Preliminary Year End Financial Results On 12 September 2003
Auckland, 28 August 2003 – Fletcher Challenge Forests announced today that the New Zealand Stock Exchange had granted
the Company an extension of the date on which it must make its preliminary announcement in respect of the financial year
ended 30 June 2003, to 12 September 2003, which is the same date that the Company must make its preliminary announcement
under the Australian Stock Exchange listing rules.
In order to finalise the carrying value of the forest crop in its accounts, the Company requires time to consider both
the discount rate and the log price series used in its forest crop valuation model, and also information arising from
the previously announced forest sale process – all of which are relevant to the Board’s estimation of the carrying value
of the Company’s forests in its financial statements.
The Company is likely to change the discount rate and the log price series used in its forest crop valuation model.
These changes will have the effect of aligning the forest estate valuation with current market conditions, and will
result in a significant downward adjustment to the carrying value of its forests, reflecting reduced log prices, higher
shipping costs and the appreciation of the New Zealand dollar.
The deferral of the preliminary announcement to 12 September 2003 is not intended to be linked to the timing of any
future announcement of progress in the forest sale process. The Company continues to target completion of the forest
sale process by the end of the calendar year.
The NZX waiver granted to Fletcher Challenge Forests was granted on the conditions that Fletcher Challenge Forests make
an announcement of the extension by 29 August 2003, including reference to the waiver from the NZX (and these conditions
of the waiver) and the reasons for it, and including an explanation of the changes to its forest crop valuation
methodology and indicating whether the Board believed that the change in valuation methodology is likely to have a
significant effect on the carrying value, and whether that change would be positive or negative.
The Company reaffirms the earnings guidance provided at the time of its half year announcement in February 2003 that
operating earnings for the full year to June 2003, prior to unrealised foreign exchange impacts, revaluations and
unusual items, are expected to be similar to the $58 million recorded in the prior financial year.