Stora Enso completes the divestment of its Nymölla paper site to Sylvamo

Fortress Global Enterprises Inc. is pleased to announce that it has signed a share purchase agreement (the "SPA") with S2G Biochemicals Inc. ("S2G") and its shareholders, whereby the Company will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of S2G for a purchase price of $2,500,000, payable by the issuance of 666,652 common shares of the Company at a deemed price of $3.75 per Fortress Global share. Upon completion of the transaction, Fortress Global, intends to commission the construction of a demonstration plant to produce xylitol at its Fortress Specialty Cellulose (“FSC”) Mill, utilizing proprietary process technologies, know-how and expertise developed by S2G and Mondelez International, Inc. Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar polyol that has a sweetening property matching that of cane sugar but with 40% fewer calories. In addition, based on third-party research, the Company believes that xylitol is currently the best nutritive sugar substitute with respect to the prevention of dental cavities. Click Read More below for additional information.

UPM Raflatac, a global supplier of innovative and sustainable labeling materials, is strengthening its position and service capabilities in the Americas market with a new state-of-the-art two-meter slitter and increased production automation in its Mills River factory over the next two years. “We are excited about the ability to provide better service to our customers through improved capacity, capabilities and productivity. We are continually advancing our production sites to increase our output in the Americas and exceed quality benchmarks,” stated Tim Kirchen, Senior Vice President, UPM Raflatac, Americas.

According to the September 2017 Printing-Writing Monthly report from the American Forest & Paper Association, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased five percent in September compared to September 2016. All four of the major printing-writing grades posted year-over-year shipment declines. U.S. purchases of printing-writing papers also decreased, down six percent in September. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels increased one-half of one percent from August. •September uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments decreased year-over-year following the year-over-year increase in August. Imports of UFS decreased by 18% year-over-year in August – this follows two consecutive decreases of 20% or more. Meanwhile, exports of UFS papers increased 17% year-over-year in August, which follows three consecutive increases of 20% or more. •Operating rate for coated free sheet (CFS) paper producers in September hits highest level since September 2016. U.S. imports of CFS papers decreased 9% year-over-year in August, the second consecutive year-over-year decline. Exports of CFS papers increased 6% year-over-year in August, the sixth increase in the past eight months. •Coated mechanical (CM) paper shipments declined year-over-year in September for the fourth consecutive month. Imports of CM increased in August, up 7% compared to August 2016. Exports of CM also increased, up 28% in August to 35,700 tons – the highest level since November 2016. •Shipments of uncoated mechanical (UM) papers have declined year-over-year in every month when compared to the same month in 2016. Imports of UM decreased 11% year-over-year in August while exports of UM increased 1% year-over-year in August – the fifth year-over-year increase in the first eight months of 2017.