US $
MONTREAL, Oct. 31, 2011 /CNW Telbec/ - AbitibiBowater Inc. (NYSE: ABH) (TSX: ABH) today reported a net loss of $44 million for the third quarter of 2011, or $(0.46) per share, on sales of $1.2 billion. This compares with a net loss of $829 million, or $(14.35) per share, on sales of $1.2 billion in the third quarter of 2010.
Excluding $96 million of special items described below, net income in the quarter was $52 million, or $0.53 per share, compared with a net loss excluding special items of $95 million, or $(1.65) per share, in the third quarter of 2010.
"Our operating earnings improved for the third consecutive quarter following emergence at the end of last year," said Richard Garneau, president and chief executive officer. "Overall shipments increased and, with the exception of pulp, pricing in each of our segments was stable or better in this quarter. We continue to make progress in spite of an economy that continues to prove challenging."
Description of Special Items
Net loss in the third quarter included a $69 million non-cash charge
mainly on translation of Canadian dollar net monetary assets as a
result of the significantly weaker Canadian dollar relative to the U.S.
dollar when compared to the previous quarter.
Other special items in the third quarter of 2011, net of tax, included:
Non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjustments for special items, are reconciled below.
Segment Details
Implementation of the plans of reorganization and the application of
fresh start accounting materially changed the carrying amounts and
classifications reported in the Company's consolidated financial
statements. Furthermore, the Company began to allocate all of its
selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses back to each
product line, with the exception of special items, during the first
quarter of 2011. Accordingly, the Company's operating results,
including depreciation, for periods before December 31, 2010, are not
comparable to the operating results after December 31, 2010.
Newsprint
The newsprint segment generated operating income of $18 million in the
third quarter, an $8 million decrease from the second quarter. Quarter
over quarter sales increased by 9,100 metric tons and the average
transaction price remained the same, but average operating costs
increased by $13 per metric ton, primarily as a result of a $9 million
energy benefit that was recorded in the second quarter on the
implementation of an Ontario power program.
Coated Papers
The coated papers segment generated operating income of $18 million in
the third quarter, $5 million lower than the previous quarter. The
benefit of a $15 per short ton increase in average transaction price
and higher sales volume was more than offset by an increase of average
operating costs of $48 per short ton, mainly on higher chemicals and
power costs.
Specialty Papers
The specialty papers segment generated operating income of $27 million
in the third quarter, $16 million higher than the previous quarter
despite lower shipment volume. Quarter over quarter average
transaction price increased $23 per short ton, reflecting the continued
implementation of previously-reported third quarter price increases,
while average operating costs decreased $16 per short ton, as all
annual maintenance was completed in the previous quarters.
Market Pulp
The market pulp segment generated operating income of $36 million in the
third quarter, an increase of $22 million over the second quarter. The
average market pulp transaction price decreased $26 in the quarter,
reflecting general pricing pressure in the pulp market. This was more
than offset by a 13,000 metric ton increase in shipment volumes and a
$116 per metric ton reduction in average operating costs, as all annual
plant maintenance was completed in the second quarter.
Wood Products
The wood products segment reported an operating loss of $3 million in
the third quarter, an $11 million improvement compared to the second
quarter. The average lumber transaction price for the Company
increased $8 per thousand board feet, primarily as a result of the
lapse of the 10% lumber export tax on shipments from Canada to the
U.S. The average costs decreased by $20 per thousand board feet, due
primarily to lower manufacturing costs and a 5% increase in shipments.
The Company's operating rate is still very low, with approximately 22%
of capacity idled.
Financing Initiatives
As previously disclosed, in addition to the $67 million of additional
and accelerated past service contributions to its Canadian registered
pension plans, the Company is moving forward with its $85 million debt
redemption on November 4, 2011. The aggregate face amount of its
10.25% senior secured notes due 2018 will be $586 million following the
redemption.
The Company is also pleased to announce that it has taken advantage of its strong performance in 2011 and favorable financing market conditions to amend its asset-based revolving credit facility. The amendment to the facility, which remains undrawn, extends its maturity from December 2014 to October 2016, reduces borrowing costs and eases many covenants, including the restriction on dividend payments and share repurchases.
Outlook
"The seasonal pick-up in paper sales came later and was not as strong as
last year," said Garneau. "We expect this trend will produce weaker
seasonal demand in the fourth quarter. We also expect to see continued
pricing pressure in the pulp segment over the near term and some
pressure in export newsprint pricing, as there is excess supply
worldwide. With our network of lower-cost manufacturing assets and our
strong balance sheet, we are very well positioned to face the
challenges ahead."
Earnings Conference Call
The Company will hold a conference call to discuss those results at 9:00
a.m. (ET) today. The public is invited to join the call at 866
696-5910 (pass code 1038311) at least fifteen minutes before its
scheduled start time. A simultaneous webcast will also be available
using the link provided under "Presentations and Webcasts" in the
"Investors" section of www.abitibibowater.com. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the Company's website. A
phone replay will also be available until November 14, 2011, by dialing
(800) 408-3053 with the pass code 7713542.
About AbitibiBowater
AbitibiBowater and other member companies of the Forest Products
Association of Canada, as well as a number of environmental
organizations, are partners in the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement.
The group works to identify solutions to conservation issues that meet
the goal of balancing the three pillars of sustainability linked to
human activities: economic, social and environmental.
AbitibiBowater is a global leader in the forest products industry, producing a diverse range of products, including newsprint, commercial printing papers, market pulp and wood products. The Company owns or operates 18 pulp and paper mills and 24 wood products facilities located in the United States, Canada and South Korea. Marketing its products in close to 90 countries, AbitibiBowater also has third-party certified 100% of its managed woodlands to sustainable forest management standards. The Company's shares trade under the stock symbol ABH on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange. AbitibiBowater recently announced that it will begin doing business as Resolute Forest Products as of November 7, 2011.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Statements in this press release that are not reported financial results
or other historical information of AbitibiBowater Inc. are
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They include, for example,
statements relating to our: efforts to continue to reduce costs and
increase revenues and profitability, including our cost-reduction
initiatives regarding selling, general and administrative expenses;
fourth quarter and full year business and operating outlook; assessment
of market conditions; prospects, growth strategies and the industry in
which we operate; and strategies for achieving our goals generally.
Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as the words "should," "would,"
"could," "will," "may," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "attempt,"
"project" and other terms with similar meaning indicating possible
future events or potential impact on our business or AbitibiBowater's
shareholders.
The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees of future performance. These statements are based on management's current assumptions, beliefs and expectations, all of which involve a number of business risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future financial condition, results of operations and performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied in this press release include those set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
All forward-looking statements in this press release are expressly qualified by such cautionary statements and the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
ABITIBIBOWATER INC. | ||||||||
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||||||
(Unaudited, in millions except per share amounts) | ||||||||
Successor | Predecessor | Successor | Predecessor | |||||
Three Months | Three Months | Nine Months | Nine Months | |||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | |||||
2011 | 2010 | 2011 | 2010 | |||||
Sales | $ 1,224 | $ 1,192 | $ 3,609 | $ 3,474 | ||||
Costs and expenses: |
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|
|
|||||
Cost of sales, excluding depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested |
893 | 892 | 2,726 | 2,758 | ||||
Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested | 55 | 119 | 164 | 376 | ||||
Distribution costs | 141 | 133 | 415 | 411 | ||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 45 | 40 | 122 | 109 | ||||
Closure costs, impairment and other related charges (2) | 17 | (3) | 34 | 5 | ||||
Net loss (gain) on disposition of assets (3) | 1 | (1) | (3) | (14) | ||||
Operating income (loss) | 72 | 12 | 151 | (171) | ||||
Other (expense) income: | ||||||||
Interest expense | (19) | (99) | (77) | (417) | ||||
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain (4) | (60) | (7) | (30) | 30 | ||||
Other, net | (8) | 1 | (21) | 2 | ||||
(Loss) income before reorganization items and income taxes | (15) | (93) | 23 | (556) | ||||
Reorganization items, net | - | (731) | - | (1,084) | ||||
(Loss) income before income taxes | (15) | (824) | 23 | (1,640) | ||||
Income tax (provision) benefit (5) | (27) | (5) | 26 | 5 | ||||
Net (loss) income including noncontrolling interests | (42) | (829) | 49 | (1,635) | ||||
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (2) | - | (2) | 9 | ||||
Net (loss) income attributable to AbitibiBowater Inc. | $ (44) | $ (829) | $ 47 | $ (1,626) | ||||
Net (loss) income per share attributable to AbitibiBowater Inc. common shareholders: (6) |
||||||||
Basic | $ (0.46) | $ (14.35) | $ 0.48 | $ (28.18) | ||||
Diluted | $ (0.46) | $ (14.35) | $ 0.48 | $ (28.18) | ||||
Weighted-average number of AbitibiBowater Inc. common shares outstanding: (6) |
||||||||
Basic | 97.1 | 57.7 | 97.1 | 57.7 | ||||
Diluted | 97.1 | 57.7 | 97.1 | 57.7 |
ABITIBIBOWATER INC. | |||||
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | |||||
(Unaudited, in millions) | |||||
Successor | |||||
September 30, | December 31, | ||||
2011 | 2010 | ||||
Assets | |||||
Current assets: | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 295 | $ 319 | |||
Accounts receivable, net | 879 | 854 | |||
Inventories, net | 470 | 438 | |||
Assets held for sale (3) | 41 | 698 | |||
Deferred income tax assets | 46 | 47 | |||
Other current assets | 97 | 88 | |||
Total current assets | 1,828 | 2,444 | |||
Fixed assets, net | 2,485 | 2,641 | |||
Amortizable intangible assets, net | 18 | 19 | |||
Deferred income tax assets | 1,679 | 1,736 | |||
Other assets | 299 | 316 | |||
Total assets | $ 6,309 | $ 7,156 | |||
Liabilities and equity | |||||
Current liabilities: | |||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ 554 | $ 568 | |||
Current portion of long-term debt | 85 | - | |||
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale (3) | 6 | 289 | |||
Total current liabilities | 645 | 857 | |||
Long-term debt, net of current portion | 627 | 905 | |||
Pension and other postretirement projected benefit obligations | 1,106 | 1,272 | |||
Deferred income tax liabilities | 75 | 72 | |||
Other long-term liabilities | 67 | 63 | |||
Total liabilities | 2,520 | 3,169 | |||
Commitments and contingencies | |||||
Equity: | |||||
Common stock | - | - | |||
Additional paid-in capital | 3,673 | 3,709 | |||
Retained earnings | 47 | - | |||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (4) | - | |||
Treasury stock at cost | - | - | |||
Total AbitibiBowater Inc. shareholders' equity | 3,716 | 3,709 | |||
Noncontrolling interests | 73 | 278 | |||
Total equity | 3,789 | 3,987 | |||
Total liabilities and equity | $ 6,309 | $ 7,156 |
ABITIBIBOWATER INC. |
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | ||||||||
(Unaudited, in millions) | ||||||||
Successor | Predecessor | |||||||
|
Nine Months | Nine Months | ||||||
Ended September 30, | Ended September 30, | |||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests | $ | 49 | $ | (1,635) | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) including noncontrolling
interests to net cash provided by operating activities: |
||||||||
Share-based compensation | 2 | 3 | ||||||
Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested | 164 | 376 | ||||||
Closure costs, impairment and other related charges | 32 | 5 | ||||||
Write-downs of inventory | 1 | - | ||||||
Deferred income taxes | (25) | (3) | ||||||
Net pension (contributions) expense | (146) | 6 | ||||||
Loss on translation of foreign currency denominated deferred income taxes | 58 | - | ||||||
(Gain) loss on translation of foreign currency denominated pension and other postretirement projected benefit obligations |
(36) | 13 | ||||||
Net gain on disposition of assets | (3) | (14) | ||||||
Gain on extinguishment of debt | (4) | - | ||||||
Amortization of debt discount (premium) and debt issuance costs, net | - | 11 | ||||||
Loss on translation of foreign currency denominated debt | - | 11 | ||||||
Non-cash interest expense | - | 217 | ||||||
Non-cash reorganization items, net | - | 999 | ||||||
Debtor in possession financing costs | - | 6 | ||||||
Other, net | (19) | 18 | ||||||
Changes in working capital: | ||||||||
Accounts receivable | (27) | (82) | ||||||
Inventories | (33) | (12) | ||||||
Other current assets | 23 | 29 | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (21) | 67 | ||||||
Net change in working capital | (58) | 2 | ||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 15 | 15 | ||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||
Cash invested in fixed assets | (55) | (42) | ||||||
Disposition of investment in ACH Limited Partnership (3) | 296 | - | ||||||
Disposition of other assets | 19 | 83 | ||||||
Proceeds from insurance settlements | 8 | - | ||||||
Release of pension trust assets | - | 8 | ||||||
Increase in restricted cash | (2) | (85) | ||||||
Increase in deposit requirements for letters of credit, net | (2) | (2) | ||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 264 | (38) | ||||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||
Dividends and distribution to noncontrolling interests | (19) | - | ||||||
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest (7) | (15) | - | ||||||
Payment of debtor in possession financing | - | (166) | ||||||
Payments of long-term debt(7) | (269) | - | ||||||
Decrease in secured borrowings, net | - | (21) | ||||||
Debtor in possession financing costs | - | (6) | ||||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (303) | (193) | ||||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | (24) | (216) | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents: | ||||||||
Beginning of period | 319 | 756 | ||||||
End of period | $ | 295 | $ | 540 |
ABITIBIBOWATER INC. | ||||
STATEMENTS OF OPERATING INCOME AND NET INCOME ADJUSTED FOR SPECIAL ITEMS | ||||
A reconciliation of our operating income (loss), net income (loss) and
net income (loss) per share reported before special items is presented in the tables below. See Note 8 to our Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statement Information regarding our use of non-GAAP measures. |
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Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 (Successor) (unaudited, in millions except per share amounts) |
Operating income (loss) |
Net (loss) income |
EPS | |
GAAP as reported | $ 72 | $ (44) | $ (0.46) | |
Adjustments for special items: | ||||
Sale of assets | 1 | 1 | 0.01 | |
Severance | 5 | 3 | 0.03 | |
Closure costs, impairment and other related charges | 17 | 14 | 0.15 | |
Post-emergence costs | - | 9 | 0.09 | |
Effects of foreign currency translations | - | 69 | 0.71 | |
GAAP as adjusted for special items | $ 95 | $ 52 | $ 0.53 | |
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 (Predecessor) (unaudited, in millions except per share amounts) |
Operating income (loss) |
Net (loss) income |
EPS | |
GAAP as reported | $ 12 | $ (829) | $ (14.35) | |
Adjustments for special items: | ||||
Sale of assets | (1) | (1) | (0.02) | |
Severance | - | - | - | |
Closure costs, impairment and other related charges | (3) | (3) | (0.05) | |
Reorganization items | - | 731 | 12.65 | |
Effects of foreign currency translations | - | 7 | 0.12 | |
GAAP as adjusted for special items | $ 8 | $ (95) | $ (1.65) | |
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 (Successor) (unaudited, in millions except per share amounts) |
Operating income (loss) |
Net income (loss) |
EPS | |
GAAP as reported | $ 151 | $ 47 | $ 0.48 | |
Adjustments for special items: | ||||
Sale of assets | (3) | (2) | (0.02) | |
Severance | 12 | 8 | 0.08 | |
Closure costs, impairment and other related charges | 34 | 27 | 0.28 | |
Post-emergence costs | - | 25 | 0.26 | |
Other | 6 | 4 | 0.04 | |
Effects of foreign currency translations | - | 36 | 0.37 | |
GAAP as adjusted for special items | $ 200 | $ 145 | $ 1.49 | |
|
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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 (Predecessor) (unaudited, in millions except per share amounts) |
Operating (loss) income |
Net (loss) income |
EPS | |
GAAP as reported | $ (171) | $ (1,626) | $ (28.18) | |
Adjustments for special items: | ||||
Sale of assets | (14) | (14) | (0.24) | |
Severance | (8) | (8) | (0.14) | |
Closure costs, impairment and other related charges | 5 | 5 | 0.09 | |
Reorganization items | - | 1,084 | 18.78 | |
Effects of foreign currency translations | - | (36) | (0.62) | |
GAAP as adjusted for special items | $ (188) | $ (595) | $ (10.31) |
ABITIBIBOWATER INC. | ||||||||
STATEMENTS OF EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA | ||||||||
A reconciliation of our net income (loss) including noncontrolling
interests to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is presented in the tables
below. See Note 9 to our Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statement Information regarding our use of non-GAAP measures EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA |
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Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 (Successor) (unaudited, in millions) |
Newsprint | Coated papers |
Specialty papers |
Market pulp | Wood products |
Corporate and other |
Total | |
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests | 18 | 18 | 27 | 36 | (3) | (138) | (42) | |
Interest expense, net | 19 | 19 | ||||||
Income tax provision | 27 | 27 | ||||||
Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested | 18 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 8 | - | 55 | |
EBITDA | 36 | 27 | 39 | 44 | 5 | (92) | 59 | |
Foreign currency translation loss (gain) | 60 | 60 | ||||||
Reorganization costs | - | - | ||||||
Closure costs, impairment and other related charges | 17 | 17 | ||||||
Severance | 5 | 5 | ||||||
Inventory write-downs included in cost of sales | - | - | ||||||
Loss on disposition of assets | 1 | 1 | ||||||
Post-emergence costs | 13 | 13 | ||||||
Other (income) expense, net | (5) | (5) | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ 36 | $ 27 | $ 39 | $ 44 | $ 5 | $ (1) | $ 150 | |
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 (Predecessor) (unaudited, in millions) |
Newsprint | Coated papers |
Specialty papers |
Market pulp | Wood products |
Corporate and other |
Total | |
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests | (8) | 13 | (6) | 55 | (1) | (882) | (829) | |
Interest expense, net | 99 | 99 | ||||||
Income tax provision | 5 | 5 | ||||||
Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested | 50 | 8 | 33 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 119 | |
EBITDA | 42 | 21 | 27 | 67 | 8 | (771) | (606) | |
Foreign currency translation loss (gain) | 7 | 7 | ||||||
Reorganization costs | 731 | 731 | ||||||
Closure costs, impairment and other related charges | (3) | (3) | ||||||
Severance | - | - | ||||||
Inventory write-downs included in cost of sales | - | - | ||||||
Gain on disposition of assets | (1) | (1) | ||||||
Other (income) expense, net | (1) | (1) | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ 42 | $ 21 | $ 27 | $ 67 | $ 8 | $ (38) | $ 127 | |
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 (Successor) (unaudited, in millions) |
Newsprint | Coated papers |
Specialty papers |
Market pulp | Wood products |
Corporate and other |
Total | |
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests | 63 | 44 | 38 | 73 | (20) | (149) | 49 | |
Interest expense, net | 77 | 77 | ||||||
Income tax benefit | (26) | (26) | ||||||
Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested | 55 | 26 | 36 | 22 | 25 | - | 164 | |
EBITDA | 118 | 70 | 74 | 95 | 5 | (98) | 264 | |
Foreign currency translation loss (gain) | 30 | 30 | ||||||
Reorganization costs | - | - | ||||||
Closure costs, impairment and other related charges | 34 | 34 | ||||||
Severance | 12 | 12 | ||||||
Inventory write-downs included in cost of sales | 1 | 1 | ||||||
Gain on disposition of assets | (3) | (3) | ||||||
Post-emergence costs | 35 | 35 | ||||||
Other (income) expense, net | (14) | (14) | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ 118 | $ 70 | $ 74 | $ 95 | $ 5 | $ (3) | $ 359 | |
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 (Predecessor) (unaudited, in millions) |
Newsprint | Coated papers |
Specialty papers |
Market pulp | Wood products |
Corporate and other |
Total | |
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests | (159) | 14 | (39) | 92 | 4 | (1,547) | (1,635) | |
Interest expense, net | 417 | 417 | ||||||
Income tax benefit | (5) | (5) | ||||||
Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested | 172 | 22 | 96 | 36 | 33 | 17 | 376 | |
EBITDA | 13 | 36 | 57 | 128 | 37 | (1,118) | (847) | |
Foreign currency translation loss (gain) | (30) | (30) | ||||||
Reorganization costs | 1,084 | 1,084 | ||||||
Closure costs, impairment and other related charges | 5 | 5 | ||||||
Severance | (8) | (8) | ||||||
Inventory write-downs included in cost of sales | - | - | ||||||
Gain on disposition of assets | (14) | (14) | ||||||
Other (income) expense, net | (2) | (2) | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ 13 | $ 36 | $ 57 | $ 128 | $ 37 | $ (83) | $ 188 | |
See Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statement Information
ABITIBIBOWATER INC.
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statement Information
1. | On April 16 and 17, 2009, AbitibiBowater and certain of its U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware for relief under the provisions of Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, as amended, and under the Companies' Creditor Arrangement Act with the Superior Court of Quebec in Canada (the "Creditor Protection Proceedings"). On December 9, 2010, we emerged from the Creditor Protection Proceedings. In accordance with FASB ASC 852, fresh start accounting was required upon our emergence from the Creditor Protection Proceedings, which we applied on December 31, 2010 (the "Convenience Date"). |
The application of fresh start accounting materially changed the carrying amounts and classifications reported in our consolidated financial statements and resulted in AbitibiBowater becoming a new entity for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2010 and for periods subsequent to December 31, 2010 are not comparable to our consolidated financial statements for the periods prior to December 31, 2010. References to "Successor" refer to AbitibiBowater on or after December 31, 2010 after giving effect to fresh start accounting. References to "Predecessor" refer to AbitibiBowater prior to December 31, 2010. Additionally, references to periods on or after December 31, 2010 refer to the Successor and references to periods prior to December 31, 2010 refer to the Predecessor. | |
2. | Closure costs, impairment and other related charges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were comprised of the following: |
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
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Successor | Predecessor | Successor | Predecessor | |||||||||
(Unaudited, in millions) | 2011 | 2010 | 2011 | 2010 | ||||||||
Accelerated depreciation | $ | 1 | $ | - | $ | 5 | $ | - | ||||
Impairment of long-lived assets | 10 | - | 17 | 2 | ||||||||
Severance and other costs | 6 | (3) | 12 | 3 | ||||||||
$ | 17 | $ | (3) | $ | 34 | $ | 5 |
During the three months ended September 30, 2011, we recorded long-lived asset impairment charges of $7 million related to our Mokpo, South Korea paper mill and $3 million related to certain scrapped equipment at our Calhoun, Tennessee paper mill, and $6 million of severance and other costs, primarily related to an early retirement program for employees at our Mokpo paper mill. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we also recorded $7 million of long-lived asset impairment charges and $6 million of severance and OPEB curtailment as a result of the decision to discontinue paperboard production at our Coosa Pines, Alabama paper mill. | |
3. | During the three months ended September 30, 2011, we sold our Alabama River, Alabama paper mill and various other assets for proceeds of $11 million, resulting in a net loss on disposition of assets of $1 million. In the first half of the year, we also sold our investment in ACH Limited Partnership and various other assets for proceeds of $304 million, resulting in a net gain on disposition of assets of $4 million. |
As of September 30, 2011, we held the following assets for sale: our Petit Saguenay, Quebec sawmill, our U.S. recycling operation assets and various other assets. We expect to complete the sale of all of these assets within the next twelve months for amounts that equal or exceed their individual carrying values. | |
4. | During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company recorded a foreign currency translation loss of $60 million and $30 million, respectively. This loss is a result of the significantly weaker Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar at September 30, 2011 and its impact on the translation of our Canadian dollar net monetary assets in the Company's principal Canadian operating subsidiary. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recorded a foreign currency translation loss of $7 million and currency translation gain of $30 million, respectively, as a result of the translation of our Canadian dollar balance sheet amounts. |
5. | During the three months ended September 30, 2011, an income tax expense of $27 million was recorded. The charge is attributable to a $60 million loss on the translation of Canadian dollar net monetary assets, for which no tax benefit is recorded and $9 million in deferred taxes on foreign currency translation gains, both relating to the Company's principal Canadian operating subsidiary. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, an income tax benefit of $26 million was recorded, primarily due to a tax reserve adjustment, and partially offset by the tax treatment of our foreign currency translation gains and losses relating to the Company's principal Canadian operating subsidiary as discussed above. |
During the three months ended September 30, 2010, income tax expense of approximately $5 million was recorded primarily relating to income from a joint venture. In the nine months ended September 30, 2010, an income tax benefit of $5 million was recorded, primarily due to pre-tax losses primarily generated outside the United States. | |
6. | For the calculation of basic and diluted income (loss) per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, no adjustments to net income (loss) attributable to AbitibiBowater were necessary. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, no adjustment to the diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the assumed conversion of the pre-petition convertible notes, which were outstanding at that time, was necessary, as the impact would have been anti-dilutive. |
7. | On January 14, 2011, we acquired the 47.5% noncontrolling interest in Augusta Newsprint Company, which operates our newsprint mill in Augusta, Georgia, for $15 million cash and a secured promissory note in the principal amount of $90 million. Since we had control of Augusta Newsprint Company, our consolidated statements had already consolidated this entity. The acquisition of the noncontrolling interest was accounted for as an equity transaction. We used the proceeds from the sale of our interest in ACH Limited Partnership to redeem a portion of our senior secured notes and to repay in full the Augusta secured promissory note mentioned above. |
8. | A reconciliation of certain financial statement line items reported under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") to our use of non-GAAP measures of operating income (loss), net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share reported before special items is presented. We believe that these measures allow investors to more easily compare our ongoing operations and financial performance from period to period. These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to and not as a substitute for measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Consequently, investors should rely on GAAP operating income (loss), net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share. Non-GAAP measures included in our press release include: |
Operating income (loss) before special items - is defined as operating income (loss) from our Consolidated Statements of Operations adjusted for special items. Internally, we use a non-GAAP operating income (loss) measure as an indicator of a segment's performance and excludes closure costs, impairment and other related charges, severance costs, gains and losses on dispositions of assets and other charges or credits that are excluded from our segment's performance from GAAP operating income (loss). Therefore, this non-GAAP presentation is consistent with our internal presentation. This non-GAAP measure should be used in addition to and not as a substitute for operating income (loss) provided in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. | |
Net income (loss) before special items - is defined as net income (loss) from our Consolidated Statements of Operations adjusted for the special items discussed above plus the effects of foreign currency translation as well as reorganization items and post-emergence costs. The adjustment for these items is consistent with our internal presentation. This non-GAAP measure should be used in addition to and not as a substitute for net income (loss) provided in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. | |
Net income (loss) per share (EPS) before special items - is defined as diluted EPS calculated based on the net income (loss) before special items. This non-GAAP measure should be used in addition to and not as a substitute for our net income (loss) per share calculated in accordance with GAAP as provided in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. | |
We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful because they are consistent with our internal presentation and allow investors to more easily compare our ongoing operations, financial performance and EPS from period to period. | |
9. | A reconciliation of our net (loss) income reported under GAAP to our use of the non-GAAP measure of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA by reportable segment is presented. EBITDA by reportable segment is defined as net (loss) income from our Consolidated Statements of Operations, allocated to our reportable segments (newsprint, coated papers, specialty papers, market pulp and wood products) in accordance with FASB ASC 290, "Segment Reporting," adjusted by depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested. In addition, EBITDA for the Corporate and Other segment is defined as net (loss) income from our Consolidated Statements of Operations after allocation to our reportable segments, adjusted by interest expense, income taxes and depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested. |
We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for special items as discussed in Note 8. Internally, we use Adjusted EBITDA as an indicator of our performance. Therefore, this non-GAAP measure is consistent with our internal presentation. | |
Internally, we use EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA by reportable segment measures as indicators of our reportable segments' and the Company's performance. Therefore, these non-GAAP measures are consistent with our internal presentation. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful because they are consistent with our internal presentation and performance analysis and allow investors to more easily compare our ongoing financial performance from period to period. These non-GAAP measures should be used in addition to and not as a substitute for operating income (loss) by reportable segment and consolidated operating income (loss) provided in the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements in our quarterly filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. | |
Contacts
Investors Rémi G. Lalonde Vice President, Investor Relations 514 394-2345 ir@abitibibowater.com | Media and Others Seth Kursman Vice President, Corporate Communications, Sustainability and Government Affairs 514 394-2398 seth.kursman@abitibibowater.com |