Colabor Group announces establishment of new credit facilities

Two new agreements provide greater financial and operational flexibility

BOUCHERVILLE, QC, Feb. 3, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Colabor Group Inc. (TSX: GCL) ("Colabor" or the "Corporation") today announced that it has entered into two agreements for the refinancing of its credit facilities, agreements that will provide the Corporation with greater financial flexibility and an enhanced ability to manoeuvre in its business model.

First, a banking syndicate led by BMO Bank of Montreal has granted a credit facility of a maximum amount of $140 million for a term of three years. This facility includes an accordion clause providing for a $30-million increase in the authorized amount, subject to certain conditions. The Corporation has also been granted term credit facilities totalling $18 million that may be used for specific purposes, repayable over a term of 24 months commencing at the time of their use.

Second, the Corporation has entered into a loan agreement for a total capital amount of $42.5 million, of which $15 million will be used to repay a loan taken out by the Corporation in December 2011 and the balance will be employed as working capital.

To secure each of these credit facilities, the Corporation, its subsidiaries and related entities have granted mortgages on the entirety of their assets in favour of each of these lending groups.

"This refinancing will allow Colabor to proactively pursue its initiatives to accelerate its growth and organizational development. We believe the new credit agreements will improve our flexibility in current operations at no additional cost to the Corporation," said Claude Gariépy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Colabor.

The Corporation expects to incur additional financial expenses of approximately $1.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. These additional expenses are attributable to the writeoff of expenses related to the Corporation's former credit agreement and also include an amount paid as interest on the balance of the sale price related to the acquisition of Bertrand, following a Superior Court decision. This decision will also entail a non-material correction of the Corporation's financial expenses and overall results for fiscal years 2009 through 2012 in connection with an accounting error.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release may contain forward-looking statements reflecting the opinions or current expectations of Colabor Group Inc. concerning its performance and business operations and future events. These statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results or events may differ.

ABOUT COLABOR
Colabor is a wholesaler and distributor of food and non-food products serving the foodservice (cafeterias, restaurants, hotels, restaurant chains, etc.) and retail (grocery stores, convenience stores, etc.) markets in Quebec, Ontario and the Atlantic provinces.

SOURCE: Colabor

Investors:
Colabor Group Inc.
Jean-François Neault, CPA, CMA, CA
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Tel.: [phone], ext. 308
Fax: [phone]
[email protected]

Media:
Maison Brison Inc.
Martin Goulet, CFA
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
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Fax: [phone]
[email protected]