International Paper

Selling a company, or merging with another entity, is a high-stakes proposition. It requires a high level of expertise in multiple, specialized disciplines including legal, accounting, finance, and taxation. Many times, small business owners or entrepreneurs have put their whole life’s work into the business or, in some cases, several generations of a family name are being put on the block. If this is not enough to ponder, then look no further than the company’s employees and customers. Any successful business owner understands the multitude of issues that must be handled when running a company in today’s highly competitive, complex business environment. What makes

MEMPHIS, Tenn.—International Paper has acquired Fidelity Container Corporation, a U.S. independent packaging distributor. Fidelity Container provides value-added, custom designed packaging and related supplies, and is a full service provider of contract packaging and logistics services. Terms were not disclosed. International Paper’s distribution business, xpedx, will operate Fidelity Container as a business unit. “This combination is an exciting opportunity for International Paper, xpedx, and our customers,” says Tom Kadien, International Paper senior vice president and president of xpedx. “The acquisition of Fidelity Container will provide greater access to important customers and improved operating synergies, while meeting our selective reinvestment criteria. We believe the acquisition

NEW YORK, N.Y.—Shorewood Packaging, a business of International Paper, recently announced the launch of greenchoice™ Environmental Solutions for Packaging and Displays, a new program that helps marketers of a variety of consumer and home entertainment products meet sustainable packaging goals. The program is designed for companies who are just beginning to explore sustainable packaging, in addition to those who already have sustainability initiatives well underway. greenchoice includes a comprehensive analysis of current packaging, with recommendations on package design—and the use of alternative materials—to meet sustainable packaging requirements. The greenchoice Green Toolbox helps customers evaluate and make choices in six key areas: • Paper and

MEMPHIS, Tenn.—International Paper has reached a four-year agreement with the United Steelworkers of America that lays a new framework for bargaining future local labor contracts at 14 of its U.S. pulp, paper, and packaging mills. This agreement will contribute to a stronger working relationship between International Paper and the USW as well as to the company’s long-term success. The agreement, which was ratified by union members on Aug. 23, continues quality healthcare benefits, enhances company contributions to its retiree medical savings plan, and offers to improve employees’ pension benefits. The agreement also defines hourly wage increases over the four-year extension of each local contract

MEMPHIS, Tenn.—International Paper has announced the creation of an Office of Sustainability to champion company-wide conservation and natural resources stewardship strategies and to support the environmental goals of its customers. The office will focus its efforts around wood fiber, conservation, air, water, life-cycle analysis, and other natural resources issues as they pertain to the needs of International Paper customers. The team’s work will include raising awareness of key sustainability issues, leading third-party certification and product labeling efforts, developing innovative partnerships with stakeholders, and implementing policies that support the company’s sustainability objectives. Dr. Sharon G. Haines will lead the office. She has been with International

MEMPHIS, Tenn. and WATERBURY, Vt.—International Paper and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters have been awarded a 2007 Sustainability Award from the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), the world’s largest coffee trade association. The Sustainability Awards are given annually to those in the specialty coffee industry that have created innovative projects to expand and promote sustainability. The two companies received the award for the category of “Sustainable Business Partnerships Resulting in a Sustainable Product” in honor of their partnership that resulted in the ecotainer cup—the first hot paper beverage cup made from fully renewable resources. The ecotainer, which was unveiled last summer, is lined with

BRUSSELS, Belgium—RISI announced that UPM President and Chief Executive Officer Jussi Pesonen has been selected as the first-ever European CEO of the Year for the forest products industry. Pesonen will be presented with the award at the 9th RISI European Pulp & Paper Outlook Conference in Barcelona, Spain to be held on March 25-27, 2007. Pesonen was nominated European CEO of the Year in a survey, conducted by RISI, of investment analysts and portfolio managers covering the forest products industry. The criteria for nomination include leadership, vision, and strategic accomplishment. UPM is one of the world’s leading forest products groups. The company had sales

MEMPHIS, Tenn.—International Paper announced that it has been named by FORTUNE as the No. 1 company for the forest and paper products sector in the magazine’s annual report of “America’s Most Admired Companies.” The company also earned the eighth highest score out of more than 300 companies surveyed nationally in the area of social responsibility. The survey assesses companies on eight key attributes of reputation: innovation, people management, use of corporate assets, social responsibility, quality of management, financial soundness, long-term investment value, and quality of products and services. International Paper leads the forest and paper products industry in every category. The survey was conducted

MEMPHIS, Tenn.—International Paper and The Conservation Fund will provide national recognition and $10,000 cash grants to two conservation/environmental education leaders at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., this summer. International Paper, one of the world’s largest forest products companies, partners each year with The Conservation Fund, a non-profit organization seeking sustainable conservation solutions for the 21st Century, to sponsor the International Paper Conservation Partnership Award and the International Paper Environmental Education Award. The $10,000 awards are unrestricted grants from the International Paper Foundation. “International Paper is deeply committed to environmental protection and the long-term health and productivity of our nation’s forests,” said Dr. Sharon

MEMPHIS, Tenn.—You’ve probably seen a prize from a Cracker Jacks box or a baseball trading card with lenticular printing, where the image changes and appears to show motion or three-dimensions depending on the angle from which you view. This printing technology has been around since the turn of the century, but it has recently improved with the introduction of Lenstar polyester. Shorewood Packaging, a business of International Paper, has recently partnered with a leading custom plastic sheet extruder to produce packaging using Lenstar lenticular plastic for its customers. Lenstar is a new polyester-based resin sheet specifically designed for the lenticular market. Lenstar’s polyester-based resin