West Fraser Timber Co., Ltd 6-K, filed Jul 19, 2021
West Fraser Timber Co., Ltd (WFG)
About this 6-K
West Fraser Timber Co., Ltd filed this 6-K on July 19, 2021.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of July 2021
Commission File No. 001-39974
WEST FRASER TIMBER CO. LTD.
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
501- 858 Beatty Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6B 1C1
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F
Form 20-F ☐ Form 40-F ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) ☐
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Exhibit 99.1 to this report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC is expressly incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement on Form F-10, as amended (File No. 333-254828) of West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
SUBMITTED HEREWITH
| Exhibits |
||
| 99.1 | Material Change Report dated July 16, 2021 (News release dated July 7, 2021 re: West Fraser Announces C$1.0 Billion Substantial Issuer Bid) | |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: July 16, 2021
WEST FRASER TIMBER CO. LTD.
/s/ Christopher A. Virostek
Christopher A. Virostek
Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Exhibit 99.1
Form 51–102F3
Material Change Report
| Item 1. | Name and Address of Company |
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (“West Fraser” or the “Company”)
585 Beatty Street, Suite 501
Vancouver, BC V6B 1C1
| Item 2. | Date of Material Change |
July 7, 2021
| Item 3. | News Release |
A news release in respect of the material change was disseminated via Canada Newswire on July 7, 2021. The news release was also filed with each of the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR and with the Securities Exchange Commission on EDGAR.
| Item 4. | Summary of Material Change |
On July 7, 2021, West Fraser announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the making of a substantial issuer bid (the “Offer”) pursuant to which the Company has offered to purchase from shareholders (the “Shareholders”) for cancellation up to C$1.0 billion of its outstanding common shares (the “Shares”). The Offer commenced on July 12, 2021 and will expire at 11:59 p.m. (Vancouver time) on August 17, 2021, unless extended, varied or withdrawn by the Company.
Further to the announcement of the Offer, West Fraser has filed its offer to purchase (the “Offer to Purchase”) and related issuer bid circular, each dated July 12, 2021 (together, the “Offer and Circular”) on SEDAR on July 12, 2021, together with a letter of transmittal and notice of guaranteed delivery (together, the “Offer Documents”). In addition, the Company a Schedule 13E-4F incorporating the Offer Documents with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on July 12, 2021. The Offer and Circular set out the full terms and conditions of the Offer and provide the disclosure relating to the Offer required under National Instrument 62-104 – Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids.
| Item 5. | Full Description of Material Change |
| 5.1 | Full Description of Material Change |
On July 7, 2021, the Company announced the terms and conditions of the Offer to purchase for cancellation up to C$1 billion of its Shares.
The Offer will proceed by way of a “modified Dutch auction” procedure with a tender price range from C$85.00 to C$98.00 per Share. Shareholders who wish to participate in the Offer will be able to do so through auction tenders or purchase price tenders. Shareholders who validly deposit Shares without specifying the method in which they are tendering their Shares will be deemed to have made a purchase price tender. The Offer is optional for all Shareholders, who are free to choose whether to participate, how many Shares to tender and, in the case of auction tenders, at what price to tender within the specified range.
The Offer will be for up to approximately 10% of the total number of issued and outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis (based on a purchase price equal to the minimum purchase price per Share and 116,444,176 Shares issued and outstanding as of July 6, 2021). The Offer will be funded through available cash on hand. The Offer is denominated in Canadian dollars, and Shareholders will have the option to elect to receive payment in either Canadian or United States dollars.
Term of the Offer
The Offer commenced on July 12, 2021 and will expire at 11:59 p.m. (Vancouver time) on August 17, 2021, unless extended, varied or withdrawn by the Company.
Conditions to the Offer
The Offer is subject to the conditions to the Offer, which are set out in the Offer and Circular under Section 7 “Certain Conditions of the Offer” of the Offer to Purchase.
Tender Offer Alternatives
Shareholders who wish to participate in the Offer will be able to do so through (i) auction tenders in which they will specify the number of Shares being tendered at a price of not less than C$85.00 and not more than C$98.00 per Share in increments of C$0.25 per Share, or (ii) purchase price tenders in which they will not specify a price per Share, but rather will agree to have a specified number of Shares purchased at the purchase price to be determined by auction tenders. Shareholders who validly deposit Shares without specifying the method in which they are tendering their Shares will be deemed to have made a purchase price tender. West Fraser directors and officers do not have a present intention to tender any Shares pursuant to the Offer.
Purchase Price
Upon expiry of the Offer and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions to the Offer, the Company will determine the lowest purchase price (which will be not less than C$85.00 per Share and not more than C$98.00 per Share) that will allow it to purchase the maximum number of Shares properly tendered to the Offer, and not properly withdrawn, having an aggregate purchase price not exceeding C$1.0 billion.
If Shares with an aggregate purchase price of less than C$1.0 billion are properly tendered and not properly withdrawn, the Company will purchase all Shares tendered pursuant to auction tenders and purchase price tenders.
- 2 -
If Shares with an aggregate purchase price of more than C$1.0 billion are properly tendered and not properly withdrawn, the Company will purchase the Shares on a pro-rata basis after giving effect to “odd lot” tenders (of holders beneficially owning fewer than 100 Shares), which will not be subject to pro-ration. In that case, all Shares tendered at or below the finally determined purchase price will be purchased, subject to pro-ration, at the same purchase price determined pursuant to the terms of the Offer. Shares that are tendered but not purchased, including Shares tendered pursuant to auction tenders at prices above the purchase price, will be returned to Shareholders.
West Fraser believes that the Offer is in the best interest of the Company and its Shareholders, and permits the Company to return up to C$1.0 billion of capital to Shareholders who elect to tender their Shares, while increasing the proportionate ownership interest of Shareholders who elect not to tender. After giving effect to the Offer, West Fraser will continue to have sufficient financial resources and working capital to conduct its ongoing business and operations and the Offer is not expected to preclude West Fraser from pursuing its foreseeable business opportunities or the future growth of West Fraser’s business.
Offer Documents
Details of the Offer, including instructions for tendering Shares and the full conditions to the Offer, are included in the Offer Documents. The Offer Documents have been mailed to Shareholders, filed with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, filed on a Schedule 13E-4F with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, and posted on the Company’s website at www.westfraser.com. Shareholders should carefully read the Offer Documents prior to making a decision with respect to the Offer.
Additional Information
West Fraser has engaged Scotia Capital to act as exclusive financial advisor for the Offer. West Fraser has also engaged Computershare Investor Services Inc. to act as depositary for the Offer. Any questions or requests for information regarding the Offer may also be directed to the depositary.
The foregoing summary of the Offer as set out in this material change report does not purport to be a comprehensive and complete summary thereof and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Offer Documents and any amendments, variations or supplements if and when they become available. Shareholders and interested parties should carefully read the Offer Documents prior to making a decision with respect to the Offer.
| 5.2 | Disclosure for Restructuring Transactions |
Not applicable.
- 3 -
| Item 6. | Reliance on subsection 7.1(2) of National Instrument 51–102 |
Not applicable.
| Item 7. | Omitted Information |
No significant facts remain confidential in, and no information has been omitted from, this material change report.
| Item 8. | Executive Officers |
Christopher Virostek
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
+1 (604) 681-6061
| Item 9. | Date of Report |
July 16, 2021
- 4 -