Catalyst Paper Reaches Agreement on Financing Facilities

RICHMOND, BC—August 3, 2012—Catalyst Paper has entered into a commitment letter with a Canadian chartered bank for a $175 million syndicated asset-based loan facility (ABL Facility) maturing on the earlier of five years from date of closing and 90 days prior to maturity of any significant debt.

The ABL Facility is a pre-condition for Catalyst to exit from creditor protection and would provide for the refinancing of existing credit facilities to fund the operations of the company on exit from creditor protection and for general corporate purposes thereafter. The collateral would primarily consist of all present and future working capital assets of the company.

The ABL borrowing base would be calculated on balances of eligible accounts receivable and inventory, less certain reserves. Customary fees are payable in connection with the ABL Facility. The ABL Facility is subject to the completion of a credit agreement, syndication, documentation and certain other conditions.

Catalyst also entered into a commitment letter with respect to a secured exit notes facility of up to US$80 million (Exit Facility). The Exit Facility provides Catalyst with backstop financing should additional funding be required to pay costs and expenses or manage other contingencies on exit from creditor protection.

“Having appropriate financing in place should enable a return to normal trade terms with our vendors as we exit from creditor protection and will, in turn, assure our customers of continued excellent service and product quality going forward,” said Catalyst President and CEO Kevin J. Clarke. “We kept high operating standards throughout this process and this gives us competitive momentum as we prepare to emerge successfully from CCAA in the near term.”

The Exit Facility will be provided by certain holders of Catalyst’s First Lien Notes and will be secured by a charge on certain assets of Catalyst and its subsidiaries ranking senior to the lien securing the $250 million of new secured notes (the Plan Notes) to be issued under the Second Amended Plan of Arrangement (the Amended Plan). Customary commitment fees for a facility of this nature are payable to the lenders in connection with the Exit Facility.