Cascades reports second quarter results
Tuesday, August 05, 2008 6:00 AM
Symbols: CAS

KINGSEY FALLS, QC, Aug. 5 /CNW Telbec/ - Cascades Inc. ("Cascades") (CAS on the Toronto stock exchange) reports a net loss excluding specific items(1) of $11 million ($0.11 per share) compared to net earnings of $7 million ($0.07 per share) for the same quarter in 2007. When including specific items(1), the net loss for the second quarter of 2008 amounted to $25 million ($0.25 per share) compared to net earnings of $45 million ($0.45 per share) for the same period in 2007.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Highlights
Selected consolidated information
(in millions of Canadian dollars,            ----------------------------
 except amounts per share)                   Q2/2008   Q2/2007   Q1/2008
-------------------------------------------  ----------------------------
Sales                                            999     1,008       959
Operating income before depreciation and
 amortization (OIBD)(1)                           61        81        45
Operating income (loss) from continuing
 operations                                        8        30        (6)
Net earnings (loss)                              (25)       45        (4)
  per common share                            $(0.25)    $0.45    $(0.04)
Cash flow from operations (adjusted) from
 continuing operations(1)                         36        46        17
  per common share(1)                          $0.37     $0.46     $0.17
Excluding specific items(1)
  Operating income before depreciation and
   amortization (OIBD)                            63        87        59
  Operating income from continuing operations     10        36         8
  Net earnings (loss)                            (11)        7        (9)
    per common share                          $(0.11)    $0.07    $(0.09)
  Cash flow from operations (adjusted) from
   continuing operations                          42        48        26
    per common share                           $0.43     $0.48     $0.26
-------------------------------------------  ----------------------------
-------------------------------------------  ----------------------------
Note 1 - see the supplemental information on non-GAAP measures note.
-------------------------------------------  ----------------------------
-------------------------------------------  ----------------------------
Additional highlights
- Decrease in profitability compared to last year largely explained by
  the fact selling price increases and cost cutting measures were not
  sufficient to offset cost inflation experienced since the beginning of
  the year and the stronger Canadian dollar;
- Stable operating profits compared to Q1 2008 due to:
  - Increased selling prices and higher shipments of converted products;
  - Improved results in tissue and specialty products more than
    offsetting significantly lower profitability in boxboard;
- Net income negatively impacted by the non cash net variation of
  $13 million in the fair market value of hedging instruments on our US$
  denominated debt;
- Norampac management acting proactively to implement major restructuring
  and cost-cutting measures in the North American boxboard and folding
  carton operations:
- Indefinite closure of the Toronto coated recycled boxboard mill,
  effective at the latest by mid-September;
- Headcount reduction of more than 200 people by the end of 2008; and
- Cascades named amongst the best 50 corporate citizens in Canada by
  Corporate Knights magazine for the second year in a row.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commenting on the quarterly results, Mr. Alain Lemaire, President and
Chief Executive Officer stated: "The business environment during the second
quarter deteriorated significantly in comparison to the same period last year.
Aggressive cost-cutting and restructuring throughout our business groups
together with increased selling prices were not sufficient to offset the
negative impact of sharply higher costs and difficult market conditions in our
boxboard operations. On a positive note we were encouraged by the second
quarter improvement of the tissue group as well as improving demand observed
late in the quarter in most of our business sectors. Moreover, during the
quarter Norampac moved quickly to initiate action plans aimed at returning the
boxboard group to higher profitability before the end of the year."
Three-month period ended June 30, 2008
--------------------------------------
In comparison with the same period last year, sales remained relatively
flat reflecting generally higher prices offset by lower shipments and the
impact of the appreciation of the CAN$.
Operating income from continuing operations amounted to $8 million
compared to $30 million achieved for the same period last year. When excluding
specific items, operating income from continuing operations amounted to
$10 million in comparison to $36 million for the same quarter in 2007.
Specific items include $7 million of unrealized gain on financial instruments,
$5 million of closure and restructuring costs, $3 million of impairment loss
on property, plant and equipment and a $1 million inventory adjustment
resulting from a business acquisition. The net loss for the quarter includes a
pre-tax $15 million foreign exchange loss on U.S. denominated debt ($0.13 per
share after-tax); The $0.45 net earnings per share for the second quarter of
2007 mainly included a foreign exchange gain on long-term debt of $0.21 per
share as well as a $0.15 per share gain reflecting the dilution of an equity
investment in Boralex (BLX on the Toronto stock exchange).
Six-month period ended June 30, 2008
------------------------------------
Sales decreased 2.5% during the first half of 2008 amounting to
$1.96 billion in comparison to the $2 billion achieved last year.
Operating income from continued operations amounted to $2 million compared
to $87 million achieved for the same period last year. Operating income from
continuing operations excluding specific items amounted to $18 million. This
amount compares to $69 million achieved in the first half of 2007. Specific
items mainly include $13 million of closure and restructuring costs, $3
million of impairment loss on property, plant and equipment, a $7 million loss
resulting from the transaction with Reno de Medici S.p.A. and a $7 million
unrealized gain on financial instruments.
Near term outlook
-----------------
Mr. Alain Lemaire, President and Chief Executive Officer added:
"Notwithstanding the general economic uncertainty, the gradual implementation
of previously announced price increases combined with the seasonal pick up in
demand allow us to be cautiously optimistic for the third quarter. The
successful turnaround of our North American boxboard operations is key to
improved future profitability and continues to be our top priority. The
management team at Norampac has a solid track record when it comes to
restructuring and we have every confidence that they will deliver on this
important objective. However, if improved results cannot be achieved rapidly
through restructuring, other strategic alternatives will be considered."
Dividend on Common Shares and normal course issuer bid
------------------------------------------------------
The Board of Cascades declared a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share to
be paid September 19, 2008 to shareholders of record at the close of business
on September 5, 2008. This dividend paid by Cascades is an "eligible dividend"
as per the proposed changes to the Income Tax Act (Bill C-28, Canada). In
addition, in the first six months of the year, in accordance with its normal
course issuer bid, Cascades has purchased for cancellation 336,500 common
shares at an average price of $7.68 per share representing an aggregate amount
of approximately $2.6 million.
Supplemental information on non-GAAP measures
---------------------------------------------
Operating income, cash flow from operations and cash flow from operations
per share are not measures of performance under Canadian GAAP. The Company
includes operating income, cash flow from operations and cash flow from
operations per share because they are measures used by management to assess
the operating and financial performance of the Company's operating segments.
Additionally, the Company believes that these items provide additional
measures often used by investors to assess a company's operating performance
and its ability to meet debt service requirements. However, operating income,
cash flow from operations and cash flow from operations per share does not
represent, and should not be used as a substitute for net earnings or cash
flows from operating activities as determined in accordance with Canadian
GAAP, and they are not necessarily an indication of whether cash flow will be
sufficient to fund our cash requirements. In addition, our definition of
operating income, cash flow from operations and cash flow from operations per
share may differ from those of other companies. Cash flow from operations is
defined as cash flow from operating activities as determined in accordance
with Canadian GAAP excluding the change in working capital components and cash
flow from operations per share is determined by dividing cash flow from
operations by the weighted average number of common shares of the period.
Operating income excluding specific items, net earnings excluding specific
items, net earnings per common share excluding specific items, cash flow from
operations excluding specific items and cash flow from operations per share
excluding specific items are non-GAAP measures. The Company believes that it
is useful for investors to be aware of specific items that have adversely or
positively affected its GAAP measures, and that the above mentioned non-GAAP
measures provide investors with a measure of performance with which to compare
its results between periods without regard to these specific items. The
Company's measures excluding specific items have no standardized meaning
prescribed by GAAP and are not necessarily comparable to similar measures
presented by other companies and therefore should not be considered in
isolation.
Specific items are defined to include charges for impairment of assets,
charges for facility or machine closures, debt restructuring charges, gains or
losses on sale of business unit, unrealized gains or losses on derivative
financial instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting, foreign
exchange gains or losses on long-term debt and other significant items of an
unusual or non-recurring nature.
Net earnings (loss), which is a performance measure defined by Canadian
GAAP is reconciled below to operating income (loss), operating income
excluding specific items and operating income before depreciation excluding
specific items:
                                             ----------------------------
(in millions of Canadian dollars)            Q2/2008   Q2/2007   Q1/2008
-------------------------------------------  ----------------------------
Net earnings (loss)                              (25)       45        (4)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued
 operations                                        1         -       (19)
Non-controlling interest                           -         -         1
Share of results of significantly influenced
 companies                                         -       (17)       (4)
Provision for (recovery of) income taxes          (9)        1        (9)
Foreign exchange loss (gain) on long-term debt    15       (25)        5
Interest expense                                  26        26        24
                                             ----------------------------
Operating income (loss)                            8        30        (6)
Specific items :
Inventory adjustment resulting from business
 acquisition                                       1         -         1
Loss (gain) on disposals and other                 -         1         5
Impairment loss on property, plant and equipment   3         1         -
Closure and restructuring costs                    5         -         8
Unrealized loss (gain) on financial instruments   (7)        4         -
                                             ----------------------------
                                                   2         6        14
                                             ----------------------------
Operating income - excluding specific items       10        36         8
Depreciation and amortization                     53        51        51
                                             ----------------------------
Operating income before depreciation and
 amortization - excluding specific items          63        87        59
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supplemental information on non-GAAP measures (cont'd)
The following table reconciles net earnings and net earnings per share to
net earnings excluding specific items and net earnings per share excluding
specific items:
(in millions of Canadian   --------------------  ------------------------
 dollars, except amounts                              Net earnings (loss)
 per share                 Net earnings (loss)              per share (1)
-----------------------------------------------  ------------------------
                            Q2/     Q2/     Q1/      Q2/     Q2/      Q1/
                          2008    2007    2008     2008    2007     2008
                          ---------------------  ------------------------
As per GAAP                (25)     45      (4)  $(0.25)  $0.45   $(0.04)
Specific items :
Inventory adjustment
 resulting from business
 acquisition                 1       -       1   $    -   $   -   $ 0.01
Loss (gain) on disposals
 and other                   -       1       5   $    -   $   -   $ 0.05
Impairment loss on
 property, plant and
 equipment                   3       1       -   $ 0.02   $ 0.01  $    -
Closure and restructuring
 costs                       5       -       8   $ 0.04   $    -  $ 0.05
Unrealized loss (gain) on
 financial instruments      (7)      4       -   $(0.06)  $ 0.03  $    -
Foreign exchange loss
(gain) on long-term debt    15     (25)      5   $ 0.13   $(0.21) $ 0.04
Share of results of
 significantly influenced
 companies                   -     (15)      -   $    -   $(0.15) $    -
Loss (gain) included in
 discontinued operations     1      (4)    (24)  $ 0.01   $(0.03) $(0.20)
Adjustment of statutory
 tax rate                    -      (3)      -   $    -   $(0.03) $    -
Tax effect on specific
 items                      (4)      3       -
                          ---------------------  ------------------------
                            14     (38)     (5)  $ 0.14   $(0.38) $(0.05)
                          ---------------------  ------------------------
Excluding specific items   (11)      7      (9)  $(0.11)  $0.07   $(0.09)
-----------------------------------------------  ------------------------
-----------------------------------------------  ------------------------
Note 1 - specific amounts per share are calculated on an after-tax basis.

The following table reconciles cash flow from operations and cash flow
from operations per share to cash flow from operations excluding specific
items and cash flow from operations per share excluding specific items:
-----------------------------------------------  ------------------------
(in millions of dollars,        Cash flow from            Cash flow from
 except amounts per share)       operations         operations per share
                          ---------------------  ------------------------
                            Q2/     Q2/     Q1/      Q2/     Q2/      Q1/
                          2008    2007    2008     2008    2007     2008
-----------------------------------------------  ------------------------
Cash flow provided by
 (used for) operating
 activities                 48       1     (31)
Changes in non-cash
 working capital
 components                (12)     45      48
                          ---------------------  ------------------------
Cash flow (adjusted) from
 operations                 36      46      17    $0.37   $0.46    $0.17
Specific items :
Inventory adjustment
 resulting from business
 acquisition                 1       -       1    $0.01       -    $0.01
Loss (gain) on disposals
 and other                   -       2       -        -   $0.02        -
Closure and restructuring
 costs, net of current
 income tax                  5       -       8    $0.05       -    $0.08
                          ---------------------  ------------------------
Excluding specific items    42      48      26    $0.43   $0.48    $0.26
-----------------------------------------------  ------------------------

Founded in 1964, Cascades produces, converts and markets packaging and
tissue products composed mainly of recycled fibres. Cascades employs close to
14,000 employees who work in more than 100 modern and flexible production
units located in North America and Europe. Cascades' management philosophy,
its more than 40 years of experience in recycling, its continued efforts in
research and development are strengths which enable the company to create new
products for its customers. The Cascades shares trade on the Toronto stock
exchange under the ticker symbol CAS.
Certain statements in this release, including statements regarding future
results and performance, are forward-looking statements (as such term is
defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) based on
current expectations. The accuracy of such statements is subject to a number
of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected, including, but not limited to, the
effect of general economic conditions, decreases in demand for the Company's
products, increases in raw material costs, fluctuations in selling prices and
adverse changes in general market and industry conditions and other factors
listed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in millions of Canadian dollars)
                                                       As at       As at
                                                        June    December
                                                          30,         31,
                                                        2008        2007
                                      -----------------------------------
Assets                                            (unaudited)
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents                                 21          25
Accounts receivable                                      685         624
Inventories                                              548         555
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       1,254       1,204
Property, plant and equipment                          1,939       1,886
Intangible assets                                        127         130
Other assets                                             261         237
Goodwill                                                 316         312
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       3,897       3,769
                                      -----------------------------------
                                      -----------------------------------
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities
Bank loans and advances                                   70          47
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities                 593         572
Current portion of long-term debt                          9           4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         672         623
Long-term debt                                         1,662       1,570
Other liabilities                                        352         377
                                      -----------------------------------
                                                       2,686       2,570
Shareholders' Equity
Capital stock                                            516         517
Retained earnings                                        690         725
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)              5         (43)
                                      -----------------------------------
                                                       1,211       1,199
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       3,897       3,769
                                      -----------------------------------
                                      -----------------------------------

Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss)
(in millions of Canadian dollars,
 except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
                                 For the 3-month         For the 6-month
                           periods ended June 30,  periods ended June 30,
                                2008        2007        2008        2007
                          -----------------------------------------------
Sales                            999       1,008       1,958       2,008
Cost of sales and expenses
Cost of sales                    843         821       1,648       1,642
Depreciation and amortization     53          51         104         104
Selling and administrative
 expenses                         94         101         191         203
Losses (gains) on disposal         -           1           5         (24)
Impairment and other
 restructuring costs               8           1          16           3
Loss (gain) on financial
 instruments                      (7)          3          (8)         (7)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 991         978       1,956       1,921
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income from
 continuing operations             8          30           2          87
Interest expense                  26          26          50          52
Foreign exchange loss (gain)
 on long-term debt                15         (25)         20         (29)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (33)         29         (68)         64
Provision for (recovery of)
 income taxes                     (9)          1         (18)         15
Share of results of
 significantly influenced
 companies and dilution gain       -         (17)         (4)        (21)
Non-controlling interest           -           -           1           1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings (loss) from
 continuing operations           (24)         45         (47)         69
Net earnings (loss) from
 discontinued operations          (1)          -          18          (2)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings (loss) for the
 period                          (25)         45         (29)         67
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic and diluted net earnings
 (loss) from continuing
 operations
  per common share            ($0.24)      $0.45      ($0.47)      $0.69
                          -----------------------------------------------
                          -----------------------------------------------
Basic and diluted net
 earnings (loss) per
 common share                 ($0.25)      $0.45      ($0.29)      $0.67
                          -----------------------------------------------
                          -----------------------------------------------
Weighted average number
 of common shares
 outstanding              98,851,585  99,291,649  98,946,693  99,379,774
                          -----------------------------------------------
                          -----------------------------------------------

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
(in millions of Canadian dollars)
(unaudited)
                                    For the 6-month period ended June 30,
                                                                    2008
                            ---------------------------------------------
                                                 Accumulated
                                                       other
                                                      compre-
                                                     hensive       Share-
                             Capital    Retained      income     holders'
                               stock    earnings       (loss)     Equity
                            ---------------------------------------------
Balance - Beginning of period    517         725         (43)      1,199
Cumulative impact of accounting
 changes                           -           3           -           3
                            ---------------------------------------------
Restated balance - Beginning of
 period                          517         728         (43)      1,202
Comprehensive income:
  Net loss for the period          -         (29)          -         (29)
  Change in foreign currency
   translation of self-
   sustaining foreign
   subsidiaries, net of
   related hedging activities      -           -          43          43
  Change in fair value of
   foreign exchange forward
   contracts designated as
   cash flow hedges                -           -          (2)         (2)
  Change in fair value of
   commodity derivative
   financial instruments
   designated as cash flow
   hedges                          -           -           7           7
                                                             ------------
Comprehensive income for the
 period                                                               19
                                                             ------------
Dividends                          -          (8)          -          (8)
Redemption of common shares       (1)         (1)          -          (2)
                            ---------------------------------------------
Balance - End of period          516         690           5       1,211
                            ---------------------------------------------
                            ---------------------------------------------

                                    For the 6-month period ended June 30,
                                                                    2007
                            ---------------------------------------------
                                                 Accumulated
                                                       other
                                                      compre-
                                                     hensive       Share-
                             Capital    Retained      income     holders'
                               stock    earnings       (loss)     Equity
                            ---------------------------------------------
Balance - Beginning of period    517         649          (8)      1,158
Comprehensive income:
  Net earnings for the period      -          67           -          67
  Change in foreign currency
   translation of self-
   sustaining foreign
   subsidiaries, net of
   related hedging activities      -           -         (39)        (39)
  Change in fair value of
   foreign exchange forward
   contracts designated as
   cash flow hedges                -           -           3           3
  Change in fair value of
   commodity derivative
   financial instruments
   designated as cash flow
   hedges                          -           -           1           1
                                                             ------------
Comprehensive income for the
 period                                                               32
                                                             ------------
Dividends                          -          (8)          -          (8)
Adjustment related to stock
 options                           2           -           -           2
Redemption of common shares       (2)         (2)          -          (4)
                            ---------------------------------------------
Balance - End of period          517         706         (43)      1,180
                            ---------------------------------------------
                            ---------------------------------------------

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in millions of Canadian dollars)
(unaudited)
                                 For the 3-month       For the 6-month
                                  periods ended         periods ended
                                     June 30,               June 30,
                                2008        2007        2008        2007
                            ---------------------------------------------
OPERATING ACTIVITIES FROM
 CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Net earnings (loss) from
 continuing operations           (24)         45         (47)         69
Adjustments for:
  Depreciation and amortization   53          51         104         104
  Losses (gains) on disposal       -          (1)          5         (26)
  Impairment and other
   restructuring costs             3           1           3           1
  Unrealized loss (gain) on
   financial instruments          (7)          4          (7)         (3)
  Foreign exchange loss (gain)
   on long-term debt              15         (25)         20         (29)
  Future income taxes            (13)         (7)        (33)         (3)
  Share of results of
   significantly influenced
   companies and dilution gain     -         (17)         (4)        (21)
  Non-controlling interest         -           -           1           1
  Others                          (6)         (5)         (4)         (6)
  Early settlement of natural
   gaz contracts                  15           -          15           -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  36          46          53          87
Change in non-cash working
 capital components               12         (45)        (36)       (123)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  48           1          17         (36)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES FROM
 CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Purchases of property, plant
 and equipment                   (42)        (33)        (83)        (64)
Proceed from disposal of
 property, plant and equipment     5           7           5           7
Increase in other assets           3           1           2           -
Cash of a joint venture            -           -           6           -
Business disposal, net of
 cash disposed                     -           -           -          37
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (34)        (25)        (70)        (20)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES FROM
 CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Bank loans and advances          (20)          6          (5)         15
Change in revolving credit
 facilities                       11          23          22          67
Payments of other long-term
 debt                             (5)         (1)         (6)         (4)
Net proceeds from issuance of
 common shares                     -           1           -           1
Redemption of common shares        -          (1)         (2)         (4)
Dividends                         (4)         (4)         (8)         (8)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (18)         24           1          67
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change in cash and cash
 equivalents during the period
 from continuing operations       (4)          -         (52)         11
Change in cash and cash
 equivalents from discontinued
 operations, including proceeds
 on disposal                       8          (8)         43         (19)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in cash and cash
 equivalents during the period     4          (8)         (9)         (8)
Translation adjustments on cash
 and cash equivalents             (1)         (6)          5          (7)
Cash and cash equivalents -
 Beginning of period              18          33          25          34
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents -
 End of period                    21          19          21          19
                            ---------------------------------------------
                            ---------------------------------------------

Selected Segmented Information
(in millions of Canadian dollars)
(unaudited)
                                For the 3-month         For the 6-month
                                 periods ended           periods ended
                                    June 30,                June 30,
                                2008        2007        2008        2007
                            ---------------------------------------------
Sales
Packaging products
  Boxboard
    Manufacturing                184         206         379         407
    Converting                   170         177         328         346
    Eliminations and others      (23)        (31)        (47)        (57)
                            ---------------------------------------------
                                 331         352         660         696
  Containerboard
    Manufacturing                150         152         304         306
    Converting                   246         256         473         495
    Eliminations and others      (95)       (101)       (185)       (200)
                            ---------------------------------------------
                                 301         307         592         601
  Specialty products
    Manufacturing                 76          81         152         167
    Converting                    67          58         130         117
    Recovery, deinked pulp
     and eliminations             75          72         145         142
                            ---------------------------------------------
                                 218         211         427         426
  Eliminations                   (25)        (29)        (53)        (56)
                            ---------------------------------------------
                                 825         841       1,626       1,667
Tissue papers
  Manufacturing and converting   184         180         354         366
Eliminations                     (10)        (13)        (22)        (25)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated total               999       1,008       1,958       2,008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Selected Segmented Information
(in millions of Canadian dollars)
(unaudited)
                                For the 3-month         For the 6-month
                                 periods ended           periods ended
                                    June 30,                June 30,
                                2008        2007        2008        2007
                            ---------------------------------------------
Operating income (loss) before
 depreciation and amortization
 from continuing operations
Packaging products
  Boxboard
    Manufacturing                (10)         (1)        (16)         (5)
    Converting                    12          13          24          51
    Others                        (3)          -         (10)         (1)
                            ---------------------------------------------
                                  (1)         12          (2)         45
  Containerboard
    Manufacturing                 10          14          27          35
    Converting                    17          20          31          35
    Others                         -           3           3           6
                            ---------------------------------------------
                                  27          37          61          76
  Specialty products
    Manufacturing                  -          (1)         (1)          3
    Converting                     8           5          13          12
    Recovery, deinked pulp
     and others                    6           7          11          14
                            ---------------------------------------------
                                  14          11          23          29
                            ---------------------------------------------
                                  40          60          82         150
Tissue papers
  Manufacturing and
   converting                     14          16          26          35
Corporate                          7           5          (2)          6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income before
 depreciation and amortization
 from continuing operations
                                  61          81         106         191
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depreciation and
 amortization
  Boxboard                       (19)        (16)        (35)        (33)
  Containerboard                 (16)        (16)        (32)        (32)
  Specialty products              (8)         (8)        (16)        (16)
  Tissue papers                   (8)         (9)        (16)        (18)
  Corporate and eliminations      (2)         (2)         (5)         (5)
                            ---------------------------------------------
                                 (53)        (51)       (104)       (104)
                            ---------------------------------------------
 Operating income from
  continuing operations            8          30           2          87
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Selected Segmented Information
(in millions of Canadian dollars)
(unaudited)
                                For the 3-month        For the 6-month
                                 periods ended          periods ended
                                    June 30,                June 30,
                                2008        2007        2008        2007
                            ---------------------------------------------
Purchases of property,
 plant and equipment
Packaging products
  Boxboard
    Manufacturing                  3           4           7           7
    Converting                     7           9          16          18
                            ---------------------------------------------
                                  10          13          23          25
  Containerboard
    Manufacturing                  2           4           4           5
    Converting                     7           1          11           4
                            ---------------------------------------------
                                   9           5          15           9
  Specialty products
    Manufacturing                  2           2           3           5
    Converting                     2           2           3           4
    Recovery, deinked pulp
     and others                    9           -          10           1
                            ---------------------------------------------
                                  13           4          16          10
                            ---------------------------------------------
                                  32          22          54          44
Tissue papers
  Manufacturing and converting     8           9          18          19
Corporate                          2           2           4           4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated total                42          33          76          67
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchases of property, plant
 and equipment included in
 accounts payable
  Beginning of period             10          13          17          10
  End of period                  (10)        (13)        (10)        (13)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total investing activities        42          33          83          64
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional information
(in millions of Canadian dollars, except shipments and share information)
(unaudited)
                                For the 3-month         For the 6-month
                                 periods ended           periods ended
                                    June 30,                June 30,
                                2008        2007        2008        2007
                            ---------------------------------------------
Common shares -
 Toronto Stock Exchange
  High                         $8.45      $13.05       $8.90      $15.80
  Low                          $6.59      $11.00       $6.59      $11.00
  Volume                   8,226,000  20,318,000  15,646,000  39,764,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shipments of manufacturing
 and converting products
 (in thousands of short tons)
Packaging products
  Boxboard                       277         313         569         614
  Containerboard                 342         366         690         717
  Specialty products             115         114         231         229
Tissue papers                    116         112         228         221
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supplemental information on non-GAAP measure
Operating income before depreciation and amortization and operating income
are not measures of performance under Canadian generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP"). The Company includes operating income before depreciation
and amortization and operating income because they are the measures used by
management to assess the operating and financial performance of the Company's
operating segments. As well, the Company believes that operating income before
depreciation and amortization and operating income provides an additional
measure often used by investors to assess a company's operating performance
and its ability to meet debt service requirements. However, operating income
before depreciation and amortization and operating income do not represent,
and should not be used as a substitute for net earnings or cash flows from
operations as determined in accordance with Canadian GAAP and operating income
before depreciation and amortization and operating income are not necessarily
an indication of whether cash flow will be sufficient to fund our cash
requirements. In addition, our definition of operating income before
depreciation and amortization and operating income may differ from that of
other companies.
Net earnings (loss), which is a performance measure defined by Canadian
GAAP is reconcilied below to operating income (loss) and to operating income
before depreciation and amortization:

                                For the 3-month         For the 6-month
                                 periods ended           periods ended
                                    June 30,                June 30,
                                2008        2007        2008        2007
                            ---------------------------------------------
Net earnings (loss) for
 the period                      (25)         45         (29)         67
Net earnings (loss) from
 discontinued operations           1           -         (18)          2
Non-controlling interest           -           -           1           1
Share of results of
 significantly influenced
 companies and dilution gain       -         (17)         (4)        (21)
Provision for (recovery of)
 income taxes                     (9)          1         (18)         15
Foreign exchange loss (gain)
 on long-term debt                15         (25)         20         (29)
Interest expense                  26          26          50          52
                            ---------------------------------------------
Operating income from
 continuing operations             8          30           2          87
Depreciation and amortization     53          51         104         104
                            ---------------------------------------------
Operating income before
 depreciation and amortization    61          81         106         191
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Source: CNW )

More Options



Subscribe to Email Alerts rss feed or RSS feeds rss feed for articles from more than 300 contributors and press releases, SEC filings and full text news from thousands of sources.


 
Rate :  Rate this Commentary  


 Number of Comments (0) Post Comment
 
  
Good Rating(+1)    Bad Rating(-1)
No Data Found

 
Enter Symbol
Enter Search String
Bookmark This Article
Email Article

Send this article by email


Recipient's Name
Recipient's E-mail
Your Name
Your E-mail
Related Quotes

 
  Home | Login |Research | Earnings | Scans | Chat Rooms | Charts | Submit Article | Join Blog Network | Contributors | Subscribe to RSS

copryright 2008 all rights reserved