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Domtar acquires Attends Healthcare.

16 Aug '11

3 min read

Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS) (TSX: UFS) 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.

About Domtar
Domtar Corporation (NYSE/TSX:UFS) is the largest integrated manufacturer and marketer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America and the second largest in the world based on production capacity, and is also a manufacturer of papergrade, fluff and specialty pulp. TheCompany designs, manufactures, markets and distributes a wide range of business, commercial printing and publishing as well as converting and specialty papers including recognized brands such as Cougar®, Lynx® Opaque Ultra, Husky® Opaque Offset, First Choice® and DomtarEarthChoice® Office Paper, part of a family of environmentally and socially responsible papers. Domtar owns and operates ArivaTM, an extensive network of strategically located paper distribution facilities. The Company employs approximately 8,500people.

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