In part three of the Globe and Mail’s Small Business Editor Katherine Scarrow’s feature video interview with Fortress Paper CEO Chad Wasilenkoff, where she called Chad Wasilenkoff, Fortress Paper a “born entrepreneur”.

Fortress Paper CEO Chad Wasilenkoff discusses growing up an entrepreneur, and why he’s always looking for a good deal in part 3 of Talking to Entrepreneurs

To watch part three of ‘Talking to Entrepreneurs’ please click HERE.

Watch Other Videos In The Series:

Part 1: ‘Fortress Paper chief turns tired mill into major venture.’ Watch video HERE
Part 3: ‘Entrepreneurial paper chief explains contrarian investing strategy’. Watch video HERE

Globe & Mail Small Business Week Interview Featuring Fortress Paper (Part 2)

In the series the Globe and Mail’s Small Business Editor Katherine Scarrow sits down with Fortress Paper CEO Chad Wasilenkoff to discuss various aspects of his company.

Speaking about his nature as a self-proclaimed “contrarian investor,” Wasilenkoff presents a snapshot of
Fortress Paper’s inception in a time of unprecedented decline in the forestry sector.

“In troubling times like that, there’s always going to be some interesting mill, some interesting product, and somebody has to have something unique, so you just have to pick out those hidden gems,” he says in the interview.

Watch the entire video HERE.

SOURCE:
The Globe And Mail: “Fortress Paper Chief Turns Turns Tired Mill Into Major Venture”

In a video featured in the BBC’s Business section, Marco Ziethen, the production manager at Landquart, takes reporter Lucy Burton through a step-by-step guide to manufacturing banknotes. From importing, refining and bleaching cotton, Ziethen showed how cotton gets turned into currency. Ziethen also explained how, as the paper is being made, security features are embedded in order to prevent counterfeiting of whatever currency is being produced.

The Landquart facility produces an astonishing number of banknotes each day, said the BBC.

“Each pallet has 18,000 sheets of paper on it. Each sheet will eventually be cut into 54 notes. That is an impressive 972,000 notes on each pallet. The mill runs 24 hours a day and it takes half an hour to make a pallet. So, overall, the mill can turn out around 46,656,000 notes per day,” Burton wrote. “If they are making 500-euro notes that day, the amount of money passing through these doors is simply mind-boggling.”

Vancouver-based Fortress Paper Ltd., has made significant strides in production since they began running the Swiss mill, going from “producing less than 1,000 tonnes of paper per year to 10,000 tonnes per year,” according to the BBC article.

Getting to this point, however hasn’t been easy. In another video posted on their site, Fortress Paper CEO Chad Wasilenkoff said the business provided some initial challenges.

“The banknote and passport industry is a very closed group of people,” he said. “A lot of the companies that are operating in this space have been operating since the 1500s or 1600s so we’re a fairly new entry into this.”

Getting reference orders and new contracts with national banks can be challenging, said Wasilenkoff, but Fortress has made some impressive in-roads acquiring large contracts with countries such as Switzerland to produce the Swiss franc – considered to be an industry standard in security.

In addition to these contracts, the banknote industry is one that is perpetually in flux. As technologies change, national banks have to keep updating security features on their banknotes to curb counterfeiting.

“Fortress hopes that the Landquart mill can help banks to ‘stay ahead of the curve’ and of course – make some money in the process,” Burton wrote.

Read the full BBC article and watch the videos HERE.

SOURCE:
BBC News: “How To Make Money From Making Money”

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

The 38-year-old Fortress board chair and CEO started the company in 2006 with a focus on international specialty and security products — including paper stock for currency and passports — and has seen sales grow to more than $200 million a year.

Share prices for the TSX-traded company have increased about sixfold over that time.

Ernst & Young presented him with the Pacific region award at a Tuesday-evening event attended by 1,300 members of the B.C. business community.

“Chad is a shining example of how our British Columbia entrepreneurs are demonstrating they’re not afraid of the shakeup of an economic downturn,” event director Fred Withers said in a news release.

“Instead, Chad saw an opportunity to up the competitive ante by focusing on innovation, enhancing Fortress’s presence in new markets, and ultimately emerging stronger than ever before.”

Peter Brown, founder and chair of Canaccord Financial, received the 2010 Pacific region Lifetime Achievement Award “in recognition of his outstanding support of B.C.’s business community and his significant achievements as an entrepreneur,” the news release said.

Ernst & Young also presented awards in seven entrepreneur categories.

Charles Kim, president and CEO of Trans Pac Group of Companies, won for business-to-business products and services. Ernst & Young said Trans Pac is primarily a wood products business that specializes in log and lumber exports to Asian markets. Samir Manji, chairman, president and CEO of Amica Mature Lifestyles, also won for business-to-consumer products and services. Amica is a leader in the management, marketing, design and development of luxury housing and services for mature lifestyles, Ernst & Young said.Elton Pereira, co-founder, president and CEO of ParetoLogic, Inc. of Victoria, won for information technology. ParetoLogic creates a wide range of computer security and utility programs, Ernst & Young said.Nicole von Stefenelli, founder and CEO of Richmond’s Urban Impact Recycling Ltd., won for Cleantech. Urban Impact is a commercial transportation and processing company specializing in recycling, shredding and waste management services. Janice Abbott, CEO of Vancouver’s Atira Property Management, won for social entrepreneur. Atira provides property management services for strata corporations, developers, rental properties, non-profit housing, and housing cooperatives in Metro Vancouver. The company uses all profits to fund the Atira Women’s Resource Society’s housing and support programs for women and children who have been affected by violence, Ernst & Young said.Peter Barnes, CEO of Vancouver’s Silver Wheaton Corp., won for mining and metals. The company has quickly positioned itself as the largest metals streaming company in the world, Ernst & Young noted.Emad Yacoub, president and CEO of the Glowbal Restaurant Group of Vancouver, took the award for hospitality and tourism. Glowbal group is composed of six restaurants, two lounges and a full-service catering company.

By Scott Simpson for The Vancouver Sun. September 29, 2010.

SOURCE:
The Vancouver Sun: Fortress Paper’s Chad Wasilenkoff named Entrepreneur of the Year

The firm recognizes high-achieving entrepreneurs who make a difference in the global economy Canada’s most successful entrepreneurs improve the quality of life for people across the globe.

“This year’s exceptional Pacific finalists all share a commitment to innovation, an inherent ability to spot opportunities and the perseverance to keep trying,” says Fred Withers, Director of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards for the Pacific region. “They have the ability to help drive the economic rebound and propel growth throughout Canada and beyond.” According to a recent Ernst & Young publication, A world of opportunity: Entrepreneurial perspectives on the impact of globalization, entrepreneurs have been quick to seize opportunities presented by the opening of new markets.

Fortress Paper CEO & Director Chadwick Wasilenkoff did just that when he formed a new company who jumped on an opportunity to transform a near-bankrupt pulp mill in Thurso, Quebec into a specialized pulp mill that will begin making dissolving pulp and targeting the textile industry (dissolving pulp is used to make rayon) by 2011.

In the meantime, however, the mill has continued to make NBHK pulp, and at precisely the right time.

“The NBHK market, which was in a severe downturn, turned up because of factors such as the Chile earthquake and a strike in Sweden,” wrote Tony Wanless in an article for BC Business. “Suddenly, the plant that was closed because of low NBHK prices was turning a profit that will continue during the conversion.
”

In addition to forming this new company – Fortress Specialty Cellulose – Fortress Paper remains a world leader in specialty and security papers.

The Entrepreneur Of The Year award recognizes high-achieving entrepreneurs in Canada and around the world who drive growth, transform industries and build communities.

The names of the Pacific winners will be announced at a gala banquet in Vancouver on September 28, and the overall winner will represent the region at the national banquet in Toronto on November 17.

SOURCE:
Ernst & Young celebrates Pacific finalists for Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010

Fortress Paper intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to finance certain capital expenditures relating to its Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill in Thurso, Quebec and its rebuild of papermachine number 1 at its Landqart Mill in Switzerland, and for working capital.

The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States.

About Fortress Paper

Fortress Paper is a leading international producer of security and other specialty papers and products. Fortress operates three mills, the Landqart Mill located in Switzerland, the Dresden Mill located in Germany and the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill located in Quebec, Canada. Fortress Paper’s security papers include banknote, passport and visa papers and its specialty papers include non-woven wallpaper base products, and graphic and technical papers. Fortress Paper’s pulp business includes NBHK produced at the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill with plans to convert this capacity into dissolving pulp production along with the construction of a biomass based cogeneration plant.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of Fortress Paper with respect to its performance, business and future events, including statements regarding Fortress Paper’s intended use of proceeds raised from the public offering of its common shares. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the industry and markets in which the Corporation operates. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, risks relating to changes in the market, potential downturns in economic conditions, fluctuations in the price and supply of raw materials, foreign exchange fluctuations, labour relations, regulatory requirements, reputation, competition, dependence on major customers, and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Corporation’s public filings. These risks, as well as others, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Fortress Paper does not undertake any obligations to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.

For more information, please contact
Fortress Paper Ltd.
Chadwick Wasilenkoff
604-904-2328
info@fortresspaper.com
www.fortresspaper.com

In announcing the appointments, Chad Wasilenkoff, CEO of Fortress Paper commented: “We are very pleased to have someone of Peter Vinall’s extensive experience and track record joining our team. His appointment brings a wealth of experience in running some of the largest dissolving pulp mills in the world and he has a talent for building strong teams and leading business transformations. With Vince Byrne, Donald Deer, Marco Veilleux and Pierre Monahan, we will have an experienced team in place to implement our business plan at the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill.”

Peter Vinall commented: “Having recently relocated back to Canada, I am excited to now join the Fortress team and lead the conversion of the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill into a high quality specialty cellulose mill. The Mill has good access to fibre supply and a reputation for high quality NBHK production which will continue with the restart which is underway. Our aim is to leverage these strengths and transform the asset base with extensive technological upgrades and a state of the art cogeneration facility with the goal of becoming a low cost producer and industry leader in the specialty cellulose sector.”

Mr. Vinall has approximately 30 years of experience in the pulp and paper industry and was the former President of Sateri International Pulp Group, a global leader in the specialty cellulose business. Prior to joining Fortress Specialty, Mr. Vinall held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of AV Group where he led the conversion of an NBHK pulp mill to produce dissolving pulp. Mr. Vinall obtained an MBA from Tulane University, New Orleans, and a B.E in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

Vincent Byrne has over 30 years of engineering, operations and process optimization experience focused on commodity and specialty pulping processes. Most recently he acted as VP Technical and Engineering at AV Group where he led the development of the conversion of one of their New Brunswick mills into a dissolving pulp operation. Mr. Byrne obtained a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Massey University, New Zealand.

Donald Deer has approximately 40 years of engineering and construction experience in Canada and has managed in excess of $1 billion in capital spending for several major corporations including Tembec Inc. Most recently, Mr. Deer was responsible for construction and completion of the conversion of one of AV Group’s NBHK mills into a dissolving pulp operation. Mr. Deer also has recent experience designing cogeneration and energy optimization projects. Donald Deer has a B.E in Electrical Engineering from Queens University, Ontario and is a member of Professional Engineers Ontario.

Pierre Monahan is a highly experienced senior board member and executive director. Mr. Monahan was formerly the CEO of Alliance Forest Products Inc. and Executive Vice President of Bowater Canada Inc. during which time he oversaw its integration with Alliance Forest Products Inc., an acquisition valued at approximately $1 billion.

In addition Fortress announces that the former Operations Director of Fraser Paper’s Thurso Mill, Marco Veilleux, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of Fortress Specialty Cellulose. Mr. Veilleux has led the Thurso operation since 2007 having developed his career in a series of operational and technical leadership roles in the pulp and paper sector in Eastern Canada. He was instrumental in initiating the cogeneration project and ensuring the Thurso assets are well positioned for the transformation. Mr. Veilleux has a B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Sherbrooke.

About Fortress Paper

Fortress Paper is a leading international producer of security and other specialty papers and products. Fortress Paper operates three mills, the Landqart Mill located in Switzerland, the Dresden Mill located in Germany and the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill located in Quebec, Canada. Fortress Paper’s security papers include banknote, passport and visa papers and its specialty papers include non-woven wallpaper base products, and graphic and technical papers. Fortress Paper’s pulp business will include NBHK with the re-start of the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill with plans to convert this capacity into dissolving pulp production along with the construction of a biomass based cogeneration plant.

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of Fortress Paper with respect to its performance, business and future events, including statements relating to its plans to re-start, convert and build a biomass based cogeneration plant at the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the industry and markets in which the Corporation operates, including assumptions relating to the Corporation’s ability to successfully implement its business plan in respect of the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill; that the Corporation will be able to receive all required approvals and complete construction of the cogeneration facility; and the expected effects of the cogeneration facility on the business of the Corporation. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, that the Corporation will be unable to implement its business plan in respect of the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill as planned or at all; that the Corporation will be unable to receive all necessary approvals to begin construction of the cogeneration facility; and those risks relating to changes in the market, potential downturns in economic conditions, fluctuations in the price and supply of raw materials, foreign exchange fluctuations, labour relations, regulatory requirements, reputation, competition, dependence on major customers, and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Corporation’s public filings. These risks, as well as others, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Fortress Paper does not undertake any obligations to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.

SOURCE:
Fortress Paper Ltd.

Fortress Specialty’s Thurso Mill is expected to produce approximately 250,000 air dried metric tonnes per annum of high grade northern bleached hardwood kraft pulp. Fortress Specialty intends to produce NBHK pulp while undergoing transformation to become a dissolving pulp producer in mid 2011.

About Fortress Paper

Fortress Paper is a leading international producer of security and other specialty papers and products. Fortress Paper operates three mills, the Landqart Mill located in Switzerland, the Dresden Mill located in Germany and the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill located in Quebec, Canada. Fortress Paper’s security papers include banknote, passport and visa papers and its specialty papers include non-woven wallpaper base products, and graphic and technical papers. Fortress Paper’s pulp business will include NBHK with the re-start of the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill with plans to convert this capacity into dissolving pulp production along with the construction of a biomass based cogeneration plant.

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of Fortress Paper with respect to its performance, business and future events, including statements relating to its plans to re-start, convert and build a biomass based cogeneration plant at the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the industry and markets in which the Corporation operates, including assumptions relating to the Corporation’s ability to successfully implement its business plan in respect of the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill; that the Corporation will be able to receive all required approvals and complete construction of the cogeneration facility; and the expected effects of the cogeneration facility on the business of the Corporation. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, that the Corporation will be unable to implement its business plan in respect of the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill as planned or at all; that the Corporation will be unable to receive all necessary approvals to begin construction of the cogeneration facility; and those risks relating to changes in the market, potential downturns in economic conditions, fluctuations in the price and supply of raw materials, foreign exchange fluctuations, labour relations, regulatory requirements, reputation, competition, dependence on major customers, and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Corporation’s public filings. These risks, as well as others, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Fortress Paper does not undertake any obligations to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.

SOURCE:
Fortress Paper Ltd.