EU Commission raises concerns over UPM-Sappi paper JV
- Location
- Helsinki / Johannesburg (Verfahren in Brüssel) · 🇫🇮 Finland / South Africa
- Sector
- Packaging
- Organisations
- UPM-Kymmene Corporation ↔ Sappi Limited (geplantes 50:50-Joint-Venture Kommunikationspapier Europa)
- Transaction
- Joint venture — European Commission issues statement of objections
- Volume
- not disclosed (JV revenue base around USD 1.65 billion)
- Status
- announced
UPM and Sappi had signed binding agreements in May 2026 for a 50:50 joint venture combining their European communication-paper businesses, aiming to become the EEA market leader (with roughly EUR 100 million in expected synergies). On 26 August 2026 the European Commission sent the companies a statement of objections setting out its preliminary view that the venture could harm competition in coated mechanical and coated woodfree magazine paper. The notice does not prejudge the outcome; UPM and Sappi can respond and request a hearing. Closing had been targeted for end-2026.
Source: ec.europa.eu ↗ · Archived copy ↗
Evidence: one source · archived copy saved · How well sourced is Eurotrack?
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