Abitibi Merging With Bowater

Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. and Bowater Inc. have agreed to merge into AbitibiBowater Inc., North America's third largest publicly traded paper and forest products company with $7.9 billion in annual revenues.

AbitibiBowater will operate 35 wood product facilities with a capacity of 3.1 billion bd. ft. of lumber per year, as well as 32 pulp and paper plants, primarily in eastern Canada and the Southeastern U.S.

John Weaver, president and c.e.o.

of Abitibi-Consolidated, will be executive chairman of the new company, and David Paterson, chairman. president and c.e.o. of Bowater, will become president and c.e.o.

The all-stock merger, expected to close in the third quarter, is forecast to generate about $250 million in annual savings from improved efficiencies in procurement, production, sales, distribution, administrative and other costs.

The new company will be based in Montreal. Bowater's headquarters in

Greenville. S.C.. will serve as a regional sales and manufacturing office.

AWPA To List Barrier Systems

The American Wood-Preservers' Association has added a barrier preservative system standard for its 2007 Book of Standards.

The new standard, P20-07, was proposed and developed by representatives of Postsaver USA to extend the AWPA expertise and knowledge base to this new system of wood protection. After recent subcommittee and committee votes, the standard was accepted Jan. 27 at the AWPA executive committee meeting.

The Barrier Preservative System Standard requires barrier systems to submit data demonstrating suitable performance prior to listing of the specific system in the AWPA Annual Book of Standards. Postsaver will submit its data package for consideration at the next AWPA meeting in May.

The AWPA is an ANSl-accredited standards developer that promulgates consensus-based standards. AWPA standards are recognized worldwide in the use of wood preservatives and for the protection and treatment of wood.

Lowe's Ready For Mexico

Lowe's Cos. will expand into Mexico, opening three to five stores in Monterrey in 2009.

Each store will cost $18 to $20 million and employ more than 150.

ln 2002, Lowe's hired Francisco Fernandez, a l6-year home improvement industry veteran who spent seven years with Total Home (Alfa Group) in Monteney. He is currently heading an office in Monterrey as v.p. of Lowe's-Mexico.

"For several years, we have been evaluating opportunities to serve consumers in vibrant home improvement markets outside the United States," said c.e.o. and chairman Robert A. Niblock. "With homeownership rates in the market growing at a rapid pace, we see Monterrey as a tremendous opportunity to offer Lowe's products and services to homeowners and commercial customers in a superior shopping environment with customer service that is recognized as among the best in retail."

The 1,350-unit chain is also about to enter Canada, opening the first of six to 10 stores in the Toronto area this fall.