SIG Combibloc (SIG) has agreed the sale of Whakatāne Mill Limited (WML) to a consortium of investors who will enable the Mill to continue to operate. The consortium is led by Dr Dermot Smurfit who, together with his other European consortium members, has .
Whakatāne mayor Judy Turner
Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
Mill owners SIG Combibloc announced today it has sold the mill to a consortium of investors led by European investor Dr Dermot Smurfit.
The announcement means that, besides staff who have chosen to take redundancy, more than 200 mill staff will keep their jobs. It s really exciting news, it s a great outcome and well done to all parties involved, Turner said. I m particularly thrilled for the contractors outside the direct employment of the mill as this has been a very nervous time for them and their staff.
Turner said she was relieved the mill had been saved as its closure and loss of jobs would have been devastating for the local economy.