LEIPA Georg Leinfelder GmbH, Germany, and UPM, Finland, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the sale of the UPM Schwedt mill, Germany, to LEIPA, which plans to rebuild the mill’s newsprint paper machine into a white top testliner machine immediately after closing of the transaction. 

The planned production capacity after the reconstruction will be approximately 450,000 metric tpy of liner annually. In addition to the already existing production facility, LEIPA will offer to its clients around 700,000 metric tpy of white top and white coated testliner. By means of this production expansion, LEIPA will "underline" its current position as benchmark producer in the growing segment of white liner products. 

LEIPA intends to continue all employment relations with the current employees of UPM Schwedt mill. Subject to due diligence, the acquisition is planned for the first quarter of 2016.