Secured Bridge and Longer-Term Financing
Obtained significant lender support: Pender Fund advances (initial $25.0M term loan in June 2024 plus ~$21.5M in follow-ons through 2025) and a $19.0M secured term loan from BDC under the softwood lumber guarantee program (matures 2033, interest = BDC floating base rate - 60 bps). $8.0M of BDC proceeds retired short-term Pender advances and the BDC loan reduces near-term covenant risk.
Clear operational recovery plan (2026 transition year)
Management plans curtailment/single-shift in H1 2026 progressing to steady 2-shift operations in H2 2026; restarted 2-shift in February and reported performance 'well above targets' on many shifts, targeting consistent 2-shift operations to achieve EBITDA-positive months in closing months of 2026.
Concrete cost improvement opportunities
Identified quick-payback capital projects totaling just over $11.0M expected to generate >$4.0M EBITDA annually (implying <3-year payback). Conversion cost dilution benefit from moving to 2-shift estimated at ~$50–$70 per 1,000 (board feet).
Log supply and competitive position
Operate in a timber supply area with surplus sawlog availability (approx. 10M m3 supply vs 8M m3 max local demand), supporting relatively affordable stumpage. Management expects McKenzie to be in the bottom half of the SBF cost curve after planned improvements and benefits from a richer B.C. lumber mix (noted USD ~$50 regional pricing advantage vs eastern mills).
Business diversification supported operations
Biomass power generation revenue diversification helped sustain McKenzie operations during broader curtailments, demonstrating the value of non-lumber cash flows.
Temporary accounting issue explained and expected reversal
Long-term debt was temporarily reclassified as current under IFRS as of December 31, 2025 due to timing of BDC formalization; management expects this reclassification to be reversed when Q1 results are released.