West Fraser Announces Third Quarter Results

VANCOUVER, BC–(Marketwired – October 24, 2016) – West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (TSX: WFT) reported earnings of $107 million or $1.35 basic earnings per share on sales of $1,155 million in the third quarter of 2016. These results compare with previous periods as shown in the table below.

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted earnings and Adjusted basic EPS as described in this News Release reflect the adjustments described in the tables referred to in the section titled “Non-IFRS Measures” of our 2016 third quarter Management’s Discussion & Analysis.

         
($ millions except earnings per   2016   2015
share (“EPS”))   Q3   Q2   YTD   Q3   YTD
Sales   1,155   1,111   3,343   1,044   3,087
Adjusted EBITDA1   213   138   481   82   327
Operating earnings   156   120   355   88   231
Earnings   107   98   247   56   119
Basic EPS ($)   1.35   1.22   3.06   0.67   1.43
Adjusted Earnings1   115   64   229   35   145
Adjusted basic EPS ($)1   1.45   0.80   2.84   0.42   1.74
1. In this News Release, reference is made to Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted earnings and Adjusted 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 none of these measures should 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.
 

Operational Results

In the quarter our lumber operations generated operating earnings of $114 million (Q2-16 – $78 million) and Adjusted EBITDA of $151 million (Q2-16 – $113 million). Higher U.S. dollar lumber prices contributed to the improvement in earnings.

The panel segment, which includes plywood, LVL and MDF, generated operating earnings in the quarter of $30 million (Q2-16 – $18 million) and Adjusted EBITDA of $33 million (Q2-16 – $21 million). Higher plywood prices were the main contributor to the improved earnings.

Our pulp & paper operations generated operating earnings of $22 million (Q2-16 – loss of $5 million) and Adjusted EBITDA of $31 million (Q2-16 – $4 million). Pulp and newsprint prices increased and pulp production was higher resulting in increased earnings.

Outlook

“We’re pleased with the ongoing improvements from our capital spending program. I’m also very proud of our committed and focused employee group who continue to strive to improve operational performance each and every day,” said Ted Seraphim, our President and CEO.

Management’s Discussion & Analysis (“MD&A”)

The Company’s 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.

The Company

West Fraser is a diversified wood products company producing lumber, LVL, MDF, plywood, pulp, newsprint, wood chips 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 and are included under the heading “Outlook”, 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. 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 2015 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 Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time (11:30 a.m. Eastern Time) by dialing 1-866-225-0198 (toll-free North America). The call 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)
         
    September 30   December 31
    2016   2015
Assets        
Current assets        
Cash and short-term investments   $ 52   $ 13
Receivables     332     298
Income taxes receivable         11
Inventories (note 3)     536     631
Prepaid expenses     17     18
      937     971
Property, plant and equipment     1,632     1,609
Timber licences     555     570
Goodwill and other intangibles     365     369
Other assets     18     36
Deferred income tax assets     49     80
    $ 3,556   $ 3,635
             
Liabilities            
Current liabilities            
Cheques issued in excess of funds on deposit   $ 36   $ 29
Operating loans (note 4)     46     178
Payables and accrued liabilities     355     351
Income taxes payable     9    
Reforestation and decommissioning obligations     48     48
      494     606
Long-term debt (note 4)     403     423
Other liabilities (note 5)     372     269
Deferred income tax liabilities     186     190
      1,455     1,488
             
Shareholders’ Equity            
Share capital (note 7)     551     579
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings     137     164
Retained earnings     1,413     1,404
      2,101     2,147
    $ 3,556   $ 3,635
Number of Common shares and Class B Common shares outstanding at October 24, 2016 was 78,552,469.
 
   
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.  
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity  
(in millions of Canadian dollars, except where indicated – unaudited)  
                         
    July 1 to September 30     January 1 to September 30  
    2016     2015     2016     2015  
                         
Share capital                        
Balance – beginning of period   $ 560     $ 587     $ 579     $ 587  
Common share repurchases     (9 )     (8 )     (28 )     (8 )
Balance – end of period   $ 551     $ 579     $ 551     $ 579  
                                 
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings                                
Balance – beginning of period   $ 129     $ 98     $ 164     $ 55  
Translation gain (loss) on foreign operations     8       41       (27 )     84  
Balance – end of period   $ 137     $ 139     $ 137     $ 139  
                                 
Retained earnings                                
Balance – beginning of period   $ 1,332     $ 1,447     $ 1,404     $ 1,387  
Actuarial gain (loss) on post-retirement benefits     26       (40 )     (79 )     (31 )
Common share repurchases     (47 )     (52 )     (142 )     (52 )
Earnings for the period     107       56       247       119  
Dividends     (5 )     (5 )     (17 )     (17 )
Balance – end of period   $ 1,413     $ 1,406     $ 1,413     $ 1,406  
                                 
Shareholders’ Equity   $ 2,101     $ 2,124     $ 2,101     $ 2,124  
                                 
   
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.  
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Earnings  
(in millions of Canadian dollars, except where indicated – unaudited)  
                         
    July 1 to September 30     January 1 to September 30  
    2016     2015     2016     2015  
                         
Sales   $ 1,155     $ 1,044     $ 3,343     $ 3,087  
                                 
Costs and expenses                                
Cost of products sold     739       756       2,263       2,162  
Freight and other distribution costs     158       164       473       467  
Export taxes           14             26  
Amortization     50       49       147       141  
Selling, general and administration     45       28       126       105  
Equity-based compensation     7       (55 )     (21 )     (45 )
      999       956       2,988       2,856  
Operating earnings     156       88       355       231  
Finance expense     (7 )     (8 )     (22 )     (23 )
Other (note 9)     1       (22 )     (8 )     (48 )
Earnings before tax     150       58       325       160  
Tax provision (note 10)     (43 )     (2 )     (78 )     (41 )
Earnings   $ 107     $ 56     $ 247     $ 119  
                                 
Earnings per share (dollars) (note 11)                                
Basic   $ 1.35     $ 0.67     $ 3.06     $ 1.43  
Diluted   $ 1.35     $ 0.05     $ 2.73     $ 0.83  
                                 
Comprehensive earnings                                
Earnings   $ 107     $ 56     $ 247     $ 119  
Other comprehensive earnings                                
Translation gain (loss) on foreign operations     8       41       (27 )     84  
Actuarial gain (loss) on post-retirement benefits (note 6)     26       (40 )     (79 )     (31 )
Comprehensive earnings   $ 141     $ 57     $ 141     $ 172  
                                 
   
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.  
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows  
(in millions of Canadian dollars, except where indicated – unaudited)  
                         
    July 1 to September 30     January 1 to September 30  
    2016     2015     2016     2015  
Cash provided by operations                        
Earnings   $ 107     $ 56     $ 247     $ 119  
Adjustments                                
  Amortization     50       49       147       141  
  Finance expense     7       8       22       23  
  Foreign exchange loss (gain) on long-term financing     2       20       (8 )     43  
  Loss on power agreements, net of settlement costs           17       11       29  
  Post-retirement expense     18       23       53       51  
  Contributions to post-retirement benefit plans     (18 )     (23 )     (46 )     (44 )
  Tax provision     43       2       78       41  
  Income taxes received (paid)     6       (8 )     1       (62 )
  Other     (22 )     (9 )     (51 )     (5 )
Changes in non-cash working capital                                
  Receivables     (6 )     7       (36 )     (19 )
  Inventories     5       (10 )     89       52  
  Prepaid expenses     16       10       1       (6 )
  Payables and accrued liabilities     41       (53 )     (1 )     (34 )
      249       89       507       329  
                                 
Cash used for financing                                
Proceeds from (repayment of) operating loans     (99 )     6       (133 )     (69 )
Finance expense paid     (3 )     (1 )     (14 )     (12 )
Dividends     (5 )     (5 )     (17 )     (17 )
Common share repurchases     (58 )     (60 )     (170 )     (60 )
Other     3       (1 )     3       (1 )
      (162 )     (61 )     (331 )     (159 )
                                 
Cash used for investing                                
Additions to capital assets     (76 )     (51 )     (182 )     (169 )
Government assistance     1             8        
Other     1       (1 )     1       5  
      (74 )     (52 )     (173 )     (164 )
                                 
Change in cash     13       (24 )     3       6  
Foreign exchange effect on cash     12       5       29       12  
Cash – beginning of period     (9 )     22       (16 )     (15 )
Cash – end of period   $ 16     $ 3     $ 16     $ 3  
                                 
Cash consists of                                
Cash and short-term investments                   $ 52     $ 21  
Cheques issued in excess of funds on deposit                     (36 )     (18 )
                    $ 16     $ 3  
                                 

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 and 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 using the same accounting policies and methods of their application as the December 31, 2015 annual financial statements. These condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with our 2015 annual financial statements.

3. Inventories

Inventories at September 30, 2016 were written down by $10 million (June 30, 2016 – $11 million; December 31, 2015 – $21 million; September 30, 2015 – $37 million) to reflect net realizable value being lower than cost.

4. Long-term debt and operating loans

Long-term debt

             
    September 30, 2016     December 31, 2015  
US$300 million senior notes due October 2024; interest at 4.35%   $ 394     $ 415  
US$8 million note payable due October 2020; interest at 2.00%     10       10  
Notes payable     3       2  
      407       427  
Deferred financing costs     (4 )     (4 )
    $ 403     $ 423  
                 

The fair value of the long-term debt is $390 million (December 31, 2015 – $406 million) based on rates available to us at the balance sheet date for long-term debt with similar terms and remaining maturities.

Operating loans

We have $616 million in revolving lines of credit of which $46 million (net of deferred financing costs of $3 million) were drawn as at September 30, 2016 (December 31, 2015 – $178 million, net of deferred financing costs of $3 million).

Our revolving lines of credit consist of a $500 million revolving credit facility which matures September 30, 2020, a $33 million (US$25 million) demand line of credit dedicated to our U.S. operations, two demand lines of credit totalling $75 million dedicated to letters of credit, and an $8 million demand line of credit dedicated to our jointly owned newsprint operation. Interest on the facilities is payable at floating rates based on Prime, U.S. base, Bankers’ Acceptances or LIBOR at our option. As at September 30, 2016, letters of credit in the amount of $47 million have been issued under these facilities.

All debt is unsecured except the $8 million joint operation demand line of credit, which is secured by that joint operation’s current assets.

5. Other liabilities

         
    September 30, 2016   December 31, 2015
Post-retirement (note 6)   $ 259   $ 142
Reforestation     68     76
Decommissioning     28     29
Other     17     22
    $ 372   $ 269
             

6. Post-retirement benefits

We maintain defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans covering a majority of our employees. The defined benefit plans generally do not require employee contributions and provide a guaranteed level of pension payable for life based either on length of service or on earnings and length of service. We also provide group life insurance, medical and extended health benefits to certain employee groups.

The status of the defined benefit pension plans and other retirement benefit plans, in aggregate, is as follows:

             
    September 30, 2016     December 31, 2015  
Projected benefit obligations   $ (1,759 )   $ (1,532 )
Fair value of plan assets     1,511       1,409  
Impact of minimum funding requirement     (5 )     (11 )
    $ (253 )   $ (134 )
Represented by                
Post-retirement assets   $ 6     $ 8  
Post-retirement liabilities (note 5)     (259 )     (142 )
    $ (253 )   $ (134 )
                 

The significant actuarial assumptions used to determine our balance sheet date post-retirement assets and liabilities are as follows:

             
    September 30, 2016   June 30, 2016   December 31, 2015
Discount rate   3.25%   3.25%   4.00%
Future compensation rate increase   3.50%   3.50%   3.50%
             

The change in the discount rate on obligations and the difference between the actual rate of return and the discount rate on plan assets generated an actuarial gain (loss) on post-retirement benefits, included in other comprehensive earnings, as follows:

             
    July 1 to September 30     January 1 to September 30  
    2016     2015     2016     2015  
Actuarial gain (loss)   $ 35     $ (54 )   $ (108 )   $ (43 )
Tax recovery (provision)     (9 )     14       29       12  
    $ 26     $ (40 )   $ (79 )   $ (31 )
                                 

7. Share Capital

During the three months ended September 30, 2016 we purchased 1,284,558 of our Common shares (nine months ended September 30, 2016 – 3,914,306 Common shares) under our normal course issuer bid (“NCIB”) program, which expired on September 16, 2016. The purchase price averaged $43.23 per share and totalled $56 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 (nine months ended September 30, 2016 – $43.39 per share and $170 million).

On September 8, 2016 our Board of Directors authorized the renewal of our NCIB to repurchase for cancellation up to 3,834,226 Common shares or approximately 5% of our issued and outstanding Common shares. The NCIB will expire September 18, 2017.

8. Insurance proceeds

Our WestPine MDF mill, located in Quesnel British Columbia, was closed due to a fire on March 9, 2016 and will remain closed until repairs are complete. The mill is insured for property damage and business interruption. The impact on pre-tax earnings is as follows:

         
    July 1 to
September 30
  January 1 to
September 30
    2016
Estimated business interruption, less policy deductible   $ 7   $ 13
Estimated gain on disposal of equipment (note 9)         5
    $ 7   $ 18
             

Estimated business interruption insurance is recorded as a reduction of cost of products sold in each period the mill remains closed. Estimated insurance proceeds to be spent to replace equipment are accounted for as proceeds of disposition, and the resulting gain has been included in other income.

The final amount of the insurance claim will be determined after the mill reconstruction is complete and the mill returns to expected production rates.

9. Other

             
    July 1 to September 30     January 1 to September 30  
    2016     2015     2016     2015  
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on working capital   $ 2     $ 10     $ (8 )   $ 19  
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on intercompany financing1     4       5       (14 )     9  
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on long-term debt     (6 )     (25 )     22       (52 )
Gain on disposal of WestPine equipment (note 8)                 5        
Loss on power agreements           (17 )     (19 )     (29 )
Other     1       5       6       5  
    $ 1     $ (22 )   $ (8 )   $ (48 )
1. Relates to US$200 million 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.  
   

In March 2016 the termination of our three-year power strip agreement was negotiated. In addition, Capital Power Corporation gave notice of its intent to terminate its role as buyer of the Sundance C Power Arrangement (“the Acquired PPA”) effective March 24, 2016. As a result of this termination, our role as a party to the Power Syndicate Agreement also terminated. These agreements had provided us with a portion of the electricity generated from two power plants in Alberta at substantially predetermined rates.

Prior to the termination we recorded the agreements at fair value with the resulting gains or losses being recorded through other income. As at the release date of these condensed consolidated financial statements, we have been advised that the Government of Alberta has challenged the right of Capital Power Corporation to terminate the Acquired PPA. If the termination is successfully challenged additional losses would be incurred, although the amount of such losses is not reasonably determinable at this time. The amount of such loss will be recorded through earnings at such time as it can be determined.

10. Tax provision

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

             
    July 1 to September 30     January 1 to September 30  
    2016     2015     2016     2015  
Income tax expense at statutory rate of 26%   $ (40 )   $ (15 )   $ (85 )   $ (42 )
Non-taxable amounts     (1 )     12       9       10  
Rate differentials between jurisdictions and on specified activities     (3 )     3       (7 )     4  
Increase in Alberta provincial tax rate                       (7 )
Unrecognized capital losses           (3 )     1       (6 )
Other     1       1       4        
Tax provision   $ (43 )   $ (2 )   $ (78 )   $ (41 )
                                 

11. 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.

             
    July 1 to September 30     January 1 to September 30  
    2016   2015     2016     2015  
Earnings                      
Basic   $ 107   $ 56     $ 247     $ 119  
Share option expense (recovery)     4     (52 )     (21 )     (46 )
Equity-settled share option adjustment         (1 )     (3 )     (3 )
Diluted   $ 111   $ 3     $ 223     $ 70  
                               
Weighted average number of shares (thousands)                              
Basic     79,310     82,906       80,819       83,320  
Share options     799     1,207       863       1,352  
Diluted     80,109     84,113       81,682       84,672  
                               
Earnings per share (dollars)                              
Basic   $ 1.35   $ 0.67     $ 3.06     $ 1.43  
Diluted   $ 1.35   $ 0.05     $ 2.73     $ 0.83  
                               

12. Segmented information

                               
                Pulp &     Corporate        
    Lumber     Panels     paper     & other     Total  
July 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016                              
                               
Sales                              
  To external customers   $ 788     $ 137     $ 230     $     $ 1,155  
  To other segments     26       2                      
    $ 814     $ 139     $ 230     $          
                                         
Operating earnings before amortization   $ 151     $ 33     $ 31     $ (9 )   $ 206  
                                         
Amortization     (37 )     (3 )     (9 )     (1 )     (50 )
Operating earnings     114       30       22       (10 )     156  
                                         
Finance expense     (4 )     (1 )     (2 )           (7 )
Other     1             1       (1 )     1  
                                         
Earnings before tax   $ 111     $ 29     $ 21     $ (11 )   $ 150  
                                         
July 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015                                        
                                         
Sales                                        
  To external customers   $ 668     $ 146     $ 230     $     $ 1,044  
  To other segments     29       2                      
    $ 697     $ 148     $ 230     $          
                                         
Operating earnings before amortization   $ 26     $ 29     $ 25     $ 57     $ 137  
                                         
Amortization     (35 )     (3 )     (11 )           (49 )
Operating earnings     (9 )     26       14       57       88  
                                         
Finance expense     (5 )     (1 )     (2 )           (8 )
                                         
Other     3             (4 )     (21 )     (22 )
                                         
Earnings before tax   $ (11 )   $ 25     $ 8     $ 36     $ 58  
                                   
                               
                Pulp &     Corporate        
    Lumber     Panels     paper     & other     Total  
January 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016                          
                               
Sales                              
  To external customers   $ 2,288     $ 399     $ 656     $     $ 3,343  
  To other segments     79       6                      
    $ 2,367     $ 405     $ 656     $          
                                         
Operating earnings before amortization   $ 364     $ 69     $ 49     $ 20     $ 502  
                                         
Amortization     (109 )     (9 )     (27 )     (2 )     (147 )
Operating earnings     255       60       22       18       355  
                                         
Finance expense     (13 )     (3 )     (6 )           (22 )
                                         
Other     (2 )     3       (21 )     12       (8 )
                                         
Earnings before tax   $ 240     $ 60     $ (5 )   $ 30     $ 325  
                                         
January 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015                                  
                                         
Sales                                        
  To external customers   $ 1,998     $ 409     $ 680     $     $ 3,087  
  To other segments     82       6                      
    $ 2,080     $ 415     $ 680     $          
                                         
Operating earnings before amortization   $ 188     $ 76     $ 63     $ 45     $ 372  
                                         
Amortization     (100 )     (10 )     (30 )     (1 )     (141 )
Operating earnings     88       66       33       44       231  
                                         
Finance expense     (14 )     (3 )     (6 )           (23 )
                                         
Other     5       (2 )     (7 )     (44 )     (48 )
                                         
Earnings before tax   $ 79     $ 61     $ 20     $     $ 160  
                                         
 
The geographic distribution of external sales is as follows1:
    July 1 to September 30   January 1 to September 30
    2016   2015   2016   2015
Canada   $ 261   $ 223   $ 759   $ 669
United States     666     588     1,942     1,672
China     118     140     351     470
Other Asia     94     76     242     224
Other     16     17     49     52
    $ 1,155   $ 1,044   $ 3,343   $ 3,087
1. Sales distribution is based on the location of product delivery.

For more information:
Larry Hughes
Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Rodger Hutchinson
Vice-President, Corporate Controller and Investor Relations
(604) 895-2700
www.westfraser.com