KPS sold various assets and business owned by Curtis Papers to various buyers, including Curtis Fine Papers, Ltd. (UK), HMU, Inc., and Dunn Paper Company, Inc. KPS created Curtis Papers, Inc. (“Curtis”) to purchase the specialty paper and premium papers businesses of Crown Vantage, pursuant to a 363 sale of assets in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding of Crown Vantage. Curtis purchased three U.S. paper mills located in Michigan, Massachusetts, New Jersey and related assets in Virginia. Curtis also purchased the stock of Curtis Papers, Ltd., which consisted of two premium paper mills in Scotland.
The Specialty Papers business of Curtis was a leading manufacturer of premium uncoated and coated papers for a wide range of end use markets including food service, flexible packaging, label and release and custom converting. The Premium Papers business of Curtis was a manufacturer of text, cover and other premium printing grades. The Scottish mills manufactured premium papers under the name of Curtis Classic throughout Europe. The hourly employees in the U.S. were represented by the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE), who introduced KPS to the investment opportunity. Curtis sold its European business to a management-led buyout in 2002, now operating as Curtis Fine Papers, Ltd. Curtis sold its Virginia facility to HMU, Inc. in 2002. Curtis sold its Michigan paper mill to a management-led buyout in 2003, now operating as the Dunn Paper Company, Inc. www.curtispapersinc.com