International Paper Selling Lumber Unit To Georgia-Pacific

International Paper Co. is selling its building products unit to Georgia-Pacific LLC for $750 million cash, a move designed to sharpen focus on its massive packaging business.

The sale had been expected since IP acquired the unit, which sells lumber and particle board for home construction, as part of its $3.7 billion buyout of smaller rival Temple-Inland earlier this year.

IP is the largest North American producer of corrugated packaging, commonly used to make shipping boxes. Amazon.com Inc. is one of IP’s largest customers.

The sale gives IP more cash to invest in the packaging business.

Georgia-Pacific will get the unit’s 16 manufacturing facilities located primarily in southeastern and eastern United States, regions that are expected to see new home construction when the economy recovers.

From Reuters: reuters.com.