Resolute Forest Products

LA DORÉ, QC, April 30, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Resolute Forest Products Inc. (NYSE: RFP) (TSX: RFP) today announced major investments totaling $12,956,700 in its La Doré wood products facilities, located in the Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec. The announcement was made during a press conference attended by Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, as well as dignitaries and company employees.

The investments will be used to integrate new technologies into the manufacturing processes in order to sustain the facilities' continuously enhanced performance in an ever-changing competitive environment. Also through these investments, energy efficiency will be improved as operational processes are modernized.

"This is a significant investment for the future of our La Doré facilities," said Yves Laflamme, president and chief executive officer. "We can count on innovation, regional solidarity and the pride our people have in their work to overcome the challenges facing our industry."

Mr. Laflamme also mentioned the efforts of workers, elected representatives and governments, as well as regional economic, education and development organizations, to improve future prospects in the forest products industry.

Resolute employs close to 250 people at the La Doré sawmill, planer mill and finger-jointing facility, and more than 2,000 in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region.

The investments announced today involve upgrades to several areas of the operations:

"We will rebuild the infeed section of the sawmill and add multiple programmable logic controllers, allowing the potential of each log to be better identified, used appropriately and optimally cut," explained Gilbert Demers, division vice president, Wood Products – Sawmills and Engineering. "We are also initiating the launch of a new lumber packaging system in the planer mill, using prototypes developed by manufacturers from the region. Finally, we are completing the project by adding two new electric boilers in order to generate the quantity of steam required for drying."

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical results, performance, financial condition, or other historical information of Resolute Forest Products Inc. are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They include, for example, statements regarding the investment in the La Doré facilities and anticipated benefits of the investment. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words "will," "expect," "believe" and other terms with similar meaning indicating possible future events or potential impact on our business or our shareholders.  

The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees of future performance. These statements are based on Resolute management's current assumptions, beliefs, and expectations, all of which involve a number of business risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in this press release. Some of the potential risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual future performance or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in this press release include, but are not limited to, any inability to achieve or maintain the expected benefits of the investment in the La Doré facilities; and the potential risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements set out or referred to above and in the company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

About Resolute Forest Products

Resolute Forest Products is a global leader in the forest products industry with a diverse range of products, including market pulp, tissue, wood products, newsprint and specialty papers, which are marketed in close to 70 countries. The company owns or operates some 40 manufacturing facilities, as well as power generation assets, in the United States and Canada. Resolute has third-party certified 100% of its managed woodlands to internationally recognized sustainable forest management standards. The shares of Resolute Forest Products trade under the stock symbol RFP on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Resolute has received regional, North American and global recognition for its leadership in corporate social responsibility and sustainable development, as well as for its business practices. Visit www.resolutefp.com for more information.

SOURCE Resolute Forest Products Inc.