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Norbord reports third quarter 2017 results

Oct. 27, 2017 - Norbord Inc. has reported Adjusted EBITDA of $200 million for the third quarter of 2017 versus $115 million in the third quarter of 2016 and $165 million in the second quarter of 2017. The improvement is primarily due to higher North American oriented strand board (OSB) prices and shipment volumes. North American operations generated Adjusted EBITDA of $184 million compared to $106 million in the same quarter last year and $157 million in the prior quarter. European operations delivered Adjusted EBITDA of $14 million versus $10 million in the same quarter last year and $9 million in the prior quarter.

"Our third quarter performance continued to accelerate and we delivered our best Adjusted EBITDA result in 13 years," said Peter Wijnbergen, Norbord's President and CEO. "In North America, our shipment volumes increased 5% and benchmark OSB prices were 36% higher year-over-year due to already strong OSB demand that was pushed even further by the hurricanes in the US south. In Europe, our financial performance is back on track as improved panel prices outpaced the currency translation headwind from the weaker Pound Sterling and the negative impact of higher resin prices."

"I am pleased to report that our Huguley, Alabama mill and the new line at our Inverness, Scotland mill both produced first board in September and started production in October. Once fully ramped up, this additional capacity will help us fulfill contract requirements for next year and serve rapidly growing customer demand in both our North American and European markets."

Norbord recorded Adjusted earnings of $121 million or $1.39 per diluted share ($1.40 per basic share) in the third quarter of 2017 versus $58 million or $0.67 per diluted share ($0.68 per basic share) in the third quarter of 2016 and $95 million or $1.10 per share (basic and diluted) in the second quarter of 2017.

Market Conditions
In North America, year-to-date US housing starts were up 3% versus the same period in 2016 with single-family starts (which use approximately three times more OSB than multi-family) up by 9%. The seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) was 1.13 million in September, 6% higher than the pace at this time last year, while the pace of housing permits (the more forward-looking indicator) was 1.22 million. Both the starts and permits SAAR numbers for September were negatively impacted by the hurricanes in Texas and Florida. The consensus forecast from US housing economists is approximately 1.21 million starts in 2017, which suggests a 3% year-over-year improvement, with the single family component at 71%, up from 67% in 2016.

North American benchmark OSB prices increased significantly in the third quarter of 2017 as new home construction activity and OSB demand continue to improve. OSB demand was pushed even further in the quarter due to hurricanes in the US south. Benchmark OSB prices increased steadily in all regions throughout the quarter and continued to reach multi-year highs, with the North Central benchmark OSB price averaging $409 per Msf (7⁄16-inch basis) for the quarter.

In Europe, Norbord's core panel markets continued to strengthen, with double-digit year-over-year OSB demand growth in both the UK and Germany. In local currency terms, average panel prices were up 12% from the same quarter last year and 6% versus the prior quarter.

Performance
North American OSB shipments increased 5% year-over-year due to increased mill productivity, and were in line with the prior quarter due to the approximately two weeks of lost production at the 100 Mile House, BC mill resulting from wildfire evacuations. Year-to-date, approximately 25% of Norbord's North American OSB sales volume went to specialty end-uses (industrial applications and export markets), which is continued progress toward the Company's long-term goal of 50%. Norbord's operating North American OSB mills produced at 97% of stated capacity (excluding the two curtailed mills in Huguley, Alabama and Chambord, Quebec), up from 95% in the same quarter last year and down from 99% in the prior quarter. Capacity utilization decreased quarter-over-quarter due to weather-related curtailments (wildfires in British Columbia and hurricanes in the US south) taken during the quarter.

Norbord's North American OSB cash production costs per unit (before mill profit share) increased 2% compared to the prior quarter and 4% versus the same quarter last year. Costs increased versus both comparative quarters due to the stronger Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar and costs related to preparing the Huguley mill for restart. The year-over-year increase was further impacted by higher resin prices.

In Europe, Norbord's shipments were 8% higher than the same quarter last year and in line with the prior quarter. The European mills produced at 100% of stated capacity in the quarter compared to 99% in the same quarter last year and 105% in the prior quarter. Capacity utilization increased year-over-year due to improved productivity, while the quarter-over-quarter decrease was due to annual maintenance shuts taken at three mills.

The Company generated $1 million of Margin Improvement Program (MIP) gains year-to-date from improved mill productivity, partially offset by the timing of annual maintenance shuts and related costs as well as costs associated with executing on strategic initiatives. These costs include adding in-house technical and engineering expertise to support the execution of capital projects in addition to investing in sales, marketing and production resources and capabilities to execute on the Company's North American specialty products growth strategy. MIP gains are measured relative to the prior year at constant prices and exchange rates.

The Company's $135 million modernization and expansion of its Inverness, Scotland OSB mill is substantially complete and the new line was put into production subsequent to quarter-end. The Huguley mill restarted production subsequent to quarter-end with the goal of achieving a sufficient run rate by the end of the first quarter of 2018 to meet customer commitments for next year.

Norbord's 2017 capital expenditures (excluding the Inverness project) are expected to be $145 million. Looking ahead to next year's capital expenditures, while the Company is still in the process of finalizing its capital plans, the 2018 capital expenditures target is expected to be approximately $150 million. This will include investments to improve production efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs across the Company's mills as well as to maintain high standards for environmental and safety performance. It will also include investments to support the Company's strategy to increase the production of specialty products for industrial and export markets.

Operating working capital was $156 million at quarter-end, unchanged from the end of the same quarter last year and down from $181 million at the end of the prior quarter. Quarter-over-quarter, working capital decreased due to higher accrued capital expenditures related to the Inverness project and higher incentive program accruals, which were only partially offset by the impact of higher North American OSB prices on accounts receivable. Working capital continues to be managed at minimal levels across the Company.

At quarter-end, Norbord had unutilized liquidity of $476 million, consisting of $126 million in cash and $350 million in unused credit lines. The Company's tangible net worth was $1,128 million and net debt to total capitalization on a book basis was 28%, with both ratios well within bank covenants.

Developments
On August 2, 2017, Norbord announced a bought deal secondary offering with a syndicate of underwriters through which a fund managed by Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (Brookfield) agreed to sell 3,550,000 common shares of Norbord at an offering price of $42.35 per common share. On August 9, 2017, upon closing of the offering, Brookfield's ownership of the Company decreased from approximately 53% to 49%. Norbord did not receive any proceeds from the offering.

On October 13, 2017, a fund managed by Brookfield completed a distribution of 7,069,705 common shares of Norbord to its fund investors. Upon completion of the distribution, Brookfield owned or controlled 34,787,535 or approximately 40% of the common shares of Norbord.

Dividend
The Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of C $0.60 per common share, payable on December 21, 2017 to shareholders of record on December 1, 2017. This is a C $0.10 per common share or 20% increase over last quarter's level. The increase reflects the strength in North American benchmark OSB prices this year and resulting robust operating cash flow for the Company, the positive market outlook for the Company's products and the continuing expectation that free cash flow will be sufficient to fund current growth and other attractive capital investment commitments for the foreseeable future. Any dividends reinvested on December 21, 2017 under the Company's Dividend Reinvestment Plan will be used by the transfer agent to purchase common shares from Norbord's treasury.

Norbord's dividends are declared in Canadian dollars. Registered and beneficial shareholders may opt to receive their dividends in either Canadian dollars or the US dollar equivalent. Unless they request the US dollar equivalent, shareholders will receive dividends in Canadian dollars. The US dollar equivalent of the dividend will be based on the Bloomberg FX Fixings Service (BFIX) noon exchange rate on the record date or, if the record date falls on a weekend or holiday, on the BFIX noon exchange rate of the preceding business day.

Registered shareholders wishing to receive the US dollar dividend equivalent should contact Norbord's transfer agent, AST Trust Company (Canada), by phone at 1-800-387-0825 or by email at inquiries@canstockta.com. Beneficial shareholders (i.e., those holding their Norbord shares with their brokerage) should contact the broker with whom their shares are held.

Norbord's variable dividend policy targets the payment to shareholders of a portion of free cash flow based upon the Company's financial position, results of operations, cash flow, capital requirements and restrictions under the Company's revolving bank lines, as well as the market outlook for the Company's principal products and broader market and economic conditions, among other factors. The Board retains the discretion to amend the Company's dividend policy in any manner and at any time as it may deem necessary or appropriate in the future. For these reasons, as well as others, the Board in its sole discretion can decide to increase, maintain, decrease, suspend or discontinue the payment of cash dividends in the future.

Normal Course Issuer Bid
Norbord also announced today that the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) has accepted its notice of intention to renew its normal course issuer bid in accordance with TSX rules. Under the bid, Norbord may purchase up to 5,142,773 of its common shares, representing 10% of the Company's public float of 51,427,739 as of October 20, 2017, pursuant to TSX rules (a total of 86,387,210 Common Shares were issued and outstanding as of such date).

Purchases under the bid may commence on November 3, 2017, and will terminate on the earlier of November 2, 2018, the date Norbord completes its purchases pursuant to the notice of intention to make a normal course issuer bid filed with the TSX or the date of notice by Norbord of termination of the bid. Purchases will be made on the open market by Norbord through the facilities of the TSX, the New York Stock Exchange or Canadian or US alternative trading systems, if eligible, in accordance with the requirements of the TSX and applicable securities laws. The price that Norbord will pay for any such common shares will be the market price of such shares at the time of acquisition. Common shares purchased under the bid will be cancelled. Norbord's average daily trading volume on the TSX during the last six calendar months was 201,830 common shares. Daily purchases of common shares will not exceed 50,457 subject to the Company's ability to make "block" purchases under the rules of the TSX. Under its prior bid that commenced on November 3, 2016 and expires on November 2, 2017, Norbord previously sought and received approval from the TSX to repurchase up to 4,280,997 common shares. Norbord did not acquire any common shares under such bid in the past 12 months.

Norbord believes that the market price of its common shares at certain times may be attractive and that the purchase of these common shares from time to time would be an appropriate use of Norbord's funds in light of potential benefits to remaining shareholders.

From time to time, when Norbord does not possess material non-public information about itself or its securities, it may enter into an automatic purchase plan with its broker to allow for the purchase of common shares at times when Norbord ordinarily would not be active in the market due to its own internal trading blackout periods, insider trading rules or otherwise. Any such plans entered into with Norbord's broker will be adopted in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

October 27, 2017  By Norbord Inc.