The owner of Canada’s largest forestry company has moved to take control of a massive pulp and paper empire. Jackson Wijaya currently owns dozens of pulp and paper mills across Canada, the U.S., Brazil and Europe under the Domtar Group — formally known as Paper Excellence. Wijaya’s intention to take direct control over Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), an Indonesian and Chinese-based multinational currently owned by his father. For years, Domtar and APP have denied any relationship with one another. Wijaya’s now open intention to control the two companies has raised questions among environmental watchdogs that have long claimed APP has exerted hidden control over Canadian forestry assets. …Jennifer Johnson, a Domtar spokesperson said Wijaya’s father had appointed him to be the sole beneficiary of APP as part of his “succession planning.” …“Mr. Wijaya will not hold any leadership position within APP, and APP and Domtar will continue to operate as distinct entities.”

Additional coverage in the Globe and Mail, by Nicolas Van Praet: Paper Excellence owner to take control of contentious Asia family company, raising environmental concerns