Stora Enso’s pellet packaging wins global Worldstar design award

The Mayr-Melnhof Group has reached an agreement to acquire Kotkamills Group Oyj from the previous owners for an enterprise value of around EUR 425 million; this corresponds to approximately 7.8 times the EBITDA of the last twelve months. With the takeover of Kotkamills, MM Karton will expand its position in the attractive market for virgin fiber board (FBB) and Food Service Board (FSB) and complement its established market position in recycled cardboard. The planned transaction will have an immediate impact on earnings. Kotkamills operates two cardboard/paper machines at the integrated location in Kotka (southern Finland): one FBB / FSB cardboard machine, which was commissioned in 2016 after an investment of more than 180 million EUR, with a current sales volume of around 260,000 t and one planned capacity of 400,000 t; a machine for Saturated Kraft Paper / impregnation paper with a capacity of 170,000 t, which makes the company one of the world's leading suppliers. Kotkamills employs around 500 people and in the last twelve months achieved an EBITDA of around EUR 55 million on sales of around EUR 380 million.

Established in 2016, and just 6 years old, ePac Flexible Packaging is doubling down on the aggressive growth strategy it has deployed since the company’s creation. ePac will continue to focus on helping small and medium brands achieve big brand presence, recognizing the importance of this sector in driving economic growth in all corners of the globe. 2021 was a strong year for the company, again seeing sales growth in excess of 50% YoY, and an increase in production capacity of over 30%. In North America new plants were successfully opened in Portland, Toronto, and Kansas City, and internationally in the UK, France, Poland, and Australia. ePac now operates 17 plants in North America and 6 more in Europe and Asia Pacific. Looking forward into 2022-2023, ePac will continue expansion in North America, adding plants in the Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, and a second location in the Mountain region. Additionally, print and pouch making capacity will be increased in existing ePac operations.

Through its Pregis Inspyre™ product line, the company has taken steps to make a difference in communities worldwide. As a proud brand member of 1% for the Planet, 1% of the Inspyre product line sales are donated to the Uzima Clean Water Mission, a nonprofit organization working to bring clean drinking water to communities vulnerable to waterborne illnesses. Access to clean water is a critical global issue, and Pregis is committed to supporting Uzima’s mission to improve health and quality of life for those in need. “We believe that businesses should be a force for good. Through our Pregis Inspyre purpose-driven product offering, we are empowering customers to make product choices that create benefit to their operation and fuel meaningful change,” said Daché Davidson, CMO of Pregis. “Our partnership with Uzima helps ensure that communities around the world have access to clean water, a basic human right that so many still lack. This is just one way we’re extending our purpose to ‘inspyre’ positive change for people and the planet.”