Interfor Reports Q1’22 Results


Adjusted EBITDA of $570 million and Net Earnings of $397 million
With Record Production

BURNABY, British Columbia, May 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INTERFOR CORPORATION (“Interfor” or the “Company”) (TSX: IFP) recorded Net earnings in Q1’22 of $397.0 million, or $6.69 per share, compared to $69.7 million, or $1.15 per share in Q4’21 and $264.5 million, or $4.01 per share in Q1’21. Adjusted net earnings in Q1’22 were $392.5 million compared to $78.2 million in Q4’21 and $270.6 million in Q1’21.

Adjusted EBITDA was $570.1 million on sales of $1.3 billion in Q1’22 versus $149.5 million on sales of $675.9 million in Q4’21.

Notable items in the quarter:

  • Acquisition of EACOM Timber Corporation

    • On February 22, 2022, the Company completed the transaction to acquire 100% of the equity interests of EACOM Timber Corporation (“EACOM”) from an affiliate of Kelso & Company. The acquisition includes seven sawmills with a combined lumber production capacity of 985 million board feet, an I-Joist plant with annual production capacity of 70 million linear feet, and a value-added remanufacturing plant with annual production capacity of 60 million board feet (the “Acquired Eastern Canada Operations”). The Company paid total consideration of $731.2 million which was funded from cash on hand and drawings on the Revolving Term Line.
    • The Acquired Eastern Canada Operations contributed $5.1 million of Adjusted EBITDA to Interfor’s first quarter results, which is net of $68.0 million recorded in production costs related to fair value adjustments recognized at the acquisition date.
  • Record Lumber Production

    • Total lumber production in Q1’22 was 921 million board feet, representing an increase of 163 million board feet quarter-over-quarter and setting an Interfor production record. The U.S. South and U.S. Northwest regions accounted for 452 million board feet and 173 million board feet, respectively, compared to 409 million board feet and 166 million board feet in Q4’21. Production in the B.C. region increased to 196 million board feet from 183 million board feet in Q4’21. The Acquired Eastern Canada Operations accounted for 100 million board feet in Q1’22.
    • Total lumber shipments were 860 million board feet, or 141 million higher than Q4’21.
    • The 61 million board feet shortfall of lumber shipments compared to production was the result of ongoing logistics constraints across the U.S. and Canada.
  • Strengthening Lumber Prices
     
    • Interfor’s average selling price was $1,410 per mfbm, up $588 per mfbm versus Q4’21. The SYP Composite, Western SPF Composite and KD H-F Stud 2x4 9’ price benchmarks increased quarter-over-quarter by US$475, US$506 and US$560 per mfbm to US$1,119, US$1,159 and US$1,293 per mfbm, respectively, with the majority of these increases occurring early in the quarter.
  • Strong Free Cash Flow Generation

    • Interfor generated $378.8 million of cash flow from operations before changes in working capital, or $6.38 per share. This was partially offset by a $97.6 million investment in working capital, primarily related to higher trade receivables driven by lumber prices and seasonally higher log inventories in B.C.
    • Net debt ended the quarter at $340.2 million, or 15.8% of invested capital, resulting in available liquidity of $483.3 million.
  • Strategic Capital Investments
     
    • Capital spending was $50.9 million, including $34.8 million on high-return discretionary projects. The majority of this discretionary spending was focused on the ongoing multi-year rebuild of the Eatonton, GA sawmill and a new planer at the Castlegar, BC sawmill.
  • Restart of the DeQuincy, LA Sawmill

    • Lumber production at the sawmill in DeQuincy, LA restarted on January 9, 2022, well ahead of schedule. During Q1’22, the sawmill was operating on one shift and increased to two shifts by April 2022. Ramp-up to its 200 million board foot annual capacity is expected by the end of 2022.
  • Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”)

    • During Q1’22, Interfor purchased 5,026,305 common shares under the Company’s NCIB for total consideration of $194.3 million. In April 2022, Interfor purchased 1,015,396 common shares for total consideration of $32.9 million. This completed the purchase of all 6,041,701 common shares allowable under the NCIB for total consideration of $227.2 million, representing an average price of $37.60 per share or 1.15 times book value per share at March 31, 2022.
  • Minority Interest in GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. (“GreenFirst”)

    • On May 2, 2022, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Interfor acquired a total of 28,684,433 common shares in the capital of GreenFirst from Rayonier A.M. Canada G.P., which represents approximately 16.2% of GreenFirst’s issued and outstanding common shares. The Company paid total cash consideration of $55.6 million.
  • Sale of Acorn Speciality Sawmill in BC

    • On April 12, 2022, the Company announced it had reached an agreement to sell its Acorn specialty sawmill located near Vancouver, British Columbia to an affiliate of San Industries Ltd. The completion of the transaction is subject to customary conditions and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022.
  • Softwood Lumber Duties

    • Interfor expensed $35.8 million of duties in the quarter, representing the full amount of countervailing (“CV”) and anti-dumping (“AD”) duties incurred on shipments of softwood lumber from its Canadian operations to the U.S. at a combined rate of 17.91%.
    • Interfor has cumulative duties of US$362.1 million held in trust by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as at March 31, 2022, including US$161.2 million of duty deposits related to the Acquired Eastern Canada Operations. Except for US$104.7 million in respect of overpayments arising from duty rate adjustments and the fair value of assumed rights to duties acquired related to the Acquired Eastern Canada Operations, Interfor has recorded the duty deposits as an expense.  

Outlook

North American lumber markets over the near term are expected to remain above historical trends driven by continued strong demand from new housing starts and repair and remodel activity, albeit with volatility as the North American economy adjusts to inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, logistics constraints and labour shortages.

Interfor expects lumber demand to continue to grow over the mid-term, as repair and renovation activities and new housing starts in the U.S. benefit from favourable underlying demand fundamentals. However, the potential for elevated interest rates exists, which may reduce housing affordability and slow the growth in demand for lumber.

Interfor’s strategy of maintaining a diversified portfolio of operations in multiple regions allows the Company to both reduce risk and maximize returns on capital over the business cycle. Interfor is well positioned with its strong balance sheet and significant available liquidity to continue pursuing its strategic plans despite ongoing economic and geo-political uncertainty globally.

Financial and Operating Highlights1  

  For the three months ended
  Mar. 31,Mar. 31,Dec. 31,
 Unit202220212021
     
Financial Highlights2    
Total sales$MM1,349.0849.3675.9
Lumber$MM1,212.5762.4591.5
Logs, residual products and other$MM136.586.984.4
Operating earnings$MM512.7355.699.2
Net earnings$MM397.0264.569.7
Net earnings per share, basic$/share6.694.011.15
Adjusted net earnings3$MM392.5270.678.2
Adjusted net earnings per share, basic3$/share6.614.111.29
Operating cash flow per share (before working capital changes)3$/share6.385.732.19
Adjusted EBITDA3$MM570.1392.1149.5
Adjusted EBITDA margin3%42.3%46.2%22.1%
     
Total assets$MM3,081.42,159.72,603.5
Total debt$MM403.1377.3375.7
Net debt3$MM340.2(236.0)(162.9)
Net debt to invested capital3%15.8%(21.7%)(11.1%)
Annualized return on capital employed3%86.8%79.2%18.2%
     
Operating Highlights    
Lumber productionmillion fbm921687758
Lumber salesmillion fbm860666719
Lumber - average selling price4$/thousand fbm1,4101,143822
     
Average USD/CAD exchange rate51 USD in CAD1.26621.26601.2603
Closing USD/CAD exchange rate51 USD in CAD1.24961.25751.2678
     

Notes:

  1. Figures in this table may not equal or sum to figures presented elsewhere due to rounding.
  2. Financial information presented for interim periods in this release is prepared in accordance with IFRS and is unaudited.
  3. Refer to the Non-GAAP Measures section of this release for definitions and reconciliations of these measures to figures reported in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
  4. Gross sales before duties.
  5. Based on Bank of Canada foreign exchange rates.

Liquidity

Balance Sheet

Interfor’s Net debt at March 31, 2022 was $340.2 million, or 15.8% of invested capital, representing an increase of $503.1 million from the level of Net debt at December 31, 2021.

As at March 31, 2022 the Company had net working capital of $462.4 million and available liquidity of $483.3 million, based on the full borrowing capacity under its $500 million Revolving Term Line.

The Revolving Term Line and Senior Secured Notes are subject to financial covenants, including a net debt to total capitalization ratio and an EBITDA interest coverage ratio.

Management believes, based on circumstances known today, that Interfor has sufficient working capital and liquidity to fund operating and capital requirements for the foreseeable future.

 For the three months ended
 Mar. 31,Dec. 31,Mar. 31,
Thousands of Dollars202220212021
    
Net debt   
Net debt, period opening$(162,886)$(133,829)$(75,432)
Revolving Term Line net drawings31,1502,198-
Impact on U.S. Dollar denominated debt from strengthening CAD(3,713)(1,851)(4,710)
Decrease (increase) in cash and cash equivalents478,203(31,623)(162,167)
Impact on U.S. Dollar denominated cash and cash equivalents from (weakening) strengthening CAD(2,574)2,2196,343
Net debt, period ending$340,180$(162,886)$(235,966)

On December 17, 2021, the Company completed an early renewal and expansion of its Revolving Term Line. The commitment under the facility was increased by $150 million to a total of $500 million, and the term was extended from March 2024 to December 2026.

Capital Resources

The following table summarizes Interfor’s credit facilities and availability as of March 31, 2022:

 RevolvingSenior 
 TermSecured 
Thousands of Canadian DollarsLineNotesTotal
Available line of credit and maximum borrowing available$500,000$368,112$868,112
Less:   
Drawings35,000368,112403,112
Outstanding letters of credit included in line utilization44,606-44,606
Unused portion of facility$420,394$         -420,394
Add:   
Cash and cash equivalents  62,932
Available liquidity at March 31, 2022  $483,326

Interfor’s Revolving Term Line matures in December 2026 and its Senior Secured Notes have maturities principally in the years 2024-2030.

As of March 31, 2022, the Company had commitments for capital expenditures totaling $128.9 million for both maintenance and discretionary capital projects.

Non-GAAP Measures

This release makes reference to the following non-GAAP measures: Adjusted net earnings, Adjusted net earnings per share, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Net debt to invested capital, Operating cash flow per share (before working capital changes), and Annualized return on capital employed which are used by the Company and certain investors to evaluate operating performance and financial position. These non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

The following table provides a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to figures as reported in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements (unaudited for interim periods) prepared in accordance with IFRS:

 For the three months ended
 Mar. 31,Mar. 31,Dec. 31,
Thousands of Canadian Dollars except number of shares and per share amounts202220212021
    
Adjusted Net Earnings   
Net earnings$397,031$264,487$69,653
Add:   
Asset write-downs and restructuring costs3,1981426,841
Other foreign exchange (gain) loss(12,823)2,3464,468
Long term incentive compensation expense3,6717,6708,058
Other income excluding business interruption insurance(395)(1,996)(7,816)
Post closure wind-down costs-224-
Income tax effect of above adjustments1,794(2,229)(3,036)
Adjusted net earnings$392,476$270,644$78,168
Weighted average number of shares - basic ('000)59,357 65,927 60,787
Adjusted net earnings per share$6.61$4.11$1.29
     
Adjusted EBITDA   
Net earnings$397,031$264,487$69,653
Add:   
Depreciation of plant and equipment33,11321,47427,053
Depletion and amortization of timber, roads and other9,1246,9688,397
Finance costs5,1694,5244,425
Income tax expense132,02686,25628,462
EBITDA576,463383,709137,990
Add:   
Long term incentive compensation expense3,6717,6708,058
Other foreign exchange (gain) loss(12,823)2,3464,468
Other income excluding business interruption insurance(395)(1,996)(7,816)
Asset write-downs and restructuring costs3,1981426,841
Post closure wind-down costs-224-
Adjusted EBITDA$570,114$392,095$149,541
Sales$1,349,038$849,307$675,895
Adjusted EBITDA margin42.3%46.2%22.1%
    
Net debt to invested capital   
Net debt   
Total debt$403,112$377,250$375,675
Cash and cash equivalents(62,932)(613,216)(538,561)
Total net debt$340,180$(235,966)$(162,886)
Invested capital   
Net debt$340,180$(235,966)$(162,886)
Shareholders' equity1,817,3711,322,2221,635,973
Total invested capital$2,157,551$1,086,256$1,473,087
Net debt to invested capital115.8%(21.7%)(11.1%)
    
Operating cash flow per share (before working capital changes)   
Cash provided by operating activities$281,214$285,080$86,203
Cash used in operating working capital97,56792,60446,852
Operating cash flow (before working capital changes)$378,781$377,684$133,055
Weighted average number of shares - basic ('000)59,357 65,927 60,787
Operating cash flow per share (before working capital changes)$6.38$5.73$2.19
    
Annualized return on capital employed   
Net earnings$397,031$264,487$69,653
Add:   
Finance costs5,1694,5244,425
Income tax expense132,02686,25628,462
Earnings before income taxes and finance costs$534,226$355,267$102,540
Capital employed   
Total assets$3,081,351$2,159,692$2,603,510
Current liabilities(472,686)(263,526)(321,642)
Add:   
Bank indebtedness--2,202
Current portion of long term debt6,7696,8116,868
Current portion of lease liabilities15,01412,16912,239
Capital employed, end of period$2,630,448$1,915,146$2,303,177
Capital employed, beginning of period2,303,1771,672,1032,200,165
Average capital employed$2,466,812$1,793,624$2,251,671
Earnings before income taxes and finance costs divided by average capital employed21.7%19.8%4.6%
Annualization factor4.04.04.0
Annualized return on capital employed86.8%79.2%18.2%

Note: 1 Net debt to invested capital as of the period end.


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 (unaudited)
(thousands of Canadian Dollars except earnings per share)Three MonthsThree Months
 Mar. 31, 2022Mar. 31, 2021
 

  
  
Sales$1,349,038$849,307
Costs and expenses:  
Production733,830432,167
Selling and administration17,62812,879
Long term incentive compensation expense3,6717,670
U.S. countervailing and anti-dumping duty deposits35,81712,390
Depreciation of plant and equipment33,11321,474
Depletion and amortization of timber, roads and other9,1246,968
 833,183493,548
   
Operating earnings before asset write-downs and restructuring costs515,855355,759
   
Asset write-downs and restructuring costs3,198142
Operating earnings512,657355,617
   
Finance costs(5,169)(4,524)
Other foreign exchange gain (loss)12,823(2,346)
Other income8,7461,996
  16,400(4,874)
    
Earnings before income taxes529,057350,743
   
Income tax expense  
Current122,58083,173
Deferred9,4463,083
 132,02686,256
   
Net earnings$397,031$264,487
   
Net earnings per share  
Basic$6.69$4.01
Diluted$6.66$4.00


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 (unaudited)
(thousands of Canadian Dollars)Three MonthsThree Months
 Mar. 31, 2022Mar. 31, 2021
   
Net earnings
$397,031$264,487
   
Other comprehensive loss:  
Items that will not be recycled to Net earnings:  
Defined benefit plan actuarial gain, net of tax2,7864,472
    
Items that are or may be recycled to Net earnings:  
Foreign currency translation differences for foreign operations, net of tax(24,729)(8,887)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax(21,943)(4,415)
   
Comprehensive income $375,088$260,072


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 (unaudited)
(thousands of Canadian Dollars)Three MonthsThree Months
 Mar. 31, 2022Mar. 31, 2021
   
   
Cash provided by (used in):  
Operating activities:  
Net earnings $397,031$264,487
Items not involving cash:  
Depreciation of plant and equipment33,11321,474
Depletion and amortization of timber, roads and other9,1246,968
Deferred income tax expense9,4463,083
Current income tax expense122,58083,173
Finance costs5,1694,524
Other assets(40)(431)
Reforestation liability1,736496
Provisions and other liabilities(12,910)495
Stock options241196
Write-down of plant and equipment1,223-
Unrealized foreign exchange loss1,8083,011
Other income(8,746)(1,996)
Income taxes paid(180,994)(7,796)
 378,781377,684
Cash generated from (used in) operating working capital:  
Trade accounts receivable and other(64,651)(67,859)
Inventories(24,434)(24,352)
Prepayments(162)(3,348)
Trade accounts payable and provisions(8,320)2,955
 281,214285,080
   
Investing activities:  
Additions to property, plant and equipment(51,023)(26,331)
Additions to roads and bridges155(2,885)
Acquisitions(537,679)(73,630)
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment1,1905,693
Net proceeds from investments and other assets392157
 (586,965)(96,996)
    
Financing activities:  
Issuance of share capital, net of expenses        3771,945
Share repurchases(194,308)(20,303)
Interest payments(5,012)(4,258)
Lease liability payments(4,470)(3,301)
Debt refinancing costs(189)-
Term line net repayments(2,209)-
Additions to long term debt328,720-
Repayment of long-term debt(295,361)-
 (172,452)(25,917)
   
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on cash and cash equivalents held in a foreign currency2,574(6,343)
(Decrease) increase in cash (475,629)155,824
   
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period538,561457,392
   
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$62,932$613,216


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 (unaudited)
(thousands of Canadian Dollars)Mar. 31, 2022Dec. 31, 2021
   
Assets  
Current assets:  
Cash and cash equivalents$62,932$538,561
Trade accounts receivable and other338,946147,764
Income taxes receivable-12,776
Inventories511,993250,481
Prepayments21,21516,125
 935,086965,707
   
Employee future benefits22,9458,338
Deposits and other assets141,02652,221
Right of use assets43,51033,547
Property, plant and equipment1,398,6931,067,754
Roads and bridges34,14027,101
Timber licences105,114106,136
Goodwill and other intangible assets399,601342,291
Deferred income taxes1,236415
   
 $3,081,351$2,603,510
   
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity  
Current liabilities:
  
Bank indebtedness$         -$2,202
Trade accounts payable and provisions308,934218,825
Current portion of long term debt6,7696,868
Reforestation liability16,74916,670
Lease liabilities15,01412,239
Income taxes payable125,22064,838
 472,686321,642
   
Reforestation liability31,09129,250
Lease liabilities33,09026,850
Long term debt396,343366,605
Employee future benefits10,5959,069
Provisions and other liabilities35,09443,686
Deferred income taxes285,081170,435
   
Equity:  
Share capital444,573484,721
Contributed surplus4,7734,694
Translation reserve33,69158,420
Retained earnings1,334,3341,088,138
   
 1,817,3711,635,973
   
 $3,081,351$2,603,510


Approved on behalf of the Board:
   
 L. SauderT.V. Milroy
 DirectorDirector


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward-looking information about the Company’s business outlook, objectives, plans, strategic priorities and other information that is not historical fact. A statement contains forward-looking information when the Company uses what it knows and expects today, to make a statement about the future. Statements containing forward-looking information may include words such as: will, could, should, believe, expect, anticipate, intend, forecast, projection, target, outlook, opportunity, risk or strategy. Readers are cautioned that actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this release, and undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking information. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this release are described in Interfor’s first quarter and annual Management’s Discussion and Analysis under the heading “Risks and Uncertainties”, which are available on www.interfor.com and under Interfor’s profile on www.sedar.com. Material factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking information in this release include volatility in the selling prices for lumber, logs and wood chips; the Company’s ability to compete on a global basis; the availability and cost of log supply; natural or man-made disasters; currency exchange rates; changes in government regulations; the availability of the Company’s allowable annual cut (“AAC”); claims by and treaty settlements with Indigenous peoples; the Company’s ability to export its products; the softwood lumber trade dispute between Canada and the U.S.; stumpage fees payable to the Province of British Columbia (“B.C.”); environmental impacts of the Company’s operations; labour disruptions; information systems security; and the existence of a public health crisis. Unless otherwise indicated, the forward-looking statements in this release are based on the Company’s expectations at the date of this release. Interfor undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking information or statements, except as required by law.

ABOUT INTERFOR

Interfor is a growth-oriented forest products company with operations in Canada and the United States. The Company has annual lumber production capacity of approximately 4.9 billion board feet and offers a diverse line of lumber products to customers around the world. For more information about Interfor, visit our website at www.interfor.com.

The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis for Q1’22 are available at www.sedar.com and www.interfor.com.

There will be a conference call on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) hosted by INTERFOR CORPORATION for the purpose of reviewing the Company’s release of its first quarter 2022 financial results.

The dial-in number is 1-833-297-9919. The conference call will also be recorded for those unable to join in for the live discussion and will be available until June 12, 2022. The number to call is 1-855-859-2056, Passcode 2455297.

For further information:
Richard Pozzebon, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(604) 422-3400