UPM has signed an agreement to sell its Chapelle Darblay newsprint mill site to a consortium of two partners Samfi and Paprec France SAS. The transaction is subject to customary approvals.
The sale of Chapelle Darblay is an asset sale, and no personnel will be transferred. UPM has permanently ceased production and agreed a social plan for its employees at its Chapelle newsprint mill in Grand-Couronne, France in June 2020.
Samfi and Paprec plan to develop the site into a platform for the supply of green energy and the production of raw materials from recycling. The future site would consist of a sorting and packaging plant for paper and plastics, an on-site power generation facility using biomass and a production facility for renewable hydrogen.
Samfi and Paprec plan to invest approximately 450 million euros and to create 250 direct and 400 indirect positions.
“We are very pleased with the agreement. Samfi and Paprec will develop the site further, leveraging the very good location and infrastructure. The nature of the project is very much in line with UPM’s commitment to help build a future beyond fossils and will bring an innovative and sustainable investment to the region,” says Anu Ahola, Senior Vice President Operations, UPM Communication Papers.
“It is also important to underline that UPM will remain committed to the French newsprint market and we will continue close collaboration with our partners and customers here,” says Ahola.
For further information please contact:
Daniel Schwab, President du conseil de surveillance UPM France SAS (through Pyksis: tel. +33 614888577 or +33 663677511)
UPM, Media Relations
Mon-Fri 9:00-16:00 EET
tel. +358 40 588 3284
media@upm.com
About Samfi and Paprec
Samfi is the leading private employer in Normandy with 3,000 employees, its main activities being mainly in the field of transport and logistics (Malherbe), renewable energies (Samsolar, Samwind), hydrogen (H2V, Distry), real estate, self-storage (Locabox) and advertising displays (Medialine). The group was founded and is led by Alain Samson. Paprec France SAS has become over the past 20 years the independent French leader in recycling and waste management for industry and local authorities. In 2020 thanks to its 12,500 employees and with 12 million tonnes of materials collected and processed, Paprec achieved a turnover of nearly 1.5 billion euros.
About UPM Communication Papers
UPM Communication Papers is the world's leading producer of graphic papers, offering an extensive product range for advertising and publishing as well as home and office uses. The high performing papers and service concepts of UPM add value to our customers' businesses, while actively fulfilling demanding environmental and social responsibility criteria. With headquarters in Germany, UPM Communication Papers employs approximately 7,000 people. More about UPM Communication Papers and its products at www.upmpaper.com
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About UPM
We deliver renewable and responsible solutions and innovate for a future beyond fossils across six business areas: UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Communication Papers and UPM Plywood. As the industry leader in responsibility we are committed to the UN Business Ambition for 1.5°C and the science-based targets to mitigate climate change. We employ 18,000 people worldwide and our annual sales are approximately EUR 8.6 billion. Our shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. UPM Biofore – Beyond fossils. www.upm.com
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