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The PM40 closed Friday, 14 August 2020, at 3102.

Get the latest PM40 updates by listening to the weekly Nips show and the PM40 Daily Show on Pulp & Paper Radio International.

The PM40 closed 14 August 2020 up 7.6% from the 16 August 2019 level.

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate Domtar and Smurfit Kappa.

Reported insider trading since the last issue of PaperMoney.

Ladies and gentlemen, the first class of inductees to the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame in Appleton, Wisconsin was inducted more than two decades ago in 1995, and today, more than 140 papermaking innovators and legends have been enshrined. This month, we profile the late Elis Olsson, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.

Domtar has chosen Voith to provide a complete recycled stock preparation system for the recently announced conversion of the Kingsport Mill in Kingsport, Tennessee.

Originally launched in 2019 in Europe, the new M-Clean ULTRA system is now available in the United States.

The coronavirus pandemic's demand-shock, brick-and-mortar store closures and stay-at-home orders have upended retail sales. As total spending declines, online spending is projected to surge by 18% in 2020, reflecting the impact of new buyers joining the online retail space as a result of the pandemic.

Family picnickers, backyard revelers and even road trippers just got an environmental boost. Instead of hauling plastic foam containers that increasingly are being outlawed by cities and states, there's now a cooler alternative for keeping drinks, food and products cold this outdoor season.

Kruger Inc. has entered into a partnership with Pulp Moulded Products Inc. (PMP) for the supply of low-carbon footprint fibres that will enable PMP to produce a prototype of a low-cost, single-use biodegradable mask. Developed by PMP for non-frontline workers and civilians, this ecofriendly alternative will be made from KruPulp, Kruger's FDA-compliant and FSC®-certified pulp.

Made with the environment in mind, all Monadnock's fine text and cover papers are FSC® Certified (FSC C018866), manufactured carbon neutral (VERs) and made with 100% renewable Green-e certified wind-powered electricity (RECs) under a third-party certified ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.

SmartLife uses a combination of top class filling-performance diagnostics and practical training in order to identify opportunities for improvement within the supply chain that will ultimately increase the shelf-life of Bag-in-Box wines.

Sonoco ThermoSafe, a subsidiary of Sonoco, is developing a vendor-neutral blockchain platform to deliver improved transparency and traceability across the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Resolute Forest Products is continuing plans to reopen its sawmill in El Dorado, Ark., that has been closed since last summer.

British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Shelley Fitzpatrick approved the terms of a $50-million loan to the beleaguered Pictou County mill from parent Paper Excellence Canada and Pacific Harbour North American Resources Ltd. Her ruling allows Northern Pulp to take an initial payment of $15 million to keep it afloat until the end of the year.

The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a grant of summary judgment dismissing antitrust and tortious interference claims based on fraudulent procurement of patents where the plaintiff failed to show a knowing and willful intent to deceive the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). Inline Packaging, LLC v. Graphic Packaging International, LLC, Case No. 18-3167 (8th Cir. June 18, 2020) (Smith, J.).

The Chemours Co. and DuPont likely will reach a settlement in a lawsuit where Chemours claims its former parent saddled it with millions of dollars to clean up per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in the environment, the company's chief executive officer said.

Packaging Corporation of America may spend up to $170 million to move from South 21st Street in Newark, Ohio to build a new, larger facility on a Thornwood Drive site once considered for an ethanol plant.

Enviva Partners, LP announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition of a world-class, industrial scale wood pellet production plant in Waycross, Georgia, and associated contracted terminal capacity in Savannah, Georgia.

Per the agreement, the Partnership will purchase approximately 17.4 million partnership units from International Paper for $250 million. As a result, Graphic Packaging's ownership interest in the Partnership will increase from approximately 81.1% to 85.5%.

Lancaster, Pa.-based Intellicor Communications purchased the assets of the former Cadmus operations in Lancaster, Pa., and in Hurlock, Md., from Cenveo Worldwide on Aug. 8 -- effectively marking the final chapter for the storied Cadmus Communications name in the printing industry.

Mercer International has offered a $26 million stalking horse bid for bankrupt lumber producer Klausner Lumber One LLC's assets up for sale in an upcoming bankruptcy auction.

Sonoco announced it has acquired Can Packaging, a privately owned designer and manufacturer of sustainable paper packaging and related manufacturing equipment, based in Habsheim, France, for total consideration of €41.7 million, or approximately $49 million.

Verso says it has entered into an equipment purchase agreement with Halkali Kagit Karton Sanayi ve Tic. A.S., a company organized under the laws of Turkey, whereby Verso agreed to sell, and the purchaser agreed to purchase, certain equipment at Verso's Luke Mill, primarily including two paper machines.

Domtar Corp. has announced it will permanently close its Port Huron paper mill, which employs nearly 200 employees.

Domtar Corp. announced Friday (Aug. 7) it would permanently shutter its paper machine operations at its Ashdown plant to save $200 million by 2021. The South-Carolina based company will transition its Ashdown operations to softwood and fluff pulp production.

Domtar announced in a quarterly report that it is shutting down uncoated freesheet manufacturing at the Kingsport Mill. The mill has been idle since April 2020 and will not recommence operations. The layoff has impacted more than 300 people.

Mohawk has used this time to review our strategic goals and future vision for the company. As we look to celebrate our 90-year anniversary in 2021, we will be going back to our roots to focus on what we do best: making the most enduring and beautiful papers in the world.

The company will cease operations at the plant and let go of all 24 of the plant's employees on or around September 30.

This is the first sustainability-linked loan for CMPC and the first for BNP Paribas in Latin America. It is also the first sustainability-linked loan ("RCF") in Chile with comprehensive environmental Key Performance Indicators ("KPIs").

State officials are investigating after a fish kill was discovered downstream of a paper mill on the Escanaba River.

International Paper, one of the world's leading producers of renewable, fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper, has joined the Savannah River Clean Water Fund (Fund), a coordinated effort to permanently protect and responsibly manage forests - nature's water filter - in the Savannah River watershed.

Menasha Corporation, parent company of Menasha Packaging, announces the publication of its tenth annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report, highlighting the company's environmental, social and governance performance during calendar year 2019 and the first half of 2020.

Leading global packaging and paper manufacturer Mondi has achieved platinum status in the EcoVadis CSR ratings in recognition of the Group's strong commitment to sustainability.

Sappi has completed a sustainability performance measurement for its dissolving pulp brand, Verve.

Sappi Europe received a platinum score in the latest EcoVadis rating. The leading global provider of sustainable woodfibre products and solutions retained its top position from the previous year among the leading one per cent of all companies assessed which exhibit high activity and responsibility with regard to corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Smurfit Kappa has announced it has been chosen to participate in an innovative energy research project on renewable energy storage. The HYFLEXPOWER project will see Smurfit Kappa's Saillat Paper Mill in France become the first plant in the world to introduce an integrated hydrogen gas turbine demonstrator.

Sun Chemical has organized a Corporate Sustainability Committee to further strengthen its approach to addressing the sustainability needs of the packaging industry.

Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd. resumed operations on Monday following a week-long production shutdown for maintenance.

Several fire crews responded after a fire broke out at Roseburg Forest Products in Medford on Aug. 11 around 4:50 am.

A small fire in the roof of Battle Creek's Graphic Packaging facility is believed to have been started by an electrical issue.

Many people in Wisconsin Rapids are without a job Monday night after the Verso Paper Mill shut down production. Other Verso workers know their job there has an expiration date.

Interfor's Board of Directors appointed Rick Pozzebon as Senior Vice-President & CFO, effective August 6, 2020. Mr. Pozzebon joined Interfor in January 2014. As Vice President, Corporate Controller, he has led the company's corporate finance and tax functions.

The town of Lawrence heard public comments about rezoning land from agricultural to industrial, which would pave the way for Georgia Pacific to build a 90-acre warehouse and most residents are opposed.

In an earnings call with investors and industry analysts, Verso President and CEO Adam St. John didn't offer great hope that the company will resume production at its Duluth mill anytime soon, if ever.