The Economy

Paper consolidates

Dec. 21, 2004

Here's how February's 13-day buying spree changed the global landscape of the forest products industry:

Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. (Canada) acquired newsprint producer Donahue Inc. (Canada) from Quebecor Inc. (Canada) for $4.9 billion.

UPM-Kymmene Corp. (Finland) paid $6.5 billion to buy Champion International Corp. (U.S.) for its coated-paper business and to acquire a presence in the U.S. and Latin America.

International Paper Co. (U.S.) purchased containerboard firm Shorewood Packaging Corp. (U.S.) for $850 million.

Stora Enso Oyj (Finland) spent $4.8 billion to merge with Consolidated Papers Inc. (U.S.) in order to obtain a coated-papers presence in North America.

Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. (U.S.) announced a $1.4 billion takeover of paperboard manufacturer St. Laurent Paperboard Inc. (Canada).