And he continued to oversee its expansion as Attends Healthcare, which was funded by its new owners Rutland Partners.

Domtar confirmed yesterday that Steele would continue to run the operation after its purchase from Rutland and grow it into one of the biggest brands in Europe.

Yesterday’s deal follows Domtar’s acquisition of the US business Attends Healthcare last August for £150m and the company said it opened a new chapter in the growth of the business.

Domtar president and CEO John D Williams said: “The acquisition of Attends Europe moves us further along the path we started down last summer and it consolidates our ownership of the Attends brand on both sides of the Atlantic. With this acquisition, we are adding another platform for growth with a well-established business that has the critical mass to drive product development and brand growth with our current North American business.

“Demand for incontinence care products in Europe is strong and our intent is to double earnings within the next five years.”

Domtar is the largest integrated manufacturer and marketer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America and the second largest in the world based on production capacity, and is also a manufacturer of papergrade, fluff and speciality pulp.

The company employs around 8,800 people and designs, manufactures, markets and distributes a wide range of business, commercial printing and publishing.