NewPage Sales and Earnings Up Sharply in First Quarter

MIAMISBURG, Ohio, May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- NewPage Corporation (NewPage) today announced its results of operations for the first quarter of 2008. These results include the first full quarter of combined financial results since the acquisition of Stora Enso North America (SENA) on December 21, 2007. Net sales were $1,190 million in the first quarter of 2008 compared to $476 million in the first quarter of 2007, an increase of $714 million or 150 percent. Net income was $7 million in the first quarter of 2008 compared to a net loss of $20 million in the first quarter of 2007. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was $158 million for the first quarter of 2008 compared to EBITDA of $46 million for the first quarter of 2007.

"First quarter 2008 volume and average sales prices were both up considerably, and while most of the increase in volume was from the acquisition, average coated paper prices were also up significantly," said Mark A. Suwyn, chairman of the board and chief executive officer. "Demand for our products was strong as a result of rationalized industry supply from reduced imports and capacity closures, as well as some inventory builds by customers in advance of a price increase."

    The following schedule details key performance and cost metrics for the
first quarter:


                                               First Quarter
                                             2008        2007

     Coated paper volume - 000s tons        1,037         508
     Price per ton of coated paper           $953        $873
     Market downtime - 000s tons                0          27
     Maintenance expense - $ million          $82         $39
     Gross margin                            11.1%        8.0%
     SG&A expense - % of net sales            4.6%        5.5%

"From an operations perspective, we had a solid quarter and we didn't take any market-related downtime," said Richard D. Willett, Jr., president and chief operating officer.

Costs in the first quarter of 2008 increased over the first quarter of 2007 driven by oil and natural gas and their effect on freight and raw materials. "We expect crude oil and energy costs to remain high throughout the year," added Willett. "The increase in maintenance expense primarily reflects the inclusion of SENA's mills. SG&A expenses declined as a percent of net sales primarily as a result of higher sales prices and efficiencies generated by combining the two companies. We remain on track to meet our previously announced target of $265 million in annual synergies from the SENA acquisition."

During the quarter, NewPage announced its restructuring plans to create the platform essential to become one company, remain competitive in the marketplace, serve customers more efficiently and deliver the expected synergies. As a result of these actions, during the first quarter of 2008, the company incurred total pretax charges of $9 million, consisting of $6 million in accelerated depreciation and inventory write-offs recorded in cost of sales and $3 million of employee-related costs, of which $2 million is recorded in cost of sales and $1 million is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Interest expense for the first quarter was $71 million in 2008 compared to $33 million in 2007. The increase in the quarter-to-quarter comparison resulted from higher outstanding debt balances as a result of financing of the acquisition.

There were no outstanding borrowings under the revolving senior secured credit facility as of March 31, 2008. Based on availability under the borrowing base as of that date, there was $421 million of additional borrowing availability under the revolving senior secured credit facility after taking into account $73 million in letters of credit.

"Recently, we were honored to receive 'Supplier of the Year' awards from xpedx in three separate regions of North America demonstrating the strong relationship we've built with this important merchant," added Suwyn. "This award recognizes our employees' team effort for customer service, delivery, product knowledge, product quality, response to issues and new growth opportunities."

Conference Call

The NewPage First Quarter 2008 Conference Call and Webcast is scheduled for today, May 13, 2008, at 11 a.m. Eastern time. The live conference call and presentation slides may be accessed on the NewPage Web site at www.NewPageCorp.com. Click on the link to the Conference Call and Webcast and follow the instructions to access the webcast in listen and view mode. Please go to the Web site at least one hour prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software. The call will be available live and stored on the Web site for five weeks.

Analysts and investors may access the call by dialing 800-230-1093 (toll-free domestic) or (612) 288-0337 (international). A replay of the call can be accessed via telephone 800-475-6701 (toll-free domestic) or 320-365-3844 (international), access code 919663. The replay will be available starting at 2:30 p.m. (ET) on May 13, 2008, and will remain available until noon (ET) on June 17, 2008.

About NewPage Corporation

Headquartered in Miamisburg, Ohio, NewPage Corporation is the largest coated paper manufacturer in North America, based on production capacity, with $4.7 billion in pro forma net sales for the year ended December 31, 2007. The company's paper product portfolio is the broadest in North America and includes coated freesheet, coated groundwood, supercalendered, newsprint and specialty papers. These papers are used for corporate collateral, commercial printing, magazines, catalogs, books, coupons, inserts, newspapers, packaging applications and direct mail advertising.

NewPage owns paper mills in Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nova Scotia, and Wisconsin. These mills currently have a total annual production capacity of approximately 5.5 million tons of paper, including approximately 4.3 million tons of coated paper, approximately 920,000 tons of uncoated paper and approximately 300,000 tons of specialty paper, as well as approximately 3.2 million tons of pulp.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "project," "plan," "will likely continue," "will likely result," or words or phrases with similar meaning. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, among others, our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of SENA, including anticipated synergies; our substantial level of indebtedness; changes in the supply of, demand for, or prices of our products; the activities of competitors, including those that may be engaged in unfair trade practices; changes in significant operating expenses, including raw material and energy costs; changes in currency exchange rates; changes in the availability of capital; general economic and business conditions in the United States and Canada and elsewhere; changes in the regulatory environment, including requirements for enhanced environmental compliance; and other risks and uncertainties that are detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements.

                               NewPage Corporation
                Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)
                  First Quarters Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
                                  (in millions)

                                           First Quarter      First Quarter
                                           Ended March 31,   Ended March 31,
                                               2008               2007

    Net sales                                   $1,190             $476

    Cost of sales                                1,058              438
    Selling, general and administrative
     expenses                                       55               26
    Interest expense                                71               33
    Other (income) expense, net                     (6)               -

    Income (loss) before income taxes               12              (21)
    Income tax (benefit)                             5               (1)

    Net income (loss)                               $7             $(20)



                               NewPage Corporation
                Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)
                      March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007
                                  (in millions)

                                                  March 31,       December 31,
    ASSETS                                          2008              2007

    Cash and cash equivalents                         $105              $143
    Accounts receivable, net                           390               351
    Inventories                                        611               584
    Other current assets                                40                43
    Total current assets                             1,146             1,121

    Property, plant and equipment, net               3,539             3,564
    Other assets                                       204               198
    TOTAL ASSETS                                    $4,889            $4,883

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY

    Accounts payable                                  $311              $338
    Accrued expenses                                   299               290
    Current maturities of long-term debt                16                16
    Total current liabilities                          626               644

    Long-term debt                                   2,905             2,909
    Other long-term obligations                        389               351
    Deferred income taxes                              300               293
    Commitments and contingencies
    Minority interest                                   30                31

    Stockholder's equity:
    Common stock, 100 shares issued and
     outstanding, $0.01 per share par
     value                                               -                 -
    Additional paid-in capital                         729               729
    Accumulated deficit                                (90)              (97)
    Accumulated other comprehensive
     income (loss)                                       -                23
    Total stockholder's equity                         639               655
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S
     EQUITY                                         $4,889            $4,883



                               NewPage Corporation
           Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
                  First Quarters Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
                                  (in millions)

                                               First Quarter   First Quarter
                                              Ended March 31,  Ended March 31,
                                                   2008             2007
    CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
    Net income (loss)                                   $7              $(20)
    Adjustments to reconcile net income
     (loss) to net cash provided by (used in)
     operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization                       75                34
    Amortization of debt issuance costs
     and debt discount                                   7                 2
    Loss on sale of assets                               1                 -
    Deferred income taxes                                5                (1)
    LIFO effect                                          5                10
    Equity award expense                                 6                 1
    Changes in operating assets and
     liabilities                                      (112)              (23)
              Net cash provided by (used
               in) operating activities                 (6)                3

    CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
    Capital expenditures                               (24)              (14)
    Proceeds from sale of assets                         5                 -
              Net cash provided by (used
               in) investing activities                (19)              (14)

    CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    Distributions from Rumford
     Cogeneration Company, L.P. to
     limited partners                                   (2)               (4)
    Loans to parents                                    (6)               (4)
    Payments on long-term debt                          (4)               (1)
              Net cash provided by (used
               in) financing activities                (12)               (9)

    Effect of exchange rate changes on
     cash and cash equivalents                          (1)                -

    Net increase (decrease) in cash and
     cash equivalents                                  (38)              (20)
     Cash and cash equivalents at
      beginning of period                              143                44
     Cash and cash equivalents at end of
      period                                          $105               $24



                               NewPage Corporation
            Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to EBITDA (unaudited)
                  First Quarters Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
                                  (in millions)

                                               First Quarter    First Quarter
                                              Ended March 31,  Ended March 31,
                                                   2008             2007

    Net income (loss)                                 $7              $(20)
    Plus:
      Interest expense                                71                33
      Income tax expense (benefit)                     5                (1)
      Depreciation and amortization                   75                34

    Earnings before interest, taxes,
     depreciation and amortization
     (EBITDA)                                       $158               $46

    EBITDA is not a measure of our performance under accounting principles
    generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), is not intended to
    represent net income (loss), and should not be used as an alternative to
    net income (loss) as an indicator of performance. EBITDA is shown because
    it is a primary component of certain covenants under our senior secured
    credit facilities and is a basis upon which our management assesses
    performance. In addition, our management believes EBITDA is useful to
    investors because it and similar measures are frequently used by
    securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the
    evaluation of companies with substantial financial leverage. The use of
    EBITDA instead of net income (loss) has limitations as an analytical
    tool, and you should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for
    analysis of our results as reported under GAAP.