Pinnacle is the world’s third largest producer of industrial wood pellets. With eight production facilities in Western Canada linked by rail to ocean shipping terminals on the B.C. coast, as well as one production facility in Alabama with convenient access to ocean shipping via the U.S. Gulf Coast, Pinnacle is one of the only wood pellet suppliers with the scale and capability to serve major global utilities. Pinnacle is a trusted supplier of these utilities, which are expected to drive future growth in demand. Hawkins Wright, a leading, independent industry research body, forecasts that demand for industrial wood pellets will have a compound annual growth rate of 18% from 2017 through 2021.
Pinnacle has established vertically-integrated operations throughout the western Canadian and the U.S. southeastern fibre baskets from wood fibre procurement contracts through to shipping contracts with reputable shippers. Pinnacle’s operating flexibility, strategically located production facilities, terminal operations and constant focus on operational efficiency combine to create a cost advantage relative to competitors. The Company is a lowest-quartile cost supplier to rapidly growing markets in both Europe and Asia.
Pinnacle has signed long-term, take-or-pay contracts with major utilities and power generators that represent 109% of its production capacity through 2021 and nearly 109% of its production capacity through 2026, resulting in highly predictable cash flows. As at March 29, 2019, Pinnacle’s contracted backlog was $6.4 billion, more than double the $3.0 billion of contracted backlog the Company had at the end of Fiscal 2017. During Fiscal 2018 and the first quarter of Fiscal 2019, Pinnacle entered into nine new contracts with major customers in Japan and South Korea.
Pinnacle has established a strong track record of developing, constructing, commissioning and operating new production facilities, as well as expanding or converting existing production facilities, on-time and on-budget. The Company completed the construction of new production facilities in Entwistle, Alberta, and Smithers, B.C. during 2018, that will add approximately 525,000 metric tons of annual production capacity once the facilities reach run-rate production levels. Several additional project development opportunities are currently being evaluated by Pinnacle.
Pinnacle’s financial performance has improved significantly since Fiscal 2014, with growth in EBITDA exceeding top-line growth due to increased scale. Adjusted EBITDA has increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32% since Fiscal 2014, Adjusted Gross Margin has increased at a 26% CAGR, and Revenue has increased at a 15% CAGR (to year-end 2018).
Pinnacle’s management team has a combined 35 years of experience in the wood pellet industry and more than 125 years of experience in the industrial sector. The team has a track record of driving growth in production, productivity, and profitability while maintaining industry-leading safety standards.
Hawkins Wright, a leading, independent industry research body, forecasts that demand for industrial wood pellets will have a compound annual growth rate of 18% from 2017 through 2021.
Through increasing capacity at its existing production facilities, as well as the addition of other greenfield and brownfield projects, Pinnacle expects to grow its industrial wood pellet production proportionately with increasing global demand.
In addition to organic growth opportunities, Pinnacle will pursue acquisition opportunities, or other strategic initiatives, in Western Canada or other jurisdictions, such as the U.S. Pacific Northwest, Eastern Canada and the U.S. Southeast, to further diversify its asset base, leverage its strong development and operational expertise, and capture increased market share. The Company recently entered the U.S. Southeast through its acquisition of a 70% stake in an industrial wood pellet plant in Alabama.
