Abitibi Consolidated Inc. successfully merged with Bowater Inc. on Oct. 29.

AbitibiBowater Inc. announced Nov. 6 an executive team will complete a strategic review of each business to develop “action plans” to attain AbitibiBowater’s new business priorities.

AbitibiBowater spokesperson, Seth Kursman said, “We are taking a careful look at all our businesses and facilities and we will have more to say when the review is complete.”

A press release states the company originally announced it expected to realize in excess of $250-million in annualized synergies – the predicted benefits in terms of efficiency related to the merger - over the next two years. The company now expects to achieve this target by the end of the first quarter of 2009. A debt-reduction target of $1-billion over the next three years is expected to enhance the global competitiveness of the company.

Prior to the merger, Abitibi Consolidated Inc. and Bowater Incorporated were “competitors,” explained Kursman, so they could only share so much information.

“It’s not out of the ordinary to move ahead and conduct a review,” he added.

Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada Local 141 President, Courtney Wentzell said, “We did know Abitibi shut eight mills down before the merger took place.”

Although the Brooklyn mill efficiently producing 700 to 800 tonnes of newsprint a day, Wentzell said he couldn’t predict what AbitibiBowater will do.

He added The Washington Post Company still owns 49 per cent of the Brooklyn mill.

Kursman explained the review is a very important step, with actions that will come out of it to address the challenges that lay before them.

One major challenge is the rise of the Canadian dollar.

South Queens Chamber of Commerce co-chair, Kerry Morash said he believes this mill will continue to run. He added the plant is extremely important to this area.

With good equipment, good people and Bowater’s past competitiveness, Morash said there is certainly no reason to think it won’t be competitive in the future.