Graphic Packaging to sell multi-wall bag business to Mondi for US$105M; anticipated sale 'substantially completes our transformation into a pure play, vertically integrated paperboard packaging company,' says Graphic Packaging president and CEO

Elyse Blye

ATLANTA , June 3, 2014 (press release) – Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), a leading provider of packaging solutions to food, beverage and other consumer products companies, today announced that it and its wholly owned subsidiary Graphic Packaging International, Inc., have entered into a definitive agreement to sell their Multi-wall Bag business to Mondi Group. The non-core assets to be divested include 9 Multi-wall Bag converting plants located throughout the United States and the Pine Buff, Arkansas kraft paper mill.

"The anticipated sale of these non-core assets substantially completes our transformation into a pure play, vertically integrated paperboard packaging company," said David Scheible, Graphic Packaging's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The divestiture will free up valuable resources which we can redirect to further accelerate global growth in our core paperboard packaging business."

The Multi-Wall Bag plants and the kraft mill had trailing twelve month revenue of approximately $437 million and under the terms of the agreement, the enterprise value is $105 million and the sale will be an all cash transaction. The transaction is subject to standard closing requirements and is expected to close late second quarter or early third quarter 2014.

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