Smurfit Kappa announced this week that it has agreed a deal to sell its solidboard and graphicboard operations in the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK to the Aurelius Group.

The company said the operations being sold have net assets amounting to €42m.

They comprise two graphicboard mills, an integrated solidboard operation consisting of two mills and four converting sites.

Smurfit Kappa said the deal represents a further progression of its stated objective to focus on its core business as a leading global producer of paper based packaging solutions and maximize long term returns for shareholders.