Ainsworth swings to Q4 net loss from continuing operations of C$10.6M from year-earlier income of C$6.7M on sales down C$13.5M to C$104.4M; CEO attributes C$17.3 drop in net loss to reduction in gross profit, higher selling and administration expenses
Wendy Lisney
VANCOUVER, British Columbia
,
March 26, 2014
(press release)
–
Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd. (TSX:ANS) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2013.
2013 Highlights:
Ainsworth President and Chief Executive Officer, Jim Lake said, "Ainsworth benefited in 2013 from the continued North American housing market recovery, although OSB prices did moderate in the second half of the year. Notwithstanding some near-term challenges in 2014 including transportation issues and extreme weather that have impacted OSB shipments and demand, the overall outlook remains positive with the consensus forecast for U.S. housing starts calling for further recovery in 2014. I am also pleased to report that our export markets exhibited strong growth, particularly in Japan."
LP Acquisition of Ainsworth
On September 4, 2013, we entered into an agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") with Louisiana-Pacific Corporation ("LP") under which LP will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Ainsworth for $1.94 in cash plus 0.114 LP common shares per each Ainsworth common share, on a fully pro-rated basis.
The transaction, which will be carried out by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement, was approved by approximately 99.9% of the votes cast by the shareholders of the Company at a special meeting that took place on October 29, 2013, and subsequently received approval from the Supreme Court of British Columbia on October 31, 2013. Both Ainsworth and LP continue to work with the Canadian Competition Bureau and the U.S. Department of Justice as they conduct their regulatory reviews of the transaction. Subject to obtaining required regulatory approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of other conditions of the Arrangement Agreement, Ainsworth currently expects the acquisition to close during the second quarter of 2014.
Further information about the Arrangement Agreement is set out in Ainsworth's management proxy circular dated September 24, 2013, which is available under Ainsworth's profile on www.sedar.com.
Financial Results
Sales of $104.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 were $13.5 million lower than sales of $117.9 million for the same period in 2012. The decrease in sales was mainly due to an 18% decrease in realized pricing. The impact of the U.S. benchmark declines on our realized pricing was moderated by the effect of a weaker Canadian dollar relative to the fourth quarter of 2012 combined with stronger export pricing. Notwithstanding transportation issues that restricted shipments in the fourth quarter, our sales volumes increased 2.8% due to the onset of production at High Level.
Adjusted EBITDA was $11.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to $42.0 million in the same period of 2012, largely as a result of lower realized pricing. Net loss from continuing operations in the fourth quarter of 2013 was $10.6 million compared to net income of $6.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. The $17.3 million decrease was due to the reduction in gross profit and increased selling and administration expense, partially offset by a reduction in finance expense, and fluctuations in non-cash accounting gains and losses and income tax expense.
Sales of $488.0 million in 2013 were $78.9 million higher than sales of $409.1 million in 2012. This increase was mainly due to a 22% increase in realized pricing for the year. The impact of the U.S. benchmark increases on our realized pricing was enhanced by the effect of a weaker Canadian dollar in 2013 on average relative to 2012 combined with stronger export pricing. Partially offsetting the price increases, there was a 0.7% decline in sales volumes as additional production from High Level was more than offset by maintenance downtime at our various mills and transportation issues toward the end of 2013.
Adjusted EBITDA for the year was $148.9 million in 2013 compared to $105.5 million in 2012, largely as a result of higher realized pricing. Net income from continuing operations was $39.4 million in 2013 compared to $28.4 million in 2012, representing an increase of $11.0 million. The increase included an increase in gross profit and a decrease in finance expense, partially offset by increased costs of curtailed operations, increased selling and administration expense, and fluctuations in non-cash accounting gains and losses and income tax expense.
Margins
Adjusted EBITDA margin on sales for the fourth quarter of 2013 was 10.8% compared to 35.6% in the fourth quarter of 2012. For the full year, adjusted EBITDA margin on sales was 30.5% in 2013 compared to 25.8% in 2012.
Benchmark OSB pricing remained stable during the fourth quarter of 2013, although down from the previous quarter and the same period last year, with the North Central price for 7/16" OSB averaging U.S.$245 per msf (a decrease of 26% compared to the fourth quarter of 2012, and a 3% decrease compared to prior quarter). The Western Canadian price for 7/16" OSB averaged U.S.$219 per msf in the fourth quarter of 2013 (a decrease of 34% compared to the fourth quarter of 2012, and a 5% decrease compared to prior quarter).
Selected financial information is presented in the table below. The full financial report is available to be viewed at the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ans0325report.pdf.
Selected Financial Information
In millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data
Three months ended December 31
Year ended December 31
2013
2012
2013
2012
Sales
$
104.4
$
117.9
$
488.0
$
409.1
Cost of products sold
89.4
72.1
323.5
287.6
Net income from continuing operations
(10.6
)
6.7
39.4
28.4
Net income
(10.7
)
32.5
38.8
28.2
Adjusted EBITDA (1)
11.3
42.0
148.9
105.5
Adjusted EBITDA margin (2)
10.8
%
35.6
%
30.5
%
25.8
%
Basic and diluted earnings per share:
Net income from continuing operations
(0.04
)
0.06
0.16
0.28
Net income
(0.04
)
0.06
0.16
0.28
Weighted average common shares outstanding (3)
240.9
106.9
240.9
102.3
(1) Adjusted EBITDA, a non-IFRS financial measure, is defined as net income (loss) from continuing operations before amortization, gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment, cost of curtailed operations, stock option expense, finance expense, foreign exchange (gain) loss on long-term debt, other foreign exchange loss (gain), interest income earned on investments, income tax expense (recovery), and non-recurring items. Adjusted EBITDA for 2012 has been restated to reflect an increase in pension expense related to the adoption of the amended IAS 19 - Employee Benefits, and to exclude interest income earned on investments.
(2) Adjusted EBITDA margin, a non-IFRS financial measure, is defined as adjusted EBITDA divided by sales.
(3) 240,906,309 common shares were outstanding on December 31, 2013.
Liquidity
At December 31, 2013, Ainsworth's available liquidity, consisting of cash and cash equivalents, was $137.4 million, an improvement of $30.6 million since December 31, 2012 resulting from our stronger operating results, partially offset by debt repayments and capital expenditures.
Outlook
The overall long-term outlook remains positive for the U.S. housing market. Additionally, we continue to experience growth in our export markets, including Japan and China. As a result, we remain confident that the market will require additional supply in the years ahead. The restart of our High Level mill will allow us to meet the growing requirements of our existing customer base in North America and Asia as well as service new market segments.
Conference Call Information
Ainsworth will hold a conference call on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. PT (1:00 p.m. ET). The dial-in phone number is 1-800-319-4610 from inside the USA or Canada, and +1-604-638-5340 from outside of the USA and Canada. To access the replay line, dial 1-800-319-6413, or +1-604-638-9010, Reservation 4176#. This recording will be available until the end of the day on April 2, 2014.
The financial results are based on International Financial Reporting Standards. Investors, analysts and other interested parties can access Ainsworth's Financial Statements, Management's Discussion and Analysis as well as the Shareholders' Letter and Supplemental Information on Ainsworth's website under the Investors / Financial Reports section at www.ainsworthengineered.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking information provided in this news release relating to the Company's expectations regarding OSB demand and pricing and the Company's future prospects and financial position are forward-looking information pursuant to National Instrument 51-102 promulgated by the Canadian Securities Administrators. The Company believes that expectations reflected in such information are reasonable, but no assurance is given that such expectations will be correct. Forward-looking information is based on the Company's beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the assumption was made and on management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected further developments as well as other factors deemed appropriate in the circumstances. Investors are cautioned that there are risks and uncertainties related to such forward-looking information and actual results may vary. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking information include, without limitation, factors detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and other regulatory authorities. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as explicitly required by securities laws.
About Ainsworth
Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd. is a leading manufacturer and marketer of oriented strand board ("OSB") with a focus on value-added specialty products for markets in North America and Asia. Ainsworth's four OSB manufacturing mills, located in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, have a combined annual capacity of 2.5 billion square feet (3/8-inch basis). Ainsworth is a publicly traded company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ANS.
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