Mr. Yves Laflamme reports

RESOLUTE REPORTS PRELIMINARY SECOND QUARTER 2018 RESULTS

Resolute Forest Products Inc. had a net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, of $72-million, or 77 cents per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $74-million, or 82 cents per share, in the same period in 2017. Sales were $976-million in the quarter, an increase of $118-million from the year-ago period. Excluding special items, the company reported net income of $66-million, or 71 cents per share, compared with a net loss, excluding special items of $3-million, or three cents per share, in the second quarter of 2017.

"Overall positive price momentum and improved operational performance led to record profitability this quarter. Our strong financial results allowed repayment of $105-million of debt during the quarter, significantly improving our balance sheet and leverage," said Yves Laflamme, president and chief executive officer. "We are also very pleased that the countervailing duty order on supercalendered paper has recently been revoked, resulting in a $60-million refund of duty deposits over the coming months."

A new four-year collective agreement was also ratified, shortly after the end of the second quarter, with the company's largest Canadian union, Unifor, covering 1,000 employees at six of its sawmills. Earlier in the year, Resolute reached a new four-year collective agreement covering 1,100 employees at eight of the company's Canadian pulp and paper mills.

Operating income variance against prior period

Consolidated

The company recorded operating income of $121-million in the quarter, compared with $48-million in the first quarter of 2018. The $73-million improvement reflects higher prices realized across almost all of its product offerings ($58-million), a reduction in energy costs, largely seasonal, favourable fibre usage and higher shipments following distribution constraints in the first quarter. The operating results also benefited from the effect of the weaker Canadian dollar. These favourable elements more than compensated for the 20-per-cent increase in market-based stumpage fees and a rise in recovered paper prices. Maintenance and labour costs were also higher this quarter, largely related to the scheduled outages at two of its pulp mills.

Market pulp

Operating income in the market pulp segment was $41-million, $8-million higher than the first quarter. Positive pulp price momentum continued in the quarter, resulting in a $37 increase in the average transaction price to $747 per metric ton. While productivity improved at most mills, shipments were down 9,000 metric tons, largely due to scheduled maintenance outages at the Catawba (South Carolina) and Calhoun (Tennessee) mills, as well as the planned inventory buildup at Saint-Felicien (Quebec), ahead of the extended outage required for the previously announced strategic investment. As a result, inventory increased by 17,000 metric tons. The operating cost per unit increased by $12 per metric ton due to planned maintenance outages and higher recovered paper prices, offset in part by lower wood and fuel expenses, mostly stemming from improved efficiency. Pricing gains outweighed lower volumes and higher costs, resulting in EBITDA of $49-million in the quarter, or $137 per metric ton, up from $110 per metric ton in the first quarter.

Tissue

The tissue segment incurred an operating loss of $10-million, compared with $1-million in the first quarter, largely attributable to the first time inclusion of Calhoun's results in the second quarter. When compared with the previous quarter, Calhoun's operating results improved by $3-million, mainly due to an increase in shipments. If Calhoun's first quarter sales, previously recorded as a reduction of start-up costs, were included in the tissue segment, overall tissue sales would have risen by 5 per cent as product mix shifted favourably toward more converted product volume. Finished goods inventory decreased by 3,000 short tons. The delivered cost remains elevated as the company continues to optimize productivity. EBITDA for the segment was negative $5-million.

Wood products

Compared with the first quarter, operating income in the wood products segment improved by $26-million to $79-million. The increase is almost entirely attributable to the rise in average transaction price, up $55 to $514 per thousand board feet, as new highs were reached for most grades during the quarter. Shipments also increased by 39 million board feet as a result of improvements in rail car availability. Finished goods inventory dropped by 9 per cent to 128 million board feet. Despite better fibre recovery, the delivered cost rose by $13 per thousand board feet to $355 due to higher market-based stumpage fees linked to lumber selling prices, a rise in diesel fuel cost and an increase in maintenance activity. EBITDA for the segment was $86-million, compared with $61-million in the first quarter, reflecting a margin of 34 per cent.

Newsprint

At $18-million in the second quarter, newsprint generated $22-million more operating income compared with the first quarter. Sales rose by 16 per cent as the average transaction price improved by $26 per metric ton and shipments increased by 38,000 metric tons to 393,000, following freight constraints and timing of export sales in the first quarter. Finished goods inventory at the end of the quarter was 8,000 metric tons lower, at 85,000. The delivered cost also improved by $30 per metric ton, largely due to higher volumes and a seasonal reduction in energy costs, offset in part by higher planned maintenance. EBITDA improved by $54 per metric ton from the previous quarter, reaching $88 per metric ton, or $35-million.

Specialty papers

The specialty papers segment generated operating income of $4-million in the second quarter, compared with an operating loss of $7-million in the first quarter. Realized pricing continued to strengthen, reaching $701 per short ton, an increase of $26, while the delivered cost decreased by $10 per short ton to $688, as improved efficiency led to lower fuel costs. EBITDA rose to $16-million, or $57 per short ton, compared with $5-million in the previous quarter.

Consolidated quarterly operating income variance against year-ago period

The company's operating income improved by $169-million, compared with the second quarter of 2017. The favourable pricing environment across almost all of its products added $145-million to its results compared with 2017, as the average transaction price increased by 33 per cent for wood products, 18 per cent for market pulp, 15 per cent for newsprint and 8 per cent for specialty papers. The improvement in operating income also included the elimination of fixed costs due to capacity closures in our paper segments ($20-million) in 2017. In addition, there were no significant closure and other related charges in the quarter, compared with $65-million in the same quarter of 2017.

These favourable items were partially offset by an increase in manufacturing costs ($26-million), mainly resulting from scheduled maintenance and higher market-related fibre costs, a 15-per-cent rise in freight expenses ($16-million), and the unfavourable impact of the stronger Canadian dollar ($15-million).

Corporate and finance

During the quarter, the company generated $158-million of cash from operations. After $28-million of capital expenditures and $37-million of cash duty deposits, $105-million of debt was repaid and liquidity rose to $517-million.

Following the revocation of the countervailing duty order on supercalendered paper by the U.S. Department of Commerce, all of the $60-million of cash deposits previously paid will be returned with interest. Including $67-million for softwood lumber and $6-million for uncoated groundwood papers, cumulative duty deposits of $133-million are recorded on the company's balance sheet.

Standard & Poor's Global Ratings recently revised the company's outlook to stable and affirmed the BB-minus long-term corporate rating.

Outlook

"Our view on pulp markets remain optimistic through the third quarter, as supply and demand dynamics are expected to be strong in most markets. Despite extensive pulp downtime related to the major capital project in Saint-Felicien, which will increase pulp production in the long term, we expect our pulp performance to remain solid. We believe the underlying market fundamentals for lumber will support healthy operating results in the medium term, in spite of a recent pull back in lumber prices. Paper markets are expected to remain favourable in the third quarter, as we continue to benefit from rising prices across our product offering. For tissue, we have made progress in increasing sales and market penetration. Our operations are now focused on supporting our strengthening market position," added Mr. Laflamme.

Earnings conference call

The company will hold a conference call to discuss the financial results at 9 a.m. ET today. The public is invited to join the call at 877-223-4471 at least 15 minutes before its scheduled start time. A simultaneous webcast will also be available using the link provided under presentations and webcasts in the investors section of the Resolute Forest website. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the company's website; a phone replay will also be available until Aug. 16, 2018, by dialling 800-585-8367, conference No.: 1689773.

About Resolute Forest Products Inc.

Resolute Forest Products is a global leader in the forest product industry with a diverse range of products, including market pulp, tissue, wood products, newsprint and specialty papers, which are marketed in close to 70 countries. The company owns or operates about 40 manufacturing facilities, as well as power generation assets, in the United States and Canada. Resolute has third party certified 100 per cent of its managed woodlands to internationally recognized sustainable forest management standards.

  
                                 
                               CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
                          (unaudited, in millions except per-share amounts)                       
        
                                                                            Three months ended    Six months ended
                                                                                       June 30,            June 30,
                                                                                 2018     2017      2018      2017


Sales                                                                            $976     $858    $1,850    $1,730
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales, excluding depreciation, amortization and distribution costs        639      646     1,253     1,317
Depreciation and amortization                                                      54       50       107       101
Distribution costs                                                                123      108       239       218
Selling, general and administrative expenses                                       42       37        85        79
Closure costs, impairment and other related charges                                 1       65         1        72
Net gain on disposition of assets                                                  (4)       -        (4)        -
Operating income (loss)                                                           121      (48)      169       (57)
Interest expense                                                                  (11)     (12)      (24)      (23)
Non-operating pension and other postretirement benefit credits                     12        1        25         4
Other (expense) income, net                                                        (3)       5       (10)        5
Income (loss) before income taxes                                                 119      (54)      160       (71)
Income tax provision                                                              (47)     (19)      (78)      (48)
Net income (loss) including non-controlling interests                              72      (73)       82      (119)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests                                -       (1)        -        (2)
Net income (loss) attributable to Resolute Forest Products                        $72     $(74)      $82     $(121)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Resolute Forest Products
Inc. common shareholders
Basic                                                                           $0.79   $(0.82)    $0.90    $(1.34)
Diluted                                                                          0.77    (0.82)     0.88     (1.34)

We seek Safe Harbor.