Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, 23 June 2009  –  Catalyst Paper (TSX:CTL) today announced, in response to the continued deterioration in market conditions affecting the forest products industry generally and newsprint in particular, that it is reviewing alternatives to address the maturity of its senior unsecured notes.  The review will focus on refinancing alternatives for its USD 354 million of 8.625% notes and its USD 250 million of 7.375% notes, which mature in 2011 and 2014, respectively. 

“Given the extremely challenging market conditions that we are managing through, and the lack of any signs of a meaningful recovery, it’s appropriate to consider options well ahead of the stated maturities,” said David Smales, chief financial officer. “The two-year window to the first maturity represents a relatively short period given current market and credit conditions.”

Catalyst has engaged Genuity Capital Markets to assist in this process. 

Catalyst is the largest producer of specialty printing papers and newsprint in western North America and also produces market kraft pulp and owns western Canada’s largest paper recycling facility. The company’s six mills have a combined annual production capacity of 2.5 million metric tons.  Catalyst is headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, and its common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CTL.