Bureau de décision et de révision to hear Mercer's application with regards to Abitibi's unsolicited insider bid

TSX: FBK
fibrek.com

ONTARIO SECURITIES COMMISSION HEARING THIS AFTERNOON

MONTREAL, March 30, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Fibrek Inc. ("Fibrek" or the "Corporation") announced today that the Bureau de décision et de révision (Quebec) has set a hearing on Monday April 2, 2012 to consider an application (the "Application") filed by Mercer International Inc. ("Mercer"), in connection with its offer for all of the outstanding shares of Fibrek Inc., for a "cease trade" order and/or other appropriate relief in respect of the takeover bid made by AbitibiBowater Inc. (doing business as Resolute Forest Products) ("Abitibi") for the shares of Fibrek.

The Ontario Securities Commission ("OSC") is also holding a hearing on the Application today, Friday, March 30, 2012 commencing at 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).

Fibrek reminds shareholders that 46.4% of Fibrek shares are subject to lock-up agreements in favour of Abitibi and that as of March 20, 2012, only 46.4% of the outstanding Fibrek shares had been deposited to the Abitibi unsolicited insider bid. Accordingly, shareholders are urged to continue not to take any action with respect to their Fibrek shares in order to benefit from the superior $1.30 Mercer offer. 

The Mercer offer at $1.30 was launched on February 29, 2012 and will remain open until 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on April 6, 2012. Mercer has the obligation to extend the Mercer offer to a date that is at least 3 business days later than either (i) any extended expiry date of the Abitibi unsolicited insider bid, or (ii) the date at which the lock-up agreements in favour of Abitibi terminate in accordance with their terms.

The Board of Directors continues to unanimously recommend that shareholders ACCEPT and TENDER their common shares to Mercer's $1.30 offer.

The Board also recommends that shareholders REJECT and NOT TENDER their common shares to Abitibi's $1.00 unsolicited insider bid. If shareholders have tendered their shares to the Abitibi insider bid, the Board recommends that they WITHDRAW them immediately.

The Support Agreement and the Directors' Circular in respect of the Mercer offer have been filed and are available at www.sedar.com under the company's profile.

For more information on how to tender Fibrek Common Shares or for any other inquiries regarding the Mercer Offer, please contact Fibrek's information agent, Phoenix Advisory Partners, at 1-800-398-1129 (North American Toll Free) or via email at [email protected].

About Fibrek
Fibrek (TSX: FBK) is a leading producer and marketer of high-quality virgin and recycled kraft pulp. The company operates three mills located in Saint-Félicien, Québec, Fairmont, West Virginia, and in Menominee, Michigan with a combined annual production capacity of 760,000 tonnes. Fibrek has approximately 500 employees. The Saint-Félicien mill provides northern bleached softwood kraft pulp (product known as NBSK pulp) to various sectors of the paper industry mainly in Canada, the United States and Europe, for use in the production of specialized products. The Fairmont and Menominee mills manufacture air-dried recycled bleached kraft pulp (product known as RBK pulp) and primarily supply manufacturers of fine uncoated paper, tissue paper for commercial and industrial uses, and coated paper in the United States.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements can be identified by expressions of belief, expectation or intention, as well as those statements that are not historical facts and include statements concerning Fibrek's future outlook, business strategy, plans, expectations, results or actions, or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "may", "should", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "outlook" and similar expressions. These statements are based on information currently available to Fibrek's management and on the current assumptions, intentions, plans, expectations and estimates of Management regarding Fibrek's future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities and ability to attract and retain customers as well as the economic environment in which it operates. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results of Fibrek to differ materially from the conclusion, forecast or projection stated in such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to: actions taken by Abitibi or Mercer, actions taken by shareholders of Fibrek in respect of Abitibi's unsolicited offer and the Mercer Offer, the possible effect of Abitibi's unsolicited offer and the Mercer Offer on Fibrek's business, the award of a power purchase agreement to Fibrek under the new Québec Government cogeneration program, general economic conditions, pulp prices and sales volume, exchange rate fluctuations, cost and supply of wood fibre, wastepaper and other raw materials, pension contributions, competitive markets, dependence upon key customers, increased production capacity, equipment failure, disruptions of production, capital requirements and other factors referenced in Fibrek's continuous disclosure filings which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The completion of the Mercer Offer is subject to a number of terms and conditions. The conditions to the Mercer Offer may not be satisfied in accordance with their terms, and/or Mercer may exercise its termination rights under the support agreement, in which case the Mercer Offer could be terminated. Failure to complete the Mercer Offer could have a material adverse impact on the market price of Fibrek's shares. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable securities laws, Fibrek assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

 

Investor Relations:
Patsie Ducharme
514 871-0550
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Media Relations:
Lyla Radmanovich
514 843-2336
NATIONAL Public Relations

Dany Paradis
514 871-0550
Vice President, Change Management and Supply Chain