Domtar Revamps Product Line for the Times

FORT MILL, SC—September 8, 2009—Domtar has revamped its entire line of uncoated printing papers to provide customers and end users improved product solutions. Recognizing that survival in these challenging times requires satisfying customer requirements and industry trends with the best quality products and service, Domtar has raised the bar with the next evolution of papers – not just for the sake of change, but a change for the better.

Focusing on its key product attributes not available from other paper manufacturers, Domtar took a holistic approach and set its goals to strengthen its family of printing papers within a “good, better, best” strategy to provide customer partners competitive product solutions with minimal market disruption and confusion. By utilizing its low-cost manufacturing system more effectively (an already strong market advantage), Domtar has expanded its breadth of products in both cover and lighter weights, stock and make-to-order sizes in sheets and rolls, and recycled and digital companion products while enhancing its sales, technical, manufacturing and customer service support.

Vigilant to maintaining its equity in the value opaque category, Domtar introduced its enhanced product line-up, well-known for its history of quality and performance, to include the company’s new strategy and product categories:

• Husky® Opaque Offset – GOOD. Husky, a competitive high bright, opaque offset sheet that delivers trouble-free printing and consistent quality, available nationwide in stock and manufacturing sizes. The industry’s heightened interest in opaques was a strong influence in Domtar’s decision to add a new tagline to the long-revered Husky line, “an opaque offset,” while the name change to “Husky Opaque Offset” also indicates the product’s enhancements.

• Lynx® Opaque Ultra – BETTER. Lynx, a leading, high-brightness value opaque – superior in shade, opacity and print quality – offers a full line of text and cover items including digital with fast, flexible service and environmental certification.

• Cougar® -- BEST. An outstanding premium uncoated printing paper, Cougar is a smart, economical alternative to the higher-priced text, cover and writing products with a competitive edge for its quality, performance, breadth of line, environmental position and service.

Changing for the Better.

Knowing that oftentimes change is equated with pain, Domtar was committed to making these product enhancements seamless to its loyal customers and end users, requiring no change to skus or impact on inventories. To minimize customer issues, all enhancements were introduced as rolling changes in both stock and make orders throughout the market, with Domtar’s technical services group available to handle any potential concerns.

With the Husky Opaque Offset product line, the enhancements included elevating the brightness from 92 to 94, improved opacity and surface formation. While the eye can detect a brightness bump of 2 points, the blue-white shade remained the same, providing the paper a favorable yet subtle visual improvement. The paper’s enhanced formation and surface, however, will accommodate better printability, a visual improvement both printers and end users will notice with considerable satisfaction.

With Lynx Opaque Ultra, the paper’s 96 brightness and true white shade remained the same to provide outstanding image reproduction, appreciated particularly with skin and natural tones (giving Lynx the competitive advantage over sheets with very blue or lavender shades that have greater difficulty reproducing life-like tones.) The Lynx name change to include “opaque ultra” provides a clue to the paper’s increase in opacity, a significant benefit to two-sided printing and minimal show-through. Also new for Lynx is an enhanced formation and print surface for better print quality.

For Cougar, the market’s leading premium uncoated printing paper, still providing a high 98 brightness in White and Natural; finishes in Super Smooth, Smooth and Vellum; and a broad expanse of text and cover weights with the availability of matching envelopes; the product enhancements included an improved sheet uniformity for a more consistent printing surface and an expanded DigitalChoice™ offering. The premier member of Domtar’s EarthChoice® family of products, Cougar is FSC-certified and SFI Fiber Sourcing certified, endorsed by Rainforest Alliance and supported by WWF-Canada. Cougar makes it easy for buyers to make the environmentally-responsible choice.

Effective September 2009, all packaging and labels for Lynx Opaque Ultra and Husky Opaque Offset will incorporate the new product names, and all existing inventory (including that at merchant locations) will be stickered with the respective name changes.

In support of the new product enhancements, Domtar has produced numerous promotional materials, including comparison brochures, swatchbooks and marketing bulletins to equip sales and customers with information and tools regarding these changes. Additionally, a series of three postcards for each product line will mail sequentially September-November to announce these enhancements to Domtar customers and a wide range of graphic designers and printers throughout North America.

While recognizing the market is continually being bombarded with increased capacity from other paper manufacturers – both nationally and internationally – Domtar’s intent is to assure printers, designers and end users that Domtar papers provide greater value – not just from the standpoint of price, but for the benefit and peace-of-mind for consistent quality, trouble-free performance, breadth of line, availability, delivery, manufacturing expertise, sales and technical service support… and more! The leader in uncoated freesheet business, with world-class manufacturing sites, decades of experience, competitive brands, expert support, and knowledgeable people, Domtar is a company committed to protecting the environment. Paper buyers can always be assured of Domtar’s guarantee for satisfaction. For more information about Domtar, visit www.domtar.com and www.makingpaperfun.com.