HAMILTON, Ohio--Jan. 6, 2005-- SMART Papers, LLC today said it has signed an asset purchase agreement with Toronto-based forest products company Fraser Papers to acquire Fraser Papers' pulp and papermaking operations in Park Falls, WI, as well as a 470,000-square foot converting, distribution and customer service facility in West Chicago, IL. This transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in approximately 60 days. The transaction includes three paper machines, a pulp and de-inking facility and well-established printing paper brands used daily by North American commercial printers. Brands include Torchglow(R), Worx(R), Glacier(R), Brights(R), Synergy(R), Passport(R), Genesis(R), Pegasus(R), Outback(R), Magna Carta(R) and Mosaic(R). These brands are used for annual reports, brochures, sales and product literature, stationery, advertising, greeting cards and digital printing. "With this acquisition we will have an expanded and significant market position in the premium specialty segment of the North American printing paper industry," said SMART Papers CEO and President Tim Needham. "The new company will be a highly valued 'one-stop shopping' supplier to our customers by offering a broad range of premium coated and uncoated papers -- best selling products used every day in commercial and in-plant printing operations across North America." SMART Papers, LLC, is a privately held printing paper manufacturer headquartered in Hamilton, Ohio, north of Cincinnati. It manufactures and markets premium coated and uncoated printing paper brands including Kromekote(R), Knightkote(R) Matte, Carnival(R), Benefit(R), SMART Digital(TM) and Treasures(TM) scrapbooking papers. SMART Papers began operations in February 2001 when an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a Boca Raton, Fla.-based private investment firm, purchased the Hamilton papermaking facility from International Paper. Sun Capital Partners is a leading private investment firm focused on leveraged buyouts and investments in market leading companies that can benefit from its in-house operating professionals and experience. Sun Capital affiliates invest in companies typically with the number one or two market position in their industry, long-term competitive advantages and significant barriers to entry. Sun Capital affiliates have invested in more than 70 companies since its inception in 1995 with combined sales in excess of $18 billion. Companies owned by Sun Capital affiliates include Sam Goody, Breugger's Bagels, Northland Cranberries, Inc., Mervyn's, LLC and Wickes Furniture. On a consolidated basis, Sun Capital's affiliated portfolio companies would rank in the top 100 of Fortune Magazine's listing of the 500 largest companies in the United States. Sun Capital is headquartered in Boca Raton with offices in Los Angeles, New York and London. Sun Capital affiliates have acquired companies worldwide including a growing number of companies in the printing paper and packaging industries.