Australian PaperlinX to establish new office products business in Australia

May 17, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. In a further strategic initiative, PaperlinX has announced on May 17 that it will establish a new business entity to further build on its existing business platform in office products in Australia. The new business will be formed through the integration of the tudor® group, Spicers Office Papers and Australian Paper’s Office Papers Division. With brands such as Reflex®, tudor®, Optix®, Olympic®, Universal® and Zoom® and sales above $400 million, this newly integrated business will be one of the largest office products suppliers in Australia. The combined business will be in a position to increase value and service to customers, through a more efficient route to market, as well as providing an excellent opportunity for all three existing businesses to improve their long term sustainability. The newly announced management team headed by Peter Diplaris, currently Australian Paper’s General Manager Office Papers, will develop an implementation plan, including the future organization structure, name of the business, customer service improvement plans, brand management and other business plans. Commenting on the announcement, Tom Park, managing director of PaperlinX said, “This initiative will allow the business to increase the focus on our key brands, align the talent we have within all three businesses and more efficiently service customers for the benefit of customers, employees and shareholders. This strategic initiative builds on the internal momentum within PaperlinX to create value for our shareholders by focussing on the areas within our control. In the continuing challenging external market conditions we face, it is pleasing to be able to bring forward additional positive initiatives.” PaperlinX is the world’s leading fine paper merchant, with businesses in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, North America, South Africa and Europe. Through its Australian Paper division, it is also the only Australasian producer of high quality communication papers including Reflex, Australia’s leading copy paper, and a major Australian producer of high performance packaging and industrial papers.