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The PM40 closed Friday, 11 November 2022, at 5164.

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

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate Weyerhaeuser and Stora Enso.

The PM40 closed 11 November 2022 up 5% from the 12 November 2021 level.

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, more than 150 papermaking innovators and legends have been enshrined. This month, we profile the late Nathan H. Bergstrom, Chairman of the Board at Bergstrom Paper Company of Neenah, Wisconsin, who was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.

Everybody loves dogs or cats, or do they?

As more and more companies globally focus on efficiency and sustainability rather than just production volume, leading global technology systems provider ABB provides end-to-end digital solutions for process industries that seek to help organizations automate, optimize and future-proof their operations.

Andritz has acquired Duro Dakovic Termoenergetska postrojenja (DD-TEP) in Croatia. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

ANDRITZ Oy, part of international technology group ANDRITZ, and LUT University (Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT) launched an extensive collaboration in the field of fiber technology a year ago.

Ms. Emilia Torttila-Miettinen (M.Sc. Eng.) has been appointed Business Line President, Automation Systems at Valmet as of December 1, 2022. She will be a member of Valmet's Executive Team and report to President and CEO Pasi Laine.

Klabin has successfully started up a biomass gasification plant at the Puma Unit, located in Ortigueira/PR, Brazil, with a new biomass treatment line supplied by ANDRITZ.

Valmet has been ranked as the third top employer among engineering professionals in Finland according to a new study by Universum.

Valmet entered into an agreement on November 9th to acquire the U.S. based NovaTech Automation's Process Solutions business. The value of the acquisition will not be disclosed. The acquisition is estimated to be completed on January 1st, 2023 at the earliest.

The Advantage Report gives clients a benchmarked view of performance as rated by their business partners, providing them with valuable data regarding their business relationships' strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.

Hygiene and health company Essity extends its partnership with United Nations Foundation by joining the organization's campaign #EqualEverywhere to accelerate progress towards gender equality.

Graphic Packaging's solution, developed following its acquisition of AR Packaging in 2021, provides the pharma industry with a versatile packaging serialisation solution that can accommodate longer or more complex coding requirements.

International Paper was named a leading company on the American Opportunity Index, which uses publicly available data to analyze companies' performance in the areas of worker access, mobility and wage.

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, has been appointed as the exclusive packaging provider for one of Europe's largest fashion enterprises. Following a product trial earlier this year, Mondi will support MODIVO in switching from the standard rigid packaging currently used in the distribution of the e-retailer's full collection of shoes, bags and clothes.

Smurfit Kappa has created an innovative and sustainable packaging solution specifically tailored for wine, to help businesses in the sector capitalise on the continued growth in eCommerce wine sales.

Prices will increase 15% or more for shipments on and after the 1st of December 2022.

Amcor, a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, has announced its investment of US$3 million in PulPac, a Swedish company providing disruptive manufacturing technology for low-cost, high-performance fiber-based packaging. Amcor is one of several strategic investors in a cross-industry alliance aimed at driving the deployment of PulPac's technology globally.

ND Paper Mill in Old Town is facing legal trouble after a class-action lawsuit was filed in federal court in Bangor.

Roseburg Forest Products has reportedly begun settlement discussions in multiple lawsuits alleging that its actions caused the fire in Siskiyou County in September.

Louisiana-Pacific Houlton is starting a $400 million expansion to its New Limerick plant to double the production capacity of SmartSide Siding and Trim, which is engineered wood strand technology that protects against hail, wind, moisture, fungal decay and termites, the company said.

Menasha Packaging, a retail-focused packaging design, manufacturing, and merchandising solutions provider, will expand operations in Pelahatchie, Mississippi. The $79 million project is expected to create 21 jobs.

The Arizona Commerce Authority announced that Procter & Gamble (P&G), a global consumer goods leader with a diverse portfolio of trusted, quality brands, plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Coolidge, Arizona. The facility will support P&G's fabric care portfolio, which includes products such as Tide PODS®, Downy Unstopables® and Bounce® Dryer Sheets. The new facility is expected to be operational by 2025, creating approximately 500 new jobs.

The Board has therefore approved a US$418 million investment at Somerset to convert PM2 from coated woodfree graphic paper to solid bleached sulphate board (SBS).

Stora Enso invested EUR 80 million to centralise and modernise wood handling at Imatra Mills to enhance its production capabilities for premium packaging board. The investment will additionally reduce the consumption of process water and mitigate environmental impacts. The project, which started up in the first quarter of 2021, is now complete.

Appvion, a Wynnchurch Capital, L.P. ("Wynnchurch") portfolio company, announced the addition of Nekoosa Coated Products, LLC ("Nekoosa" or the "Company") to the platform. Headquartered in Nekoosa, Wisconsin, Nekoosa is a leading provider of specialty engineered materials for the graphics and commercial print markets in North America and Europe.

Greif, Inc. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Lee Container Corporation, Inc. ("Lee Container" or "Lee"), an industry-leading manufacturer of high-performance barrier and conventional blow molded containers, for a purchase price of $300 million before taking into consideration tax benefits with an estimated net present value of approximately $30 million.

Rayonier Inc. announced that the company has entered into two separate agreements to acquire approximately 172,400 acres of high-quality commercial timberlands located in Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $474 million from Manulife Investment Management, a leading timberland investment manager.

Resolute currently expects to complete the merger in the first half of 2023, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions to the closing of the merger.

Sealed Air Corp said it would acquire peer Liquibox for $1.15 billion, as the packaging firm aims to boost its presence in the quick service restaurants and liquid packaging segments.

WestRock Company announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to wholly divest its ownership interest in RTS Packaging, LLC, to joint venture partner Sonoco Products Company for $330 million, subject to customary price adjustments. In addition, the Company has signed a definitive agreement to sell its uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) mills in Eaton, Indiana, and Aurora, Illinois, to Ox Industries for $50 million.

Ahlstrom perpetuates its 50-year commitment and support to the global Filtration industry by investing EUR 2 million in a new laminator at Louveira plant, Brazil. With a planned installation in 2023, the equipment is expected to be fully operational by Q1 2024.

"We are disappointed with the vote for industrial action, particularly at a crucial time for all of our customers," a DS Smith spokesperson said.

Ahlstrom will start a strategic transformation program "Stella" to redesign and renew its business platform. This will greatly benefit Ahlstrom's way of doing business by utilizing data and the opportunities for further digitalization.

The shutdown will impact 31 of the 106 employees.

Cascades announces that all of its consumer products packaging manufactured under the Cascades FreshTM, Cascades E-Com Packaging SolutionsTM, Cascades IMGN Retail SolutionsTM and northboxTM brands have been submitted to How2Recycle® for an evaluation of their recyclability potential.

In keeping with its commitment to a waste-free world, Lecta's is continuously seeking innovative solutions based on natural, renewable raw materials to promote a circular economy.

In its 2022 report, LP lays out the programs and initiatives that demonstrate the company's commitment to integrating ESG priorities into business operations and products.

The Swedish company Svenska Kramfabriken set a challenging sustainability agenda when introducing their Green Pledge.

UPM has officially opened a new combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Germany, bringing the company closer to meeting its ambitious target to decrease its CO2 emissions by 65% by 2030.

The investment in the Kemi bioproduct mill amounts to Euro 1.85 billion and the new mill will start production in the Q3 2023.

The fire was located deep into the warehouse of the smoke-filled facility and was surrounded by stacks of other pallets of product, making locating and extinguishing the fire difficult.

According to initial reports, smoke was seen coming from the converting warehouse at the facility.

This will mean the loss of 85 jobs.

Crews battled a big fire Tuesday night, Nov. 8, at a waste paper plant on the property of Sonoco of Hartsville, according to an official.

No one was injured in the incident.

Roseburg Forest Products began full operations of its veneer manufacturing plant Wednesday, returning 145 team members to full schedules after implementing new safety procedures and keeping city and county leaders informed since the Sept. 2 Mill Fire.

Western Forest Products has temporarily shut down APD Sawmill in Port Alberni for the next six months, putting more than 100 forestry employees out of work.