While “pulp fiction” may resonate with the hearts and minds of people, the wood pulp business sector sometimes results in a “hollow” response. While readers would not be able to turn the pages of their pulp fiction books or enjoy their cotton and rayon clothing without their wood pulp brethren, the pulp sector is often looked upon as sleepy.

Yawning all the way to the bank

While the pulp sector may appear quiet, the market players are “yawning” all the way to the bank. “Between 2002 and 2006, world exports of wood, pulp and paper products grew at an average annual rate of 10.6%,” reports Global-production.com Inc., a business economics consultancy. Despite the volatile economy, the upward price trend in market pulp continues across the world.

“The fundamentals of the pulp market continue to be very strong,” reports PulpWatch, a leading provider of business information and consultancy services to the international pulp and paper industry. “Pulp prices increased by $30-50/t in May, and are set to reach new records in Europe and North America in June. Producer inventories reached record lows in April, and consumer warehouses are similarly bare. European paper demand and order books have improved and prices for most grades are moving upwards, albeit at a slower pace than fiber prices.” This is currently a temporary cyclical high, but we will be getting out of this old product in approximately one year.

As a contrarian investor, I keep focused on industries widely considered to be depressed with an eye on purchasing world class assets at deeply discounted prices. My company recently paid $1.2 million to Fraser Papers for a facility in Quebec with an insured replacement cost of $851 million in assets. We are converting this operation into a specialty dissolving pulp operation. Dissolving wood pulp is chemically refined bleached pulp composed of pure cellulose fibers extracted from trees. Dissolving pulp is the major source for the natural cellulose used in the production of rayon.

Rayon – a very promising future

I believe rayon demand is at a tipping point around the world. The declining global production of cotton is insufficient to meet global textile industry demand; particularly with the rapidly expanding middle class in China and India. Industry analysts indicate that the rayon market has grown at 7% globally and over 10% in China for the last 5 years. Rayon is typically blended with other fibers and can logically displace the cotton shortfall. Rayon has high uniformity which leads to significant improvements in productivity in spinning and textile plants.

Rayon demand has revealed a gap in supply. Total dissolving pulp capacity in late 2007 was 2.4 million tonnes according to the CCF Group (China Chemical Fibers & Textiles Consultancy). Expansions and conversions with plants in Brazil, South Africa and Canada added 0.6 million tonnes of dissolving pulp capacity in 2008, but closures of many higher cost dissolving mills resulted in limited capacity to fill the increasing demand.

A specialty producer

Driven by overall textile demand and increasing preference for rayon over cotton, over one million tonnes of additional rayon capacity (dissolving pulp customers) was built in China in 2009 and an additional 0.5 to 0.7 million tonnes in China is planned to start-up in 2010. There is a current shortfall of approximately 0.5 million tonnes in annual rayon supply which is expected to continue during the next several years.

Rayon, derived from wood pulp, is a textile made from cellulose whose future is looking very promising which is why we sought to invest in this sector. With our Quebec facility, we are transforming an asset which was previously underutilizing its potential by operating as a high cost producer into a specialty product producer which is low-cost and globally competitive. Over 90% of the existing mill equipment is ideally suited to produce high quality specialty cellulose for the rayon textile industry.

The consumer advantages of rayon are clear as it is woven into soft, absorbent and comfortable fabric which supports vibrant colors and wears well. Rayon is one of the most widely used fabrics in the world which can be blended with man-made or natural fabrics. For many centuries, people have relied on plants and animals, such as silkworms, sheep and buffalo, to provide the materials needed for clothing. In our 21st century world, we look to technology and chemistry to create our fabrics. Rayon, dubbed “laboratory’s first gift to the loom” is widely considered to be one of the most versatile and economical man-made fibers available.

–Chadwick Wasilenkoff, Chairman & CEO of Fortress Paper Ltd.

SOURCE:
RISI: “Pulp Growth Ain’t Pulp Fiction – Embracing New Opportunities”

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 7, 2010 – Fortress Paper Ltd. (“Fortress Paper” or the “Corporation”) announces the signing of a purchase agreement by its wholly owned subsidiary, Fortress Specialty Cellulose Ltd. (“Fortress Specialty”) with Stora Enso Oyi Cellulose Inc. to acquire digesters, specialized process equipment and other ancillary equipment to be used in the conversion of its Thurso mill to produce dissolving pulp.

The agreement provides for a purchase price of Euro 3 Million (CAD $3.8Million) and includes the purchase and delivery of a complete displacement cooking plant consisting of 3 batch digesters, liquor accumulators and various associated specialty process equipment and piping.

Chad Wasilenkoff Chief Executive Officer of Fortress Paper, commented: “After spending a considerable amount of time assessing and evaluating the equipment, we are very pleased to be able to secure this equipment. This equipment has operated for only 12 years and we are confident of its quality and performance, which should result in a material reduction in our overall capital investment requirements for the conversion to dissolving pulp. We also believe that by acquiring almost an entire batch cooking system, we reduce the process risk for this transformation. At this time it is still too early to determine the impact this new equipment will have on the completion date.”

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.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire – June 3, 2010) – Fortress Paper Ltd. (TSX:FTP) (“Fortress Paper” or the “Corporation”) announces the following appointments at its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fortress Specialty Cellulose Inc. (“Fortress Specialty”): Peter Vinall as President and Chief Executive Officer, Vincent Byrne as Vice President, Technical Development and Donald Deer as Projects Leader. In addition, Fortress Specialty has added Pierre Monahan to its Board of Directors.

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.

Currency makers are fighting a constant battle to stay ahead of counterfeiters, and the bills in your wallet are the product of countless hours of R&D, combining some of the latest developments in chemistry, physics and material science. And with both Canada and the U.S. introducing new bills next year, they’re about to become a lot more sophisticated.

U.S. officials recently unveiled the new $100 bill, which features a wide ribbon that displays moving images when tilted. A stream of bells and the number 100 float along the ribbon in counterintuitive directions; tilt the bill side-to-side, and the images move up and down. The illusion is created by a layer of nearly one million tiny lenses overtop the images.

“The security ribbon is going to pose a tremendous burden to counterfeiters,” says Michael Lambert, an assistant director at the Federal Reserve Board. The technology had been under development since 2004 by Crane & Co., the Massachusetts-based company that has supplied the U.S. with currency paper since 1879. Even though the ribbon is complex, counterfeiters will no doubt try to replicate it, forcing central banks to explore new features.

An emerging tech­nology called quantum dots could be­come a widespread anti-counterfeit measure. These particles, about 10 to 20 nanometres in diameter, consist of a semiconductor material, such as cadmium, in a zinc shell, and emit an intense light. Many currencies already have watermarks, but quantum dots can display a whole range of colours under a UV light, whereas current dyes can only display a single band. “There’s no other chemical entity like them,” says Vicki Singer, senior consultant for corporate development at Life Technologies in California, which manufactures quantum dots. The process to create them is mind-bogglingly complicated, unlike today’s dyes. Singer won’t divulge which central banks are interested in the technology, nor if it’s being used in some form already, and others in the industry are not aware of any currency using quantum dots today.

“It’s certainly an area that’s interesting,” says Doug Crane, vice-president at Crane & Co. “But it’s not an overt security device for the public.” Crane argues ideal security features are instantly recognizable to anyone, without the use of equipment. Cost is always a factor when implementing a new feature, as well. The new U.S. $100 bill, for all of its purported advances, costs only an extra 3.5¢ to produce.

The Bank of Canada is also ushering in a new era of currency security, but won’t reveal much about the bills debuting next year, other than that they will be made of plastic. “The material permits us to incorporate security features that are more difficult to counterfeit,” says Bank of Canada spokesperson Julie Girard. Canada was among the worst countries for counterfeiting a few years ago, but increased enforcement measures are reducing the problem. Plastic banknotes may help even further.

The first plastic bill was introduced in 1988 in Australia. The primary benefit is durability (the bills supposedly last two to four times longer than paper), but research on the material began as a way to thwart counterfeiting. Plastic allows manufacturers to easily include a transparent window in bills, and laser etching a hologram into the window, as Australia does, makes accurate forgery very difficult. Counterfeiting is negligible in Australia today.

Those who manufacture paper currency are skeptical. “Nobody around the world was trying to counterfeit the Australian dollar,” counters Chad Wasilenkoff, CEO of Fortress Paper in Vancouver. “It’s a relatively closed geographic area.” Fortress is the sole manufacturer of Swiss banknotes, and last December launched a new bill with a layer of plastic sandwiched between two layers of paper. The bill allows for a window without sacrificing the feel of a banknote.

Texture is generally the first line of defense against counterfeiting, which is where plastic currency runs into difficulty. “It’s not very hard to replicate from a feel point of view,” Crane says. While both sides of the paper-versus-plastic debate may claim superiority, neither is bold enough to assert a bill can deter counterfeiters entirely — no matter how advanced the technology becomes. “For criminals who make their livelihood out of counterfeiting currency,” says Lambert at the Fed, “they’re always going to look for ways to do it.”

By Joe Castaldo for Canadian Business Magazine.

SOURCE:
Canadian Business Magazine: “Counterfeiting Cat-and-Mouse”

There’s a new kid on the block and he’s playing by a different set of rules. Brimming with confidence, enthusiasm, and steadfast resolution to succeed, Fortress Paper offers a fresh perspective for Canada’s pulp and paper sector.

With its recent acquisition of the idled Thurso pulp mill located in the Outaouais region of western Quebec, Vancouver-based Fortress Paper plans not only to make a splash on the market, but a significant profit, too. By ditching the production of northern bleached hardwood kraft pulp in favour of manufacturing dissolving pulp, the company is confident it won’t fall prey to the relentless profit losses so many Canadian forestry companies have witnessed.

“We’re expecting to generate $60 million (EBITDA) but could potentially see profits in the order of $200 million,” says Chad Wasilenkoff, president and CEO of Fortress Paper, with a confidence not often heard in this industry.

Wasilenkoff refers to himself as a “contrarian” investor, as he keeps a punctilious eye on industries widely considered to be depressed, only to pounce on opportunities to grab world class assets at heftily discounted prices. For his $3 million* purchase price, Wasilenkoff pocketed $85 million worth of assets in buying the Thurso facility from insolvent Fraser Papers.

Fortress Paper currently owns and operates two pulp mills in Europe — in Germany and Switzerland. With an emphasis on specialty papers, the company’s product portfolio includes non-woven wallpaper base products, graphic papers, and technical papers. Fortress officially incorporated in 2006, with the intention of taking a closer look at investments in the forestry sector. The company was not specifically seeking to invest in Canada, but had been observing the dissolving pulp market for a number of years. When the Thurso pulp mill came on the market, the timing and price were compelling.

The acquisition is also welcome news to the 320 people formerly employed by the mill, who will, with only a few minor exceptions, be back on the job in June 2010.

“The Quebec government was very interested in getting people back to work,” Wasilenkoff confirmed. “We were informed that not only does the mill provide work for 320 people, but an additional 2900 indirect jobs are supported by the operation, as well.” The provincial government’s motivation to see the facility up and running translated to a cash infusion of $102 million, in the form of a 10-year loan.

It’s money that Wasilenkoff anticipates no difficultly in repaying. “We’re extremely comfortable with the underlying fundamentals,” he says, explaining the overall growth in the market his newly purposed mill will be supplying. “Asia will be our biggest market, and the textile industry there is very strong. As more and more people move into middle income brackets, research indicates consumption of clothing increases, and yet, cotton is an expensive material to produce. Rayon has very similar characteristics to cotton but is more absorbent and breathable, and is less expensive to produce. As a result, the finished product almost always trades at a premium compared to cotton. We consider this to be a very, very low-risk and high-return venture.”

Fortress has two additional multi-million dollar goodies in its bag: the company is entitled to $10 million from the federal Green Transformation Program, as well as $15 million from the Green Infrastructure Fund. Both are initiatives designed to encourage green energy generation and environmentally-friendly production upgrades. Fortress’ decision to construct a biomass-based cogeneration plant at the facility to produce green electricity positioned the company to benefit from these grants.

The mill won’t be making an immediate switch from NBHK production to dissolving pulp, however. Thurso will continue to churn out kraft pulp for another full year before producing its new product line starting in June 2011. Once the transition is over, the mill will produce 200,000 tonnes of air-dried product annually. The company plans to capitalize on bolstered demand for NBHK first. Wasilenkoff expects the restructuring to be a smooth process, however, as it requires very little in the way of retrofitting. Much of the equipment currently in the mill will be suitable for the production of dissolving pulp as it shares much in common with the process of manufacturing NBHK.

With a secure and reasonably priced fibre source (the company has a 50% Crown allocation), a ready-made labour force, and strong market fundamentals, Fortress appears poised for success. Coupled with Chad Wasilenkoff’s unstoppable “can-do” attitude, Canada’s pulp and paper sector may have a new market leader, and mentor, for the future.

* After price adjustments, Wasilenkoff notes, the final price paid for the Thurso facility may be in the order of $900,000.

By Heather Lynch for Pulp and Paper Canada. June 2, 2010.

SOURCE:
Pulp and Paper Canada: “Thurso’s Future Secure with Fortress”

First Business, a nationally syndicated television show, interviewed Fortress Paper CEO Chad Wasilenkoff. Learn why investors should pay attention to the specialty paper business and how Fortress Paper plans to power thousands of homes with a new green energy initiative.

Most investors cringe and run when they learn that the company they’ve invested in is abruptly changing course.

Fortress Paper President and CEO Chad Wasilenkoff. Source: The Globe and Mail

That explains why Fortress Paper shares were bruised last Friday, after the company announced that it was buying a pulp mill from a bankrupt operator in Quebec.

Fortress is a smart little company that literally makes money.  To be precise, the company makes bank notes for Switzerland and euros for 10 countries. It also makes passport and other security papers. Plus it makes high-end wallpaper. It’s been a great little investment, returning more than 100 per cent since it started trading less than three years ago and 300 per cent since it bottomed in the market crash a year ago.

At first glance, the pulp purchase looks like a change of strategy. While Fortress is technically in the paper business, it’s nowhere near pulp on the food chain. No one wants pulp, which explains how the mill ended up in bankruptcy protection.

But this is not a change of strategy. It fits in very well with how Fortress has made such gains for investors, and analysts have figured it out, which is why the stock was up so much yesterday. If it works out – and CEO Chadwick Wasilenkoff told me yesterday that he thinks this is the best deal he’s ever done – the stock has lots of room to rise.

While it’s true that pulp demand is in decline as we consume less paper, demand for rayon is climbing briskly. Rayon is a substitute for cotton, and according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, cotton production is dropping, down by about a sixth in the past four years. The economics don’t make sense for farmers who can make more by growing food or ethanol feed stocks.

Demand for cotton, meanwhile, is growing. But there isn’t enough of it, so demand for rayon is climbing at about 7 per cent a year, according to Fortress.

What does that have to do with a pulp mill in poor old Thurso, Quebec? With a healthy investment, the mill can be converted to produce what’s called “dissolving pulp,” which is what they use to make rayon among other things. And that’s what Mr. Wasilenkoff intends to do.

Fortress is paying all of $3-million for the mill. It has to invest $153-million to convert the plant – $91-million for the actual conversion and another $62-million to build co-generation, which produces electricity. Once up and running, the refurbished plant will, analysts figure, be a cash cow.

Why? Well, since there’s a shortage of production capacity out there, dissolving pulp is changing hands for $1,500 a tonne – that compares nicely to the $800 a tonne the mill’s pulp product fetches now.

What’s more, Mr. Wasilenkoff arranged for attractive and cheap government financing for much of the acquisition. Fortress is putting up equity of only $15-million in total. The risk to shareholders is limited.

The analysts whose reports I looked at show, on average, a doubling of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization over the next two or three years. The new price targets are twice as high as the stock price today, which may seem ambitious and may even be ambitious but isn’t ridiculous.

Meanwhile, Fortress’s other divisions – wallpaper and security paper – also show promise. The wallpaper mill is one of the lowest-cost mills in the world, and Fortress has about half of the global market share of coated and uncoated non-woven wallpaper.

And the banknote business is also stable with room to grow, although Fortress needs to make investments to modernize the works. Fortress’s EBITDA grew 125 per cent from 2006 to 2009.

The truth is that this deal fits in perfectly with what Mr. Wasilenkoff has been doing all along: being a contrarian, buying cheap, seeing opportunities others overlook, allocating capital intelligently and being patient – the sorts of things only CEOs who own a lot of stock (23 per cent in this case) do.

Asked what is most challenging about his job, Mr. Wasilenkoff says “the stock price. We think it’s lower than it should be and that’s frustrating.”

While small companies bear risks that bigger ones don’t, like concentrated customer sales, I think he’s right. The stock does look cheap, especially given that he’s demonstrated an ability to make money for not only central banks but investors as well.

By: Fabrice Taylor for The Globe and Mail. Tuesday, March 23, 2010.

SOURCES: The Globe and Mail: “Rayon is Fortress’s True Story”.

Fortress Paper

Fortress Paper Ltd. (“Fortress Paper” or the “Corporation”) (TSX:FTP), a leading producer of security and specialty papers, in a major strategic move today announces the signing of an asset purchase agreement (“APA”) to acquire the assets of a northern bleached hardwood kraft (“NBHK”) manufacturing facility located in Thurso, Quebec (the “Thurso Mill”) from Fraser Papers Inc. (“Fraser”) with the intention to convert this operation into a world class, low cost, specialty cellulose (dissolving pulp) operation. Concurrently, Fortress Paper intends to build a biomass-based cogeneration plant at the Thurso Mill which will produce green electricity resulting in material net energy savings (income).

Upon closing of the acquisition of the Thurso Mill, which will be completed through its wholly-owned subsidiary Fortress Specialty Cellulose Inc. (“Fortress Specialty”), the Corporation intends to incur capital expenditures of approximately $153 million to convert the non-operating NBHK mill into a high quality specialty cellulose mill and to construct a new cogeneration facility. In connection with the proposed capital expenditures, Fortress Paper is pleased to announce that it has pre-arranged specific financing initiatives to fund the conversion and cogeneration projects.

The specialty cellulose mill is planned to have an annual production capacity of more than 200,000 air dried metric tonnes and is expected to be completed in mid-2011. In entering into the specialty cellulose sector, Fortress Specialty will focus on producing dissolving grade cellulose for the textile industry, primarily targeting viscose fibre (rayon) products which have shown strong growth of approximately 10% in China and 7% worldwide over the past five years. Rayon is a technically evolved and versatile fibre with many advantages, particularly in the warmer and higher growth regions of the world.

Fortress Paper also plans to construct a 25 megawatt cogeneration facility to service a net 18.8 megawatt power supply agreement over a 15 year term. The location of the cogeneration facility provides it with access to on-site generation of biomass and an extensive local network of chip and other biomass suppliers. The cogeneration facility is expected to be supplying electricity in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Chad Wasilenkoff, CEO of Fortress Paper, states, “We are very pleased to announce this new acquisition which we believe will add significant shareholder value in the years to come. Both the Board of Directors and management of Fortress Paper feel that this new opportunity warrants the diversification of the Corporation into other specialty sectors as it has the potential to materially enhance shareholder value. Once the conversion and cogeneration projects are complete, we will be entering a new product segment which offers long-term growth prospects and attractive margins. During the interim period, we will capitalize on the current strength of the NBHK pulp market. We feel it is important to emphasize that this is not an acquisition to enter into the pulp industry, but rather the opportunity to acquire assets that are ideally suited to be converted into a bio-refinery and produce high value-added products. We intend to strategically enter this sector at a time when demand exceeds current capacity. We believe this trend will continue over the next several years given the limited announced new capacity.”

Pursuant to the terms of the APA, Fortress Paper will pay Fraser $3 million in cash at closing, subject to certain adjustments. The closing of the APA is subject to various conditions, including (i) as a result of Fraser and its subsidiaries having filed for creditor protection under theCompanies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (the “CCAA”) in Canada, the approval of the transaction by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) in connection therewith, (ii) Fortress Specialty entering into renewed collective agreements with all unionized employees of the Thurso Mill, and (iii) the Corporation and Fortress Specialty securing financing as necessary to implement their proposed business plan at the Thurso Mill. Fortress is optimistic that it will be able to finalize mutually satisfactory renewed collective agreements with the three unions imminently and looks forward to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the community of Thurso. The closing of the acquisition is anticipated to occur on or about April 30, 2010.

Investissement Quebec (“IQ”) has committed, by way of an agreement in principle, to grant Fortress Specialty a loan in the amount of up to $102.4 million to support Fortress Paper’s proposed business plan in respect of the Thurso Mill. The loan will be secured by the capital assets of Fortress Specialty and will have a term of 10 years. Interest will be calculated at a fixed rate of 5.0% per annum for the first five years, followed by a rate based on the cost of IQ’s funds plus 2.0% for the remaining five years, up to a maximum of 5.5% per annum. The loan is subject to receiving the requisite approval of the Government of Quebec and is subject to completion of definitive documentation.

Fortress Paper has also signed a conditional commitment letter with a Quebec financial institution providing for the subscription of an unsecured convertible debenture of Fortress Paper (the “Debenture”) in the principal amount of $15 million maturing in five years with an interest rate of 7% per annum. The Debenture will be convertible, in whole or in part, at the option of the Quebec financial institution into common shares of Fortress Paper at any time after closing of the debenture at a conversion price equal to the lesser of 145% of the trading price of the common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) and $20.00.

The Debenture will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of Fortress Paper, from the second anniversary date of its issuance at par plus all accrued and unpaid interest, provided that the volume weighted average trading price of the common shares of Fortress Paper on the TSX is not less than 125% of the conversion price. The Debenture financing is subject to various conditions, including approval by the decision-making authorities of the Quebec financial institution, satisfactory due diligence, the concurrent completion of the IQ financing, the closing of the APA, receipt of TSX approval for the issuance by Fortress Paper of the Debenture and the completion of definitive documentation.

Included in the assets being purchased from Fraser is approximately $9.9 million in credits (black liquor credits) granted under the Canadian government’s Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program (the “GTP”). The GTP aims to improve the environmental performance of Canada’s pulp and paper industry by funding approved capital projects with environmental benefits. Fortress Paper also intends to apply for approximately $15.2 million in federal credits under the Green Infrastructure Fund program of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities relating to the planned cogeneration project.

As no definitive agreements have been entered into with respect to the financing initiatives described above, there can be no assurance at this time that the financing in connection with the Thurso Mill will be completed on terms acceptable to Fortress Paper or at all.

For more information on the Fortress Specialty Cellulose project you can access the Fortress Specialty Cellulose PowerPoint Presentation by going directly to the link atwww.fortress.presenternet.com

A prerecorded voice presentation is available to accompany the PowerPoint and can be accessed at:

Prerecorded Presentation dial-in number 1-877-353-9587 or from overseas 403-699-1055 and follow the prompts. When prompted, enter the 6 digit conference reference number 274464 followed by the number sign (#). The recording will be available for 7 days.

Future replays of the PowerPoint Presentation can be accessed by a link on the front page of our website at www.fortresspaper.com and alternatively at www.fortress.presenternet.com.

About Fortress Paper

Fortress Paper is a leading international producer of security and other specialty papers. Fortress Paper operates two paper mills, the Landqart Mill located in Switzerland and the Dresden Mill located in Germany. 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. As an extension of its security papers business, the Landqart Mill has been actively developing and marketing innovative paper-based security products.

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 the Corporation’s completion of the APA and the outcome of its financing initiatives; its intention to convert the Thurso Mill into a specialty cellulose (dissolving pulp) operation; its plans to build a biomass based cogeneration plant and the financial results and production capacity expected therefrom; its ability to complete the necessary financing to make planned capital expenditures; the expected effects of the acquisition of the Thurso Mill on the business of the Corporation; the state of the market in the specialty cellulose and green bio-energy sectors; and its intended application for federal tax credits. 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 complete the APA; its ability to complete the necessary financing to successfully implement its business plan in respect of the Thurso Mill; the success and profitability of the specialty cellulose operation and cogeneration plant; the expected effects of the acquisition of the Thurso Mill on the business of the Corporation; the state of the market in the specialty cellulose and green bio-energy sectors; and the Corporation’s ability to obtain certain federal tax credits. 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 not complete the APA; will not obtain the necessary financing to complete its business plan in respect of the Thurso Mill; will be unable to implement its business plan in respect of the Thurso Mill as planned or at all; that the specialty cellulose operation and cogeneration plant will not be successful or profitable and will not meet anticipated production capacities; that the Corporation will not obtain the federal tax credits; 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.

Fortress Paper President & CEO Chad Wasilenkoff appeared live on Bloomberg Television this week to talk about the future of money.

From the technological advances in security features, to the composition of a new banknote series, to the continual need for bills around the world, Wasilenkoff highlights the importance of turning paper into cash in this interview.

Watch the video:

On Friday, Michael Hainsworth, host of the BNN show The Close, conducted a feature interview with Fortress Paper President and CEO Chad Wasilenkoff.

Discussing topics like Fortress Paper’s new paper machine upgrades (read “Fortress Paper Announces…PM1 Rebuild”), the future demand for wallpaper, and innovative products to come off the Fortress Paper line by year’s end, this eight-minute interview is an in-depth look at what this Vancouver-based company has to offer.

Watch the interview: