04:19:45 EDT Thu 02 May 2024
Enter Symbol
or Name
USA
CA



West Fraser Timber Co Ltd
Symbol WFT
Shares Issued 83,836,728
Close 2014-10-27 C$ 54.11
Market Cap C$ 4,536,405,352
Recent Sedar Documents

ORIGINAL: West Fraser ("WFT") Announces Third Quarter Results

2014-10-27 17:05 ET - News Release

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/27/14

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (TSX:WFT) today reported earnings of $70 million or $0.83 per share on sales of $1,030 million in the third quarter of 2014. These results compare with previous periods as follows:


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
($ millions except earnings per                                             
 share ("EPS"))                        Q3-14   Q2-14  YTD-14   Q3-13  YTD-13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                                  1,030   1,053   2,892     878   2,641
EBITDA(1)                                156     146     450     113     432
Operating earnings                       111     106     323      73     315
Earnings                                  70      74     216      55     231
Basic EPS ($)                           0.83    0.87    2.54    0.64    2.70
Adjusted earnings (2)                     94      66     244      68     278
Adjusted basic EPS ($)(2)               1.12    0.77    2.86    0.79    3.24
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) In this Report, reference is made to EBITDA (defined as earnings plus (i) amortization, (ii) restructuring charges, (iii) finance expense, (iv) exchange (gain) loss on long-term debt, (v) other (income) expense and (vi) tax (recovery) provision. Our management believes that, in addition to earnings, EBITDA is a useful performance indicator and is a useful measure of cash available prior to debt service, acquisitions, capital expenditures and income taxes. Reference is also made to Adjusted earnings (calculated as set out in the tables described in footnote 2) and Adjusted basic EPS (collectively, with EBITDA, "these measures"). None of these measures is a generally accepted earnings measure under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and none have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. Investors are cautioned that none of these measures should be considered as an alternative to earnings, earnings per share or cash flow, as determined in accordance with IFRS. As there is no standardized method of calculating any of these measures, our method of calculating each of them may differ from the methods used by other entities and, accordingly, our use of any of these measures may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures used by other entities.

(2) Refer to the table titled "Earnings Adjustments for Certain Non-Operational Items" in Management's Discussion and Analysis of our third quarter 2014 results for details of these adjustments.

Operational Results

In the quarter our lumber operations generated operating earnings of $101 million (Q2 - $81 million) and EBITDA of $131 million (Q2- $106 million). The increased earnings were largely the result of reduced costs and certain manufacturing productivity improvements related to capital investments.

Our panel segment generated operating earnings of $25 million (Q2 - $10 million) and EBITDA of $29 million (Q2 - $13 million), the result of substantially improved plywood prices.

Our pulp and paper operations generated an operating loss of $2 million compared to operating earnings of $19 million in the previous quarter and EBITDA of $9 million (Q2 - $30 million). The loss was largely the result of scheduled maintenance downtime at our Hinton pulp mill followed by a difficult startup.

Outlook

We have seen gradual recovery in U.S. home construction and expect the recovery to continue. Log costs are expected to trend higher in Canada as competition for purchased wood increases in certain areas of B.C. and contractor costs increase. However, as we complete our capital projects, we expect productivity improvements and cost reductions to continue.

"The largest capital program in our Company's history is currently underway and I expect combined capital expenditures for 2013 and 2014 to exceed $700 million," said Ted Seraphim, our President and CEO. "I'm excited about what these investments are doing to improve the competitiveness of the Company and how we are positioning our operations to succeed as U.S. housing continues its slow recovery."

Management's Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A")

The Company's MD&A is available on the Company's website: www.westfraser.com and on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile.

West Fraser

We are an integrated wood products company producing lumber, wood chips, LVL, MDF, plywood, pulp and newsprint. We have operations in western Canada and the southern United States.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Report contains historical information, descriptions of current circumstances and statements about potential future developments. The latter, which are forward-looking statements and are included under the heading "Outlook" are presented to provide reasonable guidance to the reader but their accuracy depends on a number of assumptions and is subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual outcomes and results will depend on a number of factors that could affect our ability to execute our business plans, including those matters described in the 2013 annual MD&A and our 2014 third quarter MD&A under "Risks and Uncertainties", and may differ materially from those anticipated or projected. Accordingly, readers should exercise caution in relying upon forward-looking statements and we undertake no obligation to publicly revise them to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Conference Call

Investors are invited to listen to the quarterly conference call on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time (11:30 a.m. Eastern Time) by dialing 1-800-769-8320 (toll-free North America). The call may also be accessed through our website at www.westfraser.com.

West Fraser shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol: "WFT".


                                                                            
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.                                                 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets                                       
(in millions of Canadian dollars, except where indicated - unaudited)       
                                                                            
                                              September 30       December 31
                                                      2014              2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets                                                                      
Current assets                                                              
Cash and short-term investments          $              18 $             162
Receivables                                            310               279
Inventories (note 4)                                   522               519
Prepaid expenses                                        18                11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       868               971
Property, plant and equipment                        1,424             1,144
Timber licences                                        522               489
Goodwill and other intangibles                         394               321
Other assets                                            53                83
Deferred income tax assets                              68                96
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         $           3,329 $           3,104
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Liabilities                                                                 
Current liabilities                                                         
Cheques issued in excess of funds on                                        
 deposit                                 $              11 $               -
Operating loans (note 5)                                41                 -
Payables and accrued liabilities                       452               385
Income taxes payable                                    25                30
Reforestation and decommissioning                                           
 obligations                                            41                39
Current portion of long-term debt (note                                     
 5)                                                    336               319
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       906               773
Long-term debt (note 5)                                  9                 9
Other liabilities (note 6)                             222               197
Deferred income tax liabilities                        163               178
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     1,300             1,157
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Shareholders' Equity                                                        
Share capital                                          589               602
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings                36                10
Retained earnings                                    1,404             1,335
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     2,029             1,947
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         $           3,329 $           3,104
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Number of Common shares and Class B Common shares outstanding at October 27,
 2014 was 83,836,728.                                                       
                                                                            
                                                                            
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.                                                 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in                             
 Shareholders' Equity                                                       
(in millions of Canadian dollars, except where                              
 indicated - unaudited)                                                     
                                                                            
                                         July 1 to          January 1 to    
                                        September 30        September 30    
                                         2014      2013      2014      2013 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Share capital                                                               
Balance - beginning of period        $    596  $    602  $    602  $    602 
Issuance of Common shares                   -         1         -         1 
Common share repurchases                   (7)       (1)      (13)       (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance - end of period              $    589  $    602  $    589  $    602 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Accumulated other comprehensive                                             
 earnings                                                                   
Balance - beginning of period        $     11  $      7  $     10  $     (9)
Translation gain (loss) on foreign                                          
 operations                                25        (7)       26         9 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance - end of period              $     36  $      -  $     36  $      - 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Retained earnings                                                           
Balance - beginning of period        $  1,383  $  1,069  $  1,335  $    899 
Actuarial gain (loss) on post-                                              
 retirement benefits (net of tax)           -        50       (49)       56 
Common share repurchases                  (43)       (2)      (80)       (2)
Earnings for the period                    70        55       216       231 
Dividends                                  (6)       (6)      (18)      (18)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance - end of period              $  1,404  $  1,166  $  1,404  $  1,166 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholders' Equity                 $  2,029  $  1,768  $  2,029  $  1,768 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
                                                                    
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.                                         
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings and                   
Comprehensive Earnings                                              
(in millions of Canadian dollars, except where indicated -          
 unaudited)                                                         
                                                                    
                                    July 1 to        January 1 to   
                                   September 30      September 30   
                                    2014     2013     2014     2013 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    
Sales                            $ 1,030  $   878  $ 2,892  $ 2,641 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    
Costs and expenses                                                  
Cost of products sold                682      583    1,907    1,700 
Freight and other distribution                                      
 costs                               144      126      411      369 
Export taxes                           -        6        -        6 
Amortization                          45       40      127      117 
Selling, general and                                                
 administration                       37       31      110       95 
Equity-based compensation             11       19       14       39 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     919      805    2,569    2,326 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating earnings                   111       73      323      315 
Finance expense                       (6)      (7)     (20)     (21)
Exchange gain (loss) on long-                                       
 term debt                           (16)       6      (17)     (11)
Other income (expense) (note 9)       13       (3)      19        4 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before tax                  102       69      305      287 
Tax provision (note 10)              (32)     (14)     (89)     (56)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings                         $    70  $    55  $   216  $   231 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    
Earnings per share (dollars)                                        
 (note 11)                                                          
Basic and diluted                $  0.83  $  0.64  $  2.54  $  2.70 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    
Comprehensive earnings                                              
Earnings                         $    70  $    55  $   216  $   231 
Other comprehensive earnings                                        
Translation gain (loss) on                                          
 foreign operations                   25       (7)      26        9 
Actuarial gain (loss) on post-                                      
 retirement benefits (1)               -       50      (49)      56 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Comprehensive earnings           $    95  $    98  $   193  $   296 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    
1. Net of income tax recovery of $nil for the three months ended    
 September 30, 2014 (three months ended September 30, 2013 - $16    
 million provision) and $17 million for the nine months ended       
 September 30, 2014 (six months ended September 30, 2013 - $18      
 million provision).                                                
                                                                    
                                                                            
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.                                                 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                             
(in millions of Canadian dollars, except where indicated - unaudited)       
                                                                            
                                      July 1 to            January 1 to     
                                     September 30          September 30     
                                      2014       2013       2014       2013 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating activities                                                        
 Earnings                        $      70  $      55  $     216  $     231 
 Adjustments                                                                
 Amortization                           45         40        127        117 
 Finance expense                         6          7         20         21 
 Exchange (gain) loss on long-                                              
  term debt                             16         (6)        17         11 
 Tax provision                          32         14         89         56 
 Income taxes paid                      (7)        (4)       (54)       (26)
 Post-retirement expense                16         14         41         42 
 Contributions to post-                                                     
  retirement benefit plans             (13)       (27)       (42)       (67)
 Other                                 (27)       (14)       (25)       (14)
Changes in non-cash working                                                 
 capital                                                                    
 Receivables                            15         (1)       (22)       (29)
 Inventories                             5        (18)        32         (6)
 Prepaid expenses                       10          8         (7)        (5)
 Payables and accrued                                                       
  liabilities                           69         60         42         55 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from operating                                                   
 activities                            237        128        434        386 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Financing activities                                                        
Proceeds from long-term debt             -          8          -          8 
Proceeds from (repayment of)                                                
 operating loans                       (84)         -         45          - 
Finance expense paid                    (1)        (1)       (12)       (10)
Dividends                               (6)        (6)       (18)       (18)
Common share repurchases               (50)        (3)       (93)        (3)
Other                                   (1)        (1)        (1)        (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from financing                                                   
 activities                           (142)        (3)       (79)       (24)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Investing activities                                                        
Acquisitions (note 3)                   (1)         -       (203)         - 
Additions to capital assets           (107)       (96)      (321)      (219)
Government assistance                    -          2         13          3 
Other                                    2          2         (9)         1 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from investing                                                   
 activities                           (106)       (92)      (520)      (215)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Change in cash                         (11)        33       (165)       147 
Foreign exchange effect on cash          7         (1)        10          3 
Cash - beginning of period              11        220        162        102 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash - end of period             $       7  $     252  $       7  $     252 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Cash consists of                                                            
Cash and short-term investments                        $      18  $     252 
Cheques issued in excess of                                                 
 funds on deposit                                            (11)         - 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       $       7  $     252 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 an integrated wood products company producing lumber, wood chips, LVL, MDF, plywood, pulp and newsprint 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 ("IASB") and using the same accounting policies and methods of their application as the December 31, 2013 annual financial statements. These condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with our 2013 annual financial statements.

3. Acquisitions

During the year, we made the following acquisitions:


                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Cash    Due to       
Location               Business Acquired      Date     Paid    Seller  Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mansfield, Arkansas    Lumber manufacturing   March 7 $  61 $       - $   61
                       facility                                             
High Prairie, Alberta  Lumber manufacturing   April 3    63         5     68
                       facility and related                                 
                       timber tenures                                       
Russellville, Arkansas Lumber manufacturing   April      79         -     79
                       facility               25                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                                 $ 203 $       5 $  208
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

We accounted for each of these transactions as an acquisition of a business and have allocated the preliminary purchase price based on the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. The preliminary purchase price allocation is as follows:


                                           
-------------------------------------------
                                      2014 
-------------------------------------------
Current assets                      $   41 
Current liabilities                     (6)
Property, plant and equipment           55 
Timber licenses                         43 
Goodwill and other intangibles          77 
Long-term liabilities                   (2)
------------------------------------------ 
Consideration                       $  208 
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------

Goodwill of $76 million, recorded in the lumber segment, is deductible for tax purposes.

The acquired mills have generated revenues of $83 million and earnings of $4 million since the dates of the acquisitions. Acquisition costs of $1 million have been expensed in selling, general and administration.

4. Inventories

Inventories at September 30, 2014 were written down by $6 million (June 30, 2014 - $7 million; December 31, 2013 - $6 million; September 30, 2013 - $7 million) to reflect net realizable value being lower than cost.

5. Long-term debt and operating loans

Long-term debt


                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             September 30,     December 31, 
                                                      2014             2013 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
US$300 million senior notes due October                                     
 2014; interest at 5.2%                    $           336  $           319 
US$8 million note due October 2020;                                         
 interest at 2%                                          8                8 
Note due in installments to 2020; interest                                  
 at 5.5%                                                 2                2 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       346              329 
Current portion                                       (336)            (319)
Deferred financing costs                                (1)              (1)
---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- 
                                           $             9  $             9 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The fair value of the long-term debt is $346 million (December 31, 2013 - $341 million) based on rates available to us at the balance sheet date for long-term debt with similar terms and remaining maturities.

On October 15, 2014 we repaid the US$300 million senior notes and issued new US$300 million of unsecured senior notes due October 15, 2024, see note 12.

Operating loans

We have $580 million in revolving lines of credit of which $41 million (net of deferred financing costs of $3 million) were drawn as at September 30, 2014 (December 31, 2013 - undrawn). Deferred financing costs of $4 million were included in other assets at December 31, 2013.

Our revolving lines of credit include a $500 million revolving credit facility which matures September 30, 2018, two demand lines of credit totalling $75 million dedicated to letters of credit and a $5 million demand line of credit dedicated to a jointly-owned newsprint operation. Interest on the facilities is payable at floating rates based on Prime, U.S. base, Bankers' Acceptances or LIBOR at our option. As at September 30, 2014, letters of credit in the amount of $51 million were issued under these facilities.

All debt is unsecured except the $5 million joint operation demand line of credit, which is secured by that joint operation's current assets.

6. Other liabilities


                                                                  
------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    September 30,     December 31,
                                             2014             2013
------------------------------------------------------------------
Post-retirement (note 7)         $            110 $             82
Reforestation                                  62               66
Decommissioning                                22               22
Other                                          28               27
------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 $            222 $            197
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------

7. 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 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:


                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             September 30,     December 31, 
                                                      2014             2013 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Projected benefit obligations              $        (1,384) $        (1,212)
Fair value of plan assets                            1,307            1,207 
Impact of minimum funding requirement                    -               (5)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           $           (77) $           (10)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Represented by                                                              
Post-retirement assets                     $            33  $            72 
Post-retirement liabilities (note 6)                  (110)             (82)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           $           (77) $           (10)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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


                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 September 30,       June 30,   December 31,
                                          2014           2014           2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discount rate                            4.00%          4.00%          4.75%
Future compensation rate                                                    
 increase                                3.50%          3.50%          3.50%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The change in the discount rate on obligations and the difference between the actual rate of return and the discount rate on plan assets generated an actuarial gain (loss) on post-retirement benefits, included in other comprehensive earnings, as follows:


--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    July 1 to        January 1 to   
                                   September 30      September 30   
                                     2014    2013     2014     2013 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Actuarial gain (loss)            $      - $    66  $   (66) $    74 
Tax recovery (provision)                -     (16)      17      (18)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 $      - $    50  $   (49) $    56 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------

8. Share capital


                                                                            
Authorized                                                                  
400,000,000 Common shares, without par value                                
20,000,000 Class B Common shares, without par value                         
10,000,000 Preferred shares, issuable in series, without par value          

Issued


                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  2014                       2013           
                               Number      Amount         Number      Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common                     81,554,586 $       589     83,390,026 $       602
Class B Common              2,281,478           -      2,281,478           -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Common               83,836,064 $       589     85,671,504 $       602
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

On April 29, 2014 the shareholders of the Company voted to increase the number of authorized Common shares from 200,000,000 to 400,000,000. This increase returns the proportion of Common shares available for issuance to the same level as before the December 10, 2013 stock dividend (the "Stock Dividend").

During 2014 we repurchased 1,842,000 (2013 - 64,554) Common shares under our normal course issuer bid (NCIB) program at an average price of $50.78 per share (2013 - $44.60), for a total cost of $93 million (2013 - $3 million).

On September 5, 2014 we announced the renewal of our NCIB program providing for the repurchase and cancellation of up to 4,000,000 Common shares, representing approximately 5% of our issued and outstanding Common shares. Repurchases will be effected through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange and may take place over a 12-month period ending no later than September 16, 2015.

Stock dividend

On December 10, 2013 the Board of Directors declared a Stock Dividend of one Common share for each issued and outstanding Common share and Class B Common share in the capital of the Company, which has the same effect as a two-for-one stock split. The Stock Dividend was paid on January 13, 2014 to shareholders of record on December 31, 2013. For comparative purposes the Stock Dividend has been applied retroactively to earlier periods so that the number of shares used to calculate earnings per share is doubled resulting in earnings per share for prior years being half of the amount that would otherwise have been reported.

On January 13, 2014 we issued 42,835,752 Common shares pursuant to the Stock Dividend. Also on January 13, 2014 the number of options and units outstanding under our share option, phantom share, and directors' deferred share unit plans were doubled and the exercise price of outstanding share options was halved to reflect the Stock Dividend.

9. Other income (expense)


                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     July 1 to            January 1 to      
                                   September 30           September 30      
                                     2014       2013        2014       2013 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign exchange gain (loss) -                                              
 net                           $       10 $       (4) $       10 $        5 
Increase in decommissioning                                                 
 obligations                            -          -           -         (6)
Other                                   3          1           9          5 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               $       13 $       (3) $       19 $        4 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

10. Tax provision

The tax provision differs from the amount that would have resulted from applying the Canadian statutory income tax rate to earnings before income taxes as follows:


                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      July 1 to            January 1 to     
                                     September 30          September 30     
                                      2014       2013       2014       2013 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income tax expense at statutory                                             
 rate of 26% (2013 - 25.75%)     $     (26) $     (18) $     (79) $     (74)
Non-taxable amounts                     (4)        (3)        (4)        (8)
Rate differentials between                                                  
 jurisdictions and on specified                                             
 activities                             (3)        (2)        (6)       (10)
Recognized tax assets                    -          9          -         39 
Increase in statutory tax rate           -          -          -         (2)
Other                                    1          -          -         (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax provision                    $     (32) $     (14) $     (89) $     (56)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

11. 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.


                                                                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      July 1 to          January 1 to     
                                    September 30         September 30     
                                      2014      2013      2014       2013 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings                                                                  
Basic                            $      70 $      55 $     216  $     231 
Share option expense                     8        16         9         31 
Equity settled share option                                               
 adjustment                              -         -        (2)        (2)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted                          $      78 $      71 $     223  $     260 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          
Weighted average number of                                                
 shares (thousands)                                                       
Basic                               84,202    85,722    85,094     85,726 
Share options                        1,429     1,380     1,456      1,411 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted                             85,631    87,102    86,550     87,137 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          
Earnings per share (dollars)                                              
Basic and diluted                $    0.83 $    0.64 $    2.54  $    2.70 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

12. Subsequent event

On October 15, 2014 we issued US$300 million of senior unsecured notes. The notes bear interest of 4.35% per year and are due October 15, 2024. The net proceeds were used to repay our outstanding US$300 million senior notes that matured that day.

13. Segmented information


                                                 Pulp & Corporate           
                             Lumber    Panels     paper   & other     Total 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 1, 2014 to September                                                   
 30, 2014                                                                   
                                                                            
Sales at market prices                                                      
  To external customers       $ 688     $ 143     $ 199       $ -   $ 1,030 
                                                                  ----------
                                                                  ----------
  To other segments              25         2         -         -           
------------------------------------------------------------------          
                              $ 713     $ 145     $ 199       $ -           
------------------------------------------------------------------          
------------------------------------------------------------------          
                                                                            
EBITDA (1)                    $ 131      $ 29       $ 9     $ (13)    $ 156 
Amortization                    (30)       (4)      (11)        -       (45)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating earnings              101        25        (2)      (13)      111 
Finance expense                  (4)        -        (2)        -        (6)
Exchange loss on long-term                                                  
 debt                             -         -         -       (16)      (16)
Other income                      6         1         6         -        13 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before tax           $ 103      $ 26       $ 2     $ (29)    $ 102 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
July 1, 2013 to September                                                   
 30, 2013                                                                   
                                                                            
Sales at market prices                                                      
  To external customers       $ 559     $ 118     $ 201       $ -     $ 878 
                                                                  ----------
                                                                  ----------
  To other segments              22         2         -         -           
------------------------------------------------------------------          
                              $ 581     $ 120     $ 201       $ -           
------------------------------------------------------------------          
------------------------------------------------------------------          
                                                                            
EBITDA (1)                     $ 83       $ 9      $ 40     $ (19)    $ 113 
Amortization                    (26)       (3)      (11)        -       (40)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating earnings               57         6        29       (19)       73 
Finance expense                  (4)       (1)       (2)        -        (7)
Exchange gain on long-term                                                  
 debt                             -         -         -         6         6 
Other income (expense)           (2)        -        (2)        1        (3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before tax            $ 51       $ 5      $ 25     $ (12)     $ 69 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.Non-IFRS measure:                                                         
  EBITDA is defined as earnings plus (i) amortization, (ii) restructuring   
  charges, (iii) finance expense, (iv) exchange (gain) loss on long-term    
  debt, (v) other (income) expense and (vi) tax (recovery) provision.       
                                                                            
                                               Pulp &  Corporate            
                         Lumber     Panels      paper    & other      Total 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 1, 2014 to September                                                
 30, 2014                                                                   
                                                                            
Sales at market                                                             
 prices                                                                     
 To external                                                                
  customers           $   1,886  $     386  $     620  $       -  $   2,892 
                                                                 -----------
                                                                 -----------
 To other segments           73          6          -          -            
-----------------------------------------------------------------           
                      $   1,959  $     392  $     620  $       -            
-----------------------------------------------------------------           
-----------------------------------------------------------------           
                                                                            
EBITDA (1)            $     344  $      53  $      71  $     (18) $     450 
Amortization                (83)       (11)       (32)        (1)      (127)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating earnings          261         42         39        (19)       323 
Finance expense             (12)        (2)        (6)         -        (20)
Exchange loss on                                                            
 long-term debt               -          -          -        (17)       (17)
Other income                 11          1          7          -         19 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before tax   $     260  $      41  $      40  $     (36) $     305 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
January 1, 2013 to September                                                
30, 2013                                                                    
                                                                            
Sales at market                                                             
 prices                                                                     
 To external                                                                
  customers           $   1,712  $     352  $     577  $       -  $   2,641 
                                                                 -----------
                                                                 -----------
 To other segments           62          5          -          -            
-----------------------------------------------------------------           
                      $   1,774  $     357  $     577  $       -            
-----------------------------------------------------------------           
-----------------------------------------------------------------           
                                                                            
EBITDA (1)            $     354  $      37  $      79  $     (38) $     432 
Amortization                (72)       (11)       (34)         -       (117)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating earnings          282         26         45        (38)       315 
Finance expense             (11)        (3)        (7)         -        (21)
Exchange loss on                                                            
 long-term debt               -          -          -        (11)       (11)
Other income                                                                
 (expense)                    4          -          4         (4)         4 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before tax   $     275  $      23  $      42  $     (53) $     287 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
1. Non-IFRS measure:                                                        
EBITDA is defined as earnings plus (i) amortization, (ii) restructuring     
 charges, (iii) finance expense, (iv) exchange (gain) loss on long-term     
 debt, (v) other (income) expense and (vi) tax (recovery) provision.        

The geographic distribution of external sales is as follows(1):


                                                                
----------------------------------------------------------------
                           July 1 to           January 1 to     
                         September 30          September 30     
                           2014       2013       2014       2013
----------------------------------------------------------------
United States        $      512 $      434 $    1,260 $    1,325
Canada                      257        213        900        637
China                       175        137        451        406
Other Asia                   62         70        208        204
Other                        24         24         73         69
----------------------------------------------------------------
                     $    1,030 $      878 $    2,892 $    2,641
----------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                
1. Sales distribution is based on the location of product delivery.         

Contacts:
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
Larry Hughes
Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
(604) 895-2700

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
Rodger Hutchinson
Vice-President, Corporate Controller and Investor Relations
(604) 895-2700
www.westfraser.com

© 2024 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.