⚫ Revenue increased by 7.1% year-on-year to a historical high of RMB 30.9 billion ⚫ Sales volume achieved record high of 8.6 million tonnes ⚫ Net profit1 was RMB 4.0 billion; a year-on-year increase of 75.6% ⚫ Gross profit margin of 20.9%; a year-on-year increase of 3.8 percentage points ⚫ Net profit margin of 13.0%; a year-on-year increase of 5.1 percentage points

Production at UPM sawmills is now running completely on renewable energy. Since the beginning of 2020, no fossil energy sources have been used in production at any of the company’s four sawmills. Fossil-free production enables UPM to produce even more sustainable timber products with the smallest possible carbon footprint, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation. The reduced carbon footprint of UPM’s timber products also helps our customers reach their respective emission reduction targets. UPM has systematically worked to achieve a transition to fossil-free production at its sawmills. Both thermal energy and electricity are used at all UPM sawmills.

The Navigator Company announced today that it will increase tissue prices by 6 to 8% in all markets. This increase will be effective for all dispatches from 1st of April. The Company will inform its clients shortly about the details of the new prices to be applied. This decision was taken following the generalised and significant price hikes in many input cost, notably in commodities like chemical products, packaging products (plastics and containerboard), logistics, and pulp, being the latter the main cost factor for tissue production. The tissue industry has seen abrupt price increases of 15-20% or more in some of these input costs over the last 3 months, which made it impossible not to reflect these in its finished goods prices.

After serving the pulp and paper industry for more than 100 years, Solenis is well known as a leading supplier of process and functional chemistries. The Wilmington, Delaware-based company already had a world-class portfolio of products, state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems and a global network of professionals respected for their consultative approach to working with customers. Meanwhile, the Germany-based BASF had built its reputation as an innovative chemical company, and its 2008 acquisition of CIBA expanded its colorants portfolio and expertise even more, establishing BASF as the go-to reference in the market. But every great team can be improved. For Solenis, which did not count colorants expertise as a core competency, the pickup of BASF’s basic dyes, direct dyes and pigment preparations was a key addition that strengthened an already robust portfolio. Now, Solenis has fully assimilated the acquired technologies and is well positioned to offer a colorants portfolio that gives papermakers great flexibility, along with support from a technical team.

Fourth Quarter Highlights *Consolidated revenues of $206.9 million were 8 percent higher than the third quarter, but down 3 percent compared to the prior year. The sequential quarterly increase was due to a continued recovery in both segments with a pronounced rebound in Technical Products. *Technical Products revenues of $137.1 million were up 11 percent from the prior year, with record fourth quarter adjusted operating income of $18.0 million driven by record sales in the filtration business. *Consolidated operating income of $14.9 million compared with $22.1 million in the prior year. *Available liquidity of $176 million remained strong, with cash generated from operations of $13.0 million. *Quarterly cash dividends of $0.47 per share increased 4 percent compared to $0.45 per share in the prior year. Full Year Highlights *Revenues of $792.6 million decreased 16 percent compared to 2019, as a result of lower volumes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. *A loss per diluted common share in 2020 of ($0.96) compared to earnings of $3.26 per share in 2019. *In April, the Company published its annual Corporate Sustainability Report, highlighting initiatives and progress in addressing Environmental, Social and Governance matters. *In July, the Company successfully refinanced its Senior Notes and entered into a $200 million Term B Loan due in 2027. *The Company maintained strong liquidity throughout 2020 with careful management of working capital and spending, and ended the year with cash and equivalents of $37 million and no borrowings against its $175 million revolving credit facility.

Clearwater Paper Corporation announced that it temporarily suspended its pulp and paperboard operation in Cypress Bend, Arkansas. The cold weather has resulted in the curtailment of natural gas deliveries to the mill as natural gas providers prioritize residential needs. “We are focused on the health and safety of our employees, maintaining our assets, and working to meet customer needs during this unexpected outage,” said Arsen Kitch, president and chief executive officer. “We intend to resume operations as soon as we are safely able to do so.” The company will provide an update on the anticipated impacts of the outage during its fourth quarter and full year 2020 earnings announcement, scheduled for Thursday, February 25.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Highlights: *Revenue of $783 million *Income from operations of $94 million; Net income from continuing operations of $57 million *TiO2 selling prices remained level, benefiting from margin stability initiatives, and sales volumes increased 8 percent versus fourth quarter 2019 driven by improved market demand globally *Zircon volumes increased 48 percent versus fourth quarter 2019 driven primarily by strong demand in China. Full Year 2020 Highlights: *Revenue of $2,758 million *Income from operations of $271 million; Net income from continuing operations of $995 million *Total acquisition synergies of $243 million achieved, exceeding run rate synergy target of $220 million set at Investor Day in 2019; $193 million reflected in EBITDA, exceeding $183 million target set on third quarter 2020 earnings call *Cash flow provided by operating activities of $355 million; *$200 million discretionary debt repayment made in December 2020

Headquartered in Cohoes, New York, Mohawk is North America’s largest privately-owned manufacturer of fine papers and envelopes which are used for commercial and digital printing, social stationery, high-end direct mail and packaging. With a culture of innovation reaching back to its beginning in 1931, Mohawk is committed to providing materials that help make every printed project more beautiful, effective and memorable. A family-owned business since its inception, Mohawk serves the creative needs of designers, brand-owners and printers in more than 60 countries around the globe. A leader in environmentally and socially responsible paper making since the 1980s, Mohawk sources pulp responsibly, conserves the water its craft relies on and harnesses wind power for its mills. Many of Mohawk's recycled and virgin papers are certified by Green Seal and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Mohawk was the first U.S. manufacturer of commercial printing papers to match 100% of its electricity with wind power renewable energy credits (RECs) and the first U.S. premium paper mill to shift toward carbon neutral production.

Mercer International Inc. reported fourth quarter 2020 Operating EBITDA increased to $49.5 million from negative $34.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 and $45.6 million in the third quarter of 2020. In the fourth quarter of 2020, net loss was $13.0 million (or $0.20 per share) compared to a net loss of $72.7 million (or $1.11 per share) in the fourth quarter of 2019 and net income of $7.5 million (or $0.11 per share) in the third quarter of 2020. In 2020, Operating EBITDA decreased by 8% to $192.7 million from $210.4 million in 2019 and the net loss was $17.2 million (or $0.26 per share) compared to $9.6 million (or $0.15 per share) in 2019.

Domtar has been honored as one of the winners of the Beyond the Bag Challenge, led by the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag — a collaboration convened by Closed Loop Partners with leading retailers, environmental partners, global design firm IDEO and others. The challenge attracted more than 450 global participants, and nine winners were announced on Feb. 16. Though the single-use plastic bag remains ubiquitous in retail operations today, rising concerns about plastic waste have spurred efforts to identify viable alternatives. The consortium assembled leading retailers to find innovative solutions that serve the function of today’s single-use plastic retail bag, offering ease and convenience for consumers while reducing the product’s negative environmental impacts. Domtar’s winning submission is a 100 percent paper-based material that is sourced from a renewable natural resource, robust enough for limited reuse in a bag application and curbside recyclable.

As a consequence of the fast and significant increases in the market price of pulp, Crown Van Gelder will be increasing prices by 6 to 8% per ton on its High Speed Inkjet, Graphical, Label & Packaging grades, in reels & sheets, for deliveries from 1st April 2021.

Norske Skog ASA has successfully completed a EUR 150 million senior secured bond issue with maturity in March 2026. The new bonds will have a coupon of 3 months EURIBOR plus 550 bps. We are satisfied with the strong investor demand and to have secured new long-term financing for the group, allowing us to pursue our strategic growth initiatives, says Sven Ombudstvedt, CEO of Norske Skog. The net proceeds from the bond issue will inter alia be used to refinance Norske Skog’s outstanding bond maturing in June 2022 (“NSKOG01”). The refinancing is part of a group-wide capitalisation process to finance strategic investments into the growing and high-margin recycled containerboard market.

Pixelle Specialty Solutions LLC has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the carbonless rolls and security papers business of Appvion Operations, Inc. The transaction is expected to close in April 2021 and will not include any Appvion production assets. Carbonless rolls formerly manufactured by Appvion will be manufactured by the Pixelle specialty papers mill in Chillicothe, OH, and security papers formerly manufactured by Appvion will be manufactured by Pixelle or Pixelle supply partners. The acquisition expands the Pixelle product portfolio by building on Pixelle’s established brands of carbonless papers (ExcelOne® and Trans/Rite®) and adding DocuCheck® and DocuMark® security papers to Pixelle’s existing brand (Defensa®).

According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 25 percent in January compared to January 2020. U.S. purchases of total printing-writing papers decreased 22 percent in January compared to the same month last year. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels increased three percent when compared to December 2020. Uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments decreased 20 percent compared to January 2020 while the inventory level increased three percent compared to December 2020. UFS imports increased 41 percent while exports decreased 40 percent in December 2020.U.S. purchases of coated free sheet (CFS) papers in January decreased 32 percent compared to last January while the inventory level increased two percent compared to December 2020. CFS imports and exports both decreased compared to December 2019, down 21 percent and six percent respectively. Coated mechanical (CM) paper shipments decreased 33 percent compared to January 2020 while the inventory level remained essentially flat (+0.1 percent) compared to December 2020. CM imports decreased 34 percent while exports increased 12 percent in December 2020. U.S. purchases of uncoated mechanical (UM) papers in January decreased 24 percent compared to last January while the inventory level increased 14 percent compared to December 2020. UM imports and exports both decreased compared to December 2019, down 19 percent and eight percent respectively.

Avery Dennison said it has agreed to acquire JDC Solutions, Inc., a privately owned manufacturer of pressure-sensitive specialty tapes headquartered in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, for the purchase price of $24 million. JDC employs approximately 75 employees located at its headquarters and manufacturing site in Tennessee, with approximately $30 million in annual revenue. JDC manufactures specialty tapes for use in a variety of high-value industrial applications, and has longstanding relationships with U.S. converters serving the automotive, consumer appliance, and building and construction industries, among others. Upon completion of the acquisition, JDC’s manufacturing operations, workforce and product portfolio will become part of Avery Dennison’s Performance Tapes North America business. The acquisition is expected to close in Q1, subject to customary conditions and approvals.

Crown Native is available for sale starting from February 2021 after 2 years of development. Environmental friendly and food compliant. The commercialization of the sugar beet paper makes Crown Van Gelder the first in the world to produce 'sugar beet paper' at an industrial level. The new product line called 'Crown Native' reduces the environmental impact by 16% through the usage of less wood fibers compared to traditional paper. A second advantage of using sugar beet pulp is that it is FDA* compliant. Crown Native is also approved by the BfR36** and suitable for food packaging, unlike most types of recycled papers that contain print ink residue. This makes sugar beet paper the ideal choice for product packaging and also for shopping bags or promotional print. Crown Native is the perfect fit for brands with a sustainability ambition.

TenderGuard™ BioBased can be used as an inner or outer coverstock layer of a civil face mask. It is highly breathable, biocompatible, and non-irritating, so it's gentle on the skin and comfortable to wear for long durations. Mainly comprised of polylactic acid, which is a biopolymer made from sustainable and renewable sources, TenderGuard™ BioBased is an alternative to synthetic spunbond material.  TenderGuard™ BioFilter is a sustainable filter media that can be used as a single layer or combined as a double layer for higher filtration performance in a barrier face covering. This unique fabric is made up of a special blend of cellulosic and cellulose-based manmade fibers making the filter media 100% bio-based. The TenderGuard™ product portfolio consists of protective fabrics applicable for medical use as well. TenderGuard™ Natural is a wetlaid fabric that can be used as the inner or outer layer of a face mask. It is environmentally friendly, and the hypoallergic inner layer makes it super soft for the wearer. With both layers together, TenderGuard™ Natural achieves nearly 50% Bacterial Filtration Efficiency, which is remarkable without a filtration layer included. TenderGuard™ Smooth consists of bicomponent spunbond fabrics that are made with a proprietary technology that minimizes raised fibers. This creates a smooth surface to help eliminate any skin irritation, which is essential when it comes to a face mask. TenderGuard™ Smooth is hypoallergenic, so it is gentler on the skin, making it ideal to wear for long durations.  

At Lecta we remain firm in our commitment to the environment and sustainability, offering natural paper solutions in which quality assurance is always guaranteed. We are now proud to present Recytal Matt, a new 2-side coated recycled paper in a natural white shade, with excellent results with all types of printing methods. Obtained from 100% recycled fiber, this new paper generates less waste, promoting a circular economy. The Recytal Matt range has FSC® Chain of Custody certification and is available in substances from 90 to 240 g/m2 in sheets and reels. It is suitable for an extensive range of applications such as books, brochures, catalogs, direct marketing, folders, inserts, magazines, environmental reports, etc. Recytal Matt is the natural choice for all types of high-quality prints and finishes, contributing to a more sustainable world.

Domtar Corporation reported a net loss of $59 million for the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to a net loss of $92 million for the third quarter of 2020, and a net loss of $34 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. Sales for the fourth quarter of 2020 were $0.9 billion. The fourth quarter 2020 results include an after-tax loss of $43 million from discontinued operations related to the announced sale of the Personal Care Business, compared to earnings of $19 million for the third quarter of 2020 and earnings of $10 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. Excluding discontinued operations and the items listed below, the Company had earnings from continuing operations before items1 of $19 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to loss from continuing operations before items1 of $1 million for the third quarter of 2020 and loss from continuing operations before items1 of $9 million for the fourth quarter of 2019.

JANUARY–DECEMBER 2020 (1–12/2019) *Sales were EUR 5,055 million (5,473). *Operating result was EUR 376 million (374). The comparable operating result was EUR 368 million (495). *The result before taxes was EUR 330 million (316). The comparable result before taxes was EUR 322 million (436). *Comparable return on capital employed was 7.1% (9.6). *Net cash flow from operations was EUR 667 million (485). OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2020 (10–12/2019) *Sales were EUR 1,357 million (1,290). *Operating result was EUR 97 million (32). The comparable operating result was EUR 94 million (76). *The result before taxes was EUR 88 million (18). The comparable result before taxes was EUR 86 million (62). *Comparable return on capital employed was 7.4% (6.1). *Net cash flow from operations was EUR 306 million (232).

Leading global packaging and paper group Mondi is launching a range of new paper-based release liners which are created using recycled and light-weight materials and provide a more sustainable solution for a range of applications. The new products have been created with FSC®1 or PEFC® certified paper to ensure responsible sourcing and, being lighter in weight, they offer a sustainable solution for labels, tapes, envelopes and industrial usage. EverLiner labelite is a lighter option to standard glassine for label applications, with the same thickness of 58 gsm glassine but engineered to a reduced weight of 47 gsm. This results in 20% less raw material used to produce the liner. EverLiner M R is the first release liner on the market using a recycled base paper. The machine glazed paper (MG) with 70% FSC® recycled certified content reduces the amount of fresh fibres used and is FSC® certified so ensures responsible sourcing.

Q4/2020 compared with Q4/2019*Net sales decreased by 1.7% to EUR 689.2 million (701.3). At constant currency rates, net sales increased by 3.5% on higher volumes *Comparable EBITDA improved to EUR 89.6 million (70.5), representing 13.0% (10.1) of net sales, supported by lower variable costs and higher volumes *Operating result improved to EUR 43.7 million (16.0), supported by higher comparable EBITDA and lower items affecting comparability (IAC). Q1–Q4/2020 compared with Q1–Q4/2019: *Net sales decreased by 8.0% to EUR 2,683.3 million (2,915.3). At constant currency rates, net sales decreased by 5.3% due to lower selling prices and a less favorable product mix. *Comparable EBITDA increased to EUR 334.2 million (312.9), representing 12.5% (10.7) of net sales, supported by lower costs *Operating result improved to EUR 176.2 million (103.2), supported by a capital gain of EUR 32.0 million from the sale of the fine art paper business and lower items affecting comparability (IAC)

Interfor Corporation announced that it has reached an agreement with WestRock Company to acquire its sawmill located in Summerville, South Carolina (the “Summerville Mill”) for cash consideration of US$59 million. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2020, the Summerville Mill produced approximately 125 million board feet of lumber. A new permit was received in 2020 that allows for the production of up to approximately 200 million board feet of lumber per year and Interfor has identified a number of operational and capital investment initiatives to optimize and increase production going forward. The Summerville Mill is located 65 miles southwest of Interfor’s Georgetown, South Carolina mill and 115 miles northeast of Interfor’s Meldrim, Georgia mill. This strategic positioning will allow for log sort optimization and procurement synergies across these three mills.

Solenis will increase prices by up to 8 percent on all polyacrylamide polymers and retention aids across the EMEA region, effective March 1, 2021, or as customer contracts allow. The price increase is necessary due to the major impact on key feedstock costs. Several Force Majeure situations at major acrylonitrile producers in EMEA and North America over the last few months have caused a shortage in product availability, significant cost increases and production and supply chain issues. Acrylonitrile is the key raw material for making acrylamide monomer and polyacrylamide polymers used in papermaking, municipal water treatment, mining and oil and gas applications. “Solenis is making every effort to overcome this shortage and secure a cost-competitive supply of polyacrylamides to our customers. We thank our customers for their continued business and partnership,” said Dr. Norbert Steiner, director, Global Product Management, Industrial Polymers.

Kruger Products’ mill in Gatineau, Que. is receiving $15,000 from the federal government to help implement an energy management information system (EMIS). The tissue manufacturer matched the contribution to the project, bringing the total investment to $30,000. The EMIS is expected to further reduce energy costs and improve energy efficiency. Kruger Products has reduced its energy consumption intensity by 15 per cent and its greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 28 per cent since 2009.

Mactac®, a leading supplier of pressure-sensitive papers and films, and ARMOR, a leader in the design and production of thermal transfer ribbons, are working together to deliver more sustainable thermal transfer solutions to the labeling industry. “By focusing on sustainable product development, Mactac and ARMOR are helping ensure the labeling industry is making strides in reducing the impact on the environment – which is a priority of Mactac and our parent company, LINTEC,” says Sara Damante, Senior Marketing Manager, Mactac Performance Adhesives. Tim Maher, Director of Sales for ARMOR North America adds, “ARMOR adopts a long-term vision of its business, deeming sustainability essential to success. Our eco-design efforts focus on developing products that deliver measurable benefits. Our inkanto® AWR 8 ribbon is manufactured with our Solfree™ coating process making it the only true solvent-free ribbon in the world. Additionally, our reduced film content ribbons deliver exceptional performance while improving the carbon impact on the environment.”

Paper Excellence has recently invested more than $600,000 in engineering and consulting work focused on restarting the Prince Albert pulp mill. Paper Excellence originally purchased the Prince Albert pulp mill in 2011. It now plans to restart the facility as soon as possible once the current non-compete agreement with the former owner expires in March 2021. “We plan to replace the entire fibre line from the digester to the last bleaching stage. This will replace the heart of the mill and let us take full advantage of the existing recovery boiler which is one of the most modern in Canada,” explains Carlo Dal Monte, Vice President, Energy & Business Development. “While this is an expensive strategy, it will simplify construction and minimize commissioning risks. Once we are up and running, we will also realize a significant improvement in product quality, operating costs and environmental performance compared to the mill that was shut down in 2006.”

Twin Rivers Paper Company continues to invest in its PFAS-free oil and grease resistant (OGR) food packaging brand, EcoBarrier®. This expanded grade includes EcoBarrier Plus, a top-of-the-line paper engineered for heavy grease applications, and EcoBarrier Choice, a fit-for-use substrate designed with lighter grease resistant properties. The line extension meets the foodservice and food processing markets’ demand for fluorochemical-free (FC-free) paper options. “The launch of EcoBarrier Plus and EcoBarrier Choice reflects Twin Rivers’ commitment to accelerating the availability of PFAS-free papers and providing options for packaging converters and brand owners,” said Rachel Van Wychen, Director of Packaging. “Being one of the first to commercialize an FC-free paper eight years ago gives us a distinct advantage and market leadership position. We’ve worked side-by-side with some of the largest fast-food, quick-serve, and fast-casual restaurants over the years to perfect our formulation and converting performance.”

• Interfor generated $205.0 million of cash flow from operations before changes in working capital, or $3.07 per share, and an additional $24.9 million of cash from reduced working capital. • Capital spending was $36.0 million, including $21.7 million on high-return discretionary projects primarily in the U.S. South. US$96.1 million has been spent on the Company’s Phase II strategic capital plan through December 31, 2020. • Net debt ended the quarter at $(75.4) million, or (7.5)% of invested capital, resulting in available liquidity of $787.5 million.

Paper Excellence announced that the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) arbitration court has ruled in favor of Paper Excellence thereby enabling Paper Excellence to proceed with the full acquisition of the Brazilian-based pulp producer Eldorado Brasil Celulose. The acquisition will be completed under the terms of the agreement between Paper Excellence and J&F Investimentos that was entered into in 2017. Paper Excellence presently owns 49.41% of Eldorado. With the completion of this acquisition, Paper Excellence will strategically enhance its international presence in the pulp and paper markets in the Americas and its ability to serve customers across the globe. Eldorado, with headquarters in Três Lagoas, in Mato Grosso do Sul, is one of the world’s largest pulp producers.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock issued the following statement regarding preliminary rulings of circumvention inquires, involving imports of uncoated paper sheeter rolls from Indonesia, Brazil and Australia on existing antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders. “AF&PA supports the enforcement of free and fair trade laws through an impartial and transparent process. The preliminary affirmative rulings – Indonesia and Brazil – ensure that paper imports are traded fairly in the U.S. market. AF&PA believes U.S. government enforcement of domestic and international trade rules safeguard the health of our industry, allowing markets to function properly.”

* Excluding items affecting comparability 2019.-Operating profit for 2020 was SEK 2 479 million (2019: SEK 2 345 million excluding items affecting comparability of SEK 8 770 million). Lower production costs in Paperboard and higher wood product prices had a positive impact on earnings, though this effect was offset by price decreases and production curtailments in Paper. -Compared with the third quarter, operating profit decreased by SEK 119 million to SEK 595 million as a result of a maintenance shutdown in Paperboard. -Profit after tax in 2020 was SEK 1 979 million (8 731), which corresponds to earnings per share of SEK 12.2 (52.6). Profit after tax for the previous year was impacted by items affecting comparability of SEK 6 943 million.

WestRock is undertaking extensive efforts to identify, contain and recover from this incident quickly and securely. Upon discovering the incident, WestRock immediately began an investigation, implemented business continuity processes and initiated response containment protocols with the support of cybersecurity experts. These actions included proactively shutting down certain systems in an abundance of caution, as well as taking steps to supplement existing security monitoring, scanning and protective measures. The Company also implemented measures, including manual processes, to respond to customers’ needs. The Company is now systematically bringing its information systems back online in a controlled, phased approach. “We remain relentlessly focused on remediating this incident while continuing to safely operate our mills and converting plants,” said Steve Voorhees, chief executive officer. “I am proud of the focus and determination of the WestRock team as we manage through this incident and deliver essential products for our customers.” All of WestRock’s mills and converting locations are producing and shipping paper and packaging. The Company’s mill system production through February 4 was approximately 85,000 tons lower than plan, and the packaging converting operations are close to returning to full planned production levels.

• Q4 GAAP net loss of $52 million / net income of $10 million for 2020 • Adjusted EBITDA of $129 million in the quarter / $338 million for the full year • Net debt down by $93 million to $448 million / year-end liquidity at $693 million • Repurchased 2.1 million shares in Q4 / 6.9 million (8%) in 2020 • Completed private offering of $300 million 4.875% senior unsecured notes

Full-year and fourth quarter highlights: •Full-year and fourth quarter net earnings (loss) attributable to International Paper of $482 million and $153 million, respectively, compared with $1.2 billion for full-year 2019, $204 million in the third quarter of 2020 and $165 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 •Fourth quarter cash provided by operations of $789 million, bringing full-year 2020 to $3.1 billion compared with $3.6 billion for full-year 2019. Full-year 2020 free cash flow (non-GAAP) of $2.3 billion, compared with $2.3 billion for the full-year 2019 •Fourth quarter debt reduction of $611 million, bringing full-year 2020 to $1.7 billion

SCA has decided to discontinue publication paper production and during the first quarter of 2021 all three paper machines on the site will be closed. LWC1 produced coated publication paper for magazines and commercial print. It started production in 1990 and had a capacity of 250 000 tonnes of publication paper per annumn. SCA has decided to invest SEK 1.45 bn in the production of chemically pretreated thermomechanical pulp on the Ortviken industry site.

Norske Skog’s EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2020 was NOK 146 million, an increase from NOK 73 million in the third quarter of 2020, as a result of increased sales volume and favourable cost development. Despite improvements in the fourth quarter, the markets have not returned to pre-COVID-19 levels. Cash flow from operations was NOK 73 million in the quarter compared to NOK 115 million in the previous quarter, mainly due to a reduction of inventory and accrued CO2-compensation to be paid in 2021. Operating earnings in the fourth quarter of 2020 were NOK -1 276 million compared to operating earnings of NOK -31 million in the third quarter of 2020.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Results: Net sales were $1.99 billion, up 12.3%. The extra week in 2020 increased sales 4.9%. Sales were up 5.2% ex. currency, and up 3.2% on an organic basis. Reported operating margin increased 350 basis points to 13.7%. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 180 basis points to 16.3%, while adjusted operating margin increased 160 basis points to 13.5%. Reported net income was $2.28 per share, up 19% and adjusted net income was $2.27 per share, up 31%, both of which were above the company’s expectations. Year-to-date free cash flow was $548 million, up 6.9% compared to last year.

Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, will increase prices by 3 to 15 percent on a range of polymer-based chemistries, effective immediately or as customer contracts allow. These price increases are necessary due to inflation and availability of raw materials and elevated freight and energy costs. “We are unable to absorb the impact of the increased costs that we are currently experiencing but we will continue to work in partnership with our customers to help mitigate the increases,” said Cory Ross, director, North America marketing and product management. “Solenis remains committed to controlling costs through process improvements to deliver high-value, innovative solutions that our customers have come to expect.”

Financial summary for the quarter: *EBITDA excluding special items US$98 million (Q1 FY20 US$139 million) *Net debt US$2,056 million (Q1 FY20 US$1,916 million) *Loss for the period US$17 million (Q1 FY20 Profit of US$24 million) *EPS excluding special items -1 US cent (Q1 FY20 6 US cents)

After many years of collaboration and joint efforts to promote sustainable forest management, UPM-Kymmene has been accepted as PEFC’s international stakeholder member. PEFC (The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) is an international organisation with the main focus of endorsing national forest certification systems to ensure the verifiable, sustainable use of forests. “We were delighted to welcome so many of our members from all around the world, virtually. While we couldn’t meet in person, the virtual meeting enabled more employees of our members to join the session and experience a PEFC General Assembly first-hand”, says Ben Gunneberg, the CEO and Secretary General of PEFC. Alongside UPM joining as an international stakeholder member, Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina were welcomed as new national members. PEFC now totals 55 national members across six continents and 31 international stakeholder members.

SCA’s investments in Östrand pulp mill, in addition to the ongoing investments in pulp production at the Ortviken industrial site, will more than double the volume of pulp to be shipped from the Sundsvall region. The increased volumes mean that the pulp will be delivered to new and more distant markets. Tunadal and Bollsta sawmills are also ramping up their production volumes. Containers are being increasingly used to transport pulp and solid-wood products. Over the past five years, the volume of containerized trade from Tunadal port has more than doubled. “This development has meant that we need to be able to handle larger volumes of containerized cargo than previously and be able to accommodate larger ships – both container ships and break bulk vessels,” says Magnus Svensson, President Sourcing and Logistics at SCA.

Stora Enso has decided to permanently close its US-based Virdia operations during 2021. Virdia was acquired in 2014 and has focused on conversion of cellulosic biomass from sugar cane bagasse into refined sugars. The operations have consisted of a research centre in Danville, Virginia and a demo plant in Raceland, Louisiana, which will both be closed. The closure is in line with Stora Enso’s strategic choices in R&D to drive future growth and value creation from forest-based materials. Furthermore, today, the company’s innovation work focuses considerably more on applications further down the value chain instead of being a raw material supplier. There will be a stepwise process for discontinuing the operations and closing the sites during 2021. The employee impact will be approximately 65 Stora Enso employees and 18 contractors.

Q4/2020 (year-on-year) *Sales decreased by 10.7% to EUR 2 154 (2 411) million, due to structural changes, lower prices and volumes. *Operational EBIT was EUR 118 (124) million, lower sales were mitigated by efficient cost management. *Operational EBIT margin increased to 5.5% (5.1%). *Operating profit (IFRS) decreased to EUR 289 (680) million. *Cash flow from operations amounted to EUR 436 (725) million. Cash flow after investing activities was EUR 223 (518) million. *The net debt to operational EBITDA ratio was 2.3 (2.0). *Operational ROCE excluding Forest division was 4.6% (5.0%). Year 2020 (year-on-year) *Sales were EUR 8 553 (10 055) million, mainly due to lower volumes and prices, and structural changes. *Operational EBIT decreased to EUR 650 (1 003) million, due to lower sales.

OCTOBER 1 – DECEMBER 31, 2020 (compared with July 1 – September 30, 2020) *Net sales increased 6% to SEK 4,592m (4,338), mainly related to higher delivery volumes. *EBITDA margin increased to 30.0% (23.8).*Operating cash flow amounted to SEK 957m (1,118). JANUARY 1 – DECEMBER 31, 2020 (compared with January 1 – December 31, 2019) *Net sales declined 6% to SEK 18,410m (19,591). The fall in sales was mainly related to lower selling prices, which was partly offset by higher delivery volumes.*EBITDA margin of 24.1% (27.2). The decrease was mainly due to lower selling prices. *Operating profit amounted to SEK 1,145m (19,665). The difference was mainly due to one-off items from the discontinuation of publication paper operations in 2020 of SEK -1,694m and the changed accounting method for forest assets of approximately SEK 16bn in 2019. *Operating cash flow amounted to SEK 2,688m (2,916).

KEY HIGHLIGHTS *Sales volumes increased by 5% *Continued positive development of the ramp-up at Gruvön (KM7) *Cost and efficiency programme exceeding target *Strong operating cash flow *The Board of Directors proposes dividend of SEK 4.30 per share. Quarterly data *Net sales amounted to SEK 5 803 million (5 815). Excluding currency effects sales grew by 2% *Operating profit rose to SEK 163 million (103), including SEK 73 million revaluation gain in an associated company *Net profit from continuing operations was SEK 242 million (283)

2020 highlights *Sales decreased by 16% to EUR 8,580 million (10,238 million in 2019) due to lower deliveries of graphic papers and lower pulp and paper prices *Comparable EBIT was EUR 948 million, 11.1% of sales (1,404 million, 13.7%), down 32% year-over-year *Operating cash flow was EUR 1,005 million (1,847 million) *Net debt was EUR 56 million (-453 million) *Cash funds and unused committed credit facilities totalled EUR 3.2 billion at the end of 2020 *The COVID-19 containment measures significantly decreased demand for graphic papers, while UPM Raflatac and UPM Specialty Papers achieved record earnings *UPM's transformative pulp project in Uruguay and biochemicals project in Germany are well on track with the planned start-up timeline *Closures of UPM Kaipola and UPM Chapelle paper mills and UPM Jyväskylä plywood mill, streamlining in several businesses and functions

Designed to enhance converters’ product portfolios, Mactac® Performance Adhesives Group announces the launch of an innovative new UV Inkjet semi-gloss paper product. Saving converters both time and money, the product, UVS9002, eliminates the potential need to prime prior to converting. “UVS9002 fills a gap in many converters’ portfolios,” says Sara Damante, Senior Marketing Manager, Mactac Performance Adhesives. “As the digital and UV space continues to grow, our team recognized a need for additional UV Inkjet products and the launch of this product will deliver great value to converters by increasing efficiencies and improving cost-savings.”

Mactac® Industrial Tapes announces its newest 100-percent solids, solvent-free performance product line – MacBond™ HSA440 Acrylic Tapes. Developed with Mactac’s innovative state-of-the-art adhesive technology, MacBond HSA440 Acrylic Tapes are environmentally and economically friendly. They are also highly versatile, meeting a wide range of requirements in applications such as: Mounting and bonding; Appliance; Nameplates and overlays; Graphic mounting and display assembly; Membrane switches; Medical device assembly; Automotive.

Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, will increase prices by 5 to 20 percent on all sizing product lines across the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions, effective immediately or as customer contracts allow. The price increase is necessary due to inflation and availability of raw materials used in manufacturing our sizing product line, elevated freight and energy costs and regulatory compliance requirements. “We are unable to absorb the impact of the increased costs that we are currently experiencing but we will continue to work in partnership with our customers to help mitigate the increases,” said Jose Santolaya, director, EMEA marketing and product management. “Solenis remains committed to controlling costs through process improvements to deliver high-value, innovative solutions that our customers have come to expect.”

Crown Van Gelder starts production of Crown Letsgo 3rd generation grades as of 1 February 2021. The Crown Letsgo 3rd generation grades will bring visible quality improvements in the print result of presses operating with pigment inks and provide the opportunity to improve the Total Cost of Print by reducing ink consumption (5-12%) and save on drying energy*. Crown Van Gelder will switch production for the following grades: *Crown Letsgo Universal; *Crown Letsgo Matte; *Crown Letsgo Silk and Bright Silk, ColorPRO branded version. Inkjet paper makes perfect sense, even now “substrate independent” solutions are offered by press manufacturers. For anyone wanting best runnability on their press, there is no alternative to good quality inkjet paper.

Verso Corporation announced the appointment of Randy J. Nebel as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Nebel has served as interim President and Chief Executive Officer since October 2020 and has been a member of Verso's Board of Directors since November 2019. "We are pleased that Randy has accepted our offer to transition from the interim role to a permanent position," said Chairman of the Board Sean Erwin. "His more than 40 years of knowledge in the paper and packaging industry, combined with his breadth of executive leadership experience, make him the right choice for this role."

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, launches NAUTILUS® Elemental, its first recycled office paper product for the low-white segment. The new product made from 100% post-consumer waste complements the existing wide range of premium high-white recycled papers. Low-white recycled papers are particularly popular with public authorities and institutions (e.g. schools). The new paper is now available across Europe. Due to an increasing demand for recycled paper, Mondi extended its NAUTILUS® portfolio and availability over the past few years. This latest product innovation is the next milestone in its strategy and targets important low-white markets in Europe where currently limited suppliers exist. NAUTILUS® Elemental is ideally suited for all types of office communication such as everyday communication, e-mail print-outs, direct mail, invoices and manuals. NAUTILUS® Elemental is produced in Austria in compliance with certification schemes including the Blue Angel, FSC® Recycled, EU Ecolabel and the Austrian Ecolabel.

Notable items in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 include: *Net sales of $4.4 billion were essentially flat compared to the pre-pandemic prior year quarter *Total packaging shipments increased 5%; record North American per day box shipments that increased 8% compared to the prior year quarter *Successfully started up the Company’s new 330” state-of-the-art paper machine in Florence, South Carolina; the machine’s 710k tons of annual capacity replaces three old machines *Distributed COVID-19 relief payments to employees totaling $22 million; these payments are not included in the Company's adjusted earnings per diluted share for the quarter *Generated net cash provided by operating activities of $719 million and Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $562 million compared to $431 million and $79 million, respectively, in the prior year quarter

WestRock Company provided the following update on its ransomware incident which was announced on Jan. 25, 2021. WestRock’s security teams, supported by leading cyber defense firms, continue to work on remediation of and recovery from this incident. With some exceptions, the Company’s operations have continued to run and deliver for customers. In locations where technology issues have been identified, we are using alternative methods to process and ship orders. “We are working around the clock to complete our investigation and to restore normalized operations as quickly as possible,” said Steve Voorhees, chief executive officer. “WestRock teams are taking extraordinary steps to keep our mills and converting plants operational and to safely deliver to our customers.”

For the second year in a row, the media, research and financial information products company Corporate Knights has named Cascades one of the world's 100 most sustainable corporations. Cascades rose to 17th place among the 8,080 organizations analyzed. Having ranked 49th last year, Cascades has clearly made tremendous progress and remains the leader among the corporations assessed in its sector. The Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World ranking is the result of an in-depth analysis of international corporations with more than $1 billion in revenues. Cascades also ranks 3rd among the 13 Canadian corporations on the list. Cascades' ranking as one of the world's most sustainable businesses is the latest in a series of sustainable development distinctions it has received over the years and bears witness to the efforts made by the Company in terms of environmental protection and social responsibility.