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A Chinese Paper Maker Commits to Green Production in Virginia Paulson Papers on Investment Case Study Series A Chinese Paper Maker Commits to Green Production in Virginia May 2016 Paulson Papers on Investment Case Study Series Preface or decades, bilateral investment manufacturing—to identify tangible has flowed predominantly from the opportunities, examine constraints FUnited States to China. But Chinese and obstacles, and ultimately fashion investments in the United States have sensible investment models. expanded considerably in recent years, and this proliferation of direct Most of the case studies in this investments has, in turn, sparked new Investment series look ahead. For debates about the future of US-China example, our agribusiness papers economic relations. examine trends in the global food system and specific US and Chinese Unlike bond holdings, which can be comparative advantages. They propose bought or sold through a quick paper prospective investment models. transaction, direct investments involve people, plants, and other assets. They But even as we look ahead, we also are a vote of confidence in another aim to look backward, drawing lessons country’s economic system since they from past successes and failures. And take time both to establish and unwind. that is the purpose of the case studies, as distinct from the other papers in this The Paulson Papers on Investment aim series. Some Chinese investments in to look at the underlying economics— the United States have succeeded. They and politics—of these cross-border created or saved jobs, or have proved investments between the United States beneficial in other ways. Other Chinese and China. investments have failed: revenue sank, companies shed jobs, and, in some Many observers debate the economic, cases, businesses closed. In this sense, political, and national security past investments offer a rich set of implications of such investments. But lessons to learn. the debates are, too often, generic or take place at 100,000 feet. Investment Damien Ma, Fellow and Associate opportunities are much discussed by Director of the Paulson Institute think Americans and Chinese in the abstract tank, directs the case study project. but these discussions are not always anchored in the underlying economics For this case study of Tranlin Paper, or a realistic investment case. we are grateful to Dan Li, a talented graduate of the Harris School of Public The goal of the Paulson Papers on Policy at the University of Chicago and Investment is to dive deep into various student fellow at the Paulson Institute, sectors, such as agribusiness or for his research and dedication. A Chinese Paper Maker Commits to Green Production in Virginia Paulson Papers on Investment Case Study Series Case studies are reconstructed on the case. But they may have gaps and basis of the public record, personal other inadequacies where the record is interviews with participants, and incomplete, facts are murky, or players journalistic accounts. They aim to chose not to share their views. reflect a best reconstruction of the Cover Photo: Richmond Times-Dispatch/Bob Brown A Chinese Paper Maker Commits to Green Production in Virginia Paulson Papers on Investment Case Study Series Timeline 1976 Gaotang Paper Mill, a local government-owned plant, begins operating in Liaocheng City, Shandong Province. 1983 Li Hongfa joins the firm as a technical specialist. Li becomes the deputy factory manager for technical research and development the following year. 1993 Li becomes the general manager and Communist Party secretary of the factory. 1995-1998 Seven Fourdrinier pulp machine production lines are built and a 3,800 multi-cylinder Fourdrinier pulp machine is imported from Austria, driving annual output up to 130,000 tons. 2000 June Tranlin establishes a packaging company subsidiary. December The Gaotang factory transforms into Shandong Tranlin Paper LLC, and Li assumes the posts of chairman and president. 2002 Shandong Tranlin Jiayou Fertilizer Company is established, later becoming the largest organic fulvic acid fertilizer producer in China. 2003 Tranlin Group is incorporated. 2004 Tranlin undergoes another restructuring through which the state completely relinquishes its shares, effectively making the firm into a private company. 2005 The government lists Tranlin in its first batch of pilot enterprises focused on the “circular economy.” 2006 Tranlin Group sells shares in Tranlin Packaging to strategic investors CDH Capital and Bain Capital. 2009 Tranlin Group invents clean straw pulping technology, branding its unbleached paper products as “natural color.” A Chinese Paper Maker Commits to Green Production in Virginia Paulson Papers on Investment Case Study Series 2010 April Tranlin’s unbleached paper is selected as the “official paper” of the Shanghai World Expo in 2010. August Tranlin’s first comprehensive straw utilization project is announced in Dehui, Jilin province. December Tranlin Packaging goes public in Hong Kong, with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley as joint book-runners. 2012 Two more comprehensive straw utilization projects are announced in Jiamusi, Heilongjiang province and Gaotang, Shandong province. October Jerry Peng, a former Goldman Sachs banker, joins the company as its chief strategy officer. 2014 January Tranlin, Inc. is formed. March Tranlin receives $1.3 billion in state financing, led by the China Development Bank, for straw paper projects and uses intellectual property as collateral. June Tranlin announces a $2 billion investment over five years to build and operate its first advanced manufacturing facility outside of China in the state of Virginia. August The firm’s paper product passes Wal-Mart’s inspection and signs long- term supplier contract with the US retail giant. A Chinese Paper Maker Commits to Green Production in Virginia Paulson Papers on Investment Case Study Series Key Players United States Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) State-level economic promotion and investment attraction arm Greater Richmond Partnership Regional-level economic development team, representing the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, and the City of Richmond, Virginia Chesterfield County Site of Tranlin’s manufacturing plant Chesterfield County Department of Economic Development County-level economic promotion and investment-attraction arm University of Virginia Leading public research university, based in Charlottesville, Virginia China Shandong Tranlin Group Private paper and pulp company based in Liaocheng, Shandong province Liaocheng Municipal Government Prefecture-level city in western Shandong province, nicknamed “Water City.” A Chinese Paper Maker Commits to Green Production in Virginia Paulson Papers on Investment Case Study Series Introduction n June 2014, Tranlin, a Chinese firm, this process has less of an impact paper maker, announced a $2 billion on the environment. investment to build an advanced I 1 manufacturing facility on an 850 acre Already a top Chinese paper producer, campus in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Tranlin has dubbed its clean production When complete and operating at full process the “Tranlin model,” arguing capacity by 2020, the plant is expected that its technology supports a so- to generate more than 2,000 local jobs. called “circular economy” and benefits farmers because the company needs to Tranlin’s investment marked the largest buy agricultural waste as inputs to its greenfield investment in the United papermaking process. States to date from a private Chinese company. But more Tranlin decided to significant than the invest in Virginia size of the deal was Tranlin’s investment marked the largest for several reasons. this distinguishing greenfield investment in the United States First, in the mature factor: where most to date from a private Chinese company. US paper market, US-China greenfield consumers generally investments tend attach greater value to involve export of US technology to environmentally friendly products to China, in this instance the Chinese and are more tolerant of a price investor actually played the role of premium. Second, siting a factory close the technology exporter, rather than to the straw supply and final consumers technology acquirer. can cut costs. Third, Tranlin sought access to an advanced capital market The vast majority of paper mills, that offered more financing options for including Chinese ones, have shifted future expansion. And ultimately, Tranlin to wood pulp production processes, in viewed the US market as a strategic play part because wood has been relatively to establish a more reputable brand and abundant and because it tends to be prepare for competition in the global less polluting than straw-based paper marketplace. production. But Tranlin has taken a different approach—it claims to have Despite the eye-catching $2 billion price developed a leading straw pulping tag, the US operation represents only technology that simultaneously turns a small portion of Tranlin’s ambitious agricultural waste into high-quality expansion. Since early 2010, as the paper products and the waste runoff company’s technology has matured, into organic fertilizer. According to the Tranlin has announced four projects— A Chinese Paper Maker Commits to Green Production in Virginia 1 Paulson Papers on Investment Case Study Series three in China and one in the United industry, and discusses some of the States—totaling $7.8 billion, an policies that affected the domestic investment amount that is more than industry. six times its total apparent assets. But because it is a private
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