Paper Industry M&A — The Consolidation Craze

"Any time there is a major reorganization and sales offices are combined and we see positions merged or eliminated, there are going to be some short-term problems," cautions Maine.

O'Brien also believes that critics' fears over availability and service levels are unfounded. "Initially, people get nervous when mills state they are going to reduce the number of grades made in a mill. They believe it will result in fewer products, but I think the contrary is going to take place. Paper companies are still going to produce a wide variety of products, but they are going to make specific grades in specific facilities.