<B>Opposition to PaperlinX Acquisition of Spicers Paper</B>

Consolidated Paper Industries Group Ltd. and Independent Paper Group are opposing PaperlinX Ltd.'s about $270 million bid for Spicers Paper Ltd.

The two companies claim the acquisition would reduce competition in the Australian paper industry, with PaperlinX controlling up to 73 percent of the total market.
Melbourne-based PaperlinX last month said it would buy the 58 percent of Spicers that it doesn’t already own, as well as assume Spicers debt.