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

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 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)

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
(in millions of Canadian dollars, except where indicated - unaudited)

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Earnings
(in millions of Canadian dollars, except where indicated - unaudited)

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in millions of Canadian dollars, except where indicated - unaudited)

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 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

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:

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.

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.

The geographic distribution of external sales is as follows¹:

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 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:

Recognized in the financial statements as:

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.

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