Make That Two U.S. Sawmills For Austria’s Binderholz Group

Austria-based Binderholz Group has purchased, through auction, the bankrupt Klausner Lumber Two LLC sawmill operation in Enfield, NC for $83.4 million. Binderholz had already purchased, at auction in August, the bankrupt Klausner Lumber One LLC sawmill operation in Live Oak, Fla. for $61 million.

Binderholz prevailed over runnerup bidder Austria-based Mayr Melnhof Holz both times.

Reinhard Binder, CEO of Binderholz, comments, “The acquisition of Klausner Lumber Two is the logical complement to the Klausner Lumber One plant. With this acquisition accomplished, the foundation has been laid for further investments.”

Klausner Lumber Two had produced some green lumber before going down. As some technical investments still have to be made, production is expected to start at the end of 2021. Construction at Enfield began in 2015 and over the years several setbacks and delays plagued the operation. Klausner shut it down this past March. Both Klausner sawmills were expected to produce 350MMBF of southern yellow pine lumber annually.

With this acquisition Binderholz becomes the largest European lumber producer with nine sawmills in Austria, Germany, Finland and the U.S. Family-owned Binderholz now has 14 locations producing sawn timber, profiled timber, single- and multi-layer glued solid wood panels, glued laminated timber and cross laminated timber. Once both U.S. mills are running, it will employ 3,500 at five Austrian sites, five German sites, two Finnish sites and the two U.S. sites.

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