FORT MILL, S.C. (News release) -- Domtar Corporation announced that it has entered into an agreement with Sun Life to purchase group annuity buy-out contracts and to transfer approximately CDN $360 million (US $271 million) in obligations and related assets from its defined benefit pension plans in Ontario, Canada. In addition, Domtar will convert approximately CDN $101 million (US $76 million) of existing buy-in annuities with existing insurers into buy-out annuities to complete the full transfer of these obligations. No cash contributions will be required by Domtar. The transactions will enable Domtar to reduce risk associated with volatility in the Company's pension plan obligations and assets.

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The annuity buy-out transactions will transfer responsibility for pension benefits for approximately 1,265 Domtar retirees and spouses in receipt of survivor pensions. The timing and amounts of current monthly benefit payments will not change. The insurance companies will begin making benefit payments to the affected retirees and spouses on March 1, 2020.

In the fourth quarter of 2019, Domtar expects to record a before tax, non-cash pension settlement charge of approximately CDN $40 million (US $30 million) related to these annuity transactions.

Mercer, a leading consulting firm with expertise in pension risk, advised Domtar on the transactions.