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West Fraser ("WFT") Announces Third Quarter Results


/EINPresswire.com/ -- VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/26/15 -- West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (TSX: WFT) reported earnings of $56 million or $0.67 basic earnings per share on sales of $1,044 million in the third quarter of 2015. 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 13 of our 2015 third quarter Management's Discussion & Analysis.


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($ millions except earnings per            2015                  2014
share ("EPS"))                        Q3       Q2      YTD       Q3      YTD
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                              1,044    1,029    3,087    1,030    2,892
Adjusted EBITDA(1)                    82       72      327      167      464
Operating earnings                    88       18      231      111      323
Earnings                              56       14      119       70      216
Basic EPS ($)                       0.67     0.17     1.43     0.83     2.54
Adjusted earnings(1)                  38       13      151       94      244
Adjusted basic EPS ($)(1)           0.46     0.16     1.81     1.12     2.86
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1. In this News Release, reference is made to Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted
earnings and Adjusted basic 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. Refer to the
tables in the section titled "Non-IFRS Measures" on page 13 of our 2015
third quarter Management's Discussion & Analysis for details of these
adjustments.

Operational Results

In the quarter our lumber operations generated an operating loss of $9 million (Q2-15 - operating earnings of $13 million) and Adjusted EBITDA of $26 million (Q2-15 - $45 million). A decline in U.S. SYP and low-grade SPF lumber prices, partially offset by a weaker Canadian dollar, was a major factor in the decreases. Increased shipments from our U.S. sawmills partially mitigated the operating earnings decline.

The panel segment, which includes plywood, LVL and MDF, experienced improved prices and generated operating earnings in the quarter of $26 million (Q2-15 - $17 million) and Adjusted EBITDA of $29 million (Q2-15 - $21 million).

Our pulp operations achieved improved production and shipments and, combined with our jointly-owned newsprint division, generated operating earnings of $14 million (Q2-15 - operating loss of $1 million) and Adjusted EBITDA of $25 million (Q2-15 - $8 million). U.S.-dollar price declines were partially offset by a weaker Canadian dollar.

Outlook

Ted Seraphim, our President and CEO, said "This quarter's results reflect the continued oversupply of lumber in key markets which was exacerbated by a sharp drop in demand from China late in the quarter. Our panel and pulp & paper segments helped offset our weak lumber results which reinforces the value of our integrated Canadian platform. We continue to go through the start up phase of many of our capital projects, particularly in the United States, and we look forward to achieving the related benefits over the next few quarters. Following the end of the quarter we announced an agreement to acquire a sawmill in Manning, Alberta and related timber harvesting rights. We're delighted to welcome the Manning team to the West Fraser family at the end of October."

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 2014 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 Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time (11:30 a.m. Eastern Time) by dialing 1-800-355-4959 (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)

                                                 September 30    December 31
                                                         2015           2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets
Current assets
Cash and short-term investments                 $          21  $          21
Receivables                                               317            288
Income taxes receivable                                     3              -
Inventories (note 3)                                      549            586
Prepaid expenses                                           18             12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          908            907
Property, plant and equipment                           1,564          1,469
Timber licences                                           516            530
Goodwill and other intangibles                            363            350
Other assets                                               44             79
Deferred income tax assets                                 72             62
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                $       3,467  $       3,397
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Liabilities
Current liabilities
Cheques issued in excess of funds on deposit    $          18  $          36
Operating loans (note 4)                                   41            103
Payables and accrued liabilities                          384            411
Income taxes payable                                        -             26
Reforestation and decommissioning obligations              42             40
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                                                          485            616
Long-term debt (note 4)                                   407            354
Other liabilities (note 5)                                298            244
Deferred income tax liabilities                           153            154
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        1,343          1,368
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shareholders' Equity
Share capital                                             579            587
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings                  139             55
Retained earnings                                       1,406          1,387
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        2,124          2,029
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                $       3,467  $       3,397
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Common shares and Class B Common shares outstanding at October 26,
2015 was 82,454,827.

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 September 30 January 1 to September 30
                                 2015        2014         2015         2014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Share capital
Balance - beginning of
 period                    $      587  $      596  $       587  $       602
Common share repurchases           (8)         (7)          (8)         (13)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance - end of period    $      579  $      589  $       579  $       589
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Accumulated other
 comprehensive earnings
Balance - beginning of
 period                    $       98  $       11  $        55  $        10
Translation gain on
 foreign operations                41          25           84           26
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance - end of period    $      139  $       36  $       139  $        36
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Retained earnings
Balance - beginning of
 period                    $    1,447  $    1,383  $     1,387  $     1,335
Actuarial loss on post-
 retirement benefits              (40)          -          (31)         (49)
Common share repurchases          (52)        (43)         (52)         (80)
Earnings for the period            56          70          119          216
Dividends                          (5)         (6)         (17)         (18)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance - end of period    $    1,406  $    1,404  $     1,406  $     1,404
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shareholders' Equity       $    2,124  $    2,029  $     2,124  $     2,029
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 September 30 January 1 to September 30
                                 2015        2014         2015         2014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sales                      $    1,044  $    1,030  $     3,087  $     2,892
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Costs and expenses
Cost of products sold             756         682        2,162        1,907
Freight and other
 distribution costs               164         144          467          411
Export taxes                       14           -           26            -
Amortization                       49          45          141          127
Selling, general and
 administration                    28          37          105          110
Equity-based compensation         (55)         11          (45)          14
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                                  956         919        2,856        2,569
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating earnings                 88         111          231          323
Finance expense                    (8)         (6)         (23)         (20)
Exchange loss on long-term
 debt                             (25)        (16)         (52)         (17)
Fair value adjustment to
 power agreements (note 8)        (17)          -          (29)           -
Other income (note 9)              20          13           33           19
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before tax                58         102          160          305
Tax provision (note 10)            (2)        (32)         (41)         (89)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings                   $       56  $       70  $       119  $       216
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Earnings per share
 (dollars) (note 11)
Basic                      $     0.67  $     0.83  $      1.43  $      2.54
Diluted                    $     0.05  $     0.83  $      0.83  $      2.54
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Comprehensive earnings
Earnings                   $       56  $       70  $       119  $       216
Other comprehensive
 earnings
Translation gain on
 foreign operations                41          25           84           26
Actuarial loss on post-
 retirement benefits (1)          (40)          -          (31)         (49)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comprehensive earnings     $       57  $       95  $       172  $       193
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Net of tax recovery of $14 million for the three months ended September
30, 2015 (three months ended September 30, 2014 - $nil million) and $12
million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 (nine months ended
September 30, 2014 - $17 million).

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in millions of Canadian dollars, except where indicated - unaudited)

                           July 1 to September 30 January 1 to September 30
                                 2015        2014         2015         2014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating activities
Earnings                   $       56  $       70  $       119  $       216
Adjustments
  Amortization                     49          45          141          127
  Finance expense                   8           6           23           20
  Exchange loss on long-
   term debt                       25          16           52           17
  Fair value adjustment to
   power agreements                17           -           29            -
  Tax provision                     2          32           41           89
  Income taxes paid                (8)         (7)         (62)         (54)
  Post-retirement expense          23          16           51           41
  Contributions to post-
   retirement benefit
   plans                          (23)        (13)         (44)         (42)
  Other                           (14)        (27)         (14)         (25)
Changes in non-cash
 working capital
  Receivables                       7          15          (19)         (22)
  Inventories                     (10)          5           52           32
  Prepaid expenses                 10          10           (6)          (7)
  Payables and accrued
   liabilities                    (53)         69          (34)          42
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from operating
 activities                        89         237          329          434
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Financing activities
Proceeds from (repayment
 of) operating loans                6         (84)         (69)          45
Finance expense paid               (1)         (1)         (12)         (12)
Dividends                          (5)         (6)         (17)         (18)
Common share repurchases          (60)        (50)         (60)         (93)
Other                              (1)         (1)          (1)          (1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from financing
 activities                       (61)       (142)        (159)         (79)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Investing activities
Acquisitions                        -          (1)           -         (203)
Additions to capital
 assets                           (51)       (107)        (169)        (321)
Government assistance               -           -            -           13
Other                              (1)          2            5           (9)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from investing
 activities                       (52)       (106)        (164)        (520)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Change in cash                    (24)        (11)           6         (165)
Foreign exchange effect on
 cash                               5           7           12           10
Cash - beginning of period         22          11          (15)         162
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash - end of period       $        3  $        7  $         3  $         7
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash consists of
Cash and short-term
 investments                                       $        21  $        18
Cheques issued in excess
 of funds on deposit                                       (18)         (11)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   $         3  $         7
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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, 2014 annual financial statements. These condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with our 2014 annual financial statements.

3. Inventories

Inventories at September 30, 2015 were written down by $37 million (June 30, 2015 - $22 million; December 31, 2014 - $5 million; September 30, 2014 - $6 million) to reflect net realizable value being lower than cost.

4. Long-term debt and operating loans

Long-term debt


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             September 30,     December 31,
                                                      2015             2014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
US$300 million senior notes due October
 2024; interest at 4.35%                    $          400   $          348
US$8 million note payable due October
 2020; interest at 2%                                    9                9
Note payable due in installments to 2020;
 interest at 5.5%                                        2                2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       411              359
Deferred financing costs                                (4)              (5)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            $          407   $          354
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The fair value of the long-term debt is $397 million (December 31, 2014 - $354 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 $583 million in revolving lines of credit of which $41 million (net of deferred financing costs of $3 million) were drawn as at September 30, 2015 (December 31, 2014 - $103 million, net of deferred financing costs of $3 million).

Our revolving lines of credit consist of a $500 million revolving credit facility, 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. The revolving credit facility maturity date was extended to September 30, 2020 subsequent to the end of the quarter. 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, 2015, letters of credit in the amount of $55 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


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              September 30,     December 31,
                                                       2015             2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post-retirement (note 6)                    $           179  $           129
Reforestation                                            71               71
Decommissioning                                          25               23
Other                                                    23               21
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            $           298  $           244
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             September 30,     December 31,
                                                      2015             2014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Projected benefit obligations               $       (1,518)  $       (1,464)
Fair value of plan assets                            1,352            1,354
Impact of minimum funding requirement                   (6)              (5)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            $         (172)  $         (115)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Represented by
Post-retirement assets                      $            7   $           14
Post-retirement liabilities (note 5)                  (179)            (129)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            $         (172)  $         (115)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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,
                                            2015         2015           2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discount rate                              4.00%        4.00%          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 loss on post-retirement benefits, included in other comprehensive earnings, as follows:


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            July 1 to September 30January 1 to September 30
                                  2015        2014        2015         2014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actuarial loss              $      (54) $        - $       (43) $       (66)
Tax recovery                        14           -          12           17
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            $      (40) $        - $       (31) $       (49)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. Share Capital

During this quarter we repurchased 1,078,856 Common shares under our normal course issuer bid (NCIB) program, which expired September 16, 2015, at an average price of $55.57 per share for a total cost of $60 million.

On September 15, 2015 our Board of Directors authorized the renewal of our NCIB to repurchase for cancellation up to 4,000,000 Common shares or approximately 5% of our issued and outstanding Common shares. The NCIB will expire September 16, 2016.

8. Power agreements

Effective October 1, 2014 certain power agreements were classified as derivative financial instruments and are recorded at fair value at each balance sheet date, (see note 12 to our 2014 annual financial statements). The fair value adjustment for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 resulted in an unrealized loss of $29 million (unrealized loss of $17 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and an unrealized loss of $2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014).

9. Other income


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            July 1 to September 30 January 1 to September 30
                                  2015        2014         2015         2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign exchange gain      $        14 $        10 $         28 $         10
Other                                6           3            5            9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           $        20 $        13 $         33 $         19
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

10. Tax provision

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


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         July 1 to September 30   January 1 to September 30
                               2015        2014          2015          2014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income tax expense at
 statutory rate of 26%
 (2014 - 26%)            $      (15) $      (26) $        (42) $        (79)
Non-taxable amounts               9          (4)            4            (4)
Rate differentials
 between jurisdictions
 and on specified
 activities                       3          (3)            4            (6)
Increase in Alberta
 provincial tax rate              -           -            (7)            -
Other                             1           1             -             -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax provision            $       (2) $      (32) $        (41) $        (89)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Effective June 18, 2015, the government of Alberta enacted a change in the provincial tax rate from 10% to 12%. This new tax rate increased our tax provision by $7 million dollars in the second quarter.

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.


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                           July 1 to September 30 January 1 to September 30
                                 2015        2014        2015          2014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings
Basic                      $       56  $       70 $       119  $        216
Share option expense
 (recovery)                       (52)          8         (46)            9
Equity settled share
 option adjustment                 (1)          -          (3)           (2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted                    $        3  $       78 $        70  $        223
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weighted average number of
 shares (thousands)
Basic                          82,906      84,202      83,320        85,094
Share options                   1,207       1,429       1,352         1,456
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted                        84,113      85,631      84,672        86,550
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Earnings per share
 (dollars)
Basic                      $     0.67  $     0.83 $      1.43  $       2.54
Diluted                    $     0.05  $     0.83 $      0.83  $       2.54
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------

12. Segmented information



                                               Pulp &   Corporate
                           Lumber    Panels     paper     & other     Total
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 1, 2015 to
 September 30, 2015

Sales
  To external customers  $    668  $    146  $    230  $        -  $  1,044
                                                                  ---------
                                                                  ---------
  To other segments            29         2         -           -
-----------------------------------------------------------------
                         $    697  $    148  $    230  $        -
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Operating earnings
 before amortization     $     26  $     29  $     25  $       57  $    137
Amortization                  (35)       (3)      (11)          -       (49)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating earnings             (9)       26        14          57        88
Finance expense                (5)       (1)       (2)          -        (8)
Exchange loss on long-
 term debt                      -         -         -         (25)      (25)
Fair value adjustment to
 power agreements              (1)       (1)      (15)          -       (17)
Other income                    8         1        11           -        20
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Earnings before tax      $     (7) $     25  $      8  $       32  $     58
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

July 1, 2014 to
 September 30, 2014

Sales
  To external customers  $    688  $    143  $    199  $        -  $  1,030
                                                                  ---------
                                                                  ---------
  To other segments            25         2         -           -
-----------------------------------------------------------------
                         $    713  $    145  $    199  $        -
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Operating earnings
 before amortization     $    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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                               Pulp &   Corporate
                           Lumber    Panels     paper     & other     Total
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 1, 2015 to
 September 30, 2015

Sales
  To external customers  $  1,998  $    409  $    680  $        -  $  3,087
                                                                  ---------
                                                                  ---------
  To other segments            82         6         -           -
-----------------------------------------------------------------
                         $  2,080  $    415  $    680  $        -
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Operating earnings
 before amortization     $    188  $     76  $     63  $       45  $    372
Amortization                 (100)      (10)      (30)         (1)     (141)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating earnings             88        66        33          44       231
Finance expense               (14)       (3)       (6)          -       (23)
Exchange loss on long-
 term debt                      -         -         -         (52)      (52)
Fair value adjustment to
 power agreements              (1)       (3)      (25)          -       (29)
Other income                   14         1        18           -        33
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before tax      $     87  $     61  $     20  $       (8) $    160
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

January 1, 2014 to
 September 30, 2014

Sales
  To external customers  $  1,886  $    386  $    620  $        -  $  2,892
                                                                  ---------
                                                                  ---------
  To other segments            73         6         -           -
-----------------------------------------------------------------
                         $  1,959  $    392  $    620  $        -
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Operating earnings
 before amortization     $    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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            July 1 to September 30 January 1 to September 30
                                   2015       2014         2015         2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada                       $      223 $      257 $        669 $        684
United States                       588        512        1,672        1,476
China                               140        175          470          451
Other Asia                           76         62          224          208
Other                                17         24           52           73
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             $    1,044 $    1,030 $      3,087 $      2,892
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Sales distribution is based on the location of product delivery.

13. Subsequent event

On October 14, 2015, we announced the acquisition of a lumber manufacturing facility and the related timber harvesting rights located in Manning, Alberta. The purchase price is $66 million plus working capital and is expected to close before the end of October 2015.

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


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