Bowater Inc.
Bowater Announces Second Quarter 2005 Financial Results
Bowater Incorporated (NYSE: BOW) reported a net loss of $3.6 million, or $0.06
per diluted share, on sales of $897.5 million for the second quarter of 2005.
These results compare with a net loss of $1.3 million, or $0.02 per diluted
share, on sales of $788.0 million in the second quarter of 2004. Before special
items, the net loss for the second quarter of 2005 was $3.1 million, or $0.05
per diluted share, compared with the 2004 second quarter net loss before special
items of $14.9 million, or $0.26 per diluted share. Second quarter 2005 special
items, net of tax, consisted of a $6.1 million gain related to asset sales, a
$0.8 million gain resulting from foreign currency changes and a $7.4 million
loss related to an asset impairment charge.
"Bowater's paper markets improved significantly in the second
quarter, although pressures remain in several cost areas," said Arnold
M. Nemirow, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Pricing
was higher in the second quarter and we expect the strong market
fundamentals in our key grades to result in better financial
performance in the second half of the year."
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(In millions, except per-share amounts)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
------------------ ------------------
2005 2004 2005 2004
------------------ ------------------
Sales $ 897.5 $ 788.0 $1,734.5 $1,533.3
Net loss $ (3.6)$ (1.3) $ (2.7)$ (33.8)
Loss per diluted share (in
accordance with GAAP) $ (0.06)$ (0.02) $ (0.05)$ (0.59)
Special items, net of tax (per
diluted share):
Sale of assets (gain) loss (0.11) (0.06) (0.23) (0.05)
Foreign exchange (gain) loss (0.01) (0.18) (0.12) (0.17)
Asset impairment 0.13 - 0.13 -
------------------ ------------------
Loss per share excluding special
items $ (0.05)$ (0.26) $ (0.27)$ (0.81)
------------------ ------------------
Bowater's average transaction price for newsprint rose $20 per
metric ton in the second quarter compared to the first quarter of
2005. The company's average operating costs for newsprint increased by
$10 per metric ton as a result of higher repair costs and lower
production. Increased newsprint export shipments resulted in an
inventory decrease of 20,000 metric tons. The company expects to
curtail 59,000 metric tons of newsprint production in the third
quarter. Of the curtailment, approximately 20,000 metric tons is
related to a 19 day outage earlier this month at the Thunder Bay,
Ontario mill as a result of high wood fiber and energy costs. The
remaining 39,000 tons of downtime is due primarily to the continued
idling of a machine at Thunder Bay. North American newsprint industry
operating rates were 96% year-to-date in June and mill inventories
were at historically low levels. The company informed its North
American customers of a $35 per metric ton price increase effective
June 1.
Consumption of coated mechanical papers in North America is
strong, led by growth in magazine advertising pages and in direct
mail. Bowater's average transaction price for coated and specialty
papers increased $25 per short ton compared to the first quarter of
2005, while the company's average operating cost decreased $5 per ton.
The company announced price increases of $35 to $45 per ton for its
various coated paper grades in July.
Bowater's average transaction price for market pulp increased $3
per metric ton compared to the first quarter of 2005. Average
operating costs increased $15 per ton in the second quarter. The
company curtailed 13,000 metric tons of market pulp due to annual
maintenance outages. Recently released June inventories of worldwide
chemical market pulp producers declined to 33 days of supply.
The company's average transaction price for lumber was unchanged,
compared to the first quarter of 2005, while shipments increased 10%.
During the quarter, the company paid countervailing and antidumping
duties of approximately $8.6 million.
Labor agreements covering approximately 2,200 employees at five of
the company's six Canadian paper mills were ratified on July 8, 2005.
These employees are represented predominately by the Communications,
Energy and Paper Workers Union. The agreements have effective dates of
May 1, 2004, and will expire on April 30, 2009. The agreements provide
for annual wage increases averaging 2.5% for each of the first two
years and averaging 2% annually thereafter as well as changes to
pension and post-retirement benefits.
Bowater will hold a management conference call to discuss these
financial results at 9:00 a.m. EDT, today, July 28, 2005. The
conference call number is 877-209-0397 or 612-332-1025
(international). The call will also be broadcast via the Internet.
Interested parties may connect to the Bowater website at
www.bowater.com, then follow the on-screen instructions for access to
the call and related information. A replay of the call will be
available from 1:30 p.m. EDT today through August 31, on the website
or by dialing 800-475-6701 or 320-365-3844 (international) and using
the access code 788750.
Bowater Incorporated, headquartered in Greenville, SC, is a
leading producer of newsprint and coated mechanical papers. In
addition, the company makes uncoated mechanical papers, bleached kraft
pulp and lumber products. The company has 12 pulp and paper mills in
the United States, Canada and South Korea and 12 North American
sawmills that produce softwood lumber. Bowater also operates two
facilities that convert a mechanical base sheet to coated products.
Bowater's operations are supported by approximately 1.4 million acres
of timberlands owned or leased in the United States and Canada and 30
million acres of timber cutting rights in Canada. Bowater is one of
the world's largest consumers of recycled newspapers and magazines.
Bowater common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the
Pacific Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. A special class of
stock exchangeable into Bowater common stock is listed on the Toronto
Stock Exchange (TSX: BWX).
All amounts are in U.S. dollars.
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
business outlook, assessment of market conditions, strategies, future
plans, future sales, prices for our major products, inventory levels,
capital spending and tax rates. These forward-looking statements are
not guarantees of future performance. They are based on management's
expectations that involve a number of business risks and
uncertainties, any of which could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking
statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to the
forward-looking statements in this news release include those
described under the caption "Cautionary Statement Regarding
Forward-Looking Information" in Bowater's annual report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2004, and from time to time, in
Bowater's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Information about industry or general economic conditions contained in
this press release is derived from third party sources that the
company believes are widely accepted and accurate; however, the
company has not independently verified this information and cannot
assure its accuracy.
BOWATER INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited, in millions except per share amounts)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
--------------- -------------------
2005 2004 2005 2004
------ ------ -------- --------
Sales $897.5 $788.0 $1,734.5 $1,533.3
Cost of sales, excluding
depreciation, amortization
and cost of timber harvested 642.5 577.3 1,250.1 1,144.8
Depreciation, amortization and
cost of timber harvested 81.6 84.9 163.4 171.1
Distribution costs 89.4 79.4 172.3 156.4
Selling and administrative
expense 41.1 31.8 80.0 68.8
Asset impairment (2) 11.9 - 11.9 -
Net gain on fixed assets and land
sales 9.8 5.1 20.8 4.2
------ ------ -------- --------
Operating income (loss) 40.8 19.7 77.6 (3.6)
Other expense (income):
Interest income (1.1) (1.1) (2.2) (2.1)
Interest expense, net of
capitalized interest 49.3 49.9 99.5 98.1
Foreign exchange loss (gain) 3.3 (1.7) 1.8 (1.3)
Other, net (2.0) (2.2) (4.7) (3.8)
------ ------ -------- --------
49.5 44.9 94.4 90.9
------ ------ -------- --------
Loss before income taxes and
minority interests (8.7) (25.2) (16.8) (94.5)
Provision for income tax benefit (5.6) (22.9) (13.4) (56.7)
Minority interests in the net
income (loss) of subsidiaries 0.5 (1.0) (0.7) (4.0)
------ ------ -------- --------
Net loss $ (3.6) $ (1.3) $ (2.7) $ (33.8)
====== ====== ======== ========
Basic loss per common share: (1)
Net loss per share $(0.06) $(0.02) $ (0.05) $ (0.59)
====== ====== ======== ========
Average common shares
outstanding (1) 57.4 57.2 57.3 57.1
====== ====== ======== ========
Diluted loss per common share:(1)
Net loss per share $(0.06) $(0.02) $ (0.05) $ (0.59)
====== ====== ======== ========
Average common and common
equivalent shares outstanding
(1) 57.4 57.2 57.3 57.1
====== ====== ======== ========
BOWATER INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
(Unaudited, in millions of US dollars)
Consolidated Balance Sheet June 30, Dec. 31,
2005 2004
-------- --------
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 51.0 $ 29.7
Accounts receivable, net 446.4 377.0
Inventories 333.8 327.9
Other current assets 106.9 168.1
-------- --------
Total current assets 938.1 902.7
-------- --------
Timber and timberlands 185.8 186.2
Fixed assets, net 3,168.4 3,301.1
Goodwill 828.2 828.2
Other assets 217.6 240.7
-------- --------
$5,338.1 $5,458.9
======== ========
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt $ 20.7 $ 14.0
Short-term bank debt 105.0 73.0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 444.4 458.4
Dividends payable 11.2 11.2
-------- --------
Total current liabilities 581.3 556.6
-------- --------
Long-term debt, net of current installments 2,400.4 2,427.9
Pension, other postretirement benefits and other
long-term liabilities 492.1 495.2
Deferred income taxes 358.0 403.4
Minority interests in subsidiaries 67.5 68.5
Shareholders' equity 1,438.8 1,507.3
-------- --------
$5,338.1 $5,458.9
======== ========
Six Months Ended
Consolidated Cash Flow June 30,
-------------------
2005 2004
-------- --------
Cash flows from operating activities $ 51.4 $ 21.7
-------- --------
Cash flows from (used for) investing activities:
Cash invested in fixed assets, timber and
timberlands (50.1) (38.9)
Disposition of fixed assets, including timber
and timberlands 23.0 7.3
-------- --------
(27.1) (31.6)
-------- --------
Cash flows from (used for) financing activities:
Cash dividends, including minority interests (22.9) (23.2)
Financing activities, net 18.0 42.7
Stock options exercised 1.9 5.2
-------- --------
(3.0) 24.7
-------- --------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents $ 21.3 $ 14.8
======== ========
BOWATER INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to the Press Release and Unaudited Consolidated
Financial Statements
(1) For the calculation of basic and diluted loss per share
for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, no
adjustments to net loss are necessary. The effect of dilutive
securities is not included in the computation for the three
and six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 to prevent
antidilution.
(2) During the three months ended June 30, 2005, Bowater decided to
permanently shut the older, higher cost No. 1 line at Benton
Harbor. This shut resulted in a one-time non-cash asset
impairment of $11.9 million.
(3) A reconciliation of certain financial statement line items
reported under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP")
to earnings reported before special items is presented below.
We believe that this measure allows investors to more easily
compare our on-going operations and financial performance from
period to period. This measure is not as complete as GAAP
earnings; consequently, investors should rely on GAAP
earnings. In addition to GAAP earnings, we use the other measures
that we disclose in order to provide perspective on our financial
performance.
Three Months Ended June 30, 2005
(unaudited, in millions except per share
amounts)
Adjustment for Special Items
Land GAAP as
sales adjusted
& for
GAAP as fixed Foreign Asset Special
reported assets exchange impairment Items
---------------------------------------------
Operating income (loss) $ 40.8 $ (9.8) $ - $11.9 $ 42.9
Other expense (income)
Interest income (1.1) - - - (1.1)
Interest expense, net of
capitalized interest 49.3 - - - 49.3
Foreign exchange loss(gain) 3.3 - (3.3) - -
Other, net (2.0) - - - (2.0)
------ ------ ------ ----- ------
49.5 - (3.3) - 46.2
------ ------ ------ ----- ------
Loss before income taxes
and minority interests (8.7) (9.8) 3.3 11.9 (3.3)
Provision for income tax
expense (benefit) (5.6) (3.7) 4.5 4.5 (0.3)
Minority interests in
the net income (loss)
of subsidiaries 0.5 - (0.4) - 0.1
------ ------ ------ ----- ------
Net income (loss) $ (3.6)$ (6.1) $ (0.8) $ 7.4 $ (3.1)
------ ------ ------ ----- ------
Diluted shares 57.4 57.4 57.4 57.4 57.4
------ ------ ------ ----- ------
EPS $(0.06)$(0.11) $(0.01) $0.13 $(0.05)
------ ------ ------ ----- ------
Effective tax rate 64.4% 37.8% 136.4% 37.8% 9.1%
------ ------ ------ ----- ------
Three Months Ended June 30, 2004
(unaudited, in millions except per share
amounts)
Adjustment for Special Items
Land GAAP as
sales adjusted
& for
GAAP as fixed Foreign Asset Special
reported assets exchange impairment Items
---------------------------------------------
Operating income (loss) $ 19.7 $ (5.1) $ - $ - $ 14.6
Other expense (income)
Interest income (1.1) - - - (1.1)
Interest expense, net of
capitalized interest 49.9 - - - 49.9
Foreign exchange loss(gain) (1.7) - 1.7 - -
Other, net (2.2) - - - (2.2)
------ ------ ------- ----- ------
44.9 - 1.7 - 46.6
------ ------ ------- ----- ------
Loss before income taxes
and minority interests (25.2) (5.1) (1.7) - (32.0)
Provision for income tax
expense (benefit) (22.9) (1.9) 8.5 - (16.3)
Minority interests in
the net income (loss)
of subsidiaries (1.0) 0.2 (0.8)
------ ------ ------- ----- ------
Net income (loss) $ (1.3)$ (3.2) $ (10.4) $ - $(14.9)
------ ------ ------- ----- ------
Diluted Shares 57.2 57.2 57.2 - 57.2
------ ------ ------- ----- ------
EPS $(0.02)$(0.06) $ (0.18) $ - $(0.26)
------ ------ ------- ----- ------
Effective tax rate 90.9% 37.3% -500.0% 50.9%
------ ------ ------- ----- ------
Six Months Ended June 30, 2005
(unaudited, in millions except per share
amounts)
Adjustment for Special Items
Land GAAP as
sales adjusted
& for
GAAP as fixed Foreign Asset Special
reported assets exchange impairment Items
---------------------------------------------
Operating income (loss) $ 77.6 $(20.8) $ - $11.9 $ 68.7
Other expense (income)
Interest income (2.2) - - - (2.2)
Interest expense, net of
capitalized interest 99.5 - - - 99.5
Foreign exchange loss
(gain) 1.8 - (1.8) - -
Other, net (4.7) - - - (4.7)
------ ------ ------ ----- ------
94.4 - (1.8) - 92.6
------ ------ ------ ----- ------
Loss before income taxes
and minority interests (16.8) (20.8) 1.8 11.9 (23.9)
Provision for income tax
expense (benefit) (13.4) (7.5) 9.4 4.5 (7.0)
Minority interests in
the net income (loss)
of subsidiaries (0.7) - (0.5) - (1.2)
------ ------ ------ ----- ------
Net income (loss) $ (2.7)$(13.3) $ (7.1) $ 7.4 $(15.7)
------ ------ ------ ----- ------
Diluted shares 57.3 57.3 57.3 57.3 57.3
------ ------ ------ ----- ------
EPS $(0.05)$(0.23) $(0.12) $0.13 $(0.27)
------ ------ ------ ----- ------
Effective tax rate 79.8% 36.1% 522.2% 37.8% 29.3%
------ ------ ------ ----- ------
Six Months Ended June 30, 2004
(unaudited, in millions except per share
amounts)
Adjustment for Special Items
Land GAAP as
sales adjusted
& for
GAAP as fixed Foreign Asset Special
reported assets exchange impairment Items
---------------------------------------------
Operating income (loss) $ (3.6)$ (4.2) $ - $- $ (7.8)
Other expense (income)
Interest income (2.1) - - - (2.1)
Interest expense, net of
capitalized interest 98.1 - - - 98.1
Foreign exchange loss
(gain) (1.3) - 1.3 - -
Other, net (3.8) - - - (3.8)
------ ------ ------- ------- -------
90.9 - 1.3 - 92.2
------ ------ ------- ------- -------
Loss before income taxes
and minority interests (94.5) (4.2) (1.3) - (100.0)
Provision for income tax
expense (benefit) (56.7) (1.6) 8.4 - (49.9)
Minority interests in
the net income (loss)
of subsidiaries (4.0) 0.2 (3.8)
------ ------ ------- ------- -------
Net loss $(33.8)$ (2.6) $ (9.9) $- $ (46.3)
------ ------ ------- ------- -------
Diluted Shares 57.1 57.1 57.1 - 57.1
------ ------ ------- ------- -------
EPS $(0.59)$(0.05) $ (0.17) $- $ (0.81)
------ ------ ------- ------- -------
Effective tax rate 60.0% 38.1% -646.2% 49.9%
------ ------ ------- ------- -------
A schedule of historical financial and operating statistics is
available upon request and on Bowater's web site (www.bowater.com).
CONTACT: Bowater Incorporated
Gordon R. Manuel, 864-282-9448
Duane A. Owens, 864-282-9488
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