Interfor To Acquire Chaleur Forest Products
Interfor has announced today that it has reached an agreement with an affiliate of the Kilmer Group to acquire 100% of the equity interests in the entities comprising Chaleur Forest Products.
Chaleur owns two modern and well-capitalized sawmill operations located in Belledune and Bathurst, New Brunswick, with a combined annual lumber production capacity of 350 MMBF. Chaleur also operates a woodlands management division based out of Miramichi that manages approximately 30% of the total Crown forest in New Brunswick. This division provides a secure source of fiber supply for the sawmill operations as well as a stable, long-term stream of cash flow from third-party log sales, license management fees and silviculture activities.
The purchase price is $325 million Canadian, on a cash and debt free basis, which includes approximately $31 million Canadian of net working capital. In addition, Interfor will assume Chaleur’s countervailing (CV) and anti-dumping (AD) duty deposits at closing, for consideration equal to 55% of the total deposits on an after-tax basis. As of August 31, 2022, Chaleur had paid cumulative CV and AD duties of approximately $82 million USD.
“This acquisition is consistent with Interfor’s growth-focused strategy as a pure-play lumber producer and builds upon our recent expansion into Eastern Canada with further geographic diversity,” says Ian Fillinger, President & CEO. “New Brunswick has a secure, high quality and competitive log supply, a supportive investment environment and proximity to key eastern markets. These are well-managed and efficient mills with a desirable SPF product mix, which fit extraordinarily well within our existing portfolio. Chaleur’s strong management team further bolsters our core lumber strength and we look forward to welcoming the team into our company.”
On a proforma basis, Interfor’s total annual lumber production capacity will increase to 5.1 billion BF, of which 44% will be in the U.S. South, 19% in Eastern Canada, 15% in the U.S. Northwest, 15% in British Columbia and 7% in Atlantic Canada.
Interfor intends to finance the acquisition with a combination of cash on hand and its existing credit facilities. The completion of the acquisition is subject to Canadian and U.S. regulatory reviews and customary conditions for a transaction of this kind and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Latest News
New From Tigercat: Triangulated Harvesting Head
In late September 2023, visitors to the Pacific Logging Congress, a live demo event held in Washington state, got a sneak peak of the new Tigercat 573 harvesting head processing logs on the end of a Tigercat 875E logger. Since then, multiple units have been testing in far flung regions from Alberta to Australia and the results are in. The 573 is shaping up to be a high performing, reliable head for roadside processing and harvesting.
AOL Health Insurance Now Available In Oregon
Following approval from Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation at the end of 2023, Associated Oregon Loggers is now offering logger health plans through the association. The new AOL Association Insurance Program, offered by a partnership between the AOL Health Benefits Trust and the insurance provider, Health Net of Oregon.
WANT MORE CONTENT?
Spanning seven decades since its inception in 1952, Timber Harvesting highlights innovative and successful logging operations across the U.S. and around the world. Timber Harvesting also emphasizes new technology and provides the best marketing vehicle for the industry’s suppliers to reach the largest number of loggers in North America and beyond.
Call Us: 800.669.5613