Interfor Reports Q2’23 Results

Adjusted EBITDA of $42 million and Net Loss of $14 million


BURNABY, British Columbia, Aug. 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INTERFOR CORPORATION (“Interfor” or the “Company”) (TSX: IFP) recorded a Net loss in Q2’23 of $14.1 million, or $0.27 per share, compared to $41.3 million, or $0.80 per share in Q1’23 and Net earnings of $269.9 million, or $4.92 per share in Q2’22.

Adjusted EBITDA was $41.9 million on sales of $871.8 million in Q2’23 versus $26.1 million on sales of $829.9 million in Q1’23 and $428.6 million on sales of $1.4 billion in Q2’22.

Notable items in the quarter:

  • Record Lumber Shipments Outpaced Production
    • Lumber shipments were a record 1.1 billion board feet, or 112 million board feet higher than Q1’23, which outpaced production resulting in a 16% reduction in lumber inventories.
    • Lumber production totaled 1.0 billion board feet, representing a decrease of 8 million board feet quarter-over-quarter.
    • The U.S. South and U.S. Northwest regions accounted for 468 million board feet and 165 million board feet, respectively, compared to 473 million board feet and 142 million board feet in Q1’23. The Eastern Canada region produced 249 million board feet versus 250 million board feet in Q1’23. Production in the B.C. region decreased to 141 million board feet from 166 million board feet in Q1’23.
  • Stabilizing Lumber Prices
    • Lumber prices continued to reflect softened demand driven by the elevated interest rate environment and several supply-side factors. However, lumber prices began to strengthen near the end of Q2’23 from the effects of industry production curtailments and reduced European imports combined with increased new home construction demand. Interfor’s average selling price was $649 per mfbm, up $10 per mfbm versus Q1’23.
    • The SYP Composite and KD H-F Stud 2x4 9’ increased quarter-over-quarter by US$4 and US$24 per mfbm to US$446 and US$452 per mfbm, respectively, while the Western SPF Composite decreased quarter-over-quarter by US$27 per mfbm to US$372 per mfbm. The ESPF Composite remained at US$474 per mfbm quarter-over-quarter.
  • Financial Flexibility Improved
    • Net debt at quarter-end was $815.7 million, or 29.6% of invested capital, with available liquidity of $366.1 million.
    • The net debt to invested capital leverage ratio improved compared to the end of Q1’23, driven by $123.0 million of cash flow from operations, including $97.4 million from inventory reductions.
    • Liquidity is expected to be further strengthened during the remainder of 2023 by income tax refunds totaling approximately $100.0 million related to over-installments for the 2022 tax year.
  • Strategic Capital Investments
    • Capital spending was $57.7 million, including $40.2 million of discretionary investment focused on multi-year projects in the U.S. South region.
    • Total capital expenditures planned for 2023 remains unchanged from prior guidance at approximately $210.0 million, with continued flexibility to adjust this based on various factors including market conditions.
  • Ongoing Monetization of Coastal B.C. Operations
    • The Company is continuing to work with the Ministry of Forests to subdivide and transfer a number of forest tenures from its 1.57 million cubic metres of annual harvesting rights. The timing remains uncertain as to when Ministry approval will be received and certain contractual matters are finalized.  
  • Softwood Lumber Duties
    • Interfor expensed $17.0 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 8.59%.  
    • On August 1, 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce (“DoC”) published the final rates for CV and AD duties based on the results of its fourth administrative review covering shipments for the year ended December 31, 2021. The final combined rate for 2021 was 7.99% compared to the cash deposit rate of 8.99% from January to November 2021 and 17.90% for December 2021. The finalization of the fourth administrative review rates indicated an overpayment of duty deposits in 2021 of $18.6 million. The combined rate of 7.99% applied to new shipments effective August 1, 2023.
    • Interfor has cumulative duties of US$530.9 million, or approximately $9.97 per share on an after-tax basis, held in trust by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as at June 30, 2023. Except for US$156.8 million recorded as a receivable in respect of overpayments arising from duty rate adjustments and the fair value of rights to duties acquired, Interfor has recorded the duty deposits as an expense.

Interfor Appoints New Director

On May 19, 2023, the Interfor Board appointed Nicolle Butcher of Toronto, Ontario as a director of the Company. Ms. Butcher is the Chief Operating Officer of Ontario Power Generation, where she has held a wide range of roles with increasing responsibility over the past 22 years. Ms. Butcher’s appointment increased the number of directors to eleven and was in line with the Company’s Board succession plan.

Outlook

North American lumber markets over the near term are expected to remain volatile as the economy continues to adjust to inflationary pressures, elevated interest rates, labour shortages and geo-political uncertainty. Additionally, potential remains for supply-side disruption in the near term from the record wildfire season in progress in Canada as well as impacts from the protracted port strike in B.C.

Interfor expects that over the mid-term, lumber markets will continue to benefit from favourable underlying supply and demand fundamentals. Positive demand factors include the advanced age of the U.S. housing stock, a shortage of available housing and various demographic factors, while growth in lumber supply is expected to be limited by extended capital project completion and ramp-up timelines, labour availability and constrained global fibre availability.

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 available liquidity to continue pursuing its strategic plans despite ongoing economic and geo-political uncertainty globally. In the event of a sustained lumber market downturn, Interfor maintains flexibility to significantly reduce capital expenditures and working capital levels, and to proactively adjust its lumber production to match demand.

Financial and Operating Highlights1  

  For the three months ended For the six months ended
  Jun. 30Jun. 30Mar. 31 Jun. 30Jun. 30
 Unit202320222023 20232022
        
Financial Highlights2       
Total sales$MM871.81,389.1829.9 1,701.72,738.1
Lumber$MM723.21,190.8642.5 1,365.72,403.3
Logs, residual products and other$MM148.6198.3187.4 336.0334.8
Operating earnings (loss)$MM(20.8)385.9(36.2) (57.1)898.5
Net earnings (loss)$MM(14.1)269.9(41.3) (55.4)666.9
Net earnings (loss) per share, basic$/share(0.27)4.92(0.80) (1.08)11.68
Operating cash flow per share (before working capital changes)3,5$/share0.684.430.47 1.1510.68
Adjusted EBITDA3$MM41.9428.626.1 67.9998.7
Adjusted EBITDA margin3%4.8%30.9%3.1% 4.0%36.5%
        
Total assets$MM3,603.93,269.53,695.1 3,603.93,269.5
Total debt$MM918.5372.6946.2 918.5372.6
Net debt3$MM815.7102.0880.0 815.7102.0
Net debt to invested capital3%29.6%4.6%30.7% 29.6%4.6%
Annualized return on capital employed3%(1.1%)52.9%(5.0%) (3.1%)69.4%
        
Operating Highlights       
Lumber productionmillion fbm1,0231,0161,031 2,0541,933
Lumber salesmillion fbm1,1161,0821,004 2,1201,925
Lumber - average selling price4$/thousand fbm6491,104639 6441,240
        
Average USD/CAD exchange rate61 USD in CAD1.34281.27681.3525 1.34771.2715
Closing USD/CAD exchange rate61 USD in CAD1.32401.28861.3533 1.32401.2886

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 including duties and freight.
  5. Financial information has been adjusted for a reclassification in the presentation of unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain) within cashflow from operations resulting in a $/share change of $0.45 – Q2 2022 and $0.23 - YTD Q2 2022.   
  6. Based on Bank of Canada foreign exchange rates.

Liquidity

Balance Sheet

Interfor’s Net debt at June 30, 2023 was $815.7 million, or 29.6% of invested capital, representing an increase of $95.4 million from the level of Net debt at December 31, 2022.

As at June 30, 2023 the Company had net working capital of $482.6 million and available liquidity of $366.1 million, based on the available borrowing capacity under its $600.0 million Revolving Term Line (“Term Line”).

The 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
Jun. 30,
 For the six months ended
Jun. 30,
Millions of Canadian Dollars20232022 20232022
      
Net debt     
Net debt (cash), period opening$880.0$340.2 $720.3$(162.9)
Repayment of Senior Secured Notes(7.1)(7.0) (7.1)(7.0)
Term Line net drawings (repayments)-(35.0) 149.5(3.9)
(Increase) decrease in cash and cash equivalents(40.0)(201.9) (29.2)276.4
Foreign currency translation impact on U.S. Dollar denominated cash and cash equivalents and debt(17.2)5.7 (17.8)(0.6)
Net debt, period ending$815.7$102.0 $815.7$102.0
      

On December 16, 2022, the Company completed an expansion of its Term Line. The commitment under the Term Line was increased by $100.0 million to a total of $600.0 million.

On December 1, 2022, the Company issued US$200.0 million of Series H Senior Secured Notes, bearing interest at 7.06% with principal payments of US$66.7 million due on December 26, 2031, 2032 and on final maturity in 2033.

Capital Resources

The following table summarizes Interfor’s credit facilities and availability as of June 30, 2023:

 RevolvingSenior 
 TermSecured 
Millions of Canadian DollarsLineNotesTotal
Available line of credit and maximum borrowing available$600.0$640.5$1,240.5
Less:   
Drawings278.0640.5918.5
Outstanding letters of credit included in line utilization58.7-58.7
Unused portion of facility$263.3$       -263.3
Add:   
Cash and cash equivalents  102.8
Available liquidity at June 30, 2023  $366.1
    

Interfor’s Term Line matures in December 2026 and its Senior Secured Notes have maturities in the years 2024-2033.

As of June 30, 2023, the Company had commitments for capital expenditures totaling $135.5 million for both maintenance and discretionary capital projects.

Non-GAAP Measures

This MD&A makes reference to the following non-GAAP measures: 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 For the six months ended
Millions of Canadian Dollars except number of shares and per share amountsJun. 30Jun. 30Mar. 31 Jun. 30Jun. 30
202320222023 20232022
       
Adjusted EBITDA      
Net earnings (loss)$(14.1)$269.9$(41.3) $(55.4)$666.9
Add:      
Depreciation of plant and equipment46.741.645.1 91.874.8
Depletion and amortization of timber, roads and other9.99.212.2 22.118.3
Finance costs13.34.410.9 24.29.5
Income tax expense (recovery)(8.1)89.4(11.5) (19.6)221.5
EBITDA47.7414.515.4 63.1991.0
Add:      
Long-term incentive compensation expense (recovery)2.8(10.4)2.6 5.4(6.7)
Other foreign exchange loss (gain)(13.7)20.3- (13.7)7.5
Other expense excluding business interruption insurance5.03.16.5 11.42.6
Asset write-downs and restructuring costs0.11.11.6 1.74.3
Adjusted EBITDA$41.9$428.6$26.1 $67.9$998.7
Sales$871.8$1,389.1$829.9 $1,701.7$2,738.1
Adjusted EBITDA margin4.8%30.9%3.1% 4.0%36.5%
       
Net debt to invested capital      
Net debt      
Total debt$918.5$372.6$946.2 $918.5$372.6
Cash and cash equivalents(102.8)(270.6)(66.2) (102.8)(270.6)
Total net debt$815.7$102.0$880.0 $815.7$102.0
Invested capital      
Net debt$815.7$102.0$880.0 $815.7$102.0
Shareholders' equity1,943.22,106.11,985.2 1,943.22,106.1
Total invested capital$2,758.9$2,208.1$2,865.2 $2,758.9$2,208.1
Net debt to invested capital129.6%4.6%30.7% 29.6%4.6%
       
Operating cash flow per share (before working capital changes)2      
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities$123.0$393.8$(84.6) $38.5$674.9
Cash used in (generated from) operating working capital(88.4)(150.7)108.8 20.5(65.3)
Operating cash flow (before working capital changes)$34.6$243.1$24.2 $59.0$609.6
Weighted average number of shares - basic (millions) 51.4 54.9 51.4   51.4 57.1
Operating cash flow per share (before working capital changes)$0.68$4.43$0.47 $1.15$10.68
       
Annualized return on capital employed      
Net earnings (loss)$(14.1)$269.9$(41.3) $(55.4)$666.9
Add:      
Finance costs13.34.410.9 24.29.5
Income tax expense (recovery)(8.1)89.4(11.5) (19.6)221.5
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and finance costs$(8.9)$363.7$(41.9) $(50.8)$897.9
Capital Employed      
Total assets$3,603.9$3,269.5$3,695.1 $3,603.9$3,269.5
Current liabilities(318.9)(421.4)(343.0) (318.9)(421.4)
Less:      
Current portion of long-term debt44.17.052.4 44.17.0
Current portion of lease liabilities15.814.814.8 15.814.8
Capital employed, end of period$3,344.9$2,869.9$3,419.3 $3,344.9$2,869.9
Capital employed, beginning of period3,419.32,630.53,316.0 3,316.02,303.2
Average capital employed$3,382.1$2,750.2$3,367.7 $3,330.4$2,586.5
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and finance costs divided by average capital employed(0.3%)13.2%(1.2%) (1.5%)34.7%
Annualization factor4.04.04.0 2.02.0
Annualized return on capital employed(1.1%)52.9%(5.0%) (3.1%)69.4%

Notes:

  1. Net debt to invested capital as of the period end.
  2. Financial information has been adjusted for a reclassification in the presentation of unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain) within cashflow from operations resulting in a $/share change of $0.45 – Q2 2022 and $0.23 - YTD Q2 2022.
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS)
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 (unaudited)
(millions of Canadian Dollars except per share amounts) Three MonthsThree MonthsSix MonthsSix Months
Jun. 30, 2023Jun. 30, 2022Jun. 30, 2023Jun. 30, 2022
     
Sales$871.8$1,389.1$1,701.7$2,738.1
Costs and expenses:    
Production798.5899.31,575.31,633.1
Selling and administration17.616.134.833.7
Long-term incentive compensation expense (recovery)2.8(10.4)5.4(6.7)
U.S. countervailing and anti-dumping duty deposits17.046.327.782.1
Depreciation of plant and equipment46.741.691.874.8
Depletion and amortization of timber, roads and other9.99.222.118.3
 892.51,002.11,757.11,835.3
     
Operating earnings (loss) before asset write-downs and  restructuring costs(20.7)387.0(55.4)902.8
     
Asset write-downs and restructuring costs0.11.11.74.3
Operating earnings (loss)(20.8)385.9(57.1)898.5
     
Finance costs(13.3)(4.4)(24.2)(9.5)
Other foreign exchange gain (loss)13.7(20.3)13.7(7.5)
Other income (expense)(1.8)(1.9)(7.4)6.9
 (1.4)(26.6)(17.9)(10.1)
     
Earnings (loss) before income taxes(22.2)359.3(75.0)888.4
     
Income tax expense (recovery):    
Current(12.6)92.8(18.1)215.4
Deferred4.5(3.4)(1.5)6.1
 (8.1)89.4(19.6)221.5
     
Net earnings (loss)$(14.1)$269.9$(55.4)$666.9
     
Net earnings (loss) per share    
Basic$(0.27)$4.92$(1.08)$11.68
Diluted$(0.27)$4.90$(1.08)$11.64


 
 
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 (unaudited)
(millions of Canadian Dollars) Three MonthsThree MonthsSix MonthsSix Months
Jun. 30, 2023Jun. 30, 2022Jun. 30, 2023Jun. 30, 2022
     
Net earnings (loss)
$(14.1)$269.9$(55.4)$666.9
     
Other comprehensive income (loss):    
Items that will not be recycled to Net earnings (loss):    
Defined benefit plan actuarial gain (loss), net of tax-(1.1)0.71.7
     
Items that are or may be recycled to Net earnings (loss):    
Foreign currency translation differences for foreign operations, net of tax(28.2)52.6(29.7)27.9
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax(28.2)51.5(29.0)29.6
     
Comprehensive income (loss)$(42.3)$321.4$(84.4)$696.5
     


 
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 (unaudited)
(millions of Canadian Dollars) Three MonthsThree MonthsSix MonthsSix Months
Jun. 30, 2023Jun. 30, 2022Jun. 30, 2023Jun. 30, 2022
     
Cash provided by (used in):    
Operating activities:    
Net earnings (loss)$(14.1)$269.9$(55.4)$666.9
Items not involving cash:    
Depreciation of plant and equipment46.7 41.691.874.8
Depletion and amortization of timber, roads and other9.99.222.118.3
Deferred income tax expense (recovery)4.5(3.4)(1.5)6.1
Current income tax expense (recovery)(12.6)92.8(18.1)215.4
Finance costs13.34.424.29.5
Other assets0.2(2.4)0.3(2.5)
Reforestation liability(6.8)(1.7)(2.0)0.1
Provisions and other liabilities1.5(12.8)(1.5)(25.9)
Stock option vesting0.20.20.40.5
Write-down of plant and equipment-1.11.52.3
Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain)(8.6)18.5(8.4)8.2
Other expense (income)1.81.97.4(6.9)
Income taxes paid(1.4)(176.2)(1.8)(357.2)
 34.6243.159.0609.6
Cash generated from (used in) operating working capital:    
Trade accounts receivable and other16.277.3(37.7)15.7
Inventories97.454.364.932.9
Prepayments(12.3)(9.5)(8.8)(6.6)
Trade accounts payable and provisions(12.9)28.6(38.9)23.3
  123.0393.838.5674.9
     
Investing activities:    
Additions to property, plant and equipment(57.5)(61.0)(120.6)(112.0)
Additions to roads and bridges(0.2)(4.3)(0.7)(4.1)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired-1.60.5(536.1)
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant, equipment and other0.610.24.711.4
Investment in GreenFirst Forest Products Inc.-(55.6) -(55.6)
Net proceeds from (additions to) deposits and other assets0.4(0.2)1.30.2
 (56.7)(109.3)(114.8)(696.2)
     
Financing activities:    
Issuance of share capital, net of expenses--0.10.4
Share repurchases, net of expenses
-(32.9)-(227.2)
Interest payments(15.0)(4.3)(28.1)(9.3)
Lease liability payments(4.2)(3.3)(8.7)(7.8)
Debt refinancing costs-(0.1)(0.2)(0.3)
Term line net drawings (repayments)-(35.0)149.5(3.9)
Repayments of Senior Secured Notes(7.1)(7.0)(7.1)(7.0)
 (26.3)(82.6)105.5(255.1)
     
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on cash and cash equivalents held in a foreign currency(3.4)5.8(4.0)8.4
Increase (decrease) in cash 36.6207.725.2(268.0)
     
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period66.262.977.6538.6
     
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$102.8$270.6$102.8$270.6


 
 
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (unaudited)
(millions of Canadian Dollars)Jun. 30, 2023Dec. 31, 2022
   
Assets  
Current assets:  
Cash and cash equivalents$102.8$77.6
Trade accounts receivable and other214.0174.1
Income tax receivable122.9104.1
Inventories327.8396.9
Prepayments34.025.9
 801.5778.6
   
Employee future benefits18.618.4
Deposits and other assets268.7281.6
Right of use assets34.734.0
Property, plant and equipment1,695.41,701.2
Roads and bridges30.038.1
Timber licences174.6178.4
Goodwill and other intangible assets576.7588.1
Deferred income taxes3.71.4
   
 $3,603.9$3,619.8
   
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity  
Current liabilities:
  
Trade accounts payable and provisions$237.8$285.5
Current portion of long-term debt44.17.3
Reforestation liability21.217.9
Lease liabilities15.814.8
Income taxes payable-0.3
 318.9325.8
   
Reforestation liability27.128.7
Lease liabilities20.320.5
Long-term debt874.4790.6
Employee future benefits10.59.9
Provisions and other liabilities22.324.2
Deferred income taxes387.2393.0
   
Equity:  
Share capital408.9408.7
Contributed surplus5.85.5
Translation reserve146.2175.9
Retained earnings1,382.31,437.0
   
 1,943.22,027.1
   
 $3,603.9$3,619.8


Approved on behalf of the Board of Directors:
 L. Sauder T.V. Milroy 
 Director Director 
     

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 second 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; Indigenous reconciliation; the softwood lumber trade dispute between Canada and the United States; environmental impacts of the Company’s operations; labour availability; and information systems security. 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 5.2 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 Q2’23 are available at www.sedar.com and www.interfor.com.

There will be a conference call on Friday, August 4, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) hosted by INTERFOR CORPORATION for the purpose of reviewing the Company’s release of its second quarter 2023 financial results.

The dial-in number is 1-888-396-8049. The conference call will also be recorded for those unable to join in for the live discussion and will be available until September 4, 2023. The number to call is 1-877-674-7070, Passcode 138247#.

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