Stora Enso to create Europe’s largest listed pure play forest company

Operating profit for January–September 2017 was SEK 1 745 million (January–September 2016: SEK 1 583 million excluding items affecting comparability). The improvement in earnings was due to higher wood product prices and better earnings from forests. Compared with the second quarter, operating profit increased by SEK 68 million to SEK 593 million, mainly because second-quarter earnings were negatively affected by a maintenance shutdown. Profit after tax for January–September amounted to SEK 1 336 million (982), which corresponds to earnings per share of SEK 15.9 (11.7). Return on capital employed increased to 9.4 (8.4) per cent. Cash flow was strong during the year. A dividend of SEK 1 008 million has been paid while net financial debt decreased by SEK 360 million.

Appvion announced completion of the sale of substantially all of the Company’s assets to a group of its lenders led by Franklin Advisers, Inc. The transaction will significantly reduce Appvion’s debt, provide additional liquidity, and better position the Company to compete long-term in the evolving specialty paper market and further invest in the innovation that has made it a market leader. As previously announced, the sale was approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on May 14, 2018. The total consideration was approximately $365 million, plus the assumption of substantial liabilities, including many of the Company’s contractual obligations. Prior to the closing of the transaction, the Company reached agreement with the United Steelworkers Union on new collective bargaining agreements for Appvion’s manufacturing facilities in Appleton, Wisconsin, West Carrollton, Ohio, and Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania. The new three-year agreements, which were ratified at the end of May, cover approximately 830 Appvion employees. Click Read More below for additional information.

Norske Skog’s EBITDA in the second quarter of 2020 was NOK 138 million, a decrease from NOK 379 million in the first quarter of 2020, mainly due to national restrictions on movement of goods and people following the outbreak of the corona pandemic. The restrictions had severe negative impact on operations due to a sudden and considerable drop in demand for publication paper. Operating earnings in the second quarter of 2020 were NOK -122 million compared to operating earnings of NOK 90 million in the first quarter of 2020 impacted by impairment recognized in the quarter. Net loss in the quarter was NOK 59 million compared to a net loss of NOK 374 million in the previous quarter. The previous quarter was impacted by unrealised currency loss that was only partially reversed in the second quarter as NOK was stronger at the quarter end. Cash flow from operations was NOK -109 million in the quarter compared to NOK 470 million in the previous quarter.