Catalyst Paper Files for Creditor Protection
RICHMOND, BC—Jan. 31, 2012—Catalyst Paper announced that its board of directors has approved a filing for an Initial Order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia to commence proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). Catalyst said the move is intended to facilitate an orderly restructuring of its business and operations. The terms and conditions of the restructuring plan have not yet been determined by the company.
The operations of Catalyst and its subsidiaries are intended to continue as usual and obligations to employees and suppliers during the restructuring process are expected to be met in the ordinary course. Company management will remain responsible for the day-to-day operations.
Catalyst expects that, while the company and its subsidiaries are under CCAA protection, the Interim Order will provide for all proceedings on the part of its creditors to be stayed.
The company previously announced a consensual recapitalization transaction under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) that had the support of certain of the holders of the company’s 11 percent senior secured notes due 2016 and 7-3/8 percent senior notes due 2014 who were parties to a Restructuring and Support Agreement (Agreement). The Agreement provided that, among other conditions, the recapitalization transaction was subject to the following two conditions being met by Jan. 31, 2012:
- a new labour agreement ratified by all six union locals at the company’s BC mills and
- two-thirds support of all 2014 and 2016 noteholders.
Since these conditions will not be met, the company will not be proceeding with a recapitalization under the CBCA.
“Our debt restructuring objective remains clear and unchanged though our path forward was altered by recent setbacks,” said Catalyst President and CEO Kevin J. Clarke. “Without the new labour agreement, and without two-thirds support of 2014 noteholders, the economics of the previously announced consensual restructuring transaction was undermined. After reviewing this matter carefully with our Board of Directors and advisors, we have elected to begin the CCAA proceeding.
“The board, management and our advisors believe this approach will best facilitate the completion of a recapitalization transaction that delivers the improvements to our liquidity and capital structure which are necessary to put our company on firm financial and competitive footing in the current business and economic environment.”
About Catalyst
Catalyst Paper manufactures diverse specialty printing papers, newsprint and pulp. Its customers include retailers, publishers and commercial printers in North America, Latin America, the Pacific Rim and Europe. With four mills located in British Columbia and Arizona, Catalyst has a combined annual production capacity of 1.9 million tonnes. The company is headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada and its common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CTL. Catalyst is listed on the Jantzi Social Index and is also ranked by Corporate Knights as one of the 50 Best Corporate Citizens in Canada.
Source: Catalyst.
