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The PM40 closed Friday, 12 November 2021, at 4712.

Get the latest PM40 updates by listening to the weekly Nips show and the PM40 Daily Show on Pulp & Paper Radio International.

The PM40 closed 12 November 2021 up 47.2% from the 13 November 2020 level.

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate Boise Cascade and Ennis, Inc.

Reported insider trading since the last issue of PaperMoney.

Ladies and gentlemen, the first class of inductees to the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame in Appleton, Wisconsin was inducted more than two decades ago in 1995, and today, close to 150 papermaking innovators and legends have been enshrined. This month, we profile Douglas Atack, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

JK Paper Limited, one of the largest pulp and paper producers in India, selected AFT to supply a POM® approach flow and stock preparation system for their latest packaging board expansion project. PM5 is a 170,000 tpa multi-layer board machine at CPM, Fort Songadh in Gujarat, India. The new machine successfully ran its first paper reel in early September to begin commercial production this quarter.

Start-up is scheduled for the second half of 2024.

Platinum Equity announced it has completed the acquisition of Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals used in water-intensive industries.

Kadant Noss AB, a subsidiary of Kadant Inc. (NYSE:KAI), announced it successfully started up two approach flow cleaner systems for production of bleached hardwood kraft. The start-up on dissolving pulp is planned for the beginning of 2022. The equipment is part of the Bracell's "STAR" project in Lençóis Paulista, São Paulo located within an Andritz pulp drying approach flow area.

The target is to modernize and increase the production capacity of the Guaíba pulp mill's line 2 from 1.5 million ADt/y (air dry tonnes per year) to 1.85 million ADt/y. The upgraded mill is expected to start operation in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Schumacher Packaging has commissioned Voith to rebuild PM 2 at its Myszków site in Poland. The line is scheduled to start up again in mid-2023 after a short rebuild period.

Graphic Packaging International has scooped up 12 awards at the North American PPC Carton Awards, including the prestigious Judges' Award that recognizes outstanding design and execution.

The selection of Graphic Packaging by Forbes was based on independent surveys conducted in more than 55 countries around the world, where employees rated their employers on topics such as image, trust, gender equality, corporate social responsibility, culture, and benefits.

Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, has won both the Finnish Circular Economy Award and the Finnish Quality Award in the Laatukeskus Excellence Finland assessment.

Neenah, a leading global manufacturer of latex-saturated and coated papers used in abrasive products worldwide, introduces DURAFLAT® Fibre Grinding Disc Backing, an alternative to traditional vulcanized fibre discs, to the marketplace. DURAFLAT Fibre offers better dimensional stability to reduce curl, improved efficiencies, lower costs, and flatter discs that enhance grinding execution and reduce bursting in packaging on the shelf.

Sonoco, one of the largest global diversified packaging companies, has once again been named a "Best for Vets" company by Military Times. One of 161 companies named to the list, Sonoco joins other well-known brands, including Kellogg Company, Johnson & Johnson, Deloitte and L'Oréal USA on the distinguished list.

Sun Chemical announced an innovative new range of durable UV varnishes for enhancing the label resistance of HP Indigo digitally printed pressure-sensitive labels for products such as personal care, household, chemical, beverage, and pharma applications.

Sustana Fiber, a leading manufacturer of premium, sustainable recycled fiber has been awarded 2021 Sustainable Business Product of the Year for EnviroLife® by the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council.

WestRock Company, a leading provider of differentiated paper and packaging solutions, was recognized for packaging design excellence at the 78th Annual North American Paperboard Packaging Competition. The company won a total of 14 awards, including Sustainability Award of the Year, reinforcing its commitment to imagining and delivering on the promise of a more sustainable future.

Some of Clearwater Paper's tissue operations, including those in Lewiston, might be temporarily idled in upcoming weeks as the manufacturer works to match production with volatile demand.

Commenting on the group's results, Sappi Chief Executive Officer Steve Binnie said: "I am very pleased with Sappi's strong recovery and our return to profitability for the year. I wish to recognise the dedication and resilience of the Sappi team in turning a loss of US$135 million in 2020 into a profit of US$13 million for 2021, with EBITDA increasing by 40% over the prior year. The team overcame significant challenges posed by Covid-19. The cooperation, cross-regional support and continued focus on our Thrive25 strategy was exemplary."

SCA increases the prices on white and brown kraftliner in Europe by Euro 50 per tonne. The new price is valid from December 1, 2021.

Essity is collaborating with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and The Consumer Goods Forum's (CGF) Forest Positive Coalition of Action initiative to further strengthen responsible forest management, nurture high conservation value forests and increase the certification of forest operations in north-western Russia. Deforestation is a major topic at the ongoing climate summit COP26 in Glasgow, since deforestation and forest degradation affect climate change on a large scale.

Rayonier Advanced Materials, Inc. and the Georgia Center of Innovation have partnered with scientists at the University of Georgia (UGA) to develop an innovative method to capture valued biomaterials from the process to manufacture cellulose and turn these coproducts into useful products.

A Delaware judge dismissed a suit by Chemours Co. shareholders alleging directors misled them about the company's financial health and legal liabilities when it was spun off from a predecessor of DuPont de Nemours Inc.

The U.S. EPA and South Carolina DHEC accused New-Indy Containerboard of new violations to the Clean Air Act and the state Pollution Control Act, including violations related to the South Carolina paper mill's ongoing required reduction of its hydrogen sulfide emissions.

Georgia-Pacific has begun construction of a $50 million distribution center in De Pere.

Rengo announces that Vina Kraft Paper, its joint venture in Vietnam, has decided to construct a new production base for containerboard.

BillerudKorsnäs has agreed with the British investment firm Inspirit regarding the divestment of the Beetham mill. The transaction has been completed. The purchase price corresponds to an equity value of around SEK 30 million.

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice completed the previously announced combination of Fort Dearborn Company and Multi-Color Corporation, creating the world's largest prime label supplier by revenues. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Graphic Packaging announced its intent to acquire AR Packaging Group AB on May 14, 2021.

Chatham offered to buy Donnelley for $7.50 a share in October, but Atlas Holdings has since offered to buy the company for $8.52 a share.

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by affiliates of Atlas Holdings LLC ("Atlas"), which operates a global family of manufacturing and distribution businesses, in an all-cash transaction with a total enterprise value of approximately $2.1 billion.

Sonoco announced it has acquired the assets of D&W Paper Tubes, Inc., a Chatsworth, GA-based manufacturer of sustainable industrial paper tubes and cores.

UFP Industries, Inc. announced that one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, The UBEECO Group, has acquired the assets of The Box Pack Trust, operating as Boxpack Packaging (Boxpack). This transaction adds a full complement of high-value cardboard packaging products to the industrial packaging products offered by UBEECO and expands the customer base of both companies throughout Australia.

A bill to rescue two shuttered paper mills from the scrap heap passed the state Assembly Thursday, but Senate action is not expected until January, while one of the mills is scheduled to be auctioned off next week.

The new facility is now producing the Pregis EverTec™ mailer which is a durable, lightweight, curbside recyclable, paper cushioned, shipping solution. Pregis is currently employing 75 people in Arlington with plans to scale up to 105 over time.

Sustainable pulp and paper producer Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) Group has reasserted its pledge to prevent forest fires at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Glasgow, Scotland.

Thousands of logging, sawmill and pulp and paper mill jobs may be lost in B.C., if the 2.6 million hectares (6.4 million acres) of old growth being made off-limits to logging through temporary deferrals become permanent, warn forestry sector industry groups.

A Green Bay company announced its new water system that wouldn't discharge a single drop of wastewater into the Fox River.

Mondi, global leader in packaging and paper, commissioned a life cycle assessment (LCA) comparing its new ground-breaking paper pallet wrapping innovation, Advantage StretchWrap, with conventional plastic stretch film wrapping.

The Hämeenkyrön Voima power plant, from which Metsä Board's Kyro mill buys energy, has replaced the peat it burns with renewable energy. In the future, the power plant aims to use wood-based fuels from Metsä Group's production and wood procurement by-products.

SCA and Scania are together developing the first electric timber truck with a technical capability of up to 80 tonnes total weight.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management, or ADEM, has confirmed that there were no environmental impacts identified in relation to a weekend incident at a Prattville paper mill.

Firefighters were called to put out a blaze at the Georgia-Pacific paper mill in East Baton Rouge.

A weekend incident at International Paper's Prattville location has shut down operations for the time being.

Authorities said a fire at an International Paper facility early Tuesday morning was contained to one machine, but that did not stop the entire building from filling up with smoke.

A major fire has broken out at a lumber operation in British Columbia's Interior on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

One person is dead after an industrial incident at a Quad Graphics facility in southeast Oklahoma City.

The coroner has identified the victim as Felix Esqiulin Pomales, 35, of Charlotte, North Carolina. According to the coroner, Pomales was attempting to bolt two large steel beams together, when one of the beams toppled over and struck him.

Over 3000 vaccinated employees of JD Irving, Limited at 45 different locations have now qualified to receive a $150 vaccination bonus as part of an incentive program announced this fall.