Mergers & Acquisitions Producers

VALENCIA, Spain , May 29, 2020 (Press Release) -Hinojosa has completed the acquisition of the Portuguese packaging company Graphicsleader. The takeover of this iconic company, a Portuguese leader in its sector, marks the beginning of Hinojosa’s manufacturing presence in the Portuguese market and the group’s first international venture.

With this undertaking, Hinojosa is seeking to improve on both coverage and range of services to customers in this key market, while boosting the development of cardboard packaging in the country, at a time that is proving to be strategically crucial for the packaging sector. This will assert the group as one of the main actors in this type of packaging in the Iberian Peninsula.

This operation will allow the group to develop synergies on a commercial and operational level. Graphicsleader had a turnover of 24.1 million euros in 2019, manufactures high-quality print packaging for food industry mainly, therefore, with this acquisition, Hinojosa is seeking to expand its portfolio of solutions for this type of packaging. It is also an opportunity for the Portuguese company to increase its presence among major Portuguese customers.

At the same time, Hinojosa is planning to invest in enlarging its capacity and improve on Graphicsleader’s productivity and efficiency. It will do so by keeping the 175 staff the company currently employs and joining forces with the Santos family, the company founders, who will greatly contribute to the project’s leadership with their knowledge of the Portuguese market.

Located near Oporto and with more than 125 years of history, Graphicsleader is a family business that holds very similar values to those of Hinojosa, such as a clear orientation for innovation and customer proximity. Thanks to these values and its local deep roots, they benefit from an extremely loyal and diverse customer portfolio.

By sector share, most of its production is destined to the food industry (conserves, biscuits and cereal, dairy, etc.) making 76% of the total and 24% to other sectors such as shoes and textiles. Approximately 50% of this is destined to the Portuguese market and the rest to exports. The plant’s international markets include Spain, Morocco, Argelia, France, Germany and Malta.

Hinojosa’s turnover increased by 5% in 2019

Hinojosa closed with a turnover of 418 million euro last year, that is a 4.8% increase compared to 2018. The company’s constant effort to innovate and offer eco-friendly packaging systems to the market, a strong bid for circular economy from purchase of raw material to design and manufacture through to waste management and the consistent investment in technology, especially in digital print are at the basis of its growth. In 2019, the group’s major milestones were the incorporation of the production units of Demco and Edihor. Located in Cardedeu (Barcelona), Demco produce packaging solutions in corrugated cardboard for more technical customers. And Edihor focuses on the purchase and sale of complementary packaging products such as adhesive tape, bubble wrap, etc. These two productive units form Hinojosa Packaging Cardedeu.

In addition, the paper division was consolidated in 2019, underpinned by the positive results borne by the paper mills. The group is thus continuing to raise its independence in the purchase of raw material for its carboard plants and, by doing that, keeps reinforcing its self-sufficiency and a longstanding customer service, being less subject to market fluctuations.

About Hinojosa

With over 70 years of experience, Hinojosa is the leader of the packaging industry in Spain, where it is regarded as one of the major family company groups in the country. The group has undergone a substantial growth in the past years. Innovation, specialisation and orientation, as well as a close collaboration with customers are the pillars upon which rests its growth.

Its international exposure is further strengthened by its presence in Blue Box Partners, the European group comprises four companies of family origin, whose leadership in the packaging sector in their own countries is well established, employing circa 9,500 staff. In 2018, BBP had 69 manufacturing plants, 5 paper mills and a turnover of 2,287 million euros.

HELSINKI, May 18, 2020 (Press Release) -UPM Energy and the City of Kajaani have negotiated an agreement, according to which, UPM Energy Oy will sell its 50% share in Kainuun Voima Oy to Kajaanin Energiatuotanto Oy, owned by the City of Kajaani. In addition to the share capital, UPM Energy's customer agreements specified in the deed of sale and the related rights and obligations (steam supply and sales agreements) will be transferred to Kajaanin Energiantuotanto in connection with the transaction.

In addition, in connection with the share transaction in Kainuun Voima Oy, the City of Kajaani will acquire five properties owned by UPM Energy Oy and UPM-Kymmene Corporation, whose hydropower and land will be used in Kainuun Voima's hydropower production on the basis of a lease agreement. The lease agreement between the property owners and Kainuun Voima for the lease of water and land will be transferred to the City of Kajaani.

The total amount of share and real estate transactions is EUR 19 million. Kajaani City Council approved the deals at its meeting today.

“Following the closure of the paper mill in 2008, the strategic importance of Kainuun Voima's ownership to UPM has decreased significantly. The transaction is an excellent service to both parties' long-term goals in energy production, ”says Ari Henriksson, Director, Generation Asset Management at UPM Energy.

The City of Kajaani and, at the time, Kajaani Oy founded Kainuun Voima Oy in 1986. Kainuun Voima owns a thermal power plant built in Tihisenniemi, near the former paper mill, and three hydropower plants located on the Kajaani River. The company produces electricity, heat and process steam on the Mankala principle, ie it sells and delivers the energy it produces at cost to its owners in proportion to their holdings.

UPM Energy is a significant operator in the Nordic electricity market. With the total electricity generation capacity of 1,500 MW UPM Energy is the second largest electricity producer in Finland. Our business includes electricity generation and operations in both physical electricity and financial portfolio management as well as services to industrial electricity consumers and producers. UPM Energy employs approximately 60 energy professionals. www.upmenergy.com

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 18,700 people worldwide and our annual sales are approximately EUR 10.2 billion. Our shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. UPM Biofore – Beyond fossils.

STOCKHOLM, April 1, 2020 (Press Release) -Hygiene and health company Essity is strengthening its offering in incontinence products through the acquisition of the Dutch company Novioscan. The company develops a wearable ultrasound technology that monitors the bladder and enables continence control. The purchase price is approximately SEK 70m (EUR 6.5m) on a debt-free basis.

The SENS-U innovation is a wearable ultrasound sensor that measures the level in the bladder. It sends a discrete notification that allows the user to empty their bladder in time. A version of SENS-U for children is already available in the market and an adult version is under development.

“The SENS-U technology is an innovative solution that will strengthen Essity’s offering in incontinence care and give consumers an opportunity to live a healthier and more active life,” says Ulrika Kolsrud, President Health and Medical Solutions of Essity.

Novioscan was founded in 2014 in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, and has ten employees, all of whom will remain in the company.

Essity is the leading global player in incontinence products with the TENA brand. Incontinence affects 4-8% of the world’s adult population. Essity works to break barriers and the stigma associated with incontinence to improve well-being and help people live life to the fullest.

Essity is a leading global hygiene and health company. We are dedicated to improving well-being through our products and services. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands, such as JOBST, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, Vinda and Zewa. Essity has about 46,000 employees. Net sales in 2019 amounted to approximately SEK 129bn (EUR 12.2bn). The company’s headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. Essity breaks barriers to well-being and contributes to a healthy, sustainable and circular society.