Domtar's Raymond Royer selected as Pulp & Paper Week's Global CEO of the Year

MONTREAL, Sept. 24, 2003 - Domtar Inc. is pleased to announce that Raymond Royer, President and CEO, has been selected Global CEO of the Year by the renowned American publication Pulp & Paper Week, the flagship newsletter of Paperloop, the world's largest research and information service on the forest, pulp, paper and converting industries.

Mr. Royer will be presented with the award on November 18th at Pulp & Paper Week's 11th Paper/Forest Global Outlook Conference in New York. Domtar is the first Canadian company to have its president honoured by this prestigious award.

Paperloop's Will Mies, Editorial Director for News Products stated, "We polled a large number of respected security analysts, investment officers and portfolio managers as well as our own staff of editors, analysts and economists to determine a worthy winner this year. Raymond Royer emerged a clear favorite, with voters citing, in particular, his talent for turnaround, outstanding financial management, and consistently excellent merger, acquisition and consolidation moves, as well as his ability to integrate acquired businesses through a management system that engages employees."

"I am extremely proud to accept this award, notably because through me it is destined to Domtar and its employees. Indeed, it is a tribute to our efforts to make Domtar a company that manages its resources in a durable manner and that stands out from its peers in the basic materials sector by posting sustained financial, environmental and social performances," said Raymond Royer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Domtar.

"I want to thank my 12,000 Domtar colleagues for their commitment and hard work as well as our customers for their loyal support. It is indeed by working together over the last five years that we have been able to become the third largest uncoated free sheet paper company in North America as well as one of the most profitable paper and forest products company," added Mr. Royer.

The award will be presented by Ian Johnston, Paperloop's President and CEO, who explained Mr. Royer's selection as follows: "We're delighted to be presenting the Pulp & Paper Week Global CEO of the Year award to Raymond Royer. We have been following the fortunes of Domtar with professional admiration over the last couple of years. He is really a very worthy addition to our celebrated list of award winners."

Previous winners of the award are Michael W.J. Smurfit, Chairman and CEO of Jefferson-Smurfit (1999), John Dillon, Chairman and CEO of International Paper (2000), and Steve Rogel, Chairman, President and CEO of Weyerhaeuser (2001 and 2002).

Pulp and Paper Week is a publication of Paperloop, whose mission is to provide the most valued information for and about the paper, pulp, forest, converting and allied industries.

Domtar is the third largest producer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America. It is also a leading manufacturer of business papers, commercial printing and publication papers, and technical and specialty papers. Domtar manages, according to internationally recognized standards, 22 million acres of forestland in Canada and the United States, and Produces lumber and other wood products. Domtar has 12,000 employees across North America. The company also has a 50% investment interest in Norampac Inc., the largest Canadian producer of containerboard.