2004
JANUARY Dunsirn Partners acquires Menasha Packaging laminating division.
Solo Cup announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire SF Holdings Group, Inc. (Sweetheart Cup, Hoffmaster Tissue and The Fonda Brands), headquartered in Owings Mills, MD. Each privately held company specializes in the manufacturing and distributing of disposable foodservice and beverage-related products.
Georgia-Pacific Corp. and KoCell LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc., recently announced that the companies have signed a letter of intent for Koch to acquire Georgia-Pacific's non-integrated fluff and market pulp operations for $610 million. Included in the sale are Georgia-Pacific's pulp mills at Brunswick, GA, and New Augusta, MS, a short-line railroad servicing the New Augusta mill and the assets of two international sales offices. The sale is expected to be complete during the first quarter 2004.
Frank Parsons, Inc. has announced that it has entered into an agreement to purchase Hudson City Paper Company, which effective April 30, 2004 will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Frank Parsons, Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18, 2004 -- Gould Paper Corp., announced that its subsidiary, WWF Paper Sales UK Ltd., completed its acquisition from Bridgepoint Capital of Salehurst Ltd., which operates as a paper merchant in the U.K., and Gallium E.U.R.L., which operates as a paper merchant in France.
MARCH Solo Cup has completed the acquisition of SF Holdings Group, Inc. (Sweetheart Cup, Hoffmaster Tissue and The Fonda Brands). The combined company, which will retain the Solo Cup name, brings together two leaders in manufacturing and distributing disposable foodservice and beverage-related products.
Colbert Packaging Corp. announced the acquisition of the Elkhart Container folding carton operation of Barger Packaging Corp. from the parent company, Welch Packaging Group, Inc.
Agilisys Inc., a supplier of enterprise software solutions to select manufacturing and wholesale distribution verticals, has acquired daly.commerce, based in Rhode Island . The acquisition will enable Agilisys to address the needs of manufacturing and wholesale distribution customers with complex distribution strategies and provide daly.commerce with the infrastructure, distribution capabilities, and capital to grow globally.
DS Smith is acquiring Linpac Containers Group from Linpac Group Holdings Ltd. for £170 million ($310 million) in cash. Linpac is an independent manufacturer of corrugated packaging, with an estimated market share of approximately 11% in the U.K.
Sonoco (NYSE: SON - News), the global packaging company, has entered into a put/call agreement with the majority shareholders of joint venture partner Demolli Industria Cartaria S.p.A., an Italian-based manufacturer of paperboard and engineered carriers, it was announced today by Harris E. DeLoach, Jr., president and chief executive officer. Under the agreement, Demolli will be able to require through a put option arrangement that Sonoco buy the remaining shares in Demolli that it does not currently own at any time through December 2006.
Lenny Genet, president of DadePaper, has announced the acquisition of certain assets of Continental Paper Products, Inc. including their warehouse, trucks, inventory, customer lists and IT data. The customers of 18-year old Continental will be serviced through DadePaper's new 220,000 square foot distribution facility located in Miami .
Southern Container Corp. a leading provider of "high performance packaging," today announced that it has purchased a 50% interest in Manufacturers Promotion Group (MPG), a leading provider of custom packaging and displays.
SCA Packaging North America has acquired the protective packaging business of Heritage Paper. This transaction will add new customer accounts to SCA Packaging with annual sales volume of approximately $6.0 million.
HAUPPAUGE , N.Y. , Mar. 10, 2004 -- Southern Container Corp. a leading provider of "high performance packaging," today announced that it has purchased a 50% interest in Manufacturers Promotion Group (MPG), a leading provider of custom packaging and displays.
Gould Paper Corporation announced that its subsidiary, WWF Paper Sales UK Limited, has acquired from Bridgepoint Capital 100 percent of the stock of Salehurst Limited, which operates as a paper merchant in the UK and Gallium E.U.R.L, which operates as a paper merchant in France .
Central Lewmar announced that it has acquired Buff-Pac of Buffalo , NY . Buff-Pac is a distributor of industrial and packaging systems and supplies operating in Western New York .
APRIL Norampac Inc. announces the acquisition of the shares of Johnson Corrugated Products Corp., a corrugated products plant in Thompson , Connecticut . This investment will allow Norampac to increase its integration level and its North American presence.
International Paper today announced it has agreed to acquire Box USA Holdings, Inc., a corrugated packaging company. This acquisition is consistent with International Paper's strategic direction to grow its three core businesses of paper, packaging and forest products.
MAY Sonoco (NYSE: SON), the global packaging company, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held CorrFlex Graphics, LLC, one of the nation's largest point-of- purchase (P-O-P) display companies, for an all-cash purchase price of approximately $250 million, it was announced today by Harris E. DeLoach, Jr., president and chief executive officer.

Eastman Kodak Company announced the completion of its acquisition of NexPress Solutions L.L.C and Heidelberg Digital L.L.C from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, the world's largest maker of offset printing machines. Kodak also completed the purchase of NexPress GmbH, Heidelberg 's German subsidiary, and certain inventory and assets related to the acquired businesses that were previously held by Heidelberg 's market centers.

Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced that it has acquired Q-Link Technologies, Inc., a leading innovator in business process management software.
Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG) announced today that it has completed its acquisition of RealTimeImage's Graphic Arts Division, giving customers access to the industry's most complete range of monitor and remote proofing options.
The National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) announced Monday that it has acquired Rampart Associates, a Trumbull , Conn. consulting firm specializing in the graphic communications industry.
Shaughnessy announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Valley Papers in Des Moines , Iowa . Troy Strawhecker has been named general manager and will be responsible for all sales and operations in Des Moines .
JUNE Agilisys Inc., a supplier of enterprise software solutions to select manufacturing and wholesale distribution industries, announces that it has acquired NxTrend.
Michael K. Olthoff, chief executive officer of Muskegon-based Nichols, has announced the acquisition of two companies: Priority Services L.L.C., with locations in both Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids ; and the Sanitary Supply division of Airgas Great Lakes, located in Traverse City and Jackson .
Marfred Industries has purchased the assets of Barkoff Container & supply Company of Hayword, CA.
JULY Daubert VCI, Inc., and Cromwell-Phoenix, Inc., recently announced plans to merge and form a new company.
DadePaper has announced the acquisition of Paper Products Company of Mobile, Inc. located in Mobile , AL and a second facility, Baldwin Paper Company located in Foley , AL . The acquisition includes 83,000 square feet of office and warehouse space, trucks, inventory and customer data.
Cascades Inc. recently announced the buy-back of the 50 percent interest held by its partner Dalum Papir A/S in the Château-Thierry, France , de-inked pulp plant. Opened in 1997, Greenfield was the first Cascades European plant, and its ninth worldwide, to manufacture market pulp from wastepaper stock. Its de-inked pulp production is dried and sold to producers of fine papers, packaging products, and tissue papers, located in Europe and overseas. The plant has an annual production capacity of approximately 150,000 metric tons.
Stora Enso has signed an agreement to acquire Scaldia Papier B.V. from International Paper. Scaldia Papier, which has 180 employees and had net sales of EUR 109 million in 2003 from a sales volume of 55 000 tonnes of paper, will become part of Stora Enso Merchants division. The debt free transaction value is EUR 30 million. The acquisition is expected to be closed in the end August 2004, subject to approval by regulatory authorities.
Antalis, the largest European group in the distribution of paper and communications supports, significantly strengthened its position in the packaging market through the acquisition of Brangs & Heinrich Stuttgart. Antalis' packaging offer now covers 6 European countries.
AUGUST M-real Corporation will acquire Metsäliitto Cooperative's and UPM-Kymmene's stakes (a total of 53 percent) in Kemiart Liners Oy. As a result, Kemiart Liners will become wholly owned by M-real.
Graham Packaging Company, L.P., has signed a definitive  agreement to acquire the Plastic Container business unit of Owens-Illinois, Inc., of Toledo , Ohio , for approximately $1.2 billion.
Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE: EK) has signed an agreement to purchasethe Imaging business of National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:NSM), which develops and manufactures complimentary metal oxide semiconductor image sensor (CIS) devices.
Rock-Tenn Company announced that it has acquired Menasha Packaging Company, LLC's Athens, Alabama corrugated sheet feeder facility. After starting operations in late 2002, the Athens corrugator grew to serve both Menasha Packaging Company sheet plants in the area as well as independent sheet plants across the Southeast. Rock-Tenn will focus immediately on increasing sales of the Athens corrugator by integrating sales and operating management with Rock-Tenn's current corrugator located in Norcross , Georgia.
MeadWestvaco Corporation (NYSE: MWV) today announced it has acquired the business of Tilibra S.A. Produtos de Papelaria, a leading Brazilian-based producer of consumer and office products for the retail and commercial stationery channels.
First Plastics buys U.S. Specialty Packaging.
Muskegon-based Nichols announced the acquisition of two companies: Priority Services L.L.C., with locations in both Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids , and the Sanitary Supply division of Airgas Great Lakes, located in Traverse City and Jackson .
SEPTEMBER

ProtecPac acquired the assets of GW Worldwide Protective Packaging Corp., Brampton, Ontario, Canada. GW Worldwide Protective Packaging’s product line (air cushioning, mailers, laminations and converting capability) is compatible with ProtecPac’s offerings and helps expand the company’s manufacturing output.

Tom Field, CEO, Tomar Industries Inc., and Alan Sneider, president, Great Atlantic Paper Packaging Corp., have combined their two companies. The new combined company will operated from a corporate headquarters and distribution center located in Freehold, NJ.
Prophet 21, a provider of technology solutions for durable goods distributors, has announced the acquisition of TradePower, a technology provider of enterprise software solutions for electrical distributors.
Sheldon Weinreb, president of Wrap-N-Pack, Inc., a distributor of industrial packaging supplies, announced the acquisition of Wolf Paper & Twine of New York , NY . Founded in 1916, Wolf Paper is a well-known supplier of packaging materials servicing the New York metropolitan area.
OCTOBER Wausau Paper (NYSE:WPP) announced today that it has reached an agreement to purchase the assets of Missota Paper Company, LLC, a specialty manufacturer of high-quality uncoated freesheet paper, for $9.6 million. The acquisition is expected to close within 45 days, and the assets will become part of the company's Printing & Writing business segment.
The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) announces the acquisition of the remaining shares of Expopak de las Americas, Inc., a joint partnership between PMMI and Oprex that produces EXPO PACK México on an annual basis. Following the deal, PMMI owns 100% of Expopak de las Americas, Inc.
NOVEMBER Weyerhaeuser Company today announced that it has acquired a two-thirds ownership in Aracruz Produtos de Madeira S.A., a subsidiary of Aracruz Cellulose S.A.

Stora Enso will acquire 66% of the shares in the Polish packaging producer Intercell S.A. from private shareholders and the International Finance Corporation. The acquisition is expected to be closed by the end of 2004, subject to approval by regulatory authorities. The Polish State Treasury owns the balance of the shares in Intercell. In February 2004 the Polish State Treasury announced its intention of privatising its shareholding in the Company.  The acquisition is part of Stora Enso's strategy of increasing its Packaging Boards operations. The transaction will expand Stora Enso's corrugated packaging business and strengthen its presence in the fast-growing Polish market.

Stora Enso is starting a joint venture with Shandong Huatai Paper of China . The parties will initially conduct a pre-feasibility study concerning publication paper production in China , including a market analysis and an investigation of the possibility of transferring an existing paper machine to China . The pre-feasibility study is expected to be completed in March 2005. Stora Enso will have a majority shareholding in the joint venture.
Sappi Limited ("Sappi"), the world leader in coated fine paper, announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire 34% of Jiangxi Chenming Paper Company Limited ("Jiangxi Chenming") in a joint venture with Shandong Chenming Paper Holdings Limited ("Shandong Chenming") (47.2%), together with Jiangxi Paper Industry Company Limited (3.8%), Shinmoorim Paper Manufacturing Company Limited ("Shinmoorim") of South Korea (7.5%), and the International Finance Corporation ("IFC") (7.5%). The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.
Gould Paper Corporation, New York City , NY , announced that Gould Paper has completed its acquisition of Price & Pierce from M-real Corporation. The acquisition of Price & Pierce includes its wholly-owned subsidiaries in the U.S. , Helsinki , Dubai and Singapore .
Wrap-N-Pack announced the acquisition of Wolf Paper & Twine of New York , NY . Founded in 1916, Wolf Paper is a supplier of packaging materials servicing the New York metropolitan area.
DECEMBER Bunzl Distribution, Inc., a supplier of disposable paper and plastic packaging to an array of businesses and industries, has announced the acquisition of Joseph Weil & Sons, a 111-year old, privately-held, Chicago-based redistribution company. Weil serves the janitorial/sanitary maintenance, disposable foodservice and non-food retail business segments nationally.
Bunzl Distribution, Inc., a supplier of disposable paper and plastic packaging to an array of businesses and industries, has announced the acquisition of Temo Sales, Inc., a New York-based redistribution company.Temo, a founding member of Redistributors of America (RDA), is a leader in serving the disposable foodservice and janitorial/sanitary maintenance segments in the northeastern United States .
Mohawk Paper Mills, Cohoes , NY announced today ( December 15, 2004 ) it has signed a letter of intent to purchase the Fine Papers Business from International Paper of Stamford, CT. The Fine Papers Business includes the writing, text and covers papers and artist products segments. The transaction is subject to approval by Mohawk’s board of directors as well as completion of due diligence and financing.
DadePaper has announced the acquisition of Kepley Distribution of China Grove, North Carolina. Kepley is a re-distribution company with which DadePaper has enjoyed a successful working relationship. The Kepley Distribution management and staff will remain with the new combined company.
Wausau Paper announced that it has reached an agreement to purchase the assets of Missota Paper Company, LLC, for $9.7 million. The assets will become part of the company’s Printing & Writing business segment.