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Competition Bureau approves Domtar mills buyers to resolve competition concerns in Canadian pulp and paper industry

The Competition Bureau has approved independent buyers of two of Domtar Corporation’s mills in Ontario:

• Dryden Fibre Canada, an affiliate of First Quality Enterprises, as the buyer of Domtar’s pulp mill in Dryden; and
• Atlas Holdings as the buyer of Domtar’s pulp and paper mill in Thunder Bay.

Following a review of Domtar’s acquisition of Resolute Forest Products, the Bureau registered an agreement in December 2022 requiring the sale of the mills. The Bureau review reportedly concluded that the merger of Domtar and Resolute would likely lessen competition substantially in the supply of northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp in Eastern and Central Canada, and in the purchase of wood fibre from private lands in northwestern Ontario. The sale of the Dryden and Thunder Bay mills resolves competition concerns that would otherwise result from the merger.

The Bureau has issued a position statement describing its analysis of the merger of Domtar and Resolute as well as a summary of its findings.

Further information about the transaction between Domtar and Resolute is available in the consent agreement registered with the Competition Tribunal.