EX-99.7 8 d66180dex997.htm EX-99.7 EX-99.7

Exhibit 99.7

West Fraser Announces 2019 Annual and Fourth Quarter Results

VANCOUVER, Feb. 11, 2020 /CNW/ - West Fraser today reported results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2019. Ray Ferris, CEO of West Fraser stated, “This past year has been challenging for West Fraser on multiple fronts. A softer demand environment coupled with high fibre input costs in British Columbia (“B.C.”) resulted in a significant reduction in earnings. We took several difficult decisions to right size our manufacturing footprint in Western Canada by permanently reducing shifts and closing one facility. Despite the difficult conditions, we remained resolute in our commitment to modernize our U.S. South business to achieve its full potential. Several key projects have been completed in 2019 and we are encouraged by the opportunity to fully operationalize them in 2020. The final stage of our Opelika, Alabama modernization will be completed in 2020 with the start up of a new planer mill. We are also underway on the construction of a replacement manufacturing complex in Dudley, Georgia and we anticipate commencing operations at the new mill mid 2021. The new facility will be well positioned to benefit from a strong fibre supply basket and well suited to servicing the local markets.”

Fourth Quarter

 

   

Sales of $1.129 billion

 

   

Lower fibre costs improve lumber earnings compared to third quarter

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA of $80 million or 7.1% of sales

 

   

Quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 declared

2019

 

   

Sales of $4.877 billion

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA of $301 million

 

   

Cash provided by operating activities of $115 million

 

   

Invested $410 million in capital projects

 

   

Year-end liquidity strong with $505 million of available bank lines, net debt to capital ratio at 30%

Recent Developments

On February 3, 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce released the results of its first Administrative Review which if confirmed would result in a combined duty rate of 8.64% and 9.08% respectively for the 2017 and 2018 periods to which such duties applied. Due to the preliminary nature of these Administrative Review rates, no adjustment has been recorded. The duty rates announced on February 3, 2020 are not likely to take effect until August of 2020 and we will continue to make cash deposits at the existing rates. For additional information, refer to the section titled “Discussion & Analysis of Annual Results by Product Segment - Lumber - Softwood Lumber Dispute” in our 2019 Management’s Discussion & Analysis.

Results Compared to Previous Periods

 

($ millions except earnings per share (“EPS”))

   Q4-19     Q3-19     YTD-19     Q4-18      YTD-18  

Sales

     1,129       1,190       4,877       1,274        6,118  

Adjusted EBITDA1

     80       55       301       120        1,538  

Operating earnings

     (31     (54     (159     15        1,072  

Earnings

     (42     (45     (150     29        810  

Basic EPS ($)

     (0.61     (0.65     (2.18     0.42        10.88  

Adjusted Earnings1

     (11     (15     (21     43        945  

Adjusted basic EPS ($)1

     (0.16     (0.22     (0.31     0.63        12.70  


1.

In this News Release, reference is made to Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted earnings and Adjusted basic EPS (collectively “these measures”). We believe that, in addition to earnings, these measures are useful performance indicators. None of these measures is a generally accepted earnings measure under International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and none has a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. Investors are cautioned that these measures should not be considered as an alternative to earnings, EPS or cash flow, as determined in accordance with IFRS. As there is no standardized method of calculating any of these measures, our method of calculating each of them may differ from the methods used by other entities and, accordingly, our use of any of these measures may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures used by other entities. Reconciliations of our Non-IFRS measures to our earnings statement are shown in the various tables of our year-end 2019 Management’s Discussion & Analysis.

Operational results

Our lumber segment generated an operating loss of $23 million (Q3-19 - $53 million loss) and Adjusted EBITDA of $69 million (Q3-19 - $39 million). This quarter’s results were favorably impacted by an increase in lumber prices, cost controls around log procurement, variable operating schedules and the impact of the closure of our Chasm, B.C. lumber facility in the prior quarter. Realized lumber prices improved slightly from the third quarter which impacted Adjusted EBITDA for the segment by $13 million. Lumber shipments declined approximately 10% from the third quarter due to variable operating schedules, shift reductions, mill closures and holidays in the fourth quarter. The decline in shipment volumes negatively impacted Adjusted EBITDA by $8 million compared to the third quarter of 2019. A higher proportion of our lumber shipments came from Alberta and the U.S. South in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter.

Our panels segment generated operating earnings in the quarter of $8 million (Q3-19 - $9 million) and Adjusted EBITDA of $13 million (Q3-19 - $13 million). Increased plywood volumes and lower costs were not able to fully offset lower plywood pricing, and reduced MDF and LVL volumes.

Our pulp & paper segment generated an operating loss of $12 million (Q3-19 - $8 million loss) and an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $1 million (Q3-19 - $3 million income). BCTMP and NBSK shipments improved partially mitigating the fall in pulp prices.

Outlook

The fourth quarter was a slight improvement over the prior two quarters in what has been a very difficult year.

We expect lumber production for 2020 to increase by approximately 350 MMFBM over 2019 production and reach approximately 6,250 MMFBM. Pulp production is expected to be slightly improved in 2020. Capital expenditure is planned to be in the range of $275 to $325 million with a large portion of that dedicated to the Dudley complex. Our focus in 2020 is on realizing the benefits of the capital that we have deployed to our operations in the last two years. Log costs have shown signs of starting to moderate in B.C. but remain well above historical levels and it will likely take until 2021 for stumpage to change materially in B.C.

Recent U.S. new housing data has been encouraging and with the significant reduction of capacity in B.C. over the past year, supply and demand may be in better balance going forward. We remain convinced of potential for further improvement in all our operations. Our consistent business approach, diversified operating footprint, continued reinvestment in our business and development of high-performance teams puts us in a strong position to compete in our sector and product markets.

Annual Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion & Analysis (“MD&A”)

The Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 and related MD&A is available on the Company’s website: www.westfraser.com and on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval at www.sedar.com under the Company’s profile.

Dividend Declared

The Board of Directors of the Company has declared a dividend of $0.20 per share on the Common

 

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shares and the Class B Common shares in the capital of the Company, payable on April 2, 2020 to shareholders of record on March 18, 2020.

Dividends are designated to be eligible dividends pursuant to subsection 89(14) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and any applicable provincial legislation pertaining to eligible dividends.

The Company

West Fraser is a diversified wood products company producing lumber, LVL, MDF, plywood, pulp, newsprint, wood chips, other residuals and energy with facilities in western Canada and the southern United States.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Report contains historical information, descriptions of current circumstances and statements about potential future developments. The latter, which are forward-looking statements, are presented to provide reasonable guidance to the reader but their accuracy depends on a number of assumptions and is subject to various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include reference to the “anticipated start up of the Dudley, Georgia mill” and are included under the heading “Outlook.” Actual outcomes and results will depend on a number of factors that could affect the ability of the Company to execute its business plans, including those matters described in the 2019 annual Management’s Discussion & Analysis under “Risks and Uncertainties”, and may differ materially from those anticipated or projected. Accordingly, readers should exercise caution in relying upon forward-looking statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise them to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Conference Call

Investors are invited to listen to the quarterly conference call on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time (11:30 a.m. Eastern Time) by dialing 1-888-390-0546 (toll-free North America). The call and an earnings presentation may also be accessed through West Fraser’s website at www.westfraser.com.

 

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in millions of Canadian dollars, except where indicated - unaudited)

 

     December 31      December 31  
     2019      2018  

Assets

     

Current assets

     

Cash and short-term investments

   $ 16      $ 160  

Receivables

     258        332  

Income taxes receivable

     135        48  

Inventories (note 4)

     729        791  

Prepaid expenses

     9        14  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     1,147        1,345  

Property, plant and equipment

     2,140        2,056  

Timber licences

     493        513  

Goodwill and other intangibles

     772        767  

Export duty deposits (note 9)

     80        75  

Other assets

     26        32  

Deferred income tax assets

     10        3  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 4,668      $ 4,791  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

     

Current liabilities

     

Cheques issued in excess of funds on deposit

   $ 16      $ 13  

Operating loans

     374        61  

Payables and accrued liabilities

     396        448  

Current portion of long-term debt

     10        —    

Current portion of reforestation and decommissioning obligations

     41        39  

Income taxes payable

     —          34  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

- 3 -


     837        595  

Long-term debt

     650        692  

Other liabilities

     454        316  

Deferred income tax liabilities

     253        292  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2,194        1,895  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity

     

Share capital

     483        491  

Accumulated other comprehensive earnings

     132        170  

Retained earnings

     1,859        2,235  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2,474        2,896  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 4,668      $ 4,791  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Number of Common shares and Class B Common shares outstanding at February 11, 2020 was 68,663,807.

 

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

(in millions of Canadian dollars, except where indicated - unaudited)

 

     October 1 to December 31     January 1 to December 31  
     2019     2018     2019     2018  

Share capital

        

Balance - beginning of period

   $ 483     $ 503     $ 491     $ 549  

Issuance of Common shares

     —         1       1       1  

Repurchase of Common shares

     —         (13     (9     (59
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance - end of period

   $ 483     $ 491     $ 483     $ 491  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive earnings

        

Balance - beginning of period

   $ 146     $ 129     $ 170     $ 108  

Translation gain (loss) on foreign operations

     (14     41       (38     62  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance - end of period

   $ 132     $ 170     $ 132     $ 170  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Retained earnings

        

Balance - beginning of period

   $ 1,952     $ 2,354     $ 2,235     $ 2,069  

Actuarial gain (loss) on post-retirement benefits

     (37     (28     (99     24  

Repurchase of Common shares

     —         (106     (72     (617

Earnings for the period

     (42     29       (150     810  

Dividends

     (14     (14     (55     (51
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance - end of period

   $ 1,859     $ 2,235     $ 1,859     $ 2,235  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 2,474     $ 2,896     $ 2,474     $ 2,896  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Earnings

(in millions of Canadian dollars, except where indicated - unaudited)

 

     October 1 to December 31     January 1 to December 31  
     2019     2018     2019     2018  

Sales

   $ 1,129     $ 1,274     $ 4,877     $ 6,118  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Costs and expenses

        

Cost of products sold

     830       917       3,652       3,617  

Freight and other distribution costs

     166       174       713       732  

Export duties (note 9)

     35       37       162       202  

Amortization

     66       69       259       257  

Selling, general and administration

     53       63       211       231  

Equity-based compensation

     2       (1     6       7  

Restructuring and impairment charges

     8       —         33       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,160       1,259       5,036       5,046  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating earnings

     (31     15       (159     1,072  

Finance expense

     (13     (9     (49     (37

Other (note 5)

     (2     22       (11     37  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before tax

     (46     28       (219     1,072  

Tax recovery (provision) (note 6)

     4       1       69       (262
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings

   $ (42   $ 29     $ (150   $ 810  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per share (dollars) (note 7)

        

Basic

   $ (0.61   $ 0.42     $ (2.18   $ 10.88  

Diluted

   $ (0.61   $ 0.29     $ (2.34   $ 10.62  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

- 4 -


Comprehensive earnings

        

Earnings

   $ (42   $ 29     $ (150   $ 810  

Other comprehensive earnings

        

Translation gain (loss) on foreign operations

     (14     41       (38     62  

Actuarial gain (loss) on post-retirement benefits

     (37     (28     (99     24  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive earnings

   $ (93   $ 42     $ (287   $ 896  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in millions of Canadian dollars, except where indicated - unaudited)

 

     October 1 to December 31     January 1 to December 31  
     2019     2018     2019     2018  

Cash provided by (used in)

        

Operating activities

        

Earnings

   $ (42   $ 29     $ (150   $ 810  

Adjustments

        

Amortization

     66       69       259       257  

Restructuring and impairment charges

     8       —         33       —    

Restructuring charges paid

     (1     —         (7     —    

Finance expense

     13       9       49       37  

Foreign exchange loss (gain) on long-term financing

     1       (6     3       (10

Foreign exchange loss (gain) on export duty deposits

     2       (4     4       (5

Export duty deposits

     (3     (5     (5     (31

Post-retirement expense

     20       24       80       84  

Contributions to post-retirement benefit plans

     (24     (24     (85     (103

Tax provision (recovery)

     (4     (1     (69     262  

Income taxes received (paid)

     23       (41     (62     (316

Other

     2       8       —         (2

Changes in non-cash working capital

        

Receivables

     38       72       70       39  

Inventories

     (76 )      (77     51       (105

Prepaid expenses

     9       7       5       (3

Payables and accrued liabilities

     8       (48     (61 )      (5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     40       12       115       909  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities

        

Proceeds from operating loans

     61       63       314       63  

Finance expense paid

     (16     (12     (43     (32

Repurchase of Common shares

     —         (118     (81     (675

Dividends and other

     (14     (14     (60     (37
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     31       (81     130       (681
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities

        

Additions to capital assets

     (87     (86     (410     (370

Government assistance

     —         1       5       6  

Proceeds from disposal of capital assets

     2       10       14       11  

Other

     (2     (1     —         (1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (87     (76     (391     (354
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in cash

     (16     (145     (146     (126

Foreign exchange effect on cash

     3       10       (1     15  

Cash - beginning of period

     13       282       147       258  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash - end of period

   $ —       $ 147     $ —       $ 147  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash consists of

        

Cash and short-term investments

       $ 16     $ 160  

Cheques issued in excess of funds on deposit

         (16     (13
      

 

 

   

 

 

 
       $ —       $ 147  
      

 

 

   

 

 

 

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(figures are in millions of dollars, except where indicated - unaudited)

 

1.

Nature of operations

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (“West Fraser”, “we”, “us” or “our”) is a diversified wood products company producing lumber, LVL, MDF, plywood, pulp, newsprint, wood chips, other residuals and

 

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energy with facilities in western Canada and the southern United States. Our executive office is located at 858 Beatty Street, Suite 501, Vancouver, British Columbia. West Fraser was formed by articles of amalgamation under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and is registered in British Columbia, Canada. Our Common shares are listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol WFT.

 

2.

Basis of presentation and statement of compliance

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, Interim Financial Reporting as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and use the same accounting policies and methods of their application as the December 31, 2019 annual audited consolidated financial statements. These condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with our 2019 annual audited consolidated financial statements.

 

3.

Seasonality of operations

Our operating results are subject to seasonal fluctuations that impact quarter-to-quarter comparisons. Log availability has a direct impact on our operations. We build up log inventory in Canada during the winter to sustain our lumber and plywood production during the second quarter when logging is curtailed due to wet land conditions. Extreme weather conditions, wildfires in Western Canada and hurricanes in the U.S. South may periodically affect operations including logging, manufacturing and transportation. Consequently, interim operating results may not proportionately reflect operating results for a full year.

 

4.

Inventories

Inventories at December 31, 2019 were written down by $39 million (September 30, 2019 - $46 million; December 31, 2018 - $30 million) to reflect net realizable value being lower than cost.

 

5.

Other

 

     October 1 to December 31      January 1 to December 31  
     2019      2018      2019      2018  

Foreign exchange gain (loss) on working capital

   $ (3    $ 9      $ (7    $ 13  

Foreign exchange gain (loss) on intercompany financing1

     (14      41        (36      65  

Foreign exchange gain (loss) on long-term debt

     13        (35      33        (55

Foreign exchange gain (loss) on export duty deposits receivable

     (2      4        (4      5  

Insurance gain on disposal of equipment2

     —          —          4        —    

Gain on disposal of intangible assets and gain on sale of lumber futures

     —          4        1        11  

Other

     4        (1      (2      (2
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ (2    $ 22      $ (11    $ 37  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

1.

Relates to US$550 million (2018 - US$600 million from January to mid-December and US$550 million thereafter) of financing provided to our U.S. operations. IAS 21 requires that the exchange gain or loss be recognized through earnings as the financing is not considered part of our permanent investment in our U.S. subsidiaries. The balance sheet amounts and related financing expense are eliminated in these consolidated financial statements.

2.

Represents the insurance gain of $4 million related to the 2017 involuntary disposal of equipment at our 50%-owned NBSK plant in Quesnel, British Columbia.

 

6.

Tax provision

The tax provision differs from the amount that would have resulted from applying the British Columbia statutory income tax rate to earnings before tax as follows:

 

     October 1 to December 31      January 1 to December 31  
     2019      2018      2019      2018  

Income tax recovery (expense) at statutory rate of 27%

   $ 12      $ (7    $ 59      $ (289

Non-taxable amounts

     (1      2        2        2  

Rate differentials between jurisdictions and on specified activities

     (1      2        (3      20  

Decrease in Alberta provincial tax rate1

     1        —          18        —    

Other

     (7      4        (7      5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

- 6 -


Tax recovery (provision)

   $ 4      $ 1      $ 69      $ (262
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

1.

Represents the re-measurement of deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the 2019 Alberta rate change from 12% to 8% over the next four years.

 

7.

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is calculated based on earnings available to Common shareholders, as set out below, using the weighted average number of Common shares and Class B Common shares outstanding.

Diluted earnings per share is calculated based on earnings available to Common shareholders adjusted to remove the actual share option expense (recovery) charged to earnings and after deducting a notional charge for share option expense assuming the use of the equity-settled method, as set out below. The diluted weighted average number of shares is calculated using the treasury stock method. When earnings available to Common shareholders for diluted earnings per share are greater than earnings available to Common shareholders for basic earnings per share, the calculation is anti-dilutive and diluted earnings per share are deemed to be the same as basic earnings per share.

 

     October 1 to December 31      January 1 to December 31  
     2019      2018      2019      2018  

Earnings

           

Basic

   $ (42    $ 29      $ (150    $ 810  

Share option expense (recovery)

     3        (9      (8      (9

Equity-settled share option adjustment

     —          —          (4      (3
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted

   $ (39    $ 20      $ (162    $ 798  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares (thousands)

           

Basic

     68,661        70,346        68,882        74,451  

Share options

     232        482        290        652  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted

     68,893        70,828        69,172        75,103  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings per share (dollars)

           

Basic

   $ (0.61    $ 0.42      $ (2.18    $ 10.88  

Diluted

   $ (0.61    $ 0.29      $ (2.34    $ 10.62  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

8.

Segmented information

The table below provides a reconciliation of our non-IFRS measure Adjusted EBITDA. This measurement is used by management to evaluate the operating and financial performance of our operating segments, generate future operating plans, and make strategic decisions, including those relating to operating earnings.

 

     Lumber     Panels     Pulp & Paper     Corporate &
Other
    Total  

October 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019

          

Sales

          

To external customers

   $ 757     $ 140     $ 232     $ —       $ 1,129  

To other segments

     28       2       —         (30 )      —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 785     $ 142     $ 232     $ (30 )    $ 1,129  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost of products sold

     (573 )      (108 )      (179 )      30       (830 ) 

Freight and other distribution costs

     (106 )      (15 )      (44 )      (1 )      (166 ) 

Selling, general and administration

     (37 )      (6 )      (10 )      —         (53 ) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 69     $ 13     $ (1 )    $ (1 )    $ 80  

Export duties

     (35 )      —         —         —         (35 ) 

Equity-based compensation

     —         —         —         (2 )      (2 ) 

Amortization

     (49 )      (5 )      (11 )      (1 )      (66 ) 

Restructuring and impairment charges

     (8 )      —         —         —         (8 ) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating earnings

   $ (23 )    $ 8     $ (12 )    $ (4 )    $ (31 ) 

Finance expense

     (10 )      (1 )      (3 )      1       (13 ) 

Other

     (4 )      —         3       (1 )      (2 ) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before tax

   $ (37 )    $ 7     $ (12 )    $ (4 )    $ (46 ) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

October 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018

          

 

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Sales

          

To external customers

   $ 858     $ 148     $ 268     $ —       $ 1,274  

To other segments

     40       3       —         (43     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 898     $ 151     $ 268     $ (43   $ 1,274  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost of products sold

     (669     (120     (171     43       (917

Freight and other distribution costs

     (120     (15     (39     —         (174

Selling, general and administration

     (41     (7     (11     (4     (63
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 68     $ 9     $ 47     $ (4   $ 120  

Export duties

     (37     —         —         —         (37

Equity-based compensation

     —         —         —         1       1  

Amortization

     (53     (5     (11     —         (69
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating earnings

   $ (22   $ 4     $ 36     $ (3   $ 15  

Finance expense

     (6     —         (3     —         (9

Other

     10       —         7       5       22  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before tax

   $ (18   $ 4     $ 40     $ 2     $ 28  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Lumber     Panels     Pulp & Paper     Corporate &
Other
    Total  

January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019

          

Sales

          

To external customers

   $ 3,317     $ 594     $ 966     $ —       $ 4,877  

To other segments

     125       11       —         (136 )      —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 3,442     $ 605     $ 966     $ (136 )    $ 4,877  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost of products sold

     (2,588 )      (466 )      (734 )      136       (3,652 ) 

Freight and other distribution costs

     (477 )      (63 )      (173 )      —         (713 ) 

Selling, general and administration

     (146 )      (25 )      (39 )      (1 )      (211 ) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 231     $ 51     $ 20     $ (1 )    $ 301  

Export duties

     (162 )      —         —         —         (162 ) 

Equity-based compensation

     —         —         —         (6 )      (6 ) 

Amortization

     (196 )      (16 )      (43 )      (4 )      (259 ) 

Restructuring and impairment charges

     (33 )      —         —         —         (33 ) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating earnings

   $ (160 )    $ 35     $ (23 )    $ (11 )    $ (159 ) 

Finance expense

     (35 )      (4 )      (10 )      —         (49 ) 

Other

     (7 )      —         4       (8 )      (11 ) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before tax

   $ (202 )    $ 31     $ (29 )    $ (19 )    $ (219 ) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018

          

Sales

          

To external customers

   $ 4,291     $ 664     $ 1,163     $ —       $ 6,118  

To other segments

     165       12       —         (177     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 4,456     $ 676     $ 1,163     $ (177   $ 6,118  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost of products sold

     (2,635     (461     (698     177       (3,617

Freight and other distribution costs

     (503     (63     (166     —         (732

Selling, general and administration

     (162     (25     (41     (3     (231
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 1,156     $ 127     $ 258     $ (3   $ 1,538  

Export duties

     (202     —         —         —         (202

Equity-based compensation

     —         —         —         (7     (7

Amortization

     (196     (15     (44     (2     (257
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating earnings

   $ 758     $ 112     $ 214     $ (12   $ 1,072  

Finance expense

     (25     (2     (10     —         (37

Other

     20       —         11       6       37  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before tax

   $ 753     $ 110     $ 215     $ (6   $ 1,072  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The geographic distribution of external sales is as follows1:

 

     October 1 to December 31      January 1 to December 31  
     2019      2018      2019      2018  

Canada

   $ 213      $ 269      $ 979      $ 1,239  

United States

     684        723        2,890        3,661  

China

     153        191        650        734  

Other Asia

     71        83        321        442  

Other

     8        8        37        42  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 1,129      $ 1,274      $ 4,877      $ 6,118  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

1.

Sales distribution is based on the location of product delivery.

 

9.

Countervailing (“CVD”) and antidumping (“ADD”) duty dispute

On November 25, 2016, a coalition of U.S. lumber producers petitioned the U.S. Department of Commerce (“USDOC”) and the U.S. International Trade Commission to investigate alleged subsidies to Canadian softwood lumber producers and levy countervailing and antidumping duties against

 

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Canadian softwood lumber imports. We were chosen by the USDOC as a “mandatory respondent” to both the countervailing and antidumping investigations and as a result have received unique company specific rates.

Additional details can be found in Note 27 “Countervailing (“CVD”) and antidumping (“ADD”) duty dispute” of our 2019 annual audited consolidated financial statements.

Export duties incurred in the period are as follows:

 

     October 1 to December 31      January 1 to December 31  
     2019      2018      2019      2018  

Countervailing duties

   $ 29      $ 33      $ 127      $ 178  

Antidumping duties

     9        9        40        55  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 38      $ 42      $ 167      $ 233  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Recognized in the financial statements as:

 

     October 1 to December 31      January 1 to December 31  
     2019      2018      2019      2018  

Export duties recognized as expense in consolidated statements of earnings

   $ 35      $ 37      $ 162      $ 202  

Export duties recognized as export duty deposits receivable in consolidated balance sheets

     3        5        5        31  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 38      $ 42      $ 167      $ 233  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

As at December 31, 2019, export duties paid and payable on deposit with the USDOC are US$275 million for CVD and US$98 million for ADD for a total of US$373 million.

SOURCE West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2020/11/c9488.html

%SEDAR: 00002660E

For further information: Chris Virostek, Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, (604) 895-2700, www.westfraser.com

CO: West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

CNW 17:01e 11-FEB-20

 

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