ABH (TSX, NYSE)
US$
- On Track to Achieve Synergy Goal of $375 Million; Realizes Annual
Synergy Run Rate of Over $180 Million at End of Q1
- Increases Asset Sales Target to $750 Million in 2009; Achieves Asset
Sales of Approximately $220 Million to Date
- Examines Newsprint Capacity Conversions to Coated and Other Value-Added
Papers
- Phase 2 Review of Operations ContinuesMONTREAL, May 8 /CNW Telbec/ - AbitibiBowater Inc. today reported a net
loss for the first quarter 2008 of $248 million, or $4.32 per diluted share,
on sales of $1.7 billion. These results compare with a net loss of
$35 million, or $1.19 per diluted share, on sales of $772 million for the
first quarter of 2007, which consisted of only Bowater Incorporated results.
The Company's 2008 first quarter results reflect the full quarter results
for Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. and Bowater Incorporated as a combined company
following their combination on October 29, 2007.
First quarter 2008 special items, net of tax, consisted of the following:
a $44 million gain relating to foreign currency changes, a $16 million gain on
asset sales, a $17 million loss related to asset closures and severance and a
$76 million charge related to tax adjustments. Excluding these special items,
the net loss for the quarter would have been $215 million, or $3.74 per
diluted share. Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures are contained in Notes 5
and 6 of this release.
"Important progress was achieved during the first full quarter of
AbitibiBowater," stated President and CEO David J. Paterson. "We set out with
a disciplined approach and a commitment to deliver sustainable long-term
value. Our EBITDA improvement, this quarter over the fourth quarter of last
year, is an important step in positioning the Company as the industry's great
turnaround story."
During the first quarter, AbitibiBowater successfully completed a series
of financing transactions, totaling $1.4 billion, designed to address
near-term debt maturities and general liquidity needs for its
Abitibi-Consolidated subsidiary.
SEGMENT DETAIL
Coated Papers
Earnings for the coated papers segment for the first quarter increased
$19 million from the fourth quarter to $34 million and EBITDA improved from
$24 million to $44 million. The Company's average transaction price for coated
papers increased $77 per short ton during the quarter, while average operating
costs decreased $21 per short ton due to less repair spending. The Company has
implemented an April price increase of $60 per short ton.
Market Pulp
Earnings for the market pulp segment of $31 million for the first quarter
were flat compared to the fourth quarter of 2007, while EBITDA improved from
$44 million to $45 million. The average market pulp transaction price for the
Company increased $23 per metric ton. Average operating costs increased
$16 per metric ton compared to the fourth quarter, mainly as a result of
higher fiber and energy costs.
Newsprint
For the first quarter, the newsprint segment had a loss of $69 million,
compared to a loss of $79 million for the fourth quarter, while EBITDA
improved from a negative $11 million to a positive $14 million. The Company's
average transaction price increased $26 per metric ton. Average operating
costs increased $7 per metric ton, compared to the fourth quarter. The Company
has implemented the previously announced $20 per metric ton per month price
increases for newsprint for the first five months of this year and anticipates
implementing the June $20 per metric ton price increase.
Specialty Papers
The specialty papers segment had a loss of $39 million, compared to a
loss of $46 million for the fourth quarter and EBITDA improved from $8 million
to $30 million. The Company's average transaction price increased
$22 per short ton during the quarter, while average operating costs decreased
$4 per short ton. The Company is implementing announced April price increases,
averaging $50 to $60 per ton, for most grades of uncoated mechanical papers.
Wood Products
For the first quarter, the wood products segment had a loss of
$35 million, compared to a loss of $59 million for the fourth quarter and
EBITDA improved from a loss of $50 million to a loss of $24 million. The
average transaction price for the Company decreased $5 per thousand board
feet, while average operating costs decreased $57 per thousand board feet
compared to the fourth quarter due primarily to the idling of higher cost
facilities.
Strategic Review
In November 2007, AbitibiBowater announced the results of a Phase 1
comprehensive strategic review, which resulted in the removal of approximately
1 million metric tons of unprofitable newsprint and commercial printing paper
capacity and 500 million board feet of wood products from the marketplace.
The Phase 1 announcement also: increased the Company's annual synergy
target to $375 million from the $250 million target announced at the time of
the Company's merger; identified $500 million in asset sales through the sale
of the Snowflake (Arizona) newsprint mill as well as non-core assets;
suspended the dividend; and committed to a further review of all aspects of
the business in Eastern Canada in light of inherent competitive disadvantages.
AbitibiBowater confirmed today that the announced closures were completed
early in the first quarter of 2008 and other commitments are on track to be
met or exceeded.
"When the merger closed, we began a strategic review of all aspects of
the new company and committed to take decisive action to be a stronger, more
sustainable organization," said John W. Weaver, Executive Chairman. "We are
making good progress and are beginning to benefit from improving business
conditions. AbitibiBowater remains focused on continued cost reductions,
improvement of our manufacturing platform and better positioning the Company
in the global marketplace."
Phase 2 Update
Since November, the Company has engaged in discussions with governments,
employees, communities and other stakeholders to reduce operating costs,
enhance the viability of several operations and improve overall
competitiveness. These actions, in addition to increased market prices for
Company products, are improving financial results. AbitibiBowater expects
improved quarter-over-quarter profitability based on stronger business
fundamentals, announced price increases, operating efficiencies and synergies.
Significant progress has been made; however, at this time, no paper mill
closures or idlings are being announced beyond the continued indefinite idling
of the Mackenzie (British Columbia) and Donnacona (Quebec) paper mills.
Cooperative efforts with stakeholders have enhanced the competitiveness
of various Company facilities such as the woodland and sawmill operations in
the Lac-Saint-Jean (Quebec) region. Collaborative outreach will continue in
all of Eastern Canada in light of market conditions as well as high labor,
energy and fiber costs, further exacerbated by the strong Canadian dollar.
AbitibiBowater will maintain a flexible approach and may take further
restructuring actions, if required.
"We will continue our collaborative approach with various stakeholders in
an effort to find long-term, sustainable solutions," stated Mr. Paterson. "We
are confident AbitibiBowater is taking the right steps to manage our business
and set the stage for meaningful improvement in earnings, efficiencies and
overall growth."
Recognizing the challenges facing the North American newsprint market,
AbitibiBowater continues to realize success in diversifying its sales to
international markets, in the more than 90 countries where its products are
already sold. The Company is committed to expanding sales in growing markets.
To further the expansion of the global sales effort, the Company will work
with North American governments and other stakeholders to ensure needed
infrastructure improvements at ports supporting operations.
The Company will raise the bar in continued cost reduction efforts and
look to increase profitability on some of its paper machine assets by
considering the conversion of newsprint capacity to coated and other
value-added papers over the next several years. Such conversions would be
expected to generate higher returns. Management expects to complete the first
stage of this review by the third quarter of 2008 and is considering the
possibility of manufacturing a light-weight coated product, containing
recycled content. The Company is confident in its ability to successfully
convert a newsprint machine to a high-margin product, based in part on the
Catawba (South Carolina) mill success story.
AbitibiBowater also formally announced today two new product offerings,
EcoLaser™ and Ecopaque™. These uncoated freesheet substitutes represent
innovative solutions for the printing industry, providing environmental
benefits while also reducing costs for end-users. "We will continue to support
growth and diversification of our product mix while positioning the Company as
the wise choice for environmentally sensitive customers, offering sustainable
solutions to them and their clients," stated Mr. Weaver.
In addition to removing 500 million board feet of lumber capacity through
Phase I actions, the Company has further lowered its high-cost lumber capacity
through consolidations, idlings and various temporary shutdowns at sawmills.
The cumulative effect of these measures has reduced AbitibiBowater's lumber
capacity to nearly 50% of pre-merger levels, resulting in an avoided cost of
$45 per fbm. Furthermore, production costs at operating sawmills have been
reduced by 7% in the first quarter of 2008.
The Company confirms that it expects to meet the asset sales target of
$500 million by the end of 2008, having achieved sales of approximately
$220 million to date. AbitibiBowater is targeting an additional $250 million
in asset sales by the end of 2009. The Company has launched a process for the
sale of its Mokpo, South Korea paper mill, and is moving forward with
additional sales including forest lands, sawmills, hydroelectric sites and
other assets.
In addition, AbitibiBowater reiterates its synergy target of $375 million
by the end of 2009. At the end of the first quarter, the Company had achieved
an annual run rate of approximately $180 million in captured synergies.
Investor Call
A conference call hosted by management to discuss Q1 results will be held
today at 10:00 AM (Eastern). Interested parties should dial (866) 898-9626 or
(514) 868-1042 15 minutes before the beginning of the call, which will be
webcast at abitibibowater.com, under "Webcasts and Presentations" in the
"Investors" section.
Participants not able to listen to the live conference call can access a
replay, which will also be available on the "Investors" section of the
Company's website beginning an hour after the conclusion of the call. Replay
by phone will be available until May 17, 2008, by dialing (514) 861-2272
(passcode 3259317#).
About AbitibiBowater
AbitibiBowater produces a wide range of newsprint, commercial printing
papers, market pulp and wood products. It is the eighth largest publicly
traded pulp and paper manufacturer in the world. AbitibiBowater owns or
operates 27 pulp and paper facilities and 34 wood products facilities located
in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and South Korea. Marketing
its products in more than 90 countries, AbitibiBowater is also among the
world's largest recyclers of newspapers and magazines, and has more
third-party certified sustainable forest land than any other company in the
world. AbitibiBowater's shares trade under the stock symbol ABH on both the
New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release that are not reported financial results
or other historical information are "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They include,
for example, statements about our efforts to reduce costs, increase revenues
and profitability, and reduce debt, the closures of certain of our paper mills
and sawmills, intentions to increase export shipments of newsprint, our
ability to realize targeted synergies from the combination of
Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. and Bowater Incorporated, the anticipated timing and
progress of integration efforts related to the combination, planned capital
expenditures, our ability to meet our $1 billion debt reduction target, our
ability to meet our asset sales targets for 2008 and 2009, efforts to improve
overall financial flexibility and the Company's liquidity position, the
effects of recently announced and recently implemented price increases, the
potential conversion of newsprint capacity to coated and other value-added
papers, our competitive position generally within our industry, our ability to
maintain and improve customer service levels, our financial performance and
our business outlook, our assessments of market conditions and our strategies
for achieving our goals generally. Forward-looking statements may be
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words "will,"
"would," "could," "may," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," and other terms
with similar meaning indicating possible future events or potential impact on
the business or stockholders of AbitibiBowater.
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. These
risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, industry conditions
generally and further growth in alternative media, our ability to realize
announced price increases, our ability to obtain timely contributions to our
cost-reduction initiatives from our unionized and salaried employees, the
prices and terms under which we would be able to sell targeted assets, the
continued strength of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar, and the
costs of raw materials such as energy, chemicals and fiber. In addition, with
respect to forward-looking statements relating to the combination of
Abitibi-Consolidated and Bowater, the following factors, among others, could
cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the
forward-looking statements: the risk that the businesses will not be
integrated successfully or that the improved financial performance, product
quality and product development will not be achieved; the risk that other
combinations within the industry or other factors may limit our ability to
improve our competitive position; the risk that the cost savings and other
expected synergies from the combination may not be fully realized or may take
longer to realize than expected; and disruption from the transaction making it
more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or
suppliers. Additional factors are detailed from time to time in
AbitibiBowater's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and
the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including those factors
contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended
December 31, 2007, filed with the SEC on March 20, 2008, under the caption
"Risk Factors." All forward-looking statements in this news release are
expressly qualified by information contained in the Company's filings with the
SEC and the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. AbitibiBowater
disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information.ABITIBIBOWATER INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited, in millions except per share amounts)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
-----------------------
2008 2007(1)
---------- ----------
Sales $ 1,728 $ 772
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales, excluding depreciation,
amortization and cost of timber harvested 1,403 601
Depreciation, amortization and cost of
timber harvested 191 80
Distribution costs 199 75
Selling and administrative expenses 97 49
Closure costs, impairment and other
related charges 10 -
Net gain on disposition of assets (2) (23) (58)
---------- ----------
Operating (loss) income (149) 25
---------- ----------
Other income (expense):
Interest income 3 2
Interest expense (129) (47)
Foreign exchange gain (loss) 41 (3)
Other, net (10) (4)
---------- ----------
(95) (52)
---------- ----------
Loss before income taxes and minority interests (244) (27)
Income tax provision (3) (3) (1)
Minority interests, net of tax (1) (7)
---------- ----------
Net loss $ (248) $ (35)
---------- ----------
---------- ----------
Net loss per common share:
Basic and diluted (4) $ (4.32) $ (1.19)
---------- ----------
---------- ----------
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted (4) 57.5 29.9
---------- ----------
---------- ----------
ABITIBIBOWATER INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited, in millions)
March December
31, 31,
2008 2007
---------- ----------
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 292 $ 195
Accounts receivable, net 809 754
Inventories, net 905 906
Assets held for sale (2) 239 184
Other current assets 101 103
---------- ----------
Total current assets 2,346 2,142
---------- ----------
Timber and timberlands 54 58
Fixed assets, net 5,569 5,707
Goodwill 779 779
Other intangible assets, net 1,170 1,203
Other assets 407 430
---------- ----------
Total assets $ 10,325 $ 10,319
---------- ----------
---------- ----------
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 1,195 $ 1,206
Short-term bank debt 894 589
Current installments of long-term debt 366 364
Liabilities associated with assets held
for sale (2) 25 19
---------- ----------
Total current liabilities 2,480 2,178
---------- ----------
Long-term debt, net of current installments 4,697 4,695
Pension and other postretirement
benefit obligations 905 936
Other long-term liabilities 243 231
Deferred income taxes 235 230
Minority interests in subsidiaries 147 150
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity 1,618 1,899
---------- ----------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 10,325 $ 10,319
---------- ----------
---------- ----------
ABITIBIBOWATER INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited, in millions)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
-----------------------
2008 2007(1)
---------- ----------
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss $ (248) $ (35)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net
cash from operating activities:
Share-based compensation 6 5
Depreciation, amortization and cost of
timber harvested 191 80
Deferred income taxes (8) (3)
Minority interests, net of tax 1 7
Net pension contributions (60) (11)
Net gain on disposition of assets (23) (58)
Amortization of debt discount, net 14 -
Gain on translation of foreign-currency
denominated debt (14) -
Changes in working capital:
Accounts receivable (55) 30
Inventories 1 (27)
Income tax receivables and payables 11 4
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 6 (12)
Other, net (19) 4
---------- ----------
Net cash used for operating activities (197) (16)
---------- ----------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash invested in fixed assets, timber and
timberlands (35) (26)
Disposition of assets, including timber and
timberlands 29 64
Direct acquisition costs related to the
Combination - (9)
Other investing activities, net (1) -
---------- ----------
Net cash (used for) provided by investing
activities (7) 29
---------- ----------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash dividends, including minority interests (2) (11)
Short-term financing 306 8
Short-term financing repayments - (8)
Payments of long-term debt (3) (3)
---------- ----------
Net cash provided by (used for) financing
activities 301 (14)
---------- ----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents 97 (1)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period 195 99
---------- ----------
End of period $ 292 $ 98
---------- ----------
---------- ----------
ABITIBIBOWATER INC.
Notes to the Press Release and Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statement
Information
(1) On October 29, 2007, pursuant to a Combination Agreement and
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 29, 2007, Abitibi-
Consolidated Inc. ("Abitibi") and Bowater Incorporated ("Bowater")
combined in a merger of equals (the "Combination"), with each
becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of AbitibiBowater Inc. The
Combination has been accounted for in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, "Business Combinations."
Bowater is deemed to be the "acquirer" of Abitibi for accounting
purposes, and AbitibiBowater is deemed to be the successor to Bowater
for purposes of U.S. securities laws and regulations governing
financial reporting. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, our press
release and unaudited Consolidated Financial Statement information,
including related notes, reflect the results of operations and
financial position of both Abitibi and Bowater as of March 31, 2008
and December 31, 2007 and for the three-month period ended March 31,
2008 and those of only Bowater for the three-month period ended
March 31, 2007. No significant adjustments were made to the
preliminary purchase price allocation during the first quarter
of 2008.
(2) At December 31, 2007, we held our Snowflake paper mill, Price sawmill
and some of our timberlands in the United States and Canada for sale.
During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we sold approximately
14,916 acres of timberlands, our Price sawmill and other assets for
proceeds of $29 million, resulting in a net gain on disposition of
assets for the first quarter of 2008 of $23 million. In connection
with the review and approval of the Combination by the antitrust
division of the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ"), we agreed, among
other things, to sell our Snowflake, Arizona newsprint mill and
certain related assets and liabilities. On April 10, 2008, we
completed the sale of the Snowflake mill to a subsidiary of Catalyst
Paper Corporation for approximately $161 million. This sale was
approved by the DOJ. At March 31, 2008, in addition to our Snowflake
mill, we held our Fort William, Ontario facility and some of our
timberlands in the United States and Canada for sale.
(3) During the first quarter of 2008, income tax benefits and tax credits
of $93 million arising primarily from operating losses at certain
Canadian operations were entirely offset by tax charges to increase
our tax valuation allowance. During the first quarter of 2007, income
tax benefits and tax credits of $13 million were entirely offset by
tax charges to increase our tax valuation allowance.
(4) For the calculation of basic and diluted loss per share for the three
months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, no adjustments to net loss are
necessary. Additionally, no adjustments to our basic weighted-average
number of common shares outstanding are necessary to compute our
diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for all
periods presented as the effect would be anti-dilutive. As a result
of the Combination, each issued and outstanding share of Bowater
common stock and exchangeable share of Bowater Canada Inc. was
converted into 0.52 of a share of AbitibiBowater common stock and
0.52 of an exchangeable share of AbitibiBowater Canada Inc.,
respectively. All share and share-related information for the periods
preceding the Combination have been restated to reflect the Bowater
exchange ratio of 0.52.
(5) 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 loss and loss per
share reported before special items is presented in the tables below.
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 loss and loss per share. Non-
GAAP measures included in our press release include:
Operating income (loss) before special items - is defined as
operating 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 and merger-related costs, gains on dispositions of assets
and other discretionary charges or credits from GAAP operating
income. 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. We believe
that this non-GAAP measure is useful because it is consistent with
our internal presentation and performance analysis and allows
investors to more easily compare our ongoing operations and financial
performance from period to period.
Net loss before special items - is defined as net loss from our
Consolidated Statements of Operations adjusted for the special items
discussed above plus foreign exchange gains or losses, and the
adjustment for tax charges that have been taken against income tax
benefits arising primarily from operating losses at certain of our
Canadian operations (refer to Note 3 above). The adjustment for these
items is consistent with our internal presentation, and the tax
adjustment is provided for our investors to reflect a more
appropriate effective tax rate. This non-GAAP measure should be used
in addition to and not as a substitute for net loss provided in our
Consolidated Statements of Operations. We believe that this non-GAAP
measure is useful because it is consistent with our internal
presentation and allows investors to more easily compare our ongoing
operations and financial performance from period to period.
Loss per share (EPS) before special items - is defined as diluted EPS
calculated based on the net loss before special items. This non-GAAP
measure should be used in addition to and not as a substitute for our
loss per share calculated in accordance with GAAP as provided in the
Consolidated Statements of Operations. We believe that this non-GAAP
measure is useful because it is consistent with our internal
presentation and allows investors to more easily compare our EPS from
ongoing operations and financial performance from period to period.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 Operating Net
(unaudited, in millions except (loss) (loss)
per share amounts) income income EPS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
GAAP as reported $ (149) $ (248) $ (4.32)
Adjustments for special items:
Sale of assets (23) (16) (0.27)
Severance 8 7 0.13
Closure costs, impairment and
other related charges 10 10 0.17
Foreign exchange - (44) (0.77)
Tax adjustments - 76 1.32
----------------------------------
GAAP as adjusted for special items $ (154) $ (215) $ (3.74)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 Operating Net
(unaudited, in millions except income (loss)
per share amounts) (loss) income EPS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
GAAP as reported $ 25 $ (35) $ (1.19)
Adjustments for special items:
Sale of assets (58) (36) (1.20)
Severance and merger-related costs 10 7 0.23
Foreign exchange - 3 0.11
Tax adjustments - 12 0.41
----------------------------------
GAAP as adjusted for special items $ (23) $ (49) $ (1.64)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6) A reconciliation of our operating loss reported under GAAP to our use
of the non-GAAP measure of EBITDA by reportable segment is presented
in the tables below. EBITDA by reportable segment is defined as
operating loss from our Consolidated Statements of Operations,
allocated to our reportable segments (newsprint, coated papers,
specialty papers, market pulp and wood products) in accordance with
SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and
Related Information," adjusted by depreciation, amortization and cost
of timber harvested. We believe that this non-GAAP measure allows
investors to more easily compare the ongoing operations and financial
performance of our reportable segments from period to period.
Internally, we use this EBITDA by reportable segment measure as an
indicator of a reportable segment's performance. Therefore, this non-
GAAP measure is consistent with our internal presentation. We believe
that this non-GAAP measure is useful because it is consistent with
our internal presentation and performance analysis and allows
investors to more easily compare our ongoing financial performance
from period to period. This non-GAAP measure should be used in
addition to and not as a substitute for operating income (loss) by
reportable segment provided in the notes to our Consolidated
Financial Statements in our quarterly filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depre-
ciation,
amorti-
zation EBITDA
Operating and cost by
Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 (loss) of timber Reportable
(unaudited, in millions) income harvested Segment
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
GAAP as reported $ (149) $ 191
Allocated to reportable segments:
Newsprint (69) 83 $ 14
Coated papers 34 10 44
Specialty papers (39) 69 30
Market pulp 31 14 45
Wood products (35) 11 (24)
Corporate and other (71) 4
-----------------------
GAAP as reported $ (149) $ 191
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depre-
ciation,
amorti-
zation EBITDA
Operating and cost by
Three Months Ended December 31, 2007 (loss) of timber Reportable
(unaudited, in millions) income harvested Segment
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
GAAP as reported $ (358) $ 157
Allocated to reportable segments:
Newsprint (79) 68 $ (11)
Coated papers 15 9 24
Specialty papers (46) 54 8
Market pulp 30 14 44
Wood products (59) 9 (50)
Corporate and other (219) 3
-----------------------
GAAP as reported $ (358) $ 157
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
A schedule of historical financial and operating statistics is available
upon request and on AbitibiBowater's web site (www.AbitibiBowater.com).
