'Branching out' reviews in detail 2007 deal activity in the forestry, paper and fibre packaging sectors, along with the first quarter of 2008, and examines several key new investment themes. The publication also focuses on deal activity by key regions, the success of deals and considers the likely outlook for industry consolidation.
In particular, this edition highlights that:
- North America continued to dominate deal values in 2007 and Q1 2008. European deal values were up, but real consolidation remained elusive. Asia Pacific and Latin America deal values were modest
- Forestland, forest carbon, biomass-based energy and waste are all emerging as important drivers in investment
- 2008 could be a record year, particularly if much-needed mega deals in Europe come to fruition
- Fibre sourcing and fibre flows, including the uncertainties created by the Russian export tariffs on raw wood, still present transaction hurdles
