Ainsworth Announces 2012 First Quarter Results
(firmenpresse) - VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 05/10/12 -- Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd. (TSX: ANS)(TSX: ANS.WT) today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.
First Quarter Highlights:
Ainsworth Performance Improves In First Quarter
Ainsworth President and Chief Operating Officer, Jim Lake, said, "I am pleased to report that Ainsworth's performance improved in the first quarter of 2012. The Company recorded positive EBITDA of $10.0 million, which was $7.3 million higher than the prior quarter and $3.6 million higher than the same quarter last year. Our EBITDA improvement reflects a stronger pricing environment and better operating results at all three mills."
Production efficiency and conversion costs improved over the same period last year at all three mills. Lower inventory levels were also achieved during the seasonally higher period that takes place during the first quarter of each year. Our margin improvement program resulted in cost savings of $2.4 million in the quarter. In addition, the Barwick, Ontario mill achieved a significant safety milestone by operating accident-free for one full year.
The Company also reported softer sales to Japan as customers continued to work through their post-tsunami inventories. As the leading supplier of OSB to Japan, Ainsworth continues to pursue the significant growth potential of this market and is firmly committed to supporting customers in Japan while they await the start of the "rebuilding" phase. The Company is also making inroads into other market regions, notably China, where significant progress was made during the quarter with new product development initiatives.
Financial Results
For the first quarter of 2012, Ainsworth recorded net income from continuing operations of $0.7 million, compared to $77.7 million in the first quarter of 2011. This change is primarily the result of a $73 million gain that was recorded in the first quarter of 2011 on the acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in our mill in High Level, Alberta. Sales were $85.1 million in the first quarter of 2012, an increase of $13.6 million from the first quarter of 2011 due to an increase in volume and an increase in OSB pricing, most notably in Western Canada. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2012 was $10.0 million compared to adjusted EBITDA of $6.4 million in the same quarter last year.
Margins
Adjusted EBITDA margin for the first quarter of 2012 was 11.8% compared to an adjusted EBITDA margin of 9.0% for the same period in 2011. The cost of products sold per msf (3/8-inch basis) for the first quarter of 2012 was 1.7% higher than the same period in 2011.
In the first quarter of 2012, the average North Central market price for 7/16" OSB was U.S. $203 per msf, an increase of 2% from an average price of U.S. $199 per msf in the first quarter of 2011. The average Western Canadian market price for 7/16" OSB increased 10% from U.S. $182 per msf in the first quarter of 2011 to U.S. $201 per msf in the first quarter of 2012. Sequentially, Western Canadian prices in the first quarter of 2012 increased by 35% from $149 per msf in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Selected financial information is presented in the table below. The full financial report is available to be viewed at the following link: .
Liquidity
At March 31, 2012, Ainsworth's available liquidity, consisting of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments, was $54.1 million, down from $62.5 million at December 31, 2011. Although we are encouraged by our improved financial performance and reduced working capital use, the Company continues to review various alternatives which could enhance our liquidity, which could include the sale of non-core assets, cost reduction initiatives, refinancing or repayment of debt and issuance of new debt or equity.
Ainsworth is permitted, under the terms of its Senior Unsecured Notes and Senior Secured Term Loan, to borrow an additional U.S. $125 million of Senior Secured Debt and U.S. $75 million of Senior Unsecured Debt. The availability of additional sources of capital will depend on capital markets at the time and may not be available on acceptable terms.
Outlook
In the first quarter, the U.S. housing market showed some positive signs, with U.S. housing starts, permits and single-family starts sharply up by 20%, 30% and 17% respectively year-over-year. Industry forecasts for 2012 housing starts have accordingly been upgraded and now range between 680,000 and 770,000, which is 11% to 26% higher than last year's 610,000 starts. Jim Lake said, "While we are encouraged by the improving U.S. housing market, we have come to learn that the U.S. economic recovery is not only slow but fragile. Provided that improvements in the U.S. economy continue to hold, we expect demand to trend incrementally better for the remainder of the year."
Management Change
The Company also announced that Chris Davies, the chief financial officer of the Company, has tendered his resignation effective June 4, 2012 after accepting a position with a privately-held company outside the forest products industry. Meanwhile, the Company has commenced an external search for qualified CFO candidates.
"Mr. Davies has made an important contribution to Ainsworth since he joined in October 2009. We thank him for his leadership and dedication to the company. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors," said Mr. Lake.
Conference Call Information
Ainsworth will hold a conference call on Friday, May 11, 2012 at 8:30 am PDT (11:30 am EDT) to discuss the 2012 first quarter results. The dial-in phone number is 1-800-319-4610 from inside the U.S. or Canada, or 604-638-5340, reservation 4176#. The recording of this conference call will be available until the end of day May 18, 2012.
The financial results are based on International Financial Reporting Standards. Investors, analysts and other interested parties can access Ainsworth's 2012 First Quarter Results as well as the Shareholders' Letter, and Supplemental Information on Ainsworth's website under the Investors/Financial Reports section at .
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.
Contacts:
Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd.
Chris Davies
Chief Financial Officer
604-661-3200
604-661-3201 (FAX)
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Datum: 10.05.2012 - 18:48 Uhr
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News-ID 1113317
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