Miamisburg, Ohio, USA 21 December 2012/PRNewswire/ -- NewPage Corporation announced today that it has successfully completed its financial restructuring and has officially emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection pursuant to its Modified Fourth Amended Chapter 11 Plan (the "Plan"), confirmed on December 14, 2012, by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in Wilmington.

In conjunction with the Plan, NewPage closed on its exit financing, consisting of a $500 million term loan facility led by Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC and a $350 million revolving credit facility led by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC.

"This is an exciting day for all of us at NewPage," said George F. Martin, president and chief executive officer. "We have successfully completed our restructuring, and we have emerged as a financially sound company. This step helps to solidify our position as the leading North American producer of printing and specialty papers. We look forward to continuing to provide our customers with exceptional service and high-quality products, operating safe and efficient mills and being a responsible community member."

Mr. Martin continued, "I would like to thank our customers and suppliers for their support during this process. I would also like to extend my gratitude to our employees for their hard work and tireless dedication throughout the reorganization and the challenging period leading up to it."

Jay A. Epstein, senior vice president and chief financial officer for NewPage, added, "Through the reorganization process, we significantly reduced our debt and emerged with a sustainable capital structure. Our exit facility will provide ample liquidity to meet all of our working capital and capital investment needs."

NewPage wishes to express its appreciation to Judge Kevin Gross for successfully shepherding the case through the Chapter 11 process and protecting 6,000 jobs, and to Judge Robert Drain for mediating the economic settlement that paved the way for a consensual Chapter 11 Plan.

For more information, please visit www.NewPageCorp.com 

About NewPage 

NewPage is the leading producer of printing and specialty papers in North America with $3.5 billion in net sales for the year ended December 31, 2011. NewPage is headquartered in Miamisburg, Ohio, and owns paper mills in Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. These mills have a total annual production capacity of approximately 3.5 million tons of paper.

The company's product portfolio is the broadest in North America and includes coated, specialty, supercalendered and uncoated papers. These papers are used in commercial printing to create corporate collateral, magazines, catalogs, books, coupons, inserts and direct mail as well as in specialty paper applications including beverage bottle labels, food and medical packaging, pressure-sensitive labels and release liners. To learn more, visit www.NewPageCorp.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "project," "plan," "will likely continue," "will likely result," or words or phrases with similar meaning.  Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, among others, our substantial level of indebtedness; our ability to obtain additional financing or refinance our indebtedness may be limited; changes in the supply of, demand for, or prices of our products; general economic and business conditions in the United States and Canada and elsewhere; the ability of our customers to continue as a going concern, including our ability to collect accounts receivable according to customary business terms; the activities of competitors, including those that may be engaged in unfair trade practices; changes in significant operating expenses, including raw material and energy costs; changes in currency exchange rates; changes in the availability of capital; changes in the regulatory environment, including requirements for enhanced environmental compliance; and other risks and uncertainties that are detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with the Bankruptcy Court. The company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements.