EX-99.33 34 d66180dex9933.htm EX-99.33 EX-99.33

Exhibit 99.33

 

LOGO

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

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

 

     June 30
2020
     December 31
2019
 

Assets

     

Current assets

     

Cash and short-term investments

   $ 127      $ 16  

Receivables

     365        258  

Income taxes receivable

     30        135  

Inventories (note 5)

     655        729  

Prepaid expenses

     21        9  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     1,198        1,147  

Property, plant and equipment

     2,178        2,140  

Timber licences

     483        493  

Goodwill and other intangibles

     789        772  

Export duty deposits (note 14)

     95        80  

Other assets

     24        26  

Deferred income tax assets

     10        10  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 4,777      $ 4,668  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

     

Current liabilities

     

Cheques issued in excess of funds on deposit

   $ —        $ 16  

Operating loans (note 6)

     358        374  

Payables and accrued liabilities

     388        396  

Current portion of long-term debt (note 6)

     10        10  

Current portion of reforestation and decommissioning obligations

     44        41  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     800        837  

Long-term debt (note 6)

     682        650  

Other liabilities (note 7)

     595        454  

Deferred income tax liabilities

     230        253  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2,307        2,194  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity

     

Share capital

     484        483  

Accumulated other comprehensive earnings

     166        132  

Retained earnings

     1,820        1,859  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2,470        2,474  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 4,777      $ 4,668  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Number of Common shares and Class B Common shares outstanding at July 27, 2020 was 68,673,981.

 


LOGO

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

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

 

 

     April 1 to June 30     January 1 to June 30  
     2020     2019     2020     2019  

Share capital

        

Balance - beginning of period

   $ 484     $ 487     $ 483     $ 491  

Issuance of Common shares

     —         —         1       1  

Repurchase of Common shares

     —         (4     —         (9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance - end of period

   $ 484     $ 483     $ 484     $ 483  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive earnings

        

Balance - beginning of period

   $ 198     $ 153     $ 132     $ 170  

Translation gain (loss) on foreign operations

     (32     (16     34       (33
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance - end of period

   $ 166     $ 137     $ 166     $ 137  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Retained earnings

        

Balance - beginning of period

   $ 1,947     $ 2,135     $ 1,859     $ 2,235  

Actuarial loss on post-retirement benefits

     (161     (36     (71     (72

Repurchase of Common shares

     —         (27     —         (72

Earnings for the period

     48       (58     60       (63

Dividends

     (14     (13     (28     (27
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance - end of period

   $ 1,820     $ 2,001     $ 1,820     $ 2,001  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 2,470     $ 2,621     $ 2,470     $ 2,621  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

- 2 -


LOGO

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Earnings

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

 

 

     April 1 to June 30     January 1 to June 30  
     2020     2019     2020     2019  

Sales

   $ 1,276     $ 1,317     $ 2,471     $ 2,558  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Costs and expenses

        

Cost of products sold

     854       1,013       1,700       1,916  

Freight and other distribution costs

     184       196       352       366  

Export duties (note 14)

     42       51       77       83  

Amortization

     65       63       135       128  

Selling, general and administration

     54       52       108       110  

Equity-based compensation

     (6     —         3       3  

Restructuring and impairment charges

     —         26       —         26  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,193       1,401       2,375       2,632  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating earnings

     83       (84     96       (74

Finance expense

     (13     (13     (29     (24

Other (note 10)

     (3     (6     9       (11
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before tax

     67       (103     76       (109

Tax recovery (provision) (note 11)

     (19     45       (16     46  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings

   $ 48     $ (58   $ 60     $ (63
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per share (dollars) (note 12)

        

Basic

   $ 0.70     $ (0.85   $ 0.88     $ (0.92

Diluted

   $ 0.70     $ (0.92   $ 0.76     $ (1.04
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive earnings

        

Earnings

   $ 48     $ (58   $ 60     $ (63

Other comprehensive earnings

        

Translation gain (loss) on foreign operations

     (32     (16     34       (33

Actuarial loss on post-retirement benefits

     (161     (36     (71     (72
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive earnings

   $ (145   $ (110   $ 23     $ (168
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

- 3 -


LOGO

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

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

 

 

     April 1 to June 30     January 1 to June 30  

Cash provided by (used in)

   2020     2019     2020     2019  

Operating activities

        

Earnings

   $ 48     $ (58   $ 60     $ (63

Adjustments

        

Amortization

     65       63       135       128  

Restructuring and impairment charges

     —         26       —         26  

Finance expense

     13       13       29       24  

Exchange loss (gain) on long-term financing

     3       2       (3     3  

Exchange loss (gain) on export duty deposits

     3       1       (4     3  

Export duty deposits

     (2     1       (10     (4

Post-retirement expense

     25       20       50       41  

Contributions to post-retirement benefit plans

     (16     (21     (29     (38

Tax provision (recovery)

     19       (45     16       (46

Income taxes received (paid)

     90       (18     89       (95

Reforestation and decommissioning obligations

     (13     (11     11       6  

Other

     (12     4       (7     6  

Changes in non-cash working capital

        

Receivables

     (26     26       (91     (23

Inventories

     280       240       85       60  

Prepaid expenses

     (9     (12     (13     (16

Payables and accrued liabilities

     (29     (44     (1     (53
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     439       187       317       (41
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities

        

Proceeds from (repayment of) operating loans

     (325     (81     (17     185  

Finance expense paid

     (16     (16     (25     (21

Repurchase of Common shares

     —         (31     —         (81

Dividends

     (14     (14     (28     (28

Other

     1       (1     —         (1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (354     (143     (70     54  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities

        

Additions to capital assets

     (60     (82     (119     (190

Government assistance

     1       5       1       5  

Proceeds from disposal of capital assets

     —         7       6       7  

Other

     1       1       1       1  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (58     (69     (111     (177
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in cash

     27       (25     136       (164

Foreign exchange effect on cash

     6       1       (9     (3

Cash - beginning of period

     94       4       —         147  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash - end of period

   $ 127     $ (20   $ 127     $ (20
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash consists of

        

Cash and short-term investments

       $ 127     $ 16  

Cheques issued in excess of funds on deposit

         —         (36
      

 

 

   

 

 

 
       $ 127     $ (20
      

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

- 4 -


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 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.

Use of estimates and judgments and Coronavirus (“COVID-19”)

The preparation of financial statements requires management to use accounting estimates and to make judgments and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are considered to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Given the ongoing and dynamic nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, it is challenging to predict the impact on our Company. The extent of such impact will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain, including the resurgence of COVID-19 as restrictions are eased or lifted, new information that may emerge concerning the spread and severity of COVID-19, and actions taken to address its impact, among others. It is difficult to predict how this virus may affect our business in the future, including the effect it may have (positive or negative; long or short term) on the demand and price for our products. It is possible that COVID-19, particularly if it has a prolonged duration, could have a material adverse effect on our supply chain, market pricing and customer demand, and distribution networks. These factors may further impact our operating plans, business, financial condition, liquidity, and operating results, which would, in turn, affect our estimates, including the valuation of inventories, allowance for expected credit losses, fair value measurements, the valuation of long-lived assets, and cash flow projections used for impairment testing. Actual results may materially differ from these estimates.

 

4.

Seasonality of operations

Our operating results are subject to seasonal fluctuations that impact quarter-to-quarter operating results. 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 and inaccessible 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.

 

5.

Inventories

Inventories at June 30, 2020 were subject to a valuation reserve of $13 million (March 31, 2020 - $23 million; December 31, 2019 - $39 million; June 30, 2019 - $47 million) to reflect net realizable value being lower than cost.

 

- 5 -


     June 30, 2020      December 31, 2019  

Manufactured products

   $ 298      $ 341  

Logs and other raw materials

     188        226  

Processing materials and supplies

     169        162  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 655      $ 729  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

6.

Operating loans and long-term debt

Operating loans

Our revolving lines of credit consist of an $850 million committed revolving credit facility which matures August 25, 2024, a $150 million committed revolving credit facility with a two-year term, a $34 million (US$25 million) demand line of credit dedicated to our U.S. operations, and an $8 million demand line of credit dedicated to our jointly-owned newsprint operation. On June 30, 2020, $361 million was drawn under our revolving credit facility. Deferred financing costs of $3 million related to these facilities were deducted against the operating loans for balance sheet presentation.

Interest on the facilities is payable at floating rates based on Prime, Base Rate Advances, Bankers’ Acceptances or LIBOR Advances at our option plus an applicable margin.

In addition, we have credit facilities totalling $130 million dedicated to letters of credit, of which US$15 million is dedicated to our U.S. operations. On June 30, 2020, our letter of credit facilities supported $59 million of open letters of credit.

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

Long-term debt

 

     June 30, 2020      December 31, 2019  

US$300 million senior notes due October 2024; interest at 4.35%

   $ 409      $ 390  

US$200 million term loan due August 2024; floating interest rate

     273        260  

US$8 million note payable due October 2020; interest at 2%

     10        10  

Notes payable

     3        3  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     695        663  

Less: deferred financing costs

     (3      (3

Less: current portion related to the US$8 million note payable due October 2020

     (10      (10
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 682      $ 650  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The fair value of the long-term debt at June 30, 2020, was $695 million (December 31, 2019 - $677 million) based on rates available to us at the balance sheet date for long-term debt with similar terms and remaining maturities.

On March 9, 2020, we extended the duration of our interest rate swap from August 2022 to August 2024 resulting in a change to the fixed interest rate on the swap from 2.47% to 1.78% through August of 2024. We continue to receive a floating interest rate equal to 3-month LIBOR over the duration. The result is a fixed interest rate of 2.47% for the period of May 28, 2019 to February 25, 2020 and 1.78% for the period of February 25, 2020 to August 25, 2024. On April 15, 2020, we entered into additional interest rate swaps for a total notional amount of

 

- 6 -


US$100 million. Under the agreements, we pay a combined fixed interest rate of 0.51% and receive a floating interest rate equal to 3-month LIBOR.

The agreements are accounted for as a derivative and the gain or loss related to changes in the fair value is included in other income. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, a $7 million loss was recorded.

 

7.

Other liabilities

 

     June 30, 2020      December 31, 2019  

Post-retirement (note 8)

   $ 437      $ 314  

Long-term portion of reforestation

     82        74  

Long-term portion of decommissioning

     36        31  

Other

     40        35  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 595      $ 454  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

8.

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, and in most cases do not increase after the commencement of retirement. 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:

 

     June 30, 2020      December 31, 2019  

Projected benefit obligations

   $ (1,852    $ (1,693

Fair value of plan assets

     1,420        1,385  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ (432    $ (308
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Represented by

     

Post-retirement assets

   $ 5      $ 6  

Post-retirement liabilities

     (437      (314
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ (432    $ (308
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

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

 

     June 30, 2020     March 31, 2020     December 31, 2019  

Discount rate

     2.75     4.00     3.00

Future compensation rate increase

     3.50     3.50     3.50

For the six months ended June 30, 2020, we recognized in other comprehensive earnings a before-tax loss of $95 million to reflect the changes in the valuation of the post-retirement benefit plans. The loss reflects the decrease in the discount rate used to calculate plan liabilities from the beginning of the year, partially offset by the return on plan assets.

 

- 7 -


The actuarial gain (loss) on post-retirement benefits, included in other comprehensive earnings, is as follows:

 

     April 1 to June 30      January 1 to June 30  
     2020      2019      2020      2019  

Actuarial loss

   $ (216    $ (46    $ (95    $ (95

Tax provision

     55        10        24        23  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ (161    $ (36    $ (71    $ (72
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

9.

Share Capital

We are authorized under our Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”), which expires on September 19, 2020, to purchase up to 3,318,823 of our Common shares. Under this bid, there were no Common shares repurchased for cancellation. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, we repurchased 1,178,400 Common shares under our previous NCIB, which expired on September 18, 2019, at an average price of $68.30 per share for a cost of approximately $81 million.

 

10.

Other

 

     April 1 to June 30      January 1 to June 30  
     2020      2019      2020      2019  

Exchange gain (loss) on working capital

   $ (1    $ (2    $ 5      $ (5

Exchange gain (loss) on intercompany financing1

     (31      (16      35        (31

Exchange gain (loss) on long-term debt

     28        14        (32      28  

Exchange gain (loss) on export duty deposits receivable

     (3      (1      4        (3

Insurance gain on involuntary disposal of equipment2

     7        —          7        —    

Loss on interest rate swap contracts (note 6)

     (2      (2      (7      (3

Other

     (1      1        (3      3  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ (3    $ (6    $ 9      $ (11
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

1.

Relates to US$590 million (2019 - US$550 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.

2.

Represents insurance proceeds related to the settlement of WestPine’s 2016 involuntary disposal of equipment.

Insurance claim settlement

During this quarter, we settled the insurance claim related to the fire that occurred at our WestPine MDF plant in March 2016. The impact of the settlement on pre-tax earnings is as follows:

 

     June 30, 2020  

Business interruption1

   $ 7  

Insurance gain on involuntary disposal of equipment2

     7  
  

 

 

 
   $ 14  
  

 

 

 

 

1.

Recognized in cost of products sold for the panels segment.

2.

Recognized in other income for the panels segment.

 

- 8 -


11.

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:

 

     April 1 to June 30      January 1 to June 30  
     2020      2019      2020      2019  

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

   $ (18    $ 28      $ (20      30  

Non-taxable amounts

     (4      1        2        1  

Rate differentials between jurisdictions and on specified activities

     3        (1      2        (2

Decrease in Alberta provincial tax rate1

     —          17        —          17  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ (19    $ 45      $ (16    $ 46  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

1.

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

 

12.

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.

 

     April 1 to June 30      January 1 to June 30  
     2020      2019      2020      2019  

Earnings

           

Basic

   $ 48      $ (58    $ 60      $ (63

Share option expense (recovery)

     12        (5      (6      (6

Equity-settled share option adjustment

     —          —          (2      (3
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted

   $ 60      $ (63    $ 52      $ (72
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares (thousands)

           

Basic

     68,670        68,779        68,667        69,106  

Share options

     77        314        94        350  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted

     68,747        69,093        68,761        69,456  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings per share (dollars)

           

Basic

   $ 0.70      $ (0.85    $ 0.88      $ (0.92

Diluted

   $ 0.70      $ (0.92    $ 0.76      $ (1.04

 

- 9 -


13.

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  

April 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020

          

Sales

          

To external customers

   $ 939     $ 118     $ 219     $ —       $ 1,276  

To other segments

     37       3       —         (40     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 976     $ 121     $ 219     $ (40   $ 1,276  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost of products sold

     (655     (82     (157     40       (854

Freight and other distribution costs

     (130     (12     (42     —         (184

Selling, general and administration

     (35     (7     (10     (2     (54
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 156     $ 20     $ 10     $ (2   $ 184  

Export duties

     (42     —         —         —         (42

Equity-based compensation

     —         —         —         6       6  

Amortization

     (48     (3     (11     (3     (65
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating earnings

   $ 66     $ 17     $ (1   $ 1     $ 83  

Finance expense

     (10     (1     (2     —         (13

Other

     (5     7       (2     (3     (3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before tax

   $ 51     $ 23     $ (5   $ (2   $ 67  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

April 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019

          

Sales

          

To external customers

   $ 919     $ 156     $ 242     $ —       $ 1,317  

To other segments

     33       3       —         (36     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 952     $ 159     $ 242     $ (36   $ 1,317  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost of products sold

     (740     (126     (183     36       (1,013

Freight and other distribution costs

     (138     (17     (41     —         (196

Selling, general and administration

     (35     (6     (11     —         (52
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 39     $ 10     $ 7     $ —       $ 56  

Export duties

     (51     —         —         —         (51

Equity-based compensation

     —         —         —         —         —    

Amortization

     (48     (3     (11     (1     (63

Restructuring and impairment charges

     (26     —         —         —         (26
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating earnings

   $ (86   $ 7     $ (4   $ (1   $ (84

Finance expense

     (9     (2     (2     —         (13

Other

     (3     —         —         (3     (6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before tax

   $ (98   $ 5     $ (6   $ (4   $ (103
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

- 10 -


     Lumber     Panels     Pulp & Paper     Corporate &
Other
    Total  

January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020

          

Sales

          

To external customers

   $ 1,775     $ 256     $ 440     $ —       $ 2,471  

To other segments

     65       5       —         (70     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 1,840     $ 261     $ 440     $ (70   $ 2,471  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost of products sold

     (1,264     (192     (314     70       (1,700

Freight and other distribution costs

     (240     (27     (85     —         (352

Selling, general and administration

     (74     (14     (20     —         (108
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 262     $ 28     $ 21     $ —       $ 311  

Export duties

     (77     —         —         —         (77

Equity-based compensation

     —         —         —         (3     (3

Amortization

     (100     (7     (22     (6     (135
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating earnings

   $ 85     $ 21     $ (1   $ (9   $ 96  

Finance expense

     (23     (2     (4     —         (29

Other

     11       7       2       (11     9  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before tax

   $ 73     $ 26     $ (3   $ (20   $ 76  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019

          

Sales

          

To external customers

   $ 1,740     $ 308     $ 510     $ —       $ 2,558  

To other segments

     69       6       —         (75     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 1,809     $ 314     $ 510     $ (75   $ 2,558  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost of products sold

     (1,361     (243     (387     75       (1,916

Freight and other distribution costs

     (249     (32     (85     —         (366

Selling, general and administration

     (76     (14     (20     —         (110
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 123     $ 25     $ 18     $ —       $ 166  

Export duties

     (83     —         —         —         (83

Equity-based compensation

     —         —         —         (3     (3

Amortization

     (98     (7     (21     (2     (128

Restructuring and impairment charges

     (26     —         —         —         (26
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating earnings

   $ (84   $ 18     $ (3   $ (5   $ (74

Finance expense

     (16     (3     (5     —         (24

Other

     (6     —         —         (5     (11
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before tax

   $ (106   $ 15     $ (8   $ (10   $ (109
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The geographic distribution of external sales is as follows1:

 

     April 1 to June 30      January 1 to June 30  
     2020      2019      2020      2019  

Canada

   $ 217      $ 270      $ 454      $ 531  

United States

     787        785        1,537        1,486  

China

     187        173        327        342  

Other Asia

     79        78        138        176  

Other

     6        11        15        23  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 1,276      $ 1,317      $ 2,471      $ 2,558  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

1.

Sales distribution is based on the location of product delivery.

 

- 11 -


14.

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 (“USITC”) 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.

Developments in CVD and ADD rates

On April 24, 2017, the USDOC issued its preliminary determination in the CVD investigation, and on June 26, 2017, the USDOC issued its preliminary determination in the ADD investigation. On December 4, 2017, the duty rates were revised. On February 3, 2020, the USDOC reassessed these rates based on its first Administrative Review (“AR”) as noted in the tables below.

The CVD and ADD rates apply retroactively for each Period of Investigation (“POI”). We record CVD as export duty expense at the cash deposit rate until an AR finalizes a new applicable rate for each POI. We record ADD as export duty expense by estimating the rate to be applied for each POI by using our actual results and the same calculation methodology as the USDOC and adjust when an AR finalizes a new applicable rate for each POI. The difference between the cash deposits and export duty expense is recorded on our balance sheet as export duty deposits receivable.

On February 3, 2020, the USDOC released the preliminary results from AR1, as shown in the table below. On July 21, 2020, the USDOC issued a new tolling memorandum which extends the finalization of the AR1 duty rates until November 2020. The duty rates are subject to an appeal process, and we will record an adjustment once the rates are finalized. If the AR1 rates were to be confirmed, it would result in a U.S. dollar adjustment of $93 million for the POI covered by AR1. In the event that these rates are finalized, our combined cash deposit rate would be revised to 9.08%. The following table reconciles our AR1 cash deposits to what they would have been if we deposited at the combined rate of 9.08%.

 

US$ millions

   AR1 Cash
Deposits1
US$
     AR1 Liability at
9.08%

US$
     AR1 Excess
Deposits
US$
 

CVD

     176        78        98  

ADD

     68        20        48  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     244        98        146  

Recognized as export duty deposits receivable

           (53
        

 

 

 

Estimated export duty deposit receivable to be recognized.

           93  
        

 

 

 

 

1.

Cash deposit rates changed during AR1, see footnotes under the CVD and ADD tables below.

On January 1, 2020, we entered AR3 for POI January 1 to December 31, 2020. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, we expensed ADD at the West Fraser Estimated Rate of 2.27% and CVD at the Cash Deposit Rate of 17.99%. The ADD Cash Deposit Rate remained at 5.57% for the quarter.

 

- 12 -


Effective dates for CVD

   Cash Deposit
Rate
    Revised Rate2
(Dec. 4, 2017)
    AR1 Preliminary
Rate3
(Feb. 3, 2020)
 

AR1 POI

      

April 28, 2017 - August 24, 20171

     24.12     17.99     7.07

August 25, 2017 - December 27, 20171

     —         —         —    

December 28, 2017 - December 31, 2017

     17.99     17.99     7.07

January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018

     17.99     17.99     7.51

AR2 POI

      

January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019

     17.99     17.99     n/a 4 

AR3 POI

      

January 1, 2020 - June 30, 2020

     17.99     17.99     n/a 5 

 

1.

On April 24, 2017, the USDOC issued its preliminary rate in the CVD investigation. The requirement that we make cash deposits for CVD was suspended on August 24, 2017 until the Revised Rate was published by the USITC.

2.

On December 4, 2017, the USDOC Revised our CVD Rate effective December 28, 2017.

3.

On February 3, 2020, the USDOC issued its Preliminary CVD Rate for the AR1 POI.

4.

The CVD rate for the AR2 POI will be adjusted when AR2 is complete and the USDOC finalizes the rate, which is not expected until 2021.

5.

The CVD rate for the AR3 POI will be adjusted when AR3 is complete and the USDOC finalizes the rate, which is not expected until 2022.

 

Effective dates for ADD

   Cash Deposit
Rate
    Revised Rate2
(Dec. 4, 2017)
    AR1
Preliminary
Rate3
(Feb. 3, 2020)
    West Fraser
Estimated
Rate
 

AR1 POI

        

June 30, 2017 - December 3, 20171

     6.76     5.57     1.57     1.46 %6 

December 4, 2017 - December 31, 2017

     5.57     5.57     1.57     1.46 %6 

January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018

     5.57     5.57     1.57     1.46

AR2 POI

        

January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019

     5.57     5.57     n/a 4      4.65

AR3 POI

        

January 1, 2020 - June 30, 2020

     5.57     5.57     n/a 5      2.27

 

1.

On June 26, 2017, the USDOC issued its preliminary rate in the ADD investigation effective June 30, 2017.

2.

On December 4, 2017, the USDOC Revised our ADD Rate effective December 4, 2017.

3.

On February 3, 2020, the USDOC issued its Preliminary ADD Rate for the AR1 POI.

4.

The ADD rate for the AR2 POI will be adjusted when AR2 is complete and the USDOC finalizes the rate, which is not expected until 2021.

5.

The ADD rate for the AR3 POI will be adjusted when AR3 is complete and the USDOC finalizes the rate, which is not expected until 2022.

6.

In fiscal 2017, our Estimated ADD was recorded at a rate of 0.9%. AR1 covers both the 2017 and 2018 periods. In 2018 we recorded ADD such that the cumulative rate for the periods covered by AR1 would be 1.46%.

Duty expense and cash deposits

 

     April 1 to June 30      January 1 to June 30  

Export duties incurred in the period

   2020      2019      2020      2019  

Countervailing duties

   $ 34      $ 39      $ 66      $ 67  

Antidumping duties

     10        11        21        20  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 44      $ 50      $ 87      $ 87  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     April 1 to June 30      January 1 to June 30  

Recognized in the financial statements as

   2020      2019      2020      2019  

Export duties recognized as expense in consolidated statements of earnings

   $ 42      $ 51      $ 77      $ 83  

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

     2        (1      10        4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 44      $ 50      $ 87      $ 87  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

- 13 -


We have recorded long-term duty deposits receivable related to CVD for the excess of deposits made at the Cash Deposit Rate of 24.12% compared to the December 4, 2017, Revised Rate of 17.99%, and to ADD for the difference between the 5.57% Cash Deposit Rate and our West Fraser Estimated Rate. The details are as follows:

 

     January 1 to June 30      January 1 to December 31  

Export duty deposits receivable

   2020      2019  

Beginning balance

   $ 80      $ 75  

Export duties recognized as long-term duty deposits receivable in consolidated balance sheets

     10        5  

Interest recognized on the long-term duty deposits receivable

     1        4  

Exchange on the long-term duty deposits

     4        (4
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ending balance

   $ 95      $ 80  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As at June 30, 2020, export duties paid and payable on deposit with the USDOC are US$323 million for CVD and US$113 million for ADD for a total of US$436 million.

AR2 and AR3

AR2 covers the POI from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. The USDOC commenced AR2 during the second quarter of 2020. AR3 covers the POI from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 and is expected to commence in 2021. The results of AR2 are not expected to be finalized until 2021 and AR3 until 2022. Notwithstanding the deposit rates assigned under the investigations, our final liability for the assessment of CVD and ADD will not be determined until each annual administrative review process is complete and related appeal processes are concluded.

Appeals

We, together with other Canadian forest product companies and the Canadian federal and provincial governments (the “Canadian Interests”), categorically deny the allegations by the coalition of U.S. lumber producers and disagree with the countervailing and antidumping determinations by the USDOC and the USITC. The Canadian Interests continue to aggressively defend the Canadian industry in this trade dispute and have appealed the decisions to North America Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”) panels and the World Trade Organization (“WTO”).

On May 22, 2020, the NAFTA Panel issued its final decision on “Injury.” The Panel rejected the Canadian parties’ arguments and upheld the USITC’s remand determination in its entirety. Notwithstanding this decision regarding “Injury,” the Canadian parties still have pending WTO and NAFTA challenges to the USDOC’s underlying CVD and ADD determinations that have yet to be resolved. We remain confident that those proceedings will yield favorable results as they have done in the past and that the duties will be ruled to be unwarranted.

 

- 14 -