Adjusted EBITDA of $80 million and Net Loss of $50 million

BURNABY, British Columbia, Feb.  13, 2025  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INTERFOR CORPORATION (“Interfor” or the “Company”) (TSX: IFP) recorded a Net loss in Q4’24 of $49.9 million, or $0.97 per share, compared to a Net loss of $105.7 million, or $2.05 per share in Q3’24 and a Net loss of $169.0 million, or $3.29 per share in Q4’23.

Adjusted EBITDA was $80.4 million on sales of $746.5 million in Q4’24 versus an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $22.0 million on sales of $692.7 million in Q3’24 and an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $51.4 million on sales of $785.9 million in Q4’23.

Notable items:

Improved Lumber Prices

Lumber prices increased during Q4’24 as reflected in Interfor’s average selling price of $659 per mfbm, up $89 per mfbm versus Q3’24. Lumber prices strengthened from the effects of market-driven industry production curtailments combined with increased new home construction starts.In Q4’24, lumber production totalled 948 million board feet, representing a 44 million board foot increase over the prior quarter. Q3’24 production was impacted by temporary production curtailments in response to weak market conditions. Stable Financial Position

Net debt at quarter-end was $861.3 million, or 36.0% of invested capital compared to net debt at Q3’24 of $849.9 million, or 36.1% of invested capital.The Company’s financial position benefited in the fourth quarter from $74.8 million of positive operating cash flow, primarily resulting from higher average lumber prices and the collection of $13.9 million of income tax refunds. The Company’s available liquidity improved $30.2 million quarter-over-quarter to $383.0 million at December 31, 2024.Monetization of Coastal B.C. Operations

The Company sold Coastal B.C. forest tenures totalling approximately 111,000 cubic metres of allowable annual cut (“AAC”) and related assets and liabilities for proceeds of $11.6 million and a gain of $9.0 million.Interfor held approximately 901,000 cubic metres of AAC for disposition at December 31, 2024, subject to approvals from the Ministry of Forests.Capital Investments

Capital spending was $14.5 million, including $4.4 million of discretionary investment primarily focused on the multi-year rebuild of the Thomaston, GA sawmill.Capital expenditures planned for 2025 are estimated to be approximately $85.0 million.Softwood Lumber Duties

Interfor recorded $3.1 million of duties expense in the quarter. This represents the full amount of countervailing (“CV”) and anti-dumping (“AD”) duties incurred on shipments of softwood lumber from its Canadian operations to the U.S. at a combined rate of 14.40%, net of a $17.0 million foreign exchange gain from revaluation of U.S. Dollar denominated duty deposits.Interfor has paid cumulative duties of US$593.6 million, or approximately $12.12 per share on an after-tax basis, as at December 31, 2024. Except for a US$165.0 million net receivable recorded in respect of overpayments arising from duty rate adjustments and the fair value of rights to duties acquired, Interfor has recorded the duty deposits as an expense.Sale of Quebec Operations

On October 16, 2024, the Company announced that it entered into a definitive agreement to sell its sawmills in Val-d’Or and Matagami, QC, as well as its Sullivan remanufacturing plant in Val-d’Or.This divestiture was completed on January 10, 2025, for net cash consideration of $16.3 million. In addition, the Company drew down $9.0 million of log, lumber and other inventories during Q4’24 prior to the completion of the divestiture. The Company expects to record a loss on disposal of $28.9 million in the first quarter of 2025, primarily related to goodwill.

Outlook

North American lumber markets over the near term are expected to be volatile as the economy continues to adjust to changing monetary policies, labour shortages and geo-political uncertainty, and as industry-wide lumber production continues to adjust to match demand.

Near-term volatility could be further impacted by a potential tariff on Canadian lumber exports to the U.S. Overall, the Company is well positioned with a diversified product mix in Canada and the U.S., with approximately 60% of its total lumber produced and sold within the U.S. Ultimately, only about 26% of the Company’s total lumber production is exported from Canada to the U.S. and exposed to a potential tariff. Over the mid-term, Canadian lumber is expected to remain a key source of supply to meet U.S. needs, as growth in U.S. lumber manufacturing capacity will likely be limited by labour constraints, lengthy equipment lead-times and extended project ramp-up schedules.

Interfor expects that over the mid-term, lumber markets will continue to benefit from favourable underlying supply and demand fundamentals. Positive demand factors include the advanced age of the U.S. housing stock, a shortage of available housing and various demographic factors, while growth in lumber supply is expected to be limited by extended capital project completion and ramp-up timelines, labour availability and constrained global fibre availability.

Interfor’s strategy of maintaining a diversified portfolio of operations in multiple regions allows the Company to both reduce risk and maximize returns on capital over the business cycle. In the event of a sustained lumber market downturn, Interfor maintains flexibility to significantly reduce capital expenditures and working capital levels, and to proactively adjust its lumber production to match demand.

Financial and Operating Highlights1

For the three months endedFor the year ended Dec. 31 Dec. 31Dec. 31Sept. 30  Unit202420232024202420232022 Financial Highlights2 Total sales$MM746.5785.9692.73,023.63,315.74,584.0Lumber$MM619.1628.5542.22,466.82,661.33,897.4Logs, residual products and other$MM127.4157.4150.5556.8654.4686.6Operating earnings (loss)$MM25.2(174.2)(172.2)(291.2)(252.4)859.6Net earnings (loss)$MM(49.9)(169.0)(105.7)(304.3)(266.8)598.2Net earnings (loss) per share, basic$/share(0.97)(3.29)(2.05)(5.91)(5.19)10.89Adjusted EBITDA3$MM80.4(51.4)(22.0)19.448.41,059.4Adjusted EBITDA margin3%10.8%(6.5%)(3.2%)0.6%1.5%23.1% Total assets$MM3,078.73,395.73,042.03,078.73,395.73,619.0Total debt$MM904.7897.7882.0904.7897.7797.9Net debt3$MM861.3842.7849.9861.3842.7720.3Net debt to invested capital3%36.0%32.8%36.1%36.0%32.8%26.2%Annualized return on capital employed3%(2.2%)(28.1%)(18.8%)(10.4%)(9.7%)29.6% Operating Highlights Lumber productionmillion fbm9481,1029043,9564,1523,792U.S. Southmillion fbm4254854431,8241,8971,792U.S. Northwestmillion fbm11215780457626631Eastern Canadamillion fbm2352752161,0151,020718B.C.million fbm176185165660609651Lumber salesmillion fbm9401,0469514,0464,1743,928Lumber - average selling price4$/thousand fbm659601570610638992 Key Statistics Benchmark lumber prices5 SYP CompositeUS$ per mfbm372373338362423704KD H-F Stud 2x4 9’US$ per mfbm424423359416444818Eastern SPF CompositeUS$ per mfbm518461454483480836Western SPF CompositeUS$ per mfbm460374380410389742 USD/CAD exchange rate6 Average1 USD in CAD1.39821.36241.36411.36981.34971.3013Closing1 USD in CAD1.43891.32261.34991.43891.32261.3544

Notes:

Figures in this table may not equal or sum to figures presented elsewhere due to rounding.Financial information presented for interim periods in this release is prepared in accordance with IFRS and is unaudited.Refer to the Non-GAAP Measures section of this release for definitions and reconciliations of these measures to figures reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.Gross sales including duties and freight.Based on Random Lengths Benchmark Lumber Pricing.Based on Bank of Canada foreign exchange rates.

Liquidity

Balance Sheet

Interfor’s Net debt at December 31, 2024 was $861.3 million, or 36.0% of invested capital, representing an increase of $18.6 million from the level of Net debt at December 31, 2023.

As at December 31, 2024 the Company had net working capital of $174.5 million and available liquidity of $383.0 million, based on the available borrowing capacity under its $600.0 million Revolving Term Line (“Term Line”).

The Term Line and Senior Secured Notes are subject to financial covenants, including a maximum net debt to total capitalization ratio of 50.0% and a minimum EBITDA interest coverage ratio of two times, which becomes effective if the net debt to total capitalization ratio exceeds 42.5%. As at December 31, 2024, Interfor was fully in compliance with all covenants relating to the Term Line and Senior Secured Notes.

Management believes, based on circumstances known today, that Interfor has sufficient working capital and liquidity to fund operating and capital requirements for the foreseeable future.

For the three months endedFor the year ended Dec. 31,Dec. 31,Sept. 30,Dec. 31,Dec. 31,Millions of Dollars20242023202420242023 Net debt Net debt, period opening$849.9$777.7$876.9$842.7$720.3Additions to Senior Secured Notes---45.3-Repayments of Senior Secured Notes---(45.3)(7.1)Term Line net drawings (repayments)(35.1)39.9(75.2)(69.9)128.2Decrease (increase) in cash and cash equivalents(8.7)43.960.515.120.3Foreign currency translation impact on U.S. Dollar denominated cash and cash equivalents and debt55.2(18.8)(12.3)73.4(19.0)Net debt, period ending$861.3$842.7$849.9$861.3$842.7

On March 26, 2024, the Company issued US$33.3 million of Series I Senior Secured Notes, bearing interest at 6.37% with principal repayment due at final maturity on March 26, 2030. The proceeds were used to settle US$33.3 million of principal under the Company’s existing Series C Senior Secured Notes due on March 26, 2024.

Capital Resources

The following table summarizes Interfor’s credit facilities and availability as of December 31, 2024:

RevolvingSenior TermSecuredMillions of DollarsLineNotesTotalAvailable line of credit and maximum borrowing available$600.0$696.1$1,296.1Less: Drawings  208.6696.1904.7Outstanding letters of credit included in line utilization51.8-51.8Unused portion of facility $339.6$       -339.6Add: Cash and cash equivalents  43.4Available liquidity at December 31, 2024  $383.0

Interfor’s Term Line matures in December 2026 and its Senior Secured Notes have maturities in the years 2025-2033.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company had commitments for capital expenditures totaling $30.6 million for both maintenance and discretionary capital projects.

Non-GAAP Measures

This release makes reference to the following non-GAAP measures: EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Net debt to invested capital and Annualized return on capital employed which are used by the Company and certain investors to evaluate operating performance and financial position.   These non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

The following table provides a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to figures as reported in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements (unaudited for interim periods) prepared in accordance with IFRS:

For the three months endedFor the year ended Dec. 31Millions of Dollars except number of shares and perDec. 31Dec. 31Sept. 30 share amounts202420232024202420232022 Adjusted EBITDA Net earnings (loss)$(49.9)$(169.0)$(105.7)$(304.3)$(266.8)$598.2Add: Depreciation of plant and equipment41.748.942.4177.5187.4154.9Depletion and amortization of timber, roads and other9.211.410.341.841.139.7Finance costs11.410.69.544.645.015.6Income tax expense (recovery)22.9(66.4)(41.7)(51.9)(91.1)216.7EBITDA35.3(164.5)(85.2)(92.3)(84.4)1,025.1Add: Long-term incentive compensation expense (recovery)(0.4)4.62.7(1.8)8.7(8.4)Other foreign exchange loss (gain)42.3(15.0)(8.8)56.3(14.7)43.1Other expense (income) excluding business interruption insurance(1.5)65.6(25.5)(35.9)79.2(4.4)Asset write-downs and restructuring costs4.757.994.893.159.64.0Adjusted EBITDA$80.4$(51.4)$(22.0)$19.4$48.4$1,059.4Sales$746.5$785.9$692.7$3,023.6$3,315.7$4,584.0Adjusted EBITDA margin10.8%(6.5%)(3.2%)0.6%1.5%23.1% Net debt to invested capital Net debt Total debt$904.7$897.7$882.0$904.7$897.7$797.9Cash and cash equivalents(43.4)(55.0)(32.1)(43.4)(55.0)(77.6)Total net debt$861.3$842.7$849.9$861.3$842.7$720.3Invested capital Net debt$861.3$842.7$849.9$861.3$842.7$720.3Shareholders' equity1,532.51,730.41,505.61,532.51,730.42,027.1Total invested capital$2,393.8$2,573.1$2,355.5$2,393.8$2,573.1$2,747.4Net debt to invested capital136.0%32.8%36.1%36.0%32.8%26.2% Annualized return on capital employed Net earnings (loss)$(49.9)$(169.0)$(105.7)$(304.3)$(266.8)$598.2Add: Finance costs11.410.69.544.645.015.6Income tax expense (recovery)22.9(66.4)(41.7)(51.9)(91.1)216.7Earnings (loss) before income taxes and finance costs$(15.6)$(224.8)$(137.9)$(311.6)$(312.9)$830.5Capital employed Total assets$3,078.7$3,395.7$3,042.0$3,078.7$3,395.7$3,619.0Current liabilities(302.2)(336.2)(300.5)(302.2)(336.2)(325.9)Less: Current portion of long-term debt48.044.145.048.044.17.3Current portion of lease liabilities20.317.220.520.317.214.8Capital employed, end of period$2,844.8$3,120.8$2,807.0$2,844.8$3,120.8$3,315.2Capital employed, beginning of period2,807.03,289.33,059.93,120.83,315.12,303.2Average capital employed$2,825.9$3,205.1$2,933.5$2,982.8$3,218.0$2,809.2Earnings (loss) before income taxes and finance costs divided by average capital employed(0.6%)(7.0%)(4.7%)(10.4%)(9.7%)29.6%Annualization factor4.04.04.01.01.01.0Annualized return on capital employed(2.2%)(28.1%)(18.8%)(10.4%)(9.7%)29.6%

Note 1: Net debt to invested capital as of the period end.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGSFor the three months and years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (unaudited)(millions of Canadian Dollars except per share amounts)Three MonthsThree MonthsYear EndedYear Ended Dec. 31, 2024Dec. 31, 2023Dec. 31, 2024Dec. 31, 2023 Sales$746.5$785.9$3,023.6$3,315.7 Costs and expenses: Production649.1 805.5 2,911.43,158.9Selling and administration 13.9  13.8 61.265.8Long-term incentive compensation expense (recovery) (0.4)  4.6 (1.8)8.7U.S. countervailing and anti-dumping duty deposits 3.1  18.0 31.646.6Depreciation of plant and equipment 41.7  48.9 177.5187.4Depletion and amortization of timber, roads and other 9.2  11.4 41.841.1 716.6 902.2 3,221.73,508.5 Operating earnings (loss) before asset write-downs and restructuring costs 29.9 (116.3)(198.1)(192.8) Asset write-downs and restructuring costs (4.7) (57.9)(93.1)(59.6)Operating earnings (loss)25.2(174.2)(291.2)(252.4) Finance costs(11.4)(10.6)(44.6)(45.0)Other foreign exchange gain (loss) (42.3)  15.0 (56.3)14.7Other income (expense) 1.5 (65.6)35.9(75.2) (52.2) (61.2)(65.0)(105.5) Loss before income taxes(27.0)(235.4)(356.2)(357.9) Income tax expense (recovery): Current 13.0 (39.5)12.0(63.5)Deferred 9.9 (26.9)(63.9)(27.6) 22.9(66.4)(51.9)(91.1) Net loss$(49.9)$(169.0)$(304.3)$(266.8) Net loss per share Basic$(0.97)$(3.29)$(5.91)$(5.19)Diluted$(0.97)$(3.29)$(5.91)$(5.19)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOMEFor the three months and years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (unaudited) (millions of Canadian Dollars)Three MonthsThree MonthsYear EndedYear Ended Dec. 31, 2024Dec. 31, 2023Dec. 31, 2024Dec. 31, 2023 Net loss$(49.9)$(169.0)$(304.3)$(266.8) Other comprehensive income (loss): Items that will not be recycled to Net loss: Defined benefit plan actuarial gain (loss), net of tax0.8(1.1)4.5(0.4) Items that may be recycled to Net loss: Foreign currency translation differences for foreign operations, net of tax75.8(27.6)101.4(30.4)Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax76.6(28.7)105.9(30.8) Comprehensive income (loss)$26.7$(197.7)$(198.4)$(297.6)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWSFor the three months and years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (unaudited) (millions of Canadian Dollars)Three MonthsThree MonthsYear EndedYear Ended Dec. 31, 2024Dec. 31, 2023Dec. 31, 2024Dec. 31, 2023 Cash provided by (used in): Operating activities: Net loss$(49.9)$(169.0)$(304.3)$(266.8)Items not involving cash: Depreciation of plant and equipment41.748.9177.5187.4Depletion and amortization of timber, roads and other9.211.441.841.1Income tax expense (recovery)22.9(66.4)(51.9)(91.1)Finance costs11.410.644.645.0Other assets(0.1)0.1(4.6)(6.0)Reforestation liability(3.3)2.6(0.3)2.1Provisions and other liabilities0.33.6(0.4)7.9Stock option vesting0.10.20.40.8Net write-down of plant, equipment, roads and timber licences2.255.884.457.3Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain)25.2(9.7)33.4(9.3)Gain on lease modification -  - (0.7)-Other expense (income)(1.5)65.6(35.9)75.2Income taxes received, net13.530.470.299.1 71.7(15.9)54.2142.7Cash generated from (used in) operating working capital: Trade accounts receivable and other47.931.880.8(7.5)Inventories(14.8)(2.5)61.255.1Prepayments5.93.66.0(0.6)Trade accounts payable and provisions(35.9)(42.9)(57.9)(69.9) 74.8(25.9)144.3119.8 Investing activities: Additions to property, plant and equipment(11.5)(33.9)(67.2)(186.1)Additions to roads and bridges(3.0)(5.7)(6.9)(13.3)Acquisitions, net of cash acquired -  - -0.5Proceeds on disposal of property, plant, equipment and other2.90.426.65.3Net proceeds related to B.C. Coast monetization(0.9)0.535.10.5Net proceeds from deposits and other assets1.31.22.53.3 (11.2)(37.5)(9.9)(189.8) Financing activities: Issuance of share capital, net of expenses0.1 - 0.10.1Interest payments(14.2)(15.4)(56.9)(52.9)Lease liability payments(5.7)(5.0)(22.8)(18.4)Debt refinancing costs -  - -(0.2)Revolving Term Line net drawings (repayments)(35.1)39.9(69.9)128.2Additions to Senior Secured Notes -  - 45.3-Repayments of Senior Secured Notes -  - (45.3)(7.1) (54.9)19.5(149.5)49.7 Foreign exchange gain (loss) on cash and cash equivalents held in a foreign currency2.6(0.5)3.5(2.3)Increase (decrease) in cash 11.3(44.4)(11.6)(22.6) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period32.199.455.077.6 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$43.4$55.0$43.4$55.0

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITIONDecember 31, 2024 and 2023 (unaudited)(millions of Canadian Dollars)Dec. 31, 2024Dec. 31, 2023 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents$43.4$55.0Trade accounts receivable and other109.5184.4Income tax receivable-68.4Inventories283.5339.2Prepayments21.926.9Assets held for sale18.4- 476.7673.9 Employee future benefits16.815.5Deposits and other assets304.4274.6Right of use assets44.837.1Property, plant and equipment1,465.71,612.9Roads and bridges21.335.9Timber licences158.9170.4Goodwill and other intangible assets589.2574.7Deferred income taxes0.90.7  $3,078.7$3,395.7 Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity Current liabilities: Trade accounts payable and provisions$203.1$258.9Current portion of long-term debt48.044.1Reforestation liability16.515.8Lease liabilities20.317.2Income taxes payable12.90.2Liabilities held for sale1.4- 302.2336.2 Reforestation liability27.828.4Lease liabilities25.823.1Long-term debt856.7853.6Employee future benefits11.811.3Provisions and other liabilities16.854.6Deferred income taxes305.1358.1 Equity: Share capital409.0408.9Contributed surplus6.66.2Translation reserve246.9145.5Retained earnings870.01,169.8  1,532.51,730.4  $3,078.7$3,395.7

Approved on behalf of the Board of Directors: “L. Sauder”“C. Griffin” DirectorDirector

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward-looking information about the Company’s business outlook, objectives, plans, strategic priorities and other information that is not historical fact. A statement contains forward-looking information when the Company uses what it knows and expects today, to make a statement about the future. Statements containing forward-looking information may include words such as: will, could, should, believe, expect, anticipate, intend, forecast, projection, target, outlook, opportunity, risk, plan or strategy. Readers are cautioned that actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this release, and undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking information. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this release are described in Interfor’s annual Management’s Discussion and Analysis under the heading “Risks and Uncertainties”, which is available on www.interfor.com and under Interfor’s profile on www.sedarplus.ca. Material factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking information in this release include the timing and value of proceeds received from the disposition of Coastal B.C. forest tenures; charges related to the sale of Quebec operations; impact of tariffs on Canadian lumber imports to the U.S.; availability and cost of logs; competition; currency exchange sensitivity; environment; government regulation; health and safety; Indigenous reconciliation; information technology and cyber security; labour availability; logistics availability and cost; natural and man-made disasters and climate change; price volatility; residual fibre revenue; softwood lumber trade; and tax exposures. Unless otherwise indicated, the forward-looking statements in this release are based on the Company’s expectations at the date of this release. Interfor undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking information or statements, except as required by law.

ABOUT INTERFOR

Interfor is a growth-oriented forest products company with operations in Canada and the United States. The Company has annual lumber production capacity of approximately 4.7 billion board feet and offers a diverse line of lumber products to customers around the world. For more information about Interfor, visit our website at www.interfor.com.

The Company’s 2024 audited consolidated financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis are available at www.sedarplus.ca and www.interfor.com.

There will be a conference call on Friday, February 14, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) hosted by INTERFOR CORPORATION for the purpose of reviewing the Company’s release of its fourth quarter and fiscal 2024 financial results.

The dial-in number is 1-888-510-2154 or webcast URL: https://app.webinar.net/GLgmo52b6a0. The conference call will also be recorded for those unable to join in for the live discussion and will be available until March 14, 2025. The number to call is 1-888-660-6345, Passcode 75009#.

For further information:
Richard Pozzebon, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(604) 422-3400