Displaying items by tag: Domtar Corporation

Appleton and Domtar Corp. have reached a tentative agreement in which Domtar would supply Appleton with most of the uncoated base paper the company needs to produce its thermal, carbonless, and other specialty paper products. The historic 15-year supply deal is valued at more than $3 billion over the life of the agreement. Appleton is one of the world's leading specialty coaters, and while Domtar is the largest integrated manufacturer of uncoated paper in North America.

Integrated is the key word here.

Explaining the deal, Mark Richards, Appleton's chairman, president and chief executive officer, said that non-integrated paper mills, those not capable of producing pulp from logs or wood chips, are distinctly disadvantaged and no longer competitive. Worldwide demand for pulp has driven its market price to historic highs.

“Because we buy pulp on the open market, it costs Appleton considerably more to make base paper than it costs a producer like Domtar, which can supply its own pulp. Our proposed operational changes, as difficult as they may be for many of our employees in West Carrollton, are needed for our company to remain competitive," Richards said.

The proposed supply agreement would result in a reduction of approximately 330 jobs at the West Carrollton mill. Assuming the plan is finalized, approximately 100 employees would be retained to continue to operate the thermal paper coating facility. Employment and operations at Appleton's integrated pulp and paper mill in Roaring Spring, Pa., would be unaffected by the agreement.

The agreement is pending discussions with representatives of West Carrollton's Local 266 of the United Steelworkers.

The proposed supply agreement would reduce the company's exposure to unpredictable market costs for pulp and waste paper.

Domtar would gain significant and predictable volume for its base paper business driven by demand in Appleton's growing global thermal paper business.

John D. Williams, Domtar's president and chief executive officer, stated, “This proposed agreement provides us with an opportunity to repurpose and replace high volume communication paper capacity to specialty paper grades, while securing a growing business long-term."

source: http://www.pulpandpapercanada.com

Published in Canadian News

Domtar Corporation has collaborated with Hatch Show Print® to create a limited edition poster that supports AIGA's "Design for Good" initiative - an effort to recognize and support pro bono social engagement design projects.

dom-posterThe "Good Design Still Matters" poster is part of Domtar's commitment to graphic communications and its award-winning "Paper Because" campaign, which showcases the importance of paper in our daily lives. "The 'Good Design Still Matters' limited edition poster is a special project for Domtar, because this single printed piece embodies so much of what the 'Paper Because' campaign is all about," said Lewis Fix, Vice-President of Sustainable Business and Brand Management at Domtar. "Domtar had the chance to work directly with Hatch Show Print, a legendary letterpress printer that traces its roots back to 1879, on a project that will help support the efforts of today's graphic design professionals to make the world a better place."

As part of the "Good Design Still Matters" project, Domtar is making a cash donation to the AIGA's "Design for Good" initiative. The company will also distribute copies of the limited edition poster - which is printed on Domtar's Cougar Natural 80lb. cover stock - to graphic designers attending the HOW Conference inBoston from June 21st to 25th.

Hatch Show Print is one of the oldest working letterpress shops in the United States. Throughout its history, the company created iconic posters for vaudeville and circus performers; auto races, boat races and rodeos; and a range of musical acts that include Johnny CashGarth Brooks, Elvis, B.B. Kingand the Rolling Stones. Hatch Show Print is part of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. It has thousands of historic pieces of type and woodblock art that it still uses - often on Domtar's Cougar paper - to produce approximately 600 letterpress jobs annually on hand-powered roller presses.

"The Hatch Brothers are quoted as saying that 'Advertising without posters is like fishing without worms'," said Jim Sherraden, manager of Hatch Show Print. "We firmly believe good design is more powerful than ever, and a project like this that brings a printed poster together with a great cause is proof."

"'Design for Good' is more than just pro bono design projects. It is a broader movement to encourage and enable designers to bring their creative problem solving to the assistance of their communities as they approach community and social problems," according to Richard Grefé, executive director of AIGA. "'Design for Good' offers a means for creative professionals to play a central role among concerned citizens, demonstrating their commitment, talent and leadership to power change in ways that are important to others in their communities."

AIGA, the professional association for design, is the world's largest and most influential organization for communication design. For nearly 100 years, AIGA has responded to the changing contexts of design practice. AIGA oversees a network of more than 22,000 professional designers, hundreds of design educators, 66 chapters and 200 student groups. Through a range of programs, AIGA demonstrates the value of design and supports designers across the arc of their careers.

Published in Canadian News
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Domtar Corporation has announced the signing of a definitive agreement for the acquisition of privately-held Attends Healthcare Limited ("Attends Europe"), manufacturer and supplier of adult incontinence care products in Europe, from Rutland Partners for €180 million. The closing of the transaction is expected during the first quarter of 2012, subject to customary closing conditions.

"The acquisition of Attends Europe moves us further along the path we started down last summer and it consolidates our ownership of the Attends brand on both sides of the Atlantic. With this acquisition, we are adding another platform for growth with a well-established business that has the critical mass to drive product development and brand growth with our current North American business," said John D. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer ofDomtar. "Demand for incontinence care products in Europe is strong, and our intent is to double earnings within the next five years."

Attends Europe sells and markets a complete line of branded and private-label adult incontinence care products. The company distributes its products in several channels with its own sales organizations in nine European countries. Attends Europe operates a world-class 374,000 square foot (34,000 square meter) manufacturing facility with eight production lines; a research and development center and a distribution center in Aneby, Sweden; it also operates distribution centers in Scotland and Germany. Attends has 413 employees, estimated annual run rate sales and EBITDA of €140 million and €23 million respectively.

James Steele currently Chief Executive Officer of Attends Healthcare Limited will continue in his functions. The acquired business will be integrated in the Personal Care segment of Domtar's financial information filed to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Domtar will use cash on hand to pay for the acquisition and intends to redeem most of Attends Europe's outstanding debt upon closing of the transaction.

Please refer to the attached fact sheet for further information.

Published in European News
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Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS)(TSX: UFS) is extending its award-winning PAPERbecause campaign with a series of new print ads that show why paper still plays a vital role in everything from today's business meetings to educating tomorrow's business leaders.

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"PAPERbecause, Learning something new deserves all your attention. (CNW Group/DOMTAR CORPORATION)".

The print ads will start to appear in January in leading paper, graphic design and printing trade publications. The campaign will expand in the first quarter to include prominent consumer publications such as Fast Company, National Geographic and The New York Times. The print campaign shows how using paper responsibly makes sense in our homes and professional lives, and how it's also an environmentally sound choice. The print ads will join a series of videosand banner ads appearing on a variety of websites.

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"PAPERbecause, Bringing in the mail is one the few things we still have in common. (CNW Group/DOMTAR CORPORATION)".

"The PAPERbecause print campaign gives Domtar a platform to show how paper - a sustainable, renewable and recyclable product - fits so nicely into our lives," said Lewis Fix, Vice-President of Sustainable Business and Brand Management at Domtar. "Domtar is a leader in sustainable paper production, and we promote the responsible use of paper. PAPERbecause reminds people of why paper is so vital today."

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"PAPERbecause, Sustainability is the only business model that will survive. (CNW Group/DOMTAR CORPORATION)".

Since Domtar unveiled the PAPERbecause campaign last year, there has been substantial support from paper industry, printing, graphic design and marketing partners. Many have picked up elements of the campaign and provided significant exposure on websites, in catalogs, at conferences and other outlets.

"PAPERbecause demonstrates that paper is sustainable, personal and purposeful. It's easier to learn on paper, senior executives prefer print versus online information, people make purchases as a result of direct mail, and paper is one of the most recycled products on the planet - more than 63 percent of paper gets recycled," noted Fix. "That's a pretty exciting story about a product that has been in use for more than 2,000 years."

For more information, please visit www.paperbecause.com.


Published in Canadian News
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Domtar Corporation has announced that its Board of Directors authorized an increase to its share buyback program of $400 million. The original program announced on May 5, 2010 now has an aggregate authorization of $1 billion. The Company has previously repurchased approximately 6.6 million shares of common stock for a total cash consideration of $536 million pursuant to this program. Domtarhas returned in excess of $600 million of capital to shareholders through a combination of share repurchases and dividends since May 2010.

"With this additional authorization from the Board, we have the flexibility to continue to implement our share repurchase program as a key element of our disciplined capital allocation strategy. Our commitment remains to return a majority of future free cash flow to shareholders," said John D. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Since the inception of the program in May 2010, we have reduced Domtar's outstanding share count by 15 percent and we believe such repurchases continue to be an excellent means to return capital to our shareholders."

Under the share buyback program, the Company is authorized to repurchase from time to time shares of its outstanding common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions in the United States. The timing and amount of stock repurchases will depend on a variety of factors, including the market conditions as well as corporate and regulatory considerations. The share repurchase program may be suspended, modified or discontinued at any time and the Company has no obligation to repurchase any amount of its common stock under the program. The Company intends to make all repurchases in compliance with applicable regulatory guidelines and to administer the plan in accordance with applicable laws, including Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

The Company had a total combined number of common stock and exchangeable shares issued and outstanding of 36,805,300 shares at November 30, 2011.

Published in Financial News
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Wednesday, 23 November 2011 12:00

Domtar takes home two International Awards

Domtar Corporation took home the Environmental Strategy of the Year Award and the Promotional Campaign of the Year - Environmental Message Award at the Pulp and Paper International (PPI) Awards 2011 ceremony held on November 15th in Brussels, Belgium.

Domtar President and CEO John D. Williams attended the ceremony and noted, "The finalists in each of the categories make up a distinguished list from around the world, and we are proud to be among those recognized for their industry leadership.  The Environmental Strategy of the Year and Promotional Campaign of the Year awards are a great honor and a testament to our continued sustainability efforts on a number of fronts."

The Environmental Strategy of the Year award recognizes the company's efforts in the areas of sustainable forest management, greenhouse gas reduction and water management, as well as the 2011 development of the Domtar Paper Trail, an online tool that creates personalized customer reports of the environmental and socio-economic impacts of specific paper grade purchases.

The Promotional Campaign of the Year recognizes Domtar's PAPERbecause video, social media and print ad campaign telling the story of paper's utility and sustainability in a humorous and engaging way.  The campaign was originally launched in 2010 and recently renewed with the introduction of five new videos.

"For years we've been championing sustainable forest management and fiber procurement, and at the same time we've devoted considerable resources to pursuing emissions reduction and energy efficiency initiatives at our mills," added Lewis Fix, Domtar's Vice-President of Sustainable Business and Brand Management.  "Now with the Domtar Paper Trail and the PAPERbecause campaign, we are saying that stakeholder engagement and transparency are a big part of putting our commitment to sustainability into practice."

For more information, please visit www.paperbecause.com and www.domtarpapertrail.com.

The PPI Awards are organized by RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry. They are the industry's only global awards that honor leadership, vision, innovation and strategic accomplishments. Winners were named on November 15th at an event in Brussels that overlaps with RISI's European Paper Week.

Published in Press Releases
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 09:30

Domtar Releases New Wave of "Paper Because" Campaign

Building on its award-winning "Paper Because" campaign, Domtar Corporation has released a new series of videos promoting the important role paper plays in our lives.

The videos will debut on PaperBecause.com, Domtar.com, YouTube and social media sites - relying on satire to highlight how using paper responsibly makes business sense and how it's also an environmentally sound choice. The 30-second spots take a humorous look at office settings where the pressures to go paperless are taken to ridiculous lengths. In early 2012, new print ads will be added to the campaign in trade and consumer media, while the videos and banner ads will appear on a variety of news websites.

"Paper Because has enabled Domtar to communicate the importance of paper to business and opinion leaders," said Lewis Fix, Vice-President of Sustainable Business and Brand Management at Domtar. "Domtar has long been a leader in sustainable paper production. The Paper Because campaign promotes the responsible use of paper, while also reminding people of just how effective paper is in communicating on logical and emotional levels in so many business and personal settings."

Since Domtar unveiled the Paper Because campaign last year, there has been substantial support from paper industry, printing, graphic design and marketing partners. Many have picked up elements of the campaign and provided significant exposure on websites, in catalogs, at conferences and other outlets.

The Paper Because campaign has also received positive industry recognition. The GraphicArts Show Company gave its "Positively Print" award in September to Domtar to spotlight the variety of ways in which the effectiveness of print is being promoted. In addition, the campaign won Best of Show at the ACE Awards; Best of Category in the Business Marketing Association's B2 Awards; National Association of Major Mail Users Environmental Award for Industry Leadership and Best Management Practices; and awards from the Association of Independent Creative Editors and the Printing Industry of the Carolinas.

"Paper Because demonstrates that paper is sustainable, personal and purposeful. It's easier to learn on paper, senior executives prefer print versus online information, people make purchases as a result of direct mail, and paper is one of the most recycled products on the planet - more than 63 percent of paper gets recycled," noted Lewis Fix. "That's a pretty exciting story about a product that has been in use for more than 2,000 years."

"Paper Because has allowed Domtar to initiate a positive conversation on many levels with a variety of audiences about the importance of paper to the economy, the environment and everyday life," added Fix. "We're excited about this new phase of the campaign because it continues to tell a leadership story about Domtar as the Sustainable Paper Company."

For more information, please visit www.paperbecause.com.

Published in North American News
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Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS) (TSX: UFS) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement for the acquisition of privately-held Attends Healthcare, Inc. ("Attends"), manufacturer and supplier of incontinence products, from KPS Capital Partners, L.P. for $315 million. The closing of the transaction is expected during the third quarter 2011, subject to customary closing conditions.

"This is a good transaction that allows us to take measured steps into the consumer products market in a product area where high single-digit global growth is expected," said John D. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer of Domtar. "We believe there is the potential to double Attends' earnings within five years and we are committed to unleashing the great organic growth potential. With this acquisition, we will consume internally some of our high quality Lighthouse™ fluff pulp produced in our nearby Plymouth, North Carolina mill. Domtar will continue to look for innovative ways to build growing businesses based on sustainable wood fiber."

Attends produces a complete line of incontinence care products and washcloths marketed primarily under the Attends® brand name. The company has a wide product offering encompassing over 170 SKUs and it serves a diversified customer base in multiple channels throughout the United States and Canada. The company operates a 775,000 square foot facility with nine production lines and a state-of-the-art distribution center in Greenville, North Carolina. Attends has approximately 330 employees, annual sales of approximately $200 million, and an estimated run-rate EBITDA of $39 million.

Michael Fagan, currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Attends Healthcare, Inc., will continue in his functions. Commenting on the transaction, Mr. Fagan said, "I am delighted to join Domtar and to take the business to the next level of success. With strong commitment and support, the new ownership structure will allow us to realize the full potential of Attends."

The acquired business will be presented as a new reportable segment in Domtar's financial statements filed to the Securities and Exchange Commission starting in the quarter following the closing of the transaction. Domtar will use cash on hand to pay for the acquisition and intends to redeem most of Attends' outstanding debt upon closing of the transaction.

Please refer to the attached fact sheet for further information.

Published in Press Releases
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Already a Leader in Offering Environmentally and Socially Responsible Products, Domtar Will Increase Its Annual Sales of FSC-Certified Paper by More Than 150,000 Tons

 

Marking a new milestone in environmental responsibility, Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS) (TSX: UFS) announced today a broad expansion of its paper products that are certified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC®).

 

Beginning today, Domtar's EarthChoice® product line - the broadest collection of environmentally and socially responsible papers available - will now include specialty products used for bandage wraps, popcorn bags, candy wrappers, sugar pouches, hamburger wrap and a wide range of other everyday applications. Domtar produces these specialty papers at mills in Espanola, Ontario; Port Huron, Michigan; and Rothschild and Nekoosa, Wisconsin, all of which are certified to FSC standards by the Rainforest Alliance.

 

Domtar also announced today that all production of its Domtar Tradebook paper will now be FSC-certified and renamed EarthChoice® Tradebook. The product, specifically designed for book publishers who are committed to sustainability and providing an environmentally responsible choice, had previously been FSC-certified only on request.

 

As a result of this expansion, Domtar will annually sell more than 150,000 additional tons of FSC-certified paper.

 

"We have worked with Domtar for over a decade now," said Tensie Whelan, president of the Rainforest Alliance, whose SmartWood program audits forests and companies to FSC standards. "With these new FSC-certified products, Domtar continues to move the industry forward when it comes to environmental responsibility."

 

FSC certification ensures that forests are managed in a way that protects nature and the people who live and work there. Auditors perform a thorough assessment, checking a range of criteria such as:

 

 

  • The steps taken to protect soil and water;
  • Safeguards that provide protection to fish and wildlife; and
  • Whether the number of trees harvested is less than the number that either regrow naturally or get planted.

The announcements mark the latest steps by Domtar, a long-time promoter of FSC certification, to demonstrate its environmental leadership. In June, for instance, Domtar launched an online tool called the "Paper Trail," providing unmatched transparency among today's industry calculators. The tool allows customers to view the environmental impacts of specific paper grades, helping businesses and consumers measure their impact on the environment whilst providing guidance in their choice of paper product.

 

"In 2009, we were proud to be the first company to sell one million tons of FSC-certified EarthChoice paper, and we're excited that today, we can expand that line even further to include specialty products and book papers," said Lewis Fix, Domtar Vice-President of Sustainable Business and Brand Management. "This is going to help provide more ways for our customers to put their commitment to sustainability on paper. After all, we're more than just a paper company, we're the Sustainable Paper Company."

Published in Canadian News
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New Tool Shares Environmental and Social Impacts of Making Domtar Paper, Discloses Successes and Challenges

A new environmental tool from Domtar Corporation offers customers the ability to view the environmental impacts of specific paper grades, providing unmatched transparency among today's industry calculators.


The online tool that we call the "Paper Trail" discloses what it takes to manufacture Domtar paper and assists businesses and consumers to measure their impact on the environment while also providing guidance in their choice of product.


The Paper Trail (www.domtarpapertrail.com) develops personalized reports that measure Domtar products across five categories: water usage, the distance fiber travels to a paper mill, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, waste sent to landfills and renewable energy usage. The data is displayed in real-world equivalents, with comparisons to issues such as the amount of water the average household uses or the amount of waste it generates. The Paper Trail will also illustrate how Domtar compares to the rest of the industry in these particular categories.


"We know consumers are increasingly aware of their effect on the environment and want to know where their paper comes from. We think we have a good story to tell, and part of that story is being transparent," said Lewis Fix, Domtar Vice President of Sustainable Business and Brand Management.


"Other paper calculators often give only part of the story," Fix said. "They usually compare recycled and non-recycled grades and the differences in resources used, and they estimate savings based only on industry averages. The Paper Trail will show Domtar mill-specific data, and since no company is environmentally perfect, it indicates what we are doing well and what needs to be improved. We think it's crucial to share all the information, and then let the customers make their own decisions."


The Paper Trail is Domtar's most recent project indicating its leadership as a sustainable paper company and highlighting its environmentally preferable paper products, which have earned the support of well-known environmental organizations such the Rainforest Alliance.


Initially, the Paper Trail will measure the impact of two Domtar products: EarthChoice® Office Paper and Cougar®, both of which have been certified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council" (FSC®), which is recognized by the Rainforest Alliance as the world's most comprehensive certification for responsible forest management. As part of the EarthChoice product line, they help form the broadest and most flexible collection of environmentally responsible papers available in the marketplace. More products and mills will likely be added to this new and exciting online tool in the future.


The Paper Trail will also provide users with a look at Domtar's mills - all of which are in North America - with additional information about each facility's environmental impact and the social and economic benefits the mills have in their communities. In areas where the environmental impact can be improved, Domtar will voluntarily disclose the information, as well as provide efforts for improvement.


"Transparency means sharing everything, not just the highlights, and just as we are committed to developing responsible products, we are committed to transparency," Fix said. "Realizing our paper comes from sustainable sources and is easily recycled, Domtar customers can see the differences and use our products with greater confidence."

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