fleischmann (R-Chattanooga, TN) and Jamie Raskin (D-Rockville, MD), argued that a well-documented shift from printed newspapers to digital alternatives has caused a dramatic decline in newsprint consumption. And, that this trade dispute, brought on my one mill with 400 employees, could put at risk 175,000 jobs in the newspaper industry. Other representatives that signed the letter include House Republican Conference chair, Cathy McMoriss Rodgers (R-WA) and representatives Mike Rogers (R-AL), Diane Black (R-TN) and Ralph Norman (R-SC). Last week the Alliance Board of Directors sent its own letter to the ITC opposing the petition. The petition is also opposed by a broad coalition of U.S. and Canadian paper manufacturers, who understand that sharp price increases on customers could accelerate the decline in newsprint demand. The ITC is expected to make a preliminary determination on petition on September 22. If the Commission decides to move forward, the ITC and the Department of Commerce will conduct investigations and hearings that could lead to a final determination in late spring 2018.

Please be advised effective with shipments October 23rd, 2017, Domtar Lightweight Opaque Papers pricing will increase by $2.00/cwt. USD and $2.50/cwt. CDN.

•August uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments increased year-over-year for the first time since August 2016. The August shipments of UFS also hit the highest monthly total since March 2016. Imports of UFS decreased by 28% year-over-year in July – the second consecutive decrease of 20% or more. Meanwhile, exports of UFS papers increased 30% year-over-year in July, which is the third consecutive increase of 20% or more. •August shipments of coated free sheet (CFS) papers declined. And while shipments of coated two-sides #1-#2 also decreased year-over-year in August, they still reached the highest monthly total thus far in 2017. U.S. imports of CFS papers decreased 13% year-over-year in July; it is the first year-over-year decline in 2017. Exports of CFS papers increased 11% year-over-year in July, the fifth increase in the past seven months. •Coated mechanical (CM) paper shipments declined year-over-year in August, but reach third highest level in 2017. Imports of CM increased in July, up 11% compared to July 2016, while exports of CM decreased 20% in July. •While shipments of uncoated mechanical (UM) papers declined year-over-year in August, the export data registered a year-over-year increase in July. Imports of UM decreased 3% year-over-year in July while exports of UM increased 10% year-over-year in July – the fourth year-over-year increase in the first seven months of 2017. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Total European shipments of graphic papers in July 2017 were up 1.1% vs. July 2016 and are down 0.6% year-to-date. Total European shipments of newsprint in July 2017 were down 3.3% vs. July 2016 and are down 3.9% year-to-date. Total European shipments of sc-magazine papers in July 2017 were up 0.9% vs. July 2016 and are up 2.0% year-to-date. Total European shipments of coated mecanical reels in July 2017 were up 5.0% vs. July 2016 and are down 1.1% year-to-date. Total European shipments of uncoated mecanical (improved & others) in July 2017 were up 5.8% vs. July 2016 and are up 1.9% year-to-date. Total European shipments of coated woodfree in July 2017 were up 1.9% vs. July 2016 and are up 1.5% year-to-date. Total European shipments of uncoated woodfree in July 2017 were up 0.9% vs. July 2016 and are down 0.5% year-to-date. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Norske Skog is pleased to announce that secured bond holders holding 65 % of the aggregate principal amount of the secured notes due in 2019 (the "Secured AHC") have confirmed their support for the board's proposal launched on 18 September. Norske Skog is currently working to gain support from the other secured and unsecured bondholders. "We are very pleased to have obtained support from the majority of the secured bond holders, and we are currently in dialogue with the group's other secured and unsecured bond holders. The board's proposal is the best solution given the circumstances, and should provide a better return for stakeholder groups than the alternative. The alternative will trigger a complex insolvency process, which will result in Norske Skog being 100% owned by the secured bond holders." said Mr. Christen Sveaas, Chairman of Norske Skogindustrier ASA. Norske Skog will also enter into joint contingency planning with the Secured AHC to prepare for a potential insolvency process and share pledge enforcement on Norske Skog AS level if the board's proposal does not obtain sufficient levels of support from other creditors. Even without sufficient approval level, normal operations at all Norske Skog's mills will continue, and the value of Norske Skog and the interests of employees, customers, suppliers and local communities will be protected "The value of Norske Skog is the operating business units, which include seven profitable paper mills. These operations will continue as normal independent of the outcome of the recapitalization proposal. The secured bond holders are large professional investors with capital and ability to operate Norske Skog along with the employees," said Mr. Lars P. S. Sperre President and CEO of Norske Skog. Click Read More below for additional detail.

CO2 Solutions Inc. provided an update on progress at the Corporation's first commercial project with Fibrek General Partnership, a subsidiary of Resolute Forest Products Inc., and Serres Toundra Inc. The project entails the deployment of a 30-tonne per day (tpd) CO2 capture unit and ancillary equipment at a pulp mill in the Saint-Félicien region of Quebec (Canada) and the commercial reuse of the captured CO2 by the adjacent Serres Toundra greenhouse facility (the Project). The Project is following its course as planned. In the spring of 2017, the preliminary engineering was finalized. Since then, the detailed engineering has been largely realized and will be completed in October 2017. The Resolute Forest Product's Saint-Félicien pulp mill completed its planned annual shutdown for maintenance which allowed the CO2 Solutions' team to install the required connections from the Fibrek plant to route the flue gas to the future CO2 capture unit. This is an important milestone towards the completion of the unit which is expected to be commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2018. Click Read More below for additional detail.

International Paper (NYSE: IP) today announced plans to invest approximately $300 million to convert its No. 15 paper machine at the Riverdale Mill in Selma, Ala. from uncoated freesheet to high quality whitetop linerboard and containerboard. The conversion is targeted to be completed by mid-year 2019. The investment will add 450,000 tons of annual capacity, with flexibility to shift between containerboard products. Converting Riverdale No. 15 will position International Paper to grow its Industrial Packaging business, continue to provide attractive jobs to Riverdale team members and remain a significant supplier of uncoated freesheet in North America. "Our customers expect us to support their growth and this machine conversion will meet their needs," said Tim Nicholls, IP's senior vice president, Industrial Packaging the Americas. "Our Industrial Packaging business continues to focus on our customers in strategic channels including our box business, domestic and export containerboard and specialty grades."Click Read More below for additional detail.

Please be advised that Resolute Forest Products will raise the price of its Uncoated Free Sheet Connect, Connect Envelope and Connect Tablet grades by US$2.00 cwt effective with shipments on or after November 1, 2017. This increase will apply to all basis weights, and includes all upcharges.

Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) today expressed its support for the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union for commencing its provisional application. This agreement will immediately result in the elimination of quotas and tariffs of up to 10% on Canadian exports of wood-based panels and other wood products to the European Union. “We welcome the provisional application of the agreement, as a start to freer trade within the area,” CEO of FPAC, Derek Nighbor. “The prosperity of the forest products industry relies on strong exports, which CETA will help support.” Last year the Canadian forest sector exported more than $1 billion of wood, pulp and paper products to the EU member states. This is 3% of total exports of Canadian forest products making Europe the 4th largest international market for the sector. The largest importers of Canadian forest products in Europe are the United Kingdom followed by Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Sappi North America, a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper and packaging products, today received an award for its investment in the state of Minnesota from the Minnesota Office of Foreign Direct Investment, under the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The award highlights the company’s contributions to the economic vitality of local communities, and its commitment to keeping Minnesota a world-leading business destination. “We are honored and delighted to receive this award from the Governor’s office for our contributions to the great state of Minnesota,” said Mark Gardner, president and CEO of Sappi North America. “Through the investments made under Sappi’s 2020Vision strategy, we’re ensuring that our Cloquet facility will continue to operate at this high standard for many years to come.” Click Read More below for additional detail.

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. and Tembec Inc. announced that, as a result of legislation that went into effect today, approval of the acquisition by Rayonier Advanced Materials of all of the outstanding shares of Tembec under the Investment Canada Act is no longer required as a closing condition of the Transaction. This new legislation, entitled the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Implementation Act, provides for, among other things, the increase of the threshold for governmental approval of an acquisition of a Canadian business by certain non-Canadian investors (including investors from the United States, such as Rayonier Advanced Materials) from an enterprise value of the Canadian business of CDN$1 billion, to CDN$1.5 billion. As such, the Transaction falls below the new threshold. Subject to obtaining other necessary and customary governmental approvals relating to certain forestry and energy-related agreements, as well as the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the Transaction, it is expected that the Transaction will be completed in the second half of the fourth quarter of 2017.

Verso Corporation announced that its board of directors, as part of its ongoing efforts to maximize stockholder value, has formed a Strategic Alternatives Committee comprised of independent directors Eugene I. Davis, Alan J. Carr and Steven D. Scheiwe, with Mr. Davis serving as chairperson. The committee, with the assistance of Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc., the company's financial advisor, will lead Verso's continuing efforts to identify and evaluate a range of potential strategic transaction alternatives, including the possible sale of some Verso mills, engage in discussions and oversee the due diligence process with parties potentially interested in transactions with the company, and recommend to the board whether any proposed transaction is in the best interests of the company and its stockholders. "Verso is committed to exploring strategic transaction alternatives, and the committee will facilitate this process," said Verso Chairman of the Board Rob Amen. "The committee is charged with proceeding expeditiously, but will evaluate alternatives carefully for their ability to provide superior value to Verso's stockholders." Click Read More below for additional detail.

On September 19, 2017, the Receiver of Appleton Coated LLC conducted a going concern auction of the Company’s assets. The auction was the culmination of a comprehensive marketing effort to find a buyer. As part of the sale and marketing process, the Receiver requested that all potential buyers agree to hire substantially all of Appleton Coated’s employees as part of any purchase agreement. Unfortunately, none of the qualified bidders that attended the auction were in a position to agree to that request. The Receiver will ask the Court overseeing the receivership proceeding to approve the highest and best offer he received for the Company’s assets on Friday, September 22, 2017 in Outagamie County Circuit Court. Due to the auction results, the Receiver must immediately wind down the Company’s business operations beginning Wednesday September 20th and lay off substantially all of the employees of Appleton Coated. A limited number of employees will remain to ensure that the Company’s assets are properly maintained for the new owner until the proposed closing of the sale on September 29, 2017. Orders for stock product will continue to be accepted. Manufacturing orders that have been produced but not yet shipped, will be shipped. Manufacturing orders that have been accepted, but not yet produced, will be reviewed with new ownership to determine whether they will be produced and shipped. New manufacturing orders will not be accepted at this time.

The alternative to the company's proposal will likely lead to bankruptcy at the parent company Norske Skogindustier ASA but Norske Skog AS and the mills will continue operations as normal under new ownership. Norske Skog group has launched a new recapitalisiation proposal. According to the parent company Norske Skogindustrier ASA, this proposal provides a final opportunity to reach a consensual solution among all bondholders and shareholders. Among the the key terms of the proposed recapitalisation transaction is the conversion into equity of all outstanding, secured and unsecured bond debt, resulting in secured note holders acquiring 94% equity ownership in Norske Skogindustrier ASA. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Printing companies, paper distributors, packaging converters, marketers and graphic designers across the U.S. and Canada now have immediate access to the newest expansion of cast-coated Kromekote, the world’s most elegant printing and label papers from CTI Paper USA. A new swatchbook and print demonstration is available. Highlights: New embossed, pearlescent Kromekote Jade Text and Cover line for dry toner/laser and offset printing. New for HP Indigo: thick and luxurious 14- and 18-point ultra bright-white board, following growing demand for heavyweights. New 18-point ultra bright-white board also for dry toner/laser and offset printing. Newly issued swatchbook presents the extensive product line—new print demo features the iconic embossed Kromekote Apple on a gold foil-stamped cover. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Effective with orders shipping on or after November 1, 2017, Evergreen Packaging is increasing the transaction prices for all grades by $2.00 cwt. This increase applies to all products including, but not limited to the following brands: Rapier; RapierW; Seasons Colors; SunKraft Brown; Natural Kraft; White Foldur Kraft; Gray Kraft; Buff Kraft; Skyland Offset; Skyland Reply Card; Drawing Paper; Multipupose; Conical Cup; Stick Paper; Office Stock / File Folder. All standard upcharges will continue to apply.

Expera Specialty Solutions is proud to be exhibiting at PackExpo 2017, highlighting a diverse portfolio of specialty paper products that span a variety of end-use applications. From highly technical applications, to offering multiple sustainable packaging solutions, Expera creates custom specialty paper products for each of their customers. Expera is launching its new brand of medical papers known as Health-Gard™. Health-Gard™ medical papers provide sterilizable packaging solutions that meet market requirements for cytotoxicity and microbial barrier. These coating base papers, available in multiple basis weights, are ideal for form-fill-seal and pouch applications where a fiber-free peel is critical. Other Health-Gard™ applications include papers for medical lidding stock and lamination, and medical garments and drapes. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Please be advised that effective with shipments on or after October 16, 2017, Twin Rivers Paper Company will be implementing a US $2.00/cwt price increase on all Publishing grades.

Please be advised with orders shipping on October 9, 2017 Suzano Pulp and Paper will raise prices by 4-6% on the following products: Suzano® Branded and Private Label Office Papers; Prisma Bright® Offset Rolls. All standard up-charges and terms of sale remain in effect until further notice.

Operating profit for January–June 2017 was SEK 1 152 million (January–June 2016: SEK 1 063 million, excluding items affecting comparability). The improvement in earnings was due to higher wood product prices, better earnings from forests and the divestiture of the newsprint mill in Madrid. Compared with the first quarter, operating profit decreased by SEK 102 million to SEK 525 million as a result of a maintenance shutdown within paperboard and seasonally lower hydro power production. Profit after tax for January–June amounted to SEK 880 million (587), which corresponds to earnings per share of SEK 10.5 (7.0). Return on capital employed increased to 9.4 (8.4) per cent. Production of paperboard, paper and wood products has been established at a higher level than previous years and the sales mix has developed well. Cash flow was strong and largely covered the SEK 1 billion dividend that was paid in April.

Announced jointly by Kruger Products and the Government of Québec in July 2016, the $55-million investment to purchase and install PM8 received a $39.5-million loan from Investissement Québec, which is acting as an agent of the Government of Québec in this project. Kruger Products also received support from the Joliette RCM and the Municipality of Crabtree – through the Fonds de développement des territoires – Fonds d’aide aux entreprises volet 2 (Territories Development Fund – Business Assistance Fund, stream 2) – to complete this investment. The Company also took the opportunity to reveal its recent acquisition of a new $12-million winder. This new, more efficient machine manufactures paper products for the away-from-home market and will enable the Crabtree Plant to boost its annual production by 29%. The Crabtree Plant now has plenty of room to grow over the coming years. Click Read More below for additional detail.