Interim Report January - June 2018

• Book value on land and forest assets of 22.137 (20.850) TEUR
• Owners’ Equity per share was 1,047 (1,068) EUR
• Property holdings of 9.877 (9.368) hectare
• Timber volume was 1.034.000 (940.000) cubic meter
• Sales of 356,8 (111,8) TEUR
• Operating profit shows 59,2 (-89,1) TEUR
• Increase in forest value of 455,2 (357,2) TEUR
• Net profit was 425,7 (202,4) TEUR

(Figures in brackets show corresponding period previous year)

Latvian Forest Company

Latvian Forest Company AB (public) is a Swedish listed Company investing in and operating forestry on favourable valued forests in Latvia. The three main basics of the business are, besides forest being a sought-after real asset which grows by its own power.

• An expected increase in price levels for Latvian forest and agricultural properties
• To create value increase through active forest management
• To create value gains by building a larger property portfolio

The expansion is financed by new share issues as real estate is acquired and operations are being developed. The shareholders will through Latvian Forest Company become partners in many properties instead of an individual – resulting in good risk spreading. The activities undertaken in the ongoing forestry create the necessary revenue over time to cover the company's costs and eventually generate a surplus.

Latvian Forest Company AB has Euro as the accounting currency and all reporting is in Euro. Stock trading in the marketplace for shares, Aktietorget, takes place in Swedish kronor. 

Status and property ownership

Investments in forest properties have taken place continuously, and the holdings at the end of the period totaled  9.876 (9.368) hectares. Of these, 7.233 (6.860) were forests and 2.643 (2.508) other land including 1.792 (1.814) agriculture land. The company has managed to retains the percentage of forest land (73%) out of its total land. The total growing stock was estimated to be approximately 1.034.000 (940.000) cubic meters after completed felling. 

During the second quarter, a total of 0,14 MEUR was invested in 7 single properties and 128 hectares with a growing stock of approximately 7.440 cubic meters. The company management still holds the opinion that the terms are favourable for acquisition of single properties, since some foreign property owners consider it favourable to leave the Latvian market.  

Company management has put forward to the board, a strategy where agriculture land is being leased to local farmers (i), converted into forest land (ii) or sold (iii). The CEO has together with the forest manager completed a comprehensive review of the company’s agriculture land. It has been decided to convert all agriculture land units smaller than 2 hectares to forest land according to the local legislation. Units with size larger than 2 hectares shall be leased out to local farmers. The company has today 732 hectares leased out to local farmers. Further 626 hectares will be leased out in the end of 2018 and before sowing season 2019. Right now, the company management has decided to convert 125 hectares of non-productive agriculture land to forest land during 2018 and Q1 2019. This constitutes half the possession of 250 hectares of such land. The major part of mentioned 125 hectares has already been naturally afforested by inferior wood. LFC plans for completion of the existing forest land with spruce planting during spring 2019 and plants have already been ordered.

Turnover and result

Revenue during Q2 amounted to 310,3 (101,3) TEUR and mainly relates to revenue from the sale of felling, that is standing forest timber. Total revenue for the period Jan-June 2018 amounts to 356,8 (111,8) TEUR. Costs for the ongoing operations have still developed satisfactory. An increase of external costs, raw material and supplies is explained with a more active forest management and felling.

Operating profit was favourable with 173,5 (-3,4) TEUR for Q2. During Q1 the company managed to achieve an operating profit of 59,2 (-89,1) TEUR, a major improvement compared to previous year. 

Estimated fair value of the forest assets was 14.410 (13.526) TEUR. The increase in value is mainly due to the purchase of property and to the average long-term price level of saw timber and pulpwood. The real value of growing forests has been calculated on the assets that existed in the company as at June 30, 2018. The value is calculated by discounting a 100-year series of estimated felling volumes / sales revenue and forest management costs at a discount rate of 7.25% (7.25%). 

Otherwise, the results of operations are affected by normal costs for clearance, property related costs, such as new real estate measurements, inventories and stamping of stocks prior to felling, as well as certain costs associated with felling.

External costs consist largely of other purchased services in connection with forest management, other consulting services such as accounting, auditing, legal advice, as well as travel, rent and transportation costs, etc. Variable cost for purchase commissions etc. has in part been booked as part of the acquisition cost of the individual properties and in these cases does not charge the result. Other variable remuneration for clearing are recorded under commodities and supplies (previously cost of goods sold).

Felling and clearing

The company has planned for a felling volume of 40.000 cubic meters during 2018. During the second quarter felling of 8.300 cubic meters has been made, at a total income of 300TEUR. A total of 10.087 cubic meters has been felled this year resulting in an income of 342 TEUR, equivalent to  34 EUR per cubic meter. Felling is done through standing forest timber for sale. Remaining volumes will be felled later during coming periods. The company is, according to the new forest management plan, more actively engaged in measures to increase the long term value  of the forest resources. A total of 225 hectares has been cleared during the first six months 2018, whereof 36 hectares during the second quarter.  

Financing

No new share issues have been made and no loans have been raised during the first 2 quarters 2018.

Financial strategy

The Board has, following the views and probing among various shareholders and potential investors, decided that future funding in the form of new share issues will primarily take place with preference for existing shareholders. However, this does not prevent directed share issues from being completed, for example, when acquiring real estate portfolios or in special situations where a directed share issue may be required. The objective is for existing shareholders not to be at disadvantage if a directed share issue is made.

Share

Share capital at the end of period amounted to 2.297.307 EUR divided into 80.000 A-shares and 20.431.061 B-shares. A-shares represent ten votes and B-shares one vote each. Each share represents 0.112 Euro (1.0 SEK) in share capital. The five largest shareholders, according to the latest data, control 67,6% of the share capital and 67,2% of the votes.

Market

The management of Latvian Forest Company still holds the opinion that the market is favourable for acquiring single properties, although the market for timber is at a record high. Quite opposite, the smaller local forest owners tend to sell their property after felling to avoid investments in different forest actions. Also, some foreign investors in forestry tend to sell their possession due to generational renewal, and the two largest forest company’s (Foran Real Estate and Bergvik Skog) have made share dealings.

Interest for wood products is an all-time high. The price is high for timber as well as for wood pulp. The historic record high price rise will continue in the autumn according to industry representatives. There are reasons to be optimistic. The nearest market around the Baltic see has been severely affected by warm weather resulting in less felling volume as precaution of forest fire. This is on top of an earlier deficit caused by the extremely wet summer in 2017. The Nordic and especially Swedish sawmills have the lowest stocks of sawn finished products since autumn of 2009 according to Skogsindustrierna.    

In addition, timber prices on the North American market have galloped and most experts believe the decline in Chinese import of timber will turn during the end of 2018 and start of 2019.  This will favour the Latvian export of timber, as already increased by close to 10% in the beginning of 2018. The belief is strong for a continuation of the positive trend during 2018, as confirmed by the increase of felling permits issued by the Latvian National Board of Forestry. 

The local production of veneer and particle boards is by tradition strong in Latvia, being one of the world’s largest exporter of those wood products. Latvijas Finieris and Kronospan Riga, have increased their revenue more than 15 % compared to last year and the market shows a growing interest for birch as wood type.

The market for pulp wood also shows a high demand with good prospects for the future. This explains by the demand for long fiber exceeds the supply.  The prediction is for 1,5 million ton/year of new capacity to be added to the market during this year and next year.

Latvia has become Europe’s and the world’s leading exporter of energy forest products such as chips, wood granulate and briquettes. New investments in Latvia during recent years have added close to 300 000 ton giving a total capacity of almost 700 000 ton.

To sum up, the management of Latvian Forest Company holds the opinion that the favourable price level on wood products will remain during 2018 and beginning of 2019. This encourage us to implement the existing felling plan this year and to do similar for the first six months of 2019.    

Events after the end of the period

The property holdings amount to 10.020 hectares at the time of this report. The company has also managed to sell 7.560 cubic meter felling rights generating an income of 278 TEUR.

Other company news

LFC has updated its homepage  www.latvianforest.se with an interactive map where you can find the company’s property holdings. Latvian Forest Company is now also on Instagram,

https://www.instagram.com/latvianforestcompany/ where you can follow the daily news from our forest.  Latvian Forest Company were proud supporters of this year’s European Forestry Workers' Championship in orienteering  that took place in Sigulda, Latvia between the 6 and 10 of August.

Next report

Interim report for the period Januari – September, 2018 is scheduled for publication on November 23, 2018.

Accounting principle

This interim report has been prepared for the Group in accordance with IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) as adopted by the EU and the Swedish Annual Accounts Act. The parent company's accounts have been prepared in accordance with RFR 2 Accounting for Legal Entities and the Swedish Annual Accounts Act. 

About this report

This report has not been subject to special review by the company's auditor.

Stockholm, 2018-08-23

The Board

For further information please contact

Aleksandrs Tralmaks, CEO

+37129203972

info@latvianforest.se

Visit our website: www.latvianforest.se