WestRock Provides Update on Ransomware Incident

UPM Plywood and the Industrial Union have signed a business specific collective labour agreement for UPM Plywood. The new agreement is valid for three years starting from 1.1.2022. The new agreement enables mills to continue production on all weekdays with terms that are satisfactory to both parties. The production output and the employees’ earnings will grow based on the new agreement. In addition, more people will be recruited to the mills. The agreement makes continuous seven-day shift model possible, and this means less working hours compared to the current discontinuous model, and the new agreement allows a shift model that is more employee-friendly. The agreement enables faster reaction to demand peaks thanks to flexible working hours, and it includes mutually agreed terms for production during holidays. Furthermore, a model for temporary work at other UPM Plywood mills was agreed on improving on-the-job learning and development as well as employees’ earnings.

*Net sales of $496 million, down 6% from the first quarter of last year *Net income of $17 million, or $1.02 per diluted share, down $7 million from the first quarter of last year *Reduced net debt by $33 million, repurchased $1 million of outstanding shares with $6 million remaining under program. “Despite the significant weather event that impacted the quarter, we delivered solid results that came in at the higher end of our expectations through strong operational execution,” said Arsen Kitch, president and chief executive officer. “Our Lewiston team did a tremendous job repairing damaged equipment under very difficult conditions and resuming operations."

Georgia-Pacific LLC announced today that it has reached an agreement to sell its pine chemicals business to Ingevity for $315 million, including certain pine chemicals-related assets at the Crossett, Arkansas plant. The acquisition is subject to regulatory clearance and Ingevity and Georgia-Pacific expect to close on the transaction in late 2017. Separately, Ingevity will enter into several contract manufacturing arrangements for oilfield and mining products currently produced at other Georgia-Pacific facilities. The parties will also separately enter into a 20-year, market-based crude tall oil (CTO) supply contract. Click Read More below for additional detail.