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MONTRÉAL, April 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Resolute Forest Products Inc. (NYSE: RFP) (TSX: RFP) today announced that it amended its $360 million senior secured credit agreement dated October 28, 2019 . The purpose of the amendment is: to repay the $180 million of pre-amendment term loans by drawing on the revolving facility and using cash on hand; to extend the maturity date of the revolving facility from 2025 to 2027; to reduce the spread on the term loan facility by up to 10 basis points; and to reinstate in full the $180 million term loan facility, with maturities of up to ten years, with a delay draw period of up to three years. All other terms are substantially unchanged.
" This amendment allows us to extend the maturity of our credit facilities at very competitive rates while providing us significant flexibility for further debt repayment without impacting liquidity ," said Sylvain A. Girard , senior vice president and chief financial officer. " Our financial strength and flexibility, which continue to improve, serve as competitive advantages in the execution of our strategic transformation initiatives ," added Remi G. Lalonde , president and chief executive officer.
The amended credit agreement contains customary covenants, representations and warranties, and events of default for credit agreements of this type. The company's obligations under the facility are guaranteed by certain material U.S. subsidiaries and remain secured by first priority liens on assets of its Calhoun (Tennessee) mill. The credit agreement also provides for an uncommitted option to increase the facility by up to an additional $360 million , subject to certain terms and conditions.
The amendment to the credit agreement was arranged and syndicated by American AgCredit. Troutman Sanders acted as legal counsel to Resolute.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Statements in this press release that are not reported financial results or other historical information of Resolute are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They include, for example, statements relating to the impacts of this financing, the impact of the novel coronavirus (or, "COVID-19") pandemic and resulting economic conditions on Resolute's business, results of operations and market price of its securities, and to its: efforts and initiatives to reduce costs, increase revenues, and improve profitability; business and operating outlook; future pension obligations; assessment of market conditions; growth strategies and prospects, and the growth potential of Resolute and the industry in which it operates; liquidity; future cash flows, including as a result of the changes to Resolute's pension funding obligations; estimated capital expenditures; and strategies for achieving its goals generally. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words "should," "would," "could," "will," "may," "expect," "believe," "see," "anticipate," "continue," "attempt," "focus on," "improve," "allow," "positioned," "maintain," "provide," "trend," "strategy," "seek," "evolve," "vision," "commit," "develop," "project," "progress," "build," "pursue," "plan," "grow," "reduce," "move" and other terms with similar meaning indicating possible future events or potential impact on Resolute's business or its shareholders.
The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees of future performance. These statements are based on management's current assumptions, beliefs, and expectations, all of which involve a number of business risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause Resolute's actual future financial condition, results of operations, performance and targets to differ materially from those expressed or implied in this press release include, but are not limited to, the impact of: the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and resulting economic conditions; developments in non-print media, including changes in consumer habits, and the effectiveness of Resolute's responses to these developments; intense competition in the forest products industry; any inability to offer products certified to globally recognized forestry management and chain of custody standards; any inability to successfully implement Resolute's strategies to increase its earnings power; the possible failure to successfully integrate acquired businesses with Resolute or to realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions, such as its entry into wood manufacturing in the U.S., and tissue production and sales, or divestitures or other strategic transactions or projects, including loss of synergies following business divestitures; uncertainty or changes in political or economic conditions in the U.S., Canada or other countries in which Resolute sells its products, including the effects of pandemics; global economic conditions; the highly cyclical nature of the forest products industry; any difficulties in obtaining timber or wood fiber at favorable prices, or at all; changes in the cost of purchased energy and other raw materials; physical, financial and regulatory risks associated with global, regional, and local weather conditions, and climate change; any disruption in operations or increased labor costs due to labor disputes or occupational health and safety issues; difficulties in Resolute's employee relations or in employee attraction or retention; disruptions to Resolute's supply chain, operations, or the delivery of its products, including due to public health epidemics; disruptions to Resolute's information technology systems including cybersecurity and privacy incidents; risks related to the operation and transition of legacy system applications; negative publicity, even if unjustified; currency fluctuations; any increase in the level of required contributions to Resolute's pension plans, including as a result of any increase in the amount by which they are underfunded; Resolute's ability to maintain adequate capital resources to provide for all of its substantial capital requirements; the terms of Resolute's outstanding indebtedness, which could restrict its current and future operations; changes relating to the London Interbank Offered Rate, which could impact Resolute's borrowings under its credit facilities; losses that are not covered by insurance; any shutdown of machines or facilities, restructuring of operations or sale of assets resulting in any additional closure costs and long-lived asset or goodwill impairment or accelerated depreciation charges; any need to record additional valuation allowances against Resolute's recorded deferred income tax assets; Resolute's exports from one country to another country becoming or remaining subject to duties, cash deposit requirements, border taxes, quotas, or other trade remedies or restrictions; countervailing and anti-dumping duties on imports to the U.S. of the vast majority of Resolute's softwood lumber products produced at its Canadian sawmills; any failure to comply with laws or regulations generally; any additional environmental or health and safety liabilities; any violation of trade laws, export controls, or other laws relating to Resolute's international sales and operations; adverse outcomes of legal proceedings, claims and governmental inquiries, investigations, and other disputes in which Resolute is involved; the actions of holders of a significant percentage of Resolute's common stock; and the potential risks and uncertainties set forth under Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of Resolute's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 , filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (or, the "SEC") on March 1, 2021 which have been heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, including related governmental responses and economic impacts, market disruptions and resulting changes in consumer habits.
All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements contained or referred above and in Resolute's other filings with the SEC and the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Resolute disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
About Resolute Forest Products
Resolute Forest Products is a global leader in the forest products industry with a diverse range of products, including market pulp, tissue, wood products and papers, which are marketed in over 50 countries. The company owns or operates some 40 facilities, as well as power generation assets, in the United States and Canada . Resolute has third-party certified 100% of its managed woodlands to internationally recognized sustainable forest management standards. The shares of Resolute Forest Products trade under the stock symbol RFP on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Resolute has received regional, North American and global recognition for its leadership in corporate social responsibility and sustainable development, as well as for its business practices. Visit www.resolutefp.com for more information.
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SOURCE Resolute Forest Products Inc.