Tembec announces $30 million project financing

MONTREAL, June 29, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Tembec announced today that it has entered into a $30 million loan facility with Integrated Private Debt Corp. (IPD). IPD is the private debt division of Integrated Asset Management Corp. (TSX: IAM) of Toronto. The funds will be utilized to fund a portion of the previously announced $190 million capital project to upgrade the Company's specialty cellulose manufacturing facility in Temiscaming, Quebec. When combined with the $75 million of project financing previously announced on March 16, 2012, the Company has now attained its objective of raising $105 million of project financing.

The IPD loan will bear interest at the greater of 6.35% and the yield on equivalent term Government of Canada bonds plus 4.25% as of the date the funds are advanced. The loan will be reimbursed in blended monthly installments over a period of eight years beginning approximately 24 months after the initial advance with a "balloon" payment of $17.5 million to be repaid at the end of the ten-year term period. The loan is subject to compliance with certain covenants and undertakings customary with such types of facilities.

The project involves the replacement of three old boilers with a new high-pressure boiler designed to burn waste sulfite liquor, a co-product of the specialty cellulose manufacturing process, producing green steam for use at the facility. The project also calls for the installation of a new electricity turbine that will be driven by this steam. The turbine will increase the Temiscaming facility's green electricity production capacity from its current 10 megawatts to 60 megawatts. The boiler is scheduled to start up in December 2013, followed by the turbine, in May 2014. Hydro-Québec will offtake the additional green electricity produced by this turbine under a 25-year contract at $106 MW/hour, indexed with CPI, which will strengthen and stabilize Tembec's revenues through the economic cycle.

Once the new equipment is in operation, Tembec expects a four-year return on investment, through new revenues from green electricity, the additional production of 5,000 metric tonnes of specialty cellulose and lower costs. Tembec's management expects the project will reach an annual run-rate EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) contribution of approximately $40-$45 million by fiscal year 2015 assuming implementation as scheduled and planned.

Tembec is a manufacturer of forest products - lumber, pulp, paper and specialty cellulose - and a global leader in sustainable forest management practices. Principal operations are in Canada and France. Tembec has some 4,000 employees and annual sales of approximately $2 billion. Tembec is listed on the TSX (TMB). Additional information on Tembec is available on its website at www.tembec.com.

IPD manages and provides funding from the $1.1 billion Integrated Private Debt Fund LPs on behalf of a number of pension funds and other institutional investors. IPD offers fixed rate, investment grade term loans to mid-market companies for such purposes as refinancing existing debt, acquisitions, plant expansion or modernization, project financing and management buyouts.

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of securities laws.  Such statements relate, without limitation, to the Company's or management's objectives, projections, estimates, expectations or predictions of the future and can be identified by words such as "may", "will", "could", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect" and "project", the negative or variations thereof, and expressions of similar nature.  Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience, information available to it and its perception of future developments. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in foreign exchange rates, product selling prices, raw material and operating costs and other factors identified in the Company's periodic filings with securities regulatory authorities. Many of these risks are beyond the control of the Company and, therefore, may cause actual actions or results to materially differ from those expressed or implied herein. The forward-looking statements contained herein reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities legislation.

Michel J. Dumas
Executive Vice President, Finance and CFO 
Tel: [phone]
Email: [email protected]

Stephen J. Norris
Treasurer
Tel: [phone]
Email: [email protected]