The AbitibiBowater news release:
ABWTQ (OTC)
MONTREAL, Sept. 21 /CNW Telbec/ - AbitibiBowater is pleased to announce that the Company has received the necessary creditor approval for its plan of reorganization under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, except with respect to Bowater Canada Finance Corporation (BCFC), a special purpose company subsidiary with no operating assets, which has been excluded from the chapter 11 plan. The chapter 11 plan of reorganization received overwhelming support from creditors, both in dollar amount of claims and in number of claim holders who voted on the plan.
Having obtained the requisite votes from creditors, except with respect to BCFC, the Company and its subsidiaries will exclude BCFC from the process and proceed with plan confirmation. The Company does not believe that the exclusion of BCFC will affect the timing of its confirmation hearing that is scheduled to start on September 24, 2010, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.
"We are pleased to have received approval by the vast majority of creditors under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code for our chapter 11 plan of reorganization," stated David J. Paterson, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We appreciate the support for our plans of reorganization as we work to create a more sustainable and competitive organization."
As previously announced, on September 14, 2010, the Company received approval for its plan of reorganization from affected creditors under the Canadian Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act in Canada, except with respect to BCFC.
Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions provided for in the plans of reorganization, AbitibiBowater continues to expect emergence from creditor protection this fall.
Details of the voting results under the chapter 11 plan of reorganization, including votes on a class-by-class basis, will be available through www.abitibibowater.com/restructuring.
AbitibiBowater produces a wide range of newsprint, commercial printing and packaging papers, market pulp and wood products. It is the eighth largest publicly traded pulp and paper manufacturer in the world. AbitibiBowater owns or operates 19 pulp and paper facilities and 24 wood products facilities located in the United States, Canada and South Korea. Marketing its products in more than 70 countries, the Company is also among the world's largest recyclers of old newspapers and magazines, and has third-party certified 100% of its managed woodlands to sustainable forest management standards. AbitibiBowater's shares trade over-the-counter on the Pink Sheets and on the OTC Bulletin Board under the stock symbol ABWTQ.
For further information: Investors: Duane Owens, Vice President, Finance, 864 282-9488; Media and Others: Seth Kursman, Vice President, Public Affairs, Sustainability & Environment, 514 394-2398, seth.kursman@abitibibowater.com
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