05:55:05 EDT Mon 06 May 2024
Enter Symbol
or Name
USA
CA



Conifex Timber Inc
Symbol CFF
Shares Issued 40,421,440
Close 2024-03-07 C$ 0.72
Market Cap C$ 29,103,437
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Conifex makes amendment to Wells Fargo credit agreement

2024-03-07 17:07 ET - News Release

Mr. Kenneth Shields reports

CONIFEX PROVIDES FINANCIAL UPDATE

Conifex Timber Inc. has completed a first amendment to the credit agreement and the accommodation agreement with Wells Fargo Capital Finance Corp. Canada, pursuant to which Wells Fargo agreed, subject to certain terms and conditions, to amend Conifex's existing lumber business credit facility and provide certain accommodations thereunder. Following the amendment, the facility is secured by substantially all Conifex's lumber business assets.

Benchmark SPF lumber prices declined 50 per cent in 2023, which resulted in negative earnings before finance costs, taxes, depreciation and amortization in 2023 versus positive EBITDA of $46.7-million in 2022. As it progressed through 2023, its liquidity diminished, and accumulating losses made it increasingly difficult to comply with its fixed-charge coverage ratio requirements under the facility. On May 4, 2023, the chief forester in British Columbia permitted licensees in the Mackenzie timber supply area to transition to a green log diet, which enabled it to benefit from increased sawmill productivity, improved lumber grade outturns and higher mill net sales price realizations. These benefits have significantly contributed to reduced fourth quarter 2023 EBITDA losses compared with third quarter 2023. First quarter 2024 benchmark prices are currently 10 per cent higher than in the preceding quarter. If these prices hold and assuming quarter-to-date productivity levels are maintained at its sawmill complex and green power generation facility, it expects further improvement in EBITDA in the first quarter of 2024.

Pursuant to the amendment, Wells Fargo agreed to provide additional short-term liquidity, continue financing revolving loans and refrain from exercising certain of its rights under the facility until May 31, 2024, subject to certain terms and conditions. The amendment follows Conifex's non-maintenance of the minimum excess availability and fixed-charge coverage ratio required by the terms of the facility. Among other conditions, Conifex shall commence a process to secure replacement financing in an amount sufficient to repay in full the facility. Conifex has engaged Raymond James Ltd. to assist in the process.

Concurrent with the amendment, Conifex's wholly owned subsidiary Conifex Power Limited Partnership amended its outstanding power business credit facility to, among other things, release certain restricted cash thereunder, the proceeds of which were applied to pay down the facility. Following this amendment, the power term loan bears interest at a stepped up interest rate per annum commencing at 7.35 per cent. As part of the amendment, Conifex is reviewing the long-term financing of its power business, which may include new or replacement lenders, and may be impacted by, among other things, potential business initiatives the company is pursuing. Conifex expects the foregoing to be completed by or about the second quarter of next year.

Conifex is working collaboratively with its lenders and is pleased to have their continued support as it works to implement an acceptable refinancing process. However, there can be no assurance that it will result in or be able to provide an acceptable plan as required by the amendment or at all.

About Conifex Timber Inc.

Conifex and its subsidiaries' primary business currently includes timber harvesting, reforestation, forest management, sawmilling logs into lumber and wood chips, and value-added lumber finishing and distribution. Conifex's lumber products are sold in the U.S., Canadian and Japanese markets. Conifex also produces bioenergy at its power generation facility at Mackenzie, B.C.

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