Metsä Group has made donations of EUR 160,000 to Aalto University, LUT University, Tampere University, Åbo Akademi, University of Jyväskylä and University of Eastern Finland. Depending on the university, the donations will be allocated to the fields of technology, natural sciences or agriculture and forestry. “High-quality university research and education form the basis for the development of the forest industry as a whole. It’s very important for us to secure future competence,” says Ilkka Hämälä, President and CEO of Metsä Group. Earlier in December, Metsä Group donated a total of EUR 500,000 to its partner universities University of Helsinki and University of Oulu. The donations are part of the matched funding scheme, through which the Government supports donations made to universities by private foundations, companies and individuals. The matched funding scheme will run until the end of June 2022.

Mercer International Inc. reported strong results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017 as Operating EBITDA* increased by 34% to $64.0 million from $47.9 million in the same quarter of 2016 and by 64% from $39.1 million in the prior quarter. In the current quarter, net income increased to $21.1 million, or $0.33 per basic and $0.32 per diluted share, compared to net income of $11.9 million, or $0.18 per basic and diluted share, in the comparative quarter and a net loss of $2.1 million in the prior quarter. Mr. David M. Gandossi, the Chief Executive Officer, stated: "In the third quarter of 2017, pulp prices in Europe and North America increased as a result of continued steady demand and were generally flat in China compared to the prior quarter of 2017. Overall our average pulp sales realizations were approximately 2% higher in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the prior quarter of 2017. " Click Read More below for additional information.

Highlights • Strong performance across the business ◦ Margin expansion in all continuing businesses, supported by good selling price realisation and solid operating performance in challenging conditions ◦ Key capital investments contributing to performance ◦ Total EBITDA including discontinued Russian operations (prior to special items) of €1,170 million, up 65% yearon-year • Around €1 billion of expansionary projects underway, approved or under advanced evaluation – capturing growth in our packaging markets, building on our leading market positions and adding to our strong track record of disciplined capital allocation • Completed sale of the Personal Care Components business for an enterprise value of €615 million, delivering greater focus