|
SVP holds 82.84% of shares of Nordic Paper, extends acceptance period for a final time - United States-based investment firm Strategic Value Partners (SVP) has extended the acceptance period for its public offer of 50 krona ($4.51) per share in cash for shares of Nordic Paper. The acceptance period has now been extended until January 8, which SVP says will be the final time, after already having been extended once before.
The offer has been accepted to such an extent that SVP now holds 82.84% of the shares of Nordic Paper.
In October, SVP, through wholly-owned Swedish subsidiary Coniferious Bidco, announced a public offer of 50 krona per share in cash for Nordic’s shares. In December, the European Commission approved the takeover.
Domtar to increase NBSK, SBSK, and fluff pulp prices in key global markets, effective Jan. 1 - Domtar announced to customers in several territories that its northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK), southern bleached softwood kraft (SBSK), and fluff pulp prices will increase, effective January 1, industry contacts told Fastmarkets.
Domtar informed North American customers that its NBSK pulp list price will increase to $1,725/tonne. On SBSK, the firm’s list price will rise to $1,665/tonne, contacts said.
Domtar did not state how much its NBSK or SBSK list prices would increase starting on Jan. 1. Based on December’s closing effective list price levels, the firm’s paper grade softwood pulp list prices would represent $40-50/tonne hikes.
US Postal Regulatory Commission elects Robert G. Taub as vice chairman, effective January 1, 2025 - The Postal Regulatory Commission voted unanimously to designate Commissioner Robert G. Taub as vice chairman of the Commission effective January 1, 2025, succeeding Commissioner Tom Day. Agency regulations provide that the commissioners elect a member to serve as vice chairman for a term of one year.
Robert G. Taub was chairman of the Commission for more than 6 years, from December 2014 until January 2021. Three times appointed to the Commission following unanimous confirmations by the U.S. Senate in 2011, 2016, and 2023, Commissioner Taub has more than 40 years of public service experience at the local, state, and federal levels. Before joining the Commission in October 2011, he was a principal civilian advisor to the Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh. As an Army senior executive, he helped the Secretary lead a workforce of more than 1.2 million people and manage an annual budget exceeding $200 billion. Commissioner Taub was awarded the Army's Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service.
Start-of-2025 linerboard price increase in North America meets up with some uncertainty, close watch -
North American domestic linerboard prices increased by $80/ton in first half 2024 in a show that some at the start of the year viewed as unlikely to accomplish.
Now, with the start of the New Year for 2025 on Wednesday this week, another linerboard price increase awaits from the largest US integrated producers for $60/ton and $70/ton for linerboard and $80/ton and $90/ton for corrugating medium, effective primarily on Jan. 1, 2025. Fastmarkets’ PPI Pulp & Paper Week price survey results for open market containerboard in North America will be published on Jan. 17.
Producers appear to be counting on an uptick in corrugated box demand through much of the fourth quarter. US actual box shipments through the first three quarters last year were up just 0.2% on a year-over-year basis, and with one more shipping day in 2024 than in 2023.
| 
