VANCOUVER, BC, April 22,
2024 /PRNewswire/ - West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
("West Fraser" or the "Company") (TSX and NYSE: WFG) announced
today that the Company has completed the sale of its Quesnel River
Pulp mill, and its Slave Lake Pulp mill to an affiliate of a fund
managed by Atlas Holdings following completion of customary
regulatory reviews and satisfaction of customary closing
conditions.
The mills will be operated by Millar Western Forest Products,
which joined the global Atlas family of manufacturing and
distribution businesses in 2017.
"We would like to thank our dedicated employees for their many
years of service to West Fraser and the communities of Quesnel and Slave
Lake," said Sean McLaren, President & CEO West
Fraser. "The sale of these two pulp assets, along with the
disposition of Hinton Pulp earlier this year, enables West Fraser
to focus its resources on becoming the premier building products
company in North America."
Quesnel River Pulp and Slave Lake Pulp both produce Bleached
Chemi-Thermomechanical pulp ("BCTMP") used to make paper
products.
About West Fraser
West Fraser is a diversified wood products company with more
than 60 facilities in Canada,
the United States, the
United Kingdom, and Europe. From responsibly sourced and
sustainably managed forest resources, the Company produces lumber,
engineered wood products (OSB, LVL, MDF, plywood, and
particleboard), pulp, newsprint, wood chips, other residuals, and
renewable energy. West Fraser's products are used in home
construction, repair and remodelling, industrial applications,
papers, tissue, and box materials. For more information about West
Fraser, visit www.westfraser.com.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This news release contains forward-looking information or
forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward‑looking
statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws.
These forward-looking statements include, among other things, that
the mills will be operated by Millar Western Forest Products and
that the pulp asset sales will enable West Fraser to focus its
resources on becoming the premier building products company in
North America. Any such
forward-looking statements are based on information currently
available to us and are based on assumptions and analyses made by
us considering our experience and our perception of historical
trends and current conditions and are subject to inherent risks and
uncertainties including the potential impact of the completion of
the transaction on relationships, including regulatory bodies,
employees, suppliers, customers and competitors. Readers should
also refer to the risk factors set forth in the Company's annual
information form and management's discussion and analysis for the
year ended December 31, 2023, each
dated February 14, 2024, available at
SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and EDGAR (www.sec.gov/edgar). There can
be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon
which forward-looking statements are based will be realized. Actual
results may differ, and the difference may be material and adverse
to the Company and its shareholders. Except as may be required by
law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statements.
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SOURCE West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.