Tembec reports fiscal Q1 net income of C$2M compared to net loss of C$15M in year-ago period; net sales down 5.9% year-over-year, to C$354M, with lower pulp production, lumber shipments offsetting higher paper output, favorable currency exhange rate

Debra Garcia

Debra Garcia

MONTREAL , January 30, 2014 (press release) –

Consolidated sales for the three-month period ended December 28, 2013, were $354 million, as compared to $376 million in the same quarter a year ago. The Company generated net earnings of $2 million or $0.02 per share in the December 2013 quarter compared to a net loss of $15 million or $0.15 per share in the December 2012 quarter. Operating earnings before depreciation, amortization and other items (adjusted EBITDA) was $13 million for the three-month period ended December 28, 2013, as compared to adjusted EBITDA of $19 million a year ago and adjusted EBITDA of $24 million in the prior quarter.

Business Segment Results

The Specialty Cellulose Pulp segment generated adjusted EBITDA of $14 million on sales of $126 million for the quarter ended December 2013, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $22 million on sales of $117 million in the prior quarter. The pulp sales increase of $8 million was due to higher specialty grade pulp shipments. Demand for specialty grades was flat and US and euro prices were relatively unchanged quarter-over-quarter. However, with the Canadian dollar weakening versus the US dollar and the euro, Canadian dollar equivalent pricing increased by $30 per tonne. Viscose grade price realizations declined by $26 per tonne. This market remains oversupplied and prices are low. Overall, pricing increased adjusted EBITDA by $1 million. Shipments were equal to 78% of capacity as compared to 74% in the prior quarter. During the most recent quarter, the Tartas pulp mill absorbed a 12-day annual maintenance shutdown. As well, delays in commissioning new equipment installed during the shutdown affected productivity in the quarter. Overall, the pulp mill produced 11,100 fewer tonnes and costs increased by $12 million versus the prior quarter.

The Forest Products segment generated negative adjusted EBITDA of $2 million on sales of $99 million for the quarter ended December 2013, compared to nil adjusted EBITDA on sales of $105 million in the prior quarter. Sales decreased by $6 million due to lower lumber shipments, partially offset by higher prices. The rally in random length lumber prices that began in September continued into the December quarter. Stud lumber prices did not rally and continued to sell at a relatively high discount compared to random lumber prices. Overall, US $ benchmark prices for random lumber increased by US $46 per mbf while stud lumber increased by US $3 per mbf. Currency was favourable as the Canadian dollar weakened versus the US dollar. The net effect increased sales and adjusted EBITDA by $4 million or $24 per mbf. Lumber shipments were equal to 79% of capacity versus 86% in the prior quarter. Costs increased by $6 million, including $2 million for fibre. The winter months are seasonally higher operating cost periods and weather related issues hampered productivity and shipments in the most recent quarter.

The Paper Pulp segment generated adjusted EBITDA of $1 million on sales of $73 million for the quarter ended December 2013, compared to negative adjusted EBITDA of $2 million on sales of $73 million in the prior quarter. Sales were unchanged as improved pricing was offset by lower shipments. Market conditions for paper pulp remained relatively weak although demand was stable. The benchmark price (delivered China) for bleached eucalyptus kraft (BEK) decreased by US $8 per tonne. However, this decline did not affect high-yield pulp prices in the quarter. Currency was a positive as the Canadian dollar was weaker. Overall, average prices increased by $8 per tonne, improving adjusted EBITDA by $1 million. Pulp shipments were equal to 86% of capacity as compared to 88% in the prior quarter. Manufacturing costs decreased by $2 million, primarily due to higher productivity as the mills combined to manufacture 8,500 more tonnes in the most recent quarter.

The Paper segment generated adjusted EBITDA of $7 million on sales of $80 million for the quarter ended December 2013, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $8 million on sales of $81 million in the prior quarter. Lower shipments of coated bleached board, partially offset by higher volumes of newsprint, led to the $1 million decrease in sales. In terms of markets, coated bleached board improved slightly. The newsprint market weakened due to continued lower North American demand. The US $ benchmark prices for coated bleached board increased by US $13 per short ton while the US $ benchmark price for newsprint remained constant. Overall, average selling prices were unchanged quarter-over-quarter. Coated bleached board shipments were equal to 87% of capacity as compared to 94% in the prior quarter. The shipment to capacity percentage for newsprint was 89%, compared to 81% in the prior quarter. Manufacturing costs increased by $2 million, driven by higher energy costs. The Kapuskasing newsprint mill had benefitted from electricity load shedding credits in the prior quarter.

Other items

In September 2013, the Company announced the BC Lands Sale Initiative with the objective of realizing up to $75 million in gross proceeds by December 2014. During the December 2013 quarter, the Company closed the first two BC land sales transactions for total proceeds of $23 million and recorded a gain of $20 million. The remaining BC lands have been classified as assets held for sale.

Outlook

Overall, the December 2013 quarterly results were lower than anticipated. This was due to higher costs at the Tartas specialty pulp mill as well as weather related issues in late December that impacted productivity and shipments at several of the Canadian operations. The Forest Products segment saw random length lumber prices increase while stud lumber prices were relatively flat, selling at a significant discount to random length. Costs increased as expected due to the onset of winter operating conditions and the scheduled closures of the sawmills during the December holiday period. Looking ahead, the normal seasonal increase in demand and prices is anticipated, supported by continued growth in United States new home construction. At the Tartas specialty pulp mill, a 12-day annual maintenance shutdown combined with difficulties related to the start-up of a new bleaching tower reduced production by 11,100 tonnes and increased costs by $12 million. The new bleaching tower is now fully operational. The Company had previously guided that a 5% average price reduction on specialty grades was likely in calendar 2014. Negotiations with major customers are now concluded and the actual price reduction will average approximately 7%. The price decrease will impact results beginning in the March 2014 quarter. While the Company is anticipating a year-over-year increase in specialty grade volume, it will continue to maintain a 40,000-50,000 tonne position in the viscose grade market. The latter is currently under pressure as new capacity has exceeded demand growth. The implementation of Chinese antidumping duties is contributing to the low prices and the Company is not anticipating improvement in the near term. The Paper Pulp segment generated a small profit as the two high-yield pulp mills reduced costs and generated higher selling prices. The hardwood paper pulp market remains relatively soft and the impact of new capacity will cause it to remain challenging. The Paper segment results remained relatively unchanged quarter-over-quarter. However, lower newsprint prices will reduce profitability in the upcoming quarters.

The Company continues with its capital expenditure program, with a strong emphasis on its two specialty cellulose mills. The cornerstone of the program is the high-pressure boiler and turbine currently under construction at the Temiscaming, Quebec, site. The project will materially improve the mill’s cost structure and margins. Of the total forecast cost of $235 million, $163 million has been spent on the Temiscaming specialty cellulose project to the end of the December 2013 quarter. The Company has also made further progress in dealing with its defined benefit pension plan obligations. The net obligation for funded defined benefit pension plans declined from $39 million to $4 million during the most recent quarter. This will lead to a material decline in pension contributions in future periods. In September 2013, the Company launched its BC Lands Sale Initiative with the objective of realizing up to $75 million in gross proceeds by December 2014. The Company recently closed the first two lands sales transactions for total proceeds of $23 million. This will be an area of focus in the next few quarters.

Tembec is a manufacturer of forest products – lumber, pulp, paper and specialty cellulose – and a global leader in sustainable forest management practices. Principal operations are in Canada and France. With annual sales of approximately $1.6 billion, Tembec has 3,500 employees and is listed on the TSX (TMB). The full quarterly report, including the interim Management Discussion and Analysis, the interim financial statements and the accompanying notes for the quarter ended December 28, 2013, can be obtained on Tembec’s website at www.tembec.com or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The Company`s financial results have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). All financial references are stated in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted. All references to quarterly information relate to Tembec’s fiscal quarters. Adjusted EBITDA and certain other financial measures utilized in the press release are non-IFRS financial measures. As they have no standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS, they may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Non-IFRS financial measures are described in the Definitions section on the last page of the interim Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A).

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