01:52:03 EDT Sun 05 May 2024
Enter Symbol
or Name
USA
CA



West Fraser Timber Co Ltd
Symbol WFT
Shares Issued 79,832,726
Close 2016-07-21 C$ 43.81
Market Cap C$ 3,497,471,726
Recent Sedar Documents

ORIGINAL: West Fraser Announces Second Quarter Results

2016-07-21 17:24 ET - News Release

VANCOUVER, BC -- (Marketwired) -- 07/21/16

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. reported earnings of $98 million or $1.22 basic earnings per share on sales of $1,111 million in the second quarter of 2016. These results compare with previous periods as shown in the table below.

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted earnings and Adjusted basic EPS as described in this News Release reflect the adjustments described in the tables referred to in the section titled "Non-IFRS Measures" on page 12 of our 2016 second quarter Management's Discussion & Analysis.

                                                             
-------------------------------------------------------------
($ millions except earnings per        2016         2015     
share ("EPS"))                     Q2    Q1   YTD    Q2   YTD
-------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                           1,111 1,077 2,188 1,029 2,043
Adjusted EBITDA1                  138   130   268    72   245
Operating earnings                120    79   199    18   143
Earnings                           98    42   140    14    63
Basic EPS ($)                    1.22  0.51  1.72  0.17  0.76
Adjusted Earnings1                 64    49   113    12   111
Adjusted basic EPS ($)1          0.80  0.60  1.40  0.15  1.32
-------------------------------------------------------------
 1. In this News Release, reference is made to Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted    
    earnings and Adjusted EPS (collectively "these measures"). We believe   
    that, in addition to earnings, these measures are useful performance    
    indicators. None of these measures is a generally accepted earnings     
    measure under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and  
    none has a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. Investors are       
    cautioned that none of these measures should be considered as an        
    alternative to earnings, EPS 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.                                        
                                                                            

Operational Results

In the quarter our lumber operations generated operating earnings of $78 million (Q1-16 - $63 million) and Adjusted EBITDA of $113 million (Q1-16 - $100 million). Increased U.S. lumber prices and strong sales partially offset by a stronger Canadian dollar contributed to the improvement in earnings. Greater sawmill efficiency after the completion of a number of capital improvements contributed to increased production at several of our operations.

The panel segment, which includes plywood, LVL and MDF, generated operating earnings in the quarter of $18 million (Q1-16 - $12 million) and Adjusted EBITDA of $21 million (Q1-16 - $15 million). Improving plywood prices and increased shipments were the primary contributors to the improved earnings.

Our pulp & paper operations generated an operating loss of $5 million (Q1-16 - earnings of $5 million) and Adjusted EBITDA of $4 million (Q1-16 - $14 million). A stronger Canadian dollar was the main contributor to the reduced earnings.

Outlook

Our second quarter operating results affirm our expectation that we should exceed our 2015 lumber production by over 400 MMfbm. We expect to see continued gradual improvement in lumber prices as U.S. new home construction returns to average historical levels.

In the event that a softwood lumber agreement is not reached by mid-October we are prepared for the potential that the U.S. industry will petition the U.S. government to initiate trade action against Canadian softwood lumber imports to the U.S. Ted Seraphim, our President and CEO, said "We expect that our geographic diversification and investment of capital to modernize and improve the efficiency of our mills should substantially mitigate any negative effect of any trade action."

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.

The Company

West Fraser 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.

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 the ability of the Company to execute its business plans, including those matters described in the 2015 annual Management's Discussion & Analysis 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 the Company undertakes 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 Friday, July 22, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time (11:30 a.m. Eastern Time) by dialing 1-866-225-0198 (toll- free North America). The call may also be accessed through West Fraser's website at www.westfraser.com.

                                                                            
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.                                                 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets                                       
(in millions of Canadian dollars, except where indicated - unaudited)       
                                                                            
                                                         June 30 December 31
                                                            2016        2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets                                                                      
Current assets                                                              
Cash and short-term investments                      $        27 $        13
Receivables                                                  333         298
Income taxes receivable                                       13          11
Inventories (note 3)                                         541         631
Prepaid expenses                                              30          18
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             944         971
Property, plant and equipment                              1,599       1,609
Timber licences                                              560         570
Goodwill and other intangibles                               363         369
Other assets                                                  13          36
Deferred income tax assets                                    58          80
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     $     3,537 $     3,635
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Liabilities                                                                 
Current liabilities                                                         
Cheques issued in excess of funds on deposit         $        36 $        29
Operating loans (note 4)                                     144         178
Payables and accrued liabilities                             316         351
Reforestation and decommissioning obligations                 47          48
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             543         606
Long-term debt (note 4)                                      395         423
Other liabilities (note 5)                                   416         269
Deferred income tax liabilities                              162         190
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           1,516       1,488
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Shareholders' Equity                                                        
Share capital (note 7)                                       560         579
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings                     129         164
Retained earnings                                          1,332       1,404
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           2,021       2,147
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     $     3,537 $     3,635
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Common shares and Class B Common shares outstanding at July 21, 2016 was 79,832,726. 
                                                                                               
                                                                            
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
                                       2016       2015       2016       2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Share capital                                                               
Balance - beginning of period    $     571  $     587  $     579  $     587 
                                                                            
Common share repurchases               (11)         -        (19)         - 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance - end of period          $     560  $     587  $     560  $     587 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Accumulated other comprehensive                                             
 earnings                                                                   
Balance - beginning of period    $     132  $     106  $     164  $      55 
                                                                            
Translation gain (loss) on                                                  
 foreign operations                     (3)        (8)       (35)        43 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance - end of period          $     129  $      98  $     129  $      98 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Retained earnings                                                           
Balance - beginning of period    $   1,338  $   1,385  $   1,404  $   1,387 
                                                                            
Actuarial gain (loss) on post-                                              
 retirement benefits                   (45)        54       (105)         9 
                                                                            
Common share repurchases               (53)         -        (95)         - 
                                                                            
Earnings for the period                 98         14        140         63 
                                                                            
Dividends                               (6)        (6)       (12)       (12)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance - end of period          $   1,332  $   1,447  $   1,332  $   1,447 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholders' Equity             $   2,021  $   2,132  $   2,021  $   2,132 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
                                                                            
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
                                       2016       2015       2016       2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Sales                            $   1,111  $   1,029  $   2,188  $   2,043 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Costs and expenses                                                          
Cost of products sold                  775        749      1,524      1,406 
Freight and other distribution                                              
 costs                                 156        159        315        303 
Export taxes                             -         12          -         12 
Amortization                            48         45         97         92 
Selling, general and                                                        
 administration                         42         37         81         77 
Equity-based compensation              (30)         9        (28)        10 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       991      1,011      1,989      1,900 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating earnings                     120         18        199        143 
Finance expense                         (7)        (7)       (15)       (15)
Other (note 9)                           7         21         (9)       (26)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before tax                    120         32        175        102 
Tax provision (note 10)                (22)       (18)       (35)       (39)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings                         $      98  $      14  $     140  $      63 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Earnings per share (dollars)                                                
 (note 11)                                                                  
Basic                            $    1.22  $    0.17  $    1.72  $    0.76 
Diluted                          $    0.86  $    0.17  $    1.36  $    0.76 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Comprehensive earnings                                                      
Earnings                         $      98  $      14  $     140  $      63 
Other comprehensive earnings                                                
Translation gain (loss) on                                                  
 foreign operations                     (3)        (8)       (35)        43 
Actuarial gain (loss) on post-                                              
 retirement benefits 1                 (45)        54       (105)         9 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comprehensive earnings           $      50  $      60  $       -  $     115 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.  Net of tax recovery of $17 million for the three months ended June 30,  
    2016 (three months ended June 30, 2015 - $19 million tax provision) and 
    $38 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 (six months ended    
    June 30, 2015 - $2 million tax provision).                              
                                                                            
                                                                            
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
                                    2016       2015       2016       2015   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating activities                                                        
Earnings                         $      98  $      14  $     140  $      63 
Adjustments                                                                 
  Amortization                          48         45         97         92 
  Finance expense                        7          7         15         15 
  Foreign exchange loss (gain)                                              
   on long-term financing               (1)        (4)       (10)        23 
  Loss (gain) on power                                                      
   agreements, net of settlement                                            
   costs                                 -        (18)        11         12 
  Post-retirement expense               18         15         35         28 
  Contributions to post-                                                    
   retirement benefit plans            (16)       (18)       (28)       (21)
  Tax provision                         22         18         35         39 
  Income taxes received (paid)           4        (12)        (5)       (54)
  Other                                (28)        (6)       (29)         4 
Changes in non-cash working                                                 
 capital                                                                    
  Receivables                            6         28        (30)       (26)
  Inventories                          180        119         84         62 
  Prepaid expenses                     (10)       (15)       (15)       (16)
  Payables and accrued                                                      
   liabilities                         (47)        21        (42)        19 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from operating                                                   
 activities                            281        194        258        240 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Financing activities                                                        
Repayment of operating loans          (150)      (124)       (34)       (75)
Finance expense paid                   (10)        (9)       (11)       (11)
Dividends                               (6)        (6)       (12)       (12)
Common share repurchases               (62)         -       (112)         - 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from financing                                                   
 activities                           (228)      (139)      (169)       (98)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Investing activities                                                        
Additions to capital assets            (57)       (49)      (106)      (118)
Government assistance                    3          -          7          - 
Other                                    -          6          -          6 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from investing                                                   
 activities                            (54)       (43)       (99)      (112)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Change in cash                          (1)        12        (10)        30 
Foreign exchange effect on cash         13          2         17          7 
Cash - beginning of period             (21)         8        (16)       (15)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash - end of period             $      (9) $      22  $      (9) $      22 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Cash consists of                                                            
Cash and short-term investments                        $      27  $      30 
Cheques issued in excess of                                                 
 funds on deposit                                            (36)        (8)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       $      (9) $      22 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
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 using the same accounting policies and methods of their application as the December 31, 2015 annual financial statements. These condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with our 2015 annual financial statements.

                                                                            
3.  Inventories                                                             

Inventories at June 30, 2016 were written down by $11 million (March 31, 2016 - $14 million December 31, 2015 - $21 million; June 30, 2015 - $22 million) to reflect net realizable value being lower than cost.

                                                                            
4.  Long-term debt and operating loans                                      
Long-term debt                                                              
                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     June 30,   December 31,
                                                       2016         2015    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
US$300 million senior notes due October 2024;                               
 interest at 4.35%                                 $      388   $       415 
                                                                            
US$8 million note payable due October 2020;                                 
 interest at 2.00%                                         10            10 
                                                                            
Note payable due in installments to 2025; interest                          
 ranging from 4.82% to 5.50%                                1             2 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          399           427 
Deferred financing costs                                   (4)           (4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   $      395   $       423 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            

The fair value of the long-term debt is $379 million (December 31, 2015 - $406 million) based on rates available to us at the balance sheet date for long-term debt with similar terms and remaining maturities.

Operating loans

We have $615 million in revolving lines of credit of which $144 million (net of deferred financing costs of $3 million) were drawn as at June 30, 2016 (December 31, 2015 - $178 million, net of deferred financing costs of $3 million).

Our revolving lines of credit consist of a $500 million revolving credit facility which matures September 30, 2020, a $32 million (US$25 million) demand line of credit dedicated to our US operations, two demand lines of credit totalling $75 million dedicated to letters of credit, and an $8 million demand line of credit dedicated to our 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 June 30, 2016, letters of credit in the amount of $47 million have been issued under these facilities.

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

                                                                            
5.  Other liabilities                                                       
                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        June 30,    December
                                                            2016    31, 2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post-retirement (note 6)                             $       288 $       142
Reforestation                                                 82          76
Decommissioning                                               29          29
Other                                                         17          22
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     $       416 $       269
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
                                                                            
6.  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:

                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       June 30, December 31,
                                                           2016         2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Projected benefit obligations                      $    (1,743) $    (1,532)
Fair value of plan assets                                1,457        1,409 
Impact of minimum funding requirement                        -          (11)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   $      (286) $      (134)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Represented by                                                              
Post-retirement assets                             $         2  $         8 
Post-retirement liabilities (note 5)                      (288)        (142)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   $      (286) $      (134)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            

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

                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            June 30,   March 31,    December
                                                2016        2016    31, 2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discount rate                                  3.25%       3.75%       4.00%
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:

                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    April 1 to June 30  January 1 to June 30
                                       2016       2015       2016       2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actuarial gain (loss)            $     (62) $      73  $    (143) $      11 
Tax recovery (provision)                17        (19)        38         (2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 $     (45) $      54  $    (105) $       9 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
                                                                            
7.  Share Capital                                                           

During the three months ended June 30, 2016 we purchased 1,566,996 of our Common shares (six months ended June 30, 2016 - 2,629,748 Common shares) under our normal course issuer bid program, which expires on September 16, 2016. The purchase price averaged $41.11 per share and totalled $64 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 (six months ended June 30, 2016 - $43.47 per share and $114 million).

                                                                            
8.  Insurance proceeds                                                      

Our WestPine MDF mill, located in Quesnel British Columbia, was closed due to a fire on March 9, 2016 and will remain closed until repairs are complete. The mill is insured for property damage and business interruption. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 the impact on pre-tax earnings is as follows:

                                                                            
Estimated business interruption, less policy deductible          $         6
Estimated gain on disposal of equipment (note 9)                           5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 $        11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            

Estimated business interruption insurance is recorded as a reduction of cost of products sold in each period the mill remains closed. Estimated insurance proceeds to be spent to replace equipment are accounted for as proceeds of disposition, and the resulting gain has been included in other income.

The final amount of the insurance claim will be determined after the mill reconstruction is complete and the mill returns to expected production rates.

                                                                            
9.  Other                                                                   
                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      April 1 to June 30January 1 to June 30
                                          2016      2015      2016      2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on                                             
 working capital                    $       - $      (2)$     (10)$       9 
                                                                            
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on                                             
 intercompany financing1                   (1)       (1)      (18)        4 
                                                                            
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on                                             
 long-term debt                             2         5        28       (27)
                                                                            
Gain on disposal of WestPine                                                
 equipment (note 8)                         5         -         5         - 
Gain (loss) on power agreements             -        18       (19)      (12)
Other                                       1         1         5         - 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    $       7 $      21 $      (9)$     (26)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.  Relates to US$200 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.                                                             
                                                                            

In March 2016 the termination of our three-year power strip agreement was negotiated. In addition, Capital Power Corporation gave notice of its intent to terminate its role as buyer of the Sundance C Power Arrangement effective March 24, 2016. As a result of this termination, our role as a party to the Power Syndicate Agreement (Sundance C) also terminated. These agreements had provided us with a portion of the electricity generated from two power plants in Alberta at substantially predetermined rates.

Prior to the termination we recorded the agreements at fair value with the resulting gains or losses being recorded through other income. As at the release date of these condensed consolidated financial statements, we have been advised that the Balancing Pool is investigating the circumstances associated with the termination and the Balancing Pool may challenge the validity of the termination or the effective date of the termination. A change in the effective termination date could result in an additional loss. The amount of such loss is not reasonably determinable and will be recorded through earnings at such time as it can be determined.

                                                                            
10. 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       2016       2015       2016       2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income tax expense at statutory                                             
 rate of 26%                     $     (31) $      (9) $     (45) $     (27)
Non-taxable amounts                      8         (2)        10         (2)
Rate differentials between                                                  
 jurisdictions and on specified                                             
 activities                             (2)         1         (4)         1 
Increase in Alberta provincial                                              
 tax rate                                -         (7)         -         (7)
Unrecognized capital losses              -          -          1         (3)
Other                                    3         (1)         3         (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax provision                    $     (22) $     (18) $     (35) $     (39)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
                                                                            
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.

                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    April 1 to June 30  January 1 to June 30
                                        2016      2015       2016       2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings                                                                    
Basic                             $      98  $      14 $     140  $      63 
Share option expense (recovery)         (28)         8       (25)         6 
Equity-settled share option                                                 
 adjustment                               -          -        (3)        (2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted                           $      70  $      22 $     112  $      67 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Weighted average number of                                                  
 shares(thousands)                                                          
Basic                                80,867     83,530    81,574     83,529 
Share options                           812      1,350       888      1,391 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted                              81,679     84,880    82,462     84,920 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Earnings per share (dollars)                                                
Basic                             $    1.22  $    0.17 $    1.72  $    0.76 
Diluted                           $    0.86  $    0.17 $    1.36  $    0.76 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
12. Segmented information                                                   
                                                                            
                                              Pulp &    Corporate           
                        Lumber     Panels      paper     & other     Total  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 1, 2016 to June                                                       
 30, 2016                                                                   
                                                                            
Sales                                                                       
  To external                                                               
   customers          $     771  $     126  $     214  $       -  $   1,111 
                                                                  ----------
  To other segments          24          2          -          -            
------------------------------------------------------------------          
                      $     795  $     128  $     214  $       -            
------------------------------------------------------------------          
                                                                            
Operating earnings                                                          
 before amortization  $     113  $      21  $       4  $      30  $     168 
                                                                            
Amortization                (35)        (3)        (9)        (1)       (48)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating earnings           78         18         (5)        29        120 
                                                                            
Finance expense              (4)        (1)        (2)         -         (7)
Other                         2          5          1         (1)         7 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before tax   $      76  $      22  $      (6) $      28  $     120 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
April 1, 2015 to June                                                       
 30, 2015                                                                   
                                                                            
Sales                                                                       
  To external                                                               
   customers          $     675  $     134  $     220  $       -  $   1,029 
                                                                  ----------
  To other segments          27          2          -          -            
------------------------------------------------------------------          
                      $     702  $     136  $     220  $       -            
------------------------------------------------------------------          
                                                                            
Operating earnings                                                          
 before amortization  $      45  $      21  $       8  $     (11) $      63 
                                                                            
Amortization                (32)        (4)        (9)         -        (45)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating earnings           13         17         (1)       (11)        18 
                                                                            
Finance expense              (4)        (1)        (2)         -         (7)
Other                        (1)         1         17          4         21 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before tax   $       8  $      17  $      14  $      (7) $      32 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
                                              Pulp &    Corporate           
                        Lumber     Panels      paper     & other     Total  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 1, 2016 to                                                          
 June 30, 2016                                                              
                                                                            
Sales                                                                       
  To external                                                               
   customers          $   1,500  $     262  $     426  $       -  $   2,188 
                                                                  ----------
  To other segments          53          4          -          -            
------------------------------------------------------------------          
                      $   1,553  $     266  $     426  $       -            
------------------------------------------------------------------          
                                                                            
Operating earnings                                                          
 before amortization  $     213  $      36  $      18  $      29  $     296 
                                                                            
Amortization                (72)        (6)       (18)        (1)       (97)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating earnings          141         30          -         28        199 
                                                                            
Finance expense              (9)        (2)        (4)         -        (15)
Other                        (3)         3        (22)        13         (9)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before tax   $    129   $     31   $     (26) $     41   $     175 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
January 1, 2015 to                                                          
 June 30, 2015                                                              
                                                                            
Sales                                                                       
  To external                                                               
   customers          $   1,330  $     263  $     450  $       -  $   2,043 
                                                                  ----------
  To other segments          53          4          -          -            
------------------------------------------------------------------          
                      $   1,383  $     267  $     450  $       -            
------------------------------------------------------------------          
                                                                            
Operating earnings                                                          
 before amortization  $     162  $      47  $      38  $     (12) $     235 
                                                                            
Amortization                (65)        (7)       (19)        (1)       (92)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating earnings           97         40         19        (13)       143 
                                                                            
Finance expense              (9)        (2)        (4)         -        (15)
                                                                            
Other                         2         (2)        (3)       (23)       (26)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before tax   $      90  $      36  $      12  $     (36) $     102 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            

The geographic distribution of external sales is as follows1:

                                                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           January 1 to June
                                      April 1 to June 30                  30
                                          2016      2015      2016      2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada                               $     251 $     228 $     498 $     446
United States                              656       551     1,276     1,084
China                                      117       166       233       330
Other Asia                                  71        68       148       148
Other                                       16        16        33        35
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     $   1,111 $   1,029 $   2,188 $   2,043
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.  Sales distribution is based on the location of product delivery.        
                                                                            
 

For more information
Larry Hughes
Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Rodger Hutchinson
Vice-President, Corporate Controller and Investor Relations
(604) 895-2700
www.westfraser.com

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