Private Equity Firms Consider Bids for International Paper Unit Ahead of London IPO

Key Facts

1Lone Star and Atlas Holdings are considering takeover bids for an International Paper division formerly owned by DS Smith.

2The interest follows International Paper's announcement of plans to float the division in London.

Lone Star and Atlas Holdings are considering takeover bids for an International Paper division formerly owned by DS Smith. The Financial Times reported that this private equity interest follows International Paper's previously announced plans to float the division on the London Stock Exchange.

IP closed at $31.9 on October 14, 2026, with the stock trading between a low of $31.54 and a high of $32.13 during that session. The emergence of private equity bidders may establish a valuation floor for the unit compared to the parent company's planned initial public offering process.