Greif, Inc. a global leader in industrial packaging products and services, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Molpus Woodlands Group, on behalf of clients, to sell its Soterra land management business for $462 million. This transaction, which includes over 173,000 acres of timberlands across the Southeastern United States, follows Greif’s previously announced intent to divest the business as part of its strategic portfolio optimization. The deal is expected to close shortly before or after the Company’s fiscal year end, subject to customary closing conditions. “The sale of the Soterra timberlands aligns with our strategy to focus our portfolio on opportunities where Greif can be an industry leader,” said Ole Rosgaard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Greif. “This transaction enhances our ability to invest in higher-margin, less cyclical markets, and positions Greif for further long-term success and value creation.” “These timberlands seamlessly complement our existing portfolio, offering diverse, highly productive assets strategically located near robust timber markets with strong, competitive pricing,” said Terrell Winstead, President and CEO of Molpus. “With our long history of creating value for similar properties in these areas, we believe this opportunity fits well within our long-term investment strategy and sustainable forest management approach.” Cash proceeds from the sale will be allocated to debt repayment.

Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) today expressed its support for the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union for commencing its provisional application. This agreement will immediately result in the elimination of quotas and tariffs of up to 10% on Canadian exports of wood-based panels and other wood products to the European Union. “We welcome the provisional application of the agreement, as a start to freer trade within the area,” CEO of FPAC, Derek Nighbor. “The prosperity of the forest products industry relies on strong exports, which CETA will help support.” Last year the Canadian forest sector exported more than $1 billion of wood, pulp and paper products to the EU member states. This is 3% of total exports of Canadian forest products making Europe the 4th largest international market for the sector. The largest importers of Canadian forest products in Europe are the United Kingdom followed by Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium. Click Read More below for additional detail.

The quality of air intake is a substantial factor in the overall performance of today’s engines. An efficient air intake filtration supports optimal operation, preventing particulate contaminants from entering the engine while optimizing fuel consumption and reducing engine wear. In this context, a longer filter lifetime is a key benefit as it ensures continuous removal of contaminants while extending service intervals and minimizing environmental impact. Ahlstrom introduces a new dual-layer filter media technology, available globally, that represents a leap forward in filtration and is a perfect solution to comply with future market needs. The dual-layer design offers up to double dust holding capacity compared to the single-layer design, as each layer serves a distinct purpose to optimize the overall retention of particles in the depth of the material. In automotive engine air intake applications, the technology has proven to extend by over 50% the filter lifetime in the same configuration. It also offers the possibility to reduce both size and weight of the filter element in vehicles where these parameters are important.