Nippon Paper and Pentarch Forestry Acquire New Zealand Softwood Chip Firm

Nippon Paper Resources Australia Pty Ltd (NPR), a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd., agreed with Pentarch Forestry Pty Ltd (PF) to acquire all shares of Marusumi Whangarei Company Limited (MWC), a New Zealand softwood chip production and export company.

MWC was jointly established by Marusumi Paper Co., Ltd. and Marubeni Corporation.

Post-acquisition, NPR will hold 70% and PF 30% of shares, with completion expected by end-February 2026.

NPR and PF will enter a shareholders' agreement, renaming MWC to NP Wood Fibre Company Limited for joint operations.

The move prepares for rising global softwood chip demand and diversifies Nippon Paper's resource procurement in New Zealand's resource-rich forests.

It secures stable supplies for Nippon Paper while expanding Asian market sales via PF collaboration to maximize wood business profits.

Combining Nippon Paper Group's broadleaf plantation, woodchip production/export expertise from Brazil and Australia with PF's lumber, woodchip, sales/export operations in Australia and New Zealand will leverage mutual strengths for forestry and timber expansion.

NP Wood Fibre overview: Formerly MWC (est. 1995); new JV with NPR (70%), Pentarch Forestry Services (30%); located near Whangārei, Northland; 7 employees; produces/exports Radiata pine papermaking chips; 2025 sales ~220,000 GMT.