Exhibit 99.1
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News Release |
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For Immediate Release
WEST FRASER ANNOUNCES RENEWAL OF NORMAL COURSE ISSUER BID
VANCOUVER, B.C., February 27, 2024 West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (West Fraser or the Company) (TSX and NYSE: WFG)
announced today that the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) has accepted West Frasers notice to renew its normal course issuer bid (NCIB). Under the renewed NCIB, West Fraser will be entitled to purchase up to 3,971,380
Common shares (Shares) of the Company, representing approximately 5% of the Shares issued and outstanding as at February 16, 2024. The NCIB will commence on March 1, 2024. The purpose of the NCIB is to enable the Company to
return capital to shareholders by way of repurchases of Shares, including when the Company believes its Shares are undervalued or represent an attractive investment opportunity. The Company believes that such repurchases are an appropriate use of
the Companys available funds and in its best interests.
Purchases under the NCIB may be made through the facilities of the TSX, the New York Stock
Exchange (NYSE) and alternative trading systems in Canada and/or the United States, if eligible. Purchases of Shares under the NCIB may be made on the TSX, at the market price at the time of purchase in accordance with the rules and
policies of the TSX, or on the NYSE in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act). In addition, purchases may also be made by private
agreement or under a specific share repurchase program pursuant to an issuer bid exemption order issued by a securities regulatory authority, in which event purchases will be at a discount to the prevailing market price.
The rules and policies of the TSX contain restrictions on the number of Shares that can be purchased under the NCIB, based on the average daily trading
volumes on the TSX. Similarly, the safe harbor conditions of Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act impose certain limitations on the number of Shares that can be purchased on the NYSE each day. As a result of the
restrictions, subject to certain exceptions for block purchases, the maximum number of Shares that can be purchased per day during the NCIB on the TSX is 48,339 based on 25% of the average daily trading volume on the TSX for the prior six months
(being 193,358 Shares on the TSX). Subject to certain exceptions for block purchases, the maximum number of Shares that can be purchased per day on the NYSE is 25% of the average daily trading volume on NYSE for the four calendar weeks preceding the
date of purchase. Subject to regulatory requirements, the actual number of Shares purchased and the timing of such purchases, if any, will be determined by West Fraser having regard to future price movements and other factors. All Shares purchased
by West Fraser under the NCIB will be cancelled.
The NCIB will terminate on February 28, 2025 or earlier if the maximum number of Shares authorized for
repurchase under the NCIB have been purchased. West Fraser reserves the right to terminate the NCIB earlier if it feels it is appropriate to do so.
West
Fraser plans to enter into an automatic purchase plan with a broker, which will enable West Fraser to provide standard instructions and purchase Shares on the open market during self-imposed blackout periods. Outside of these blackout periods,
Shares may be purchased in accordance with managements discretion.
West Frasers prior normal course issuer bid for the purchase of up to
4,063,696 Shares expired on February 26, 2024. In aggregate, West Fraser purchased a total of 1,907,510 Shares at a volume weighted-average price of US$70.55 per Share, excluding brokerage fees, all of which purchases were made on the open
market.