News Paper Pulp
Paper Excellence receives clearance to acquire Catalyst

February 11, 2019 – Paper Excellence has received clearance from the Canadian Competition Bureau for its previously announced agreement to acquire Catalyst Paper.

The bureau issued a no-action letter on February 7, 2019. 

Catalyst and Paper Excellence can now move forward with preparations to complete the transaction, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of remaining customary closing conditions.

The transaction involves the purchase of all of the shares of Catalyst. Catalyst owns manufacturing facilities in Crofton, Port Alberni and Powell River, a distribution centre in Surrey and headquarters in Richmond, all located in British Columbia. Catalyst manufactures 1.3 million tonnes of pulp and paper products, including industrial packaging, food service, coated ground-wood, newsprint and directory papers.

“This acquisition demonstrates Paper Excellence’s continuing deep commitment to the province of British Columbia,” says Brian Baarda, Paper Excellence’s chief executive officer. “Once finalized, this acquisition confirms Paper Excellence’s position as a key player within Canada’s forest industry and will benefit all of the stakeholders involved, including our employees, suppliers, customers, the communities where we operate, as well as the pulp and forest products industries.”

Barclays acted as exclusive financial advisor to Paper Excellence on the transaction.

Paper Excellence is a B.C.-headquartered company with close to two million tonnes of pulp production capacity through five operating mills in Canada and two mills in France.

The company manufactures NBSK pulp for the paper and tissue industry, and BCTMP for printing, board and packaging, for export to the Asian market.