Sonoco Increases US Paperboard Position with US Paper Mills Purchase

Published: August 27, 2001, By PRESS RELEASE

HARTSVILLE, SC, USA—Sonoco has completed its previously announced all-cash purchase of the privately held DePere, WI-based US Paper Mills Corp., reports the global packaging company.

According to the South Carolina-based packaging manufacturer, the acquisition will bring Sonoco's total number of paper mills (worldwide) to 30, with 42 paper machines and a total capacity of approximately 1.75 million tons. Says Harris E. DeLoach, Sonoco president/CEO: "The acquisition of US Paper Mills Corp. will provide us with additional lightweight paperboard capacity. [It also] will allow us to further reduce paperboard costs by increasing our supply of lightweight paperboard capacity, thus adding flexibility to how we manage our overall system to ensure maximum productivity now and for future converting growth opportunities."

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