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International Paper Company (NYSE:IP, LSE:IPC), a prominent player in the Containers & Packaging industry with a market capitalization of $24 billion and annual revenue of $21.9 billion, announced that the Federal Trade Commission granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act for the planned sale of its Global Cellulose Fibers business. The update was disclosed in a press release statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. According to InvestingPro, the company maintains a strong 55-year track record of consecutive dividend payments, currently yielding 4.1%.
The transaction involves the sale by International Paper, along with its affiliates International Paper Holdings (Luxembourg) S.à r.l. and English Oak, LLC, to Absorbent Fiber Topco, Inc. and its subsidiaries. The assets to be sold include all issued and outstanding equity interests of GCF US Holdings LLC, GCF (Asia) Limited, International Paper Cellulose Fibers (Poland) sp. z o.o., and International Paper Canada Pulp Holdings ULC. These entities collectively represent International Paper’s Global Cellulose Fibers business.
The agreement for the sale was previously disclosed and signed on August 20, 2025. Completion of the transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and the receipt of other required regulatory approvals.
International Paper’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol IP and on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol IPC.
In other recent news, International Paper announced a definitive agreement to sell its Global Cellulose Fibers business to American Industrial Partners for $1.5 billion. This transaction, which is expected to close by the end of the year pending regulatory approvals, includes the issuance of preferred stock with an initial liquidation preference of $190 million. In terms of analyst ratings, UBS has reiterated its Buy rating on International Paper, citing efficiency gains from the company’s box plant optimization program. The program, known as the "lighthouse program," provided UBS with insights during a visit to one of the company’s facilities in Aurora, Illinois.
However, not all analyst feedback was positive. JPMorgan downgraded International Paper’s stock rating from Overweight to Neutral following a quarterly earnings report that missed EBITDA expectations by approximately 4%. The downgrade noted particular weakness in the company’s EMEA segment. Despite this, UBS maintains a $60.00 price target, emphasizing cost savings and new business wins. These developments reflect a mix of strategic moves and varied analyst opinions surrounding International Paper’s current position.
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