Skip to main content

Interfor Reports Q3’23 Results

Adjusted EBITDA of $32 million and Net Loss of $42 million

BURNABY, British Columbia, Nov. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — INTERFOR CORPORATION (“Interfor” or the “Company”) (TSX: IFP) recorded a Net loss in Q3’23 of $42.4 million, or $0.82 per share, compared to a Net loss of $14.1 million, or $0.27 per share in Q2’23 and Net earnings of $3.5 million, or $0.06 per share in Q3’22.

Adjusted EBITDA was $31.9 million on sales of $828.1 million in Q3’23 versus $41.9 million on sales of $871.8 million in Q2’23 and $129.5 million on sales of $1.0 billion in Q3’22.

Notable items in the quarter:

  • Lumber Production Balanced with Demand
    • Lumber production totaled 1.0 billion board feet, representing a decrease of 26 million board feet quarter-over-quarter. The decrease was primarily due to the temporary closure of a sawmill in B.C. as a result of wildfires.
    • Lumber shipments were 1.0 billion board feet, or 108 million board feet lower than Q2’23.
  • Weak Lumber Prices
    • Lumber prices continued to reflect softened demand driven by the elevated interest rate environment and ongoing economic uncertainty. Lumber prices strengthened at the beginning of Q3’23 from the effects of industry production curtailments and reduced European imports combined with increased new home construction demand but began to weaken near the end of Q3’23 as increased economic uncertainty drove interest rates higher. Interfor’s average selling price was $661 per mfbm, up $12 per mfbm versus Q2’23.
  • Financial Flexibility Improved
    • Net debt at quarter-end was $777.7 million, or 28.7% of invested capital, with available liquidity of $417.9 million.
    • The net debt to invested capital leverage ratio improved compared to the end of Q2’23, driven by $107.2 million of cash flow from operations, including $70.5 million from income tax refunds.
    • Collection of an additional US$24.9 million of income tax refunds related to 2022 is expected in Q4’23.
  • Strategic Capital Investments
    • Capital spending was $38.5 million, including $20.1 million of discretionary investment focused on multi-year projects in the U.S. South region.
    • Total capital expenditures planned for 2023 remains unchanged from prior guidance at approximately $210.0 million, while total preliminary capital expenditures for 2024 are estimated to be approximately $140.0 million.
  • Ongoing Monetization of Coastal B.C. Operations
    • Over the course of Q3’23, Interfor advanced on its plans to monetize its Coastal B.C. operations, which consist primarily of forest tenure rights from the province of B.C. and related log harvesting activities.
    • On October 3, 2023, the Company entered into an agreement to settle certain contractual obligations in order to facilitate monetization of its Coastal B.C. operations. The settlement will result in an $85.0 million provision being recognized in the fourth quarter, 2023, the payment of which Interfor expects to be fully funded by net proceeds from the disposition of Coast B.C. forest tenures over the next several years.
    • On October 27, 2023, the Company reached an agreement for the disposition of Coastal B.C. forest tenures totalling approximately 162,000 cubic metres of allowable annual cut (“AAC”) for net proceeds of $21.0 million. The completion of the disposition has received Ministry of Forests approval and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2023, subject to customary conditions for a transaction of this kind.
    • Following this, Interfor held Coastal B.C. forest tenures totalling approximately 1,411,000 cubic metres of AAC available for disposition subject to approvals from the Ministry of Forests.
  • Softwood Lumber Duties
    • On August 1, 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce (“DoC”) published the final rates for countervailing (“CV”) and anti-dumping (“AD”) duties based on the results of its fourth administrative review (“AR4”) covering shipments for the year ended December 31, 2021. The final combined rate for 2021 was 8.05% compared to the cash deposit rate of 8.99% from January to November 2021 and 17.90% for December 2021. The combined rate of 8.05% applied to new shipments effective September 13, 2023. To reflect the lower amended final rates for 2021, Interfor recorded a $6.3 million reduction to duties expense in Q3’23 and a corresponding receivable on its balance sheet.  
    • Interfor has cumulative duties of US$540.0 million, or approximately $10.36 per share on an after-tax basis, held in trust by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as at September 30, 2023. Except for US$161.8 million recorded as a receivable in respect of overpayments arising from duty rate adjustments and the fair value of rights to duties acquired, Interfor has recorded the duty deposits as an expense.

Outlook

North American lumber markets over the near term are expected to remain volatile as the economy continues to adjust to inflationary pressures, elevated interest rates, labour shortages and geo-political uncertainty.

Interfor expects that over the mid-term, lumber markets will continue to benefit from favourable underlying supply and demand fundamentals. Positive demand factors include the advanced age of the U.S. housing stock, a shortage of available housing and various demographic factors, while growth in lumber supply is expected to be limited by extended capital project completion and ramp-up timelines, labour availability and constrained global fibre availability.

Interfor’s strategy of maintaining a diversified portfolio of operations in multiple regions allows the Company to both reduce risk and maximize returns on capital over the business cycle. Interfor is well positioned with its strong balance sheet and available liquidity to continue pursuing its strategic plans despite ongoing economic and geo-political uncertainty globally. In the event of a sustained lumber market downturn, Interfor maintains flexibility to significantly reduce capital expenditures and working capital levels, and to proactively adjust its lumber production to match demand.

Financial and Operating Highlights1  

  For the three months ended For the nine months ended
  Sept. 30Sept. 30Jun. 30 Sept. 30Sept. 30
 Unit202320222023 20232022
        
Financial Highlights2       
Total sales$MM828.11,035.6871.8 2,529.83,773.7
Lumber$MM667.1837.8723.2 2,032.83,241.1
Logs, residual products and other$MM161.0197.8148.6 497.0532.6
Operating earnings (loss)$MM(21.1)75.8(20.8) (78.2)974.4
Net earnings (loss)$MM(42.4)3.5(14.1) (97.8)670.4
Net earnings (loss) per share, basic$/share(0.82)0.06(0.27) (1.90)11.95
Operating cash flow per share (before working capital changes)3$/share1.78(0.02)0.68 2.9310.86
Adjusted EBITDA3$MM31.9129.541.9 99.81,128.2
Adjusted EBITDA margin3%3.9%12.5%4.8% 3.9%29.9%
        
Total assets$MM3,577.83,294.63,603.9 3,577.83,294.6
Total debt$MM877.1396.4918.5 877.1396.4
Net debt3$MM777.7249.7815.7 777.7249.7
Net debt to invested capital3%28.7%10.5%29.6% 28.7%10.5%
Annualized return on capital employed3%(4.5%)5.6%(1.1%) (3.6%)47.8%
        
Operating Highlights       
Lumber productionmillion fbm9979861,023 3,0502,918
U.S. Southmillion fbm470470468 1,4121,390
U.S. Northwestmillion fbm162159165 469495
Eastern Canadamillion fbm247198249 745505
B.C.million fbm118159141 424528
Lumber salesmillion fbm1,0081,0641,116 3,1282,989
Lumber – average selling price4$/thousand fbm661800649 6501,084
        
Key Statistics       
Benchmark lumber prices5       
SYP CompositeUS$ per mfbm429555446 439785
KD H-F Stud 2×4 9’US$ per mfbm474627452 451937
Eastern SPF CompositeUS$ per mfbm510657474 486949
Western SPF CompositeUS$ per mfbm412550372 394849
        
USD/CAD exchange rate6       
Average1 USD in CAD1.34141.30561.3428 1.34561.2828
Closing1 USD in CAD1.35201.37071.3240 1.35201.3707

Notes:

  1. Figures in this table may not equal or sum to figures presented elsewhere due to rounding.
  2. Financial information presented for interim periods in this release is prepared in accordance with IFRS and is unaudited.
  3. Refer to the Non-GAAP Measures section of this release for definitions and reconciliations of these measures to figures reported in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
  4. Gross sales including duties and freight.
  5. Based on Random Lengths Benchmark Lumber Pricing.
  6. Based on Bank of Canada foreign exchange rates.

Liquidity

Balance Sheet

Interfor’s Net debt at September 30, 2023 was $777.7 million, or 28.7% of invested capital, representing an increase of $57.3 million from the level of Net debt at December 31, 2022.

As at September 30, 2023 the Company had net working capital of $400.0 million and available liquidity of $417.9 million, based on the available borrowing capacity under its $600.0 million Revolving Term Line (“Term Line”).

The Term Line and Senior Secured Notes are subject to financial covenants, including a net debt to total capitalization ratio and an EBITDA interest coverage ratio.

Management believes, based on circumstances known today, that Interfor has sufficient working capital and liquidity to fund operating and capital requirements for the foreseeable future.

 For the three months ended
Sept. 30,
 For the nine months ended
Sept. 30,
Millions of Canadian Dollars20232022 20232022
Net debt     
Net debt (cash), period opening$815.7$102.0 $720.3$(162.9)
Repayment of Senior Secured Notes (7.1)(7.0)
Term Line net drawings (repayments)(61.2) 88.3(3.9)
Decrease (increase) in cash and cash equivalents5.6130.2 (23.6)406.5
Foreign currency translation impact on U.S. Dollar denominated cash and cash equivalents and debt17.617.5 (0.2)17.0
Net debt, period ending$777.7$249.7 $777.7$249.7

On December 16, 2022, the Company completed an expansion of its Term Line. The commitment under the Term Line was increased by $100.0 million to a total of $600.0 million.

On December 1, 2022, the Company issued US$200.0 million of Series H Senior Secured Notes, bearing interest at 7.06% with principal payments of US$66.7 million due on December 26, 2031, 2032 and on final maturity in 2033.

Capital Resources

The following table summarizes Interfor’s credit facilities and availability as of September 30, 2023:

 RevolvingSenior 
 TermSecured 
Millions of Canadian DollarsLineNotesTotal
Available line of credit and maximum borrowing available$600.0$654.0$1,254.0
Less:   
Drawings223.1654.0877.1
Outstanding letters of credit included in line utilization58.458.4
Unused portion of facility$318.5$       –318.5
Add:   
Cash and cash equivalents  99.4
Available liquidity at September 30, 2023  $417.9

Interfor’s Term Line matures in December 2026 and its Senior Secured Notes have maturities in the years 2024-2033.

As of September 30, 2023, the Company had commitments for capital expenditures totaling $114.2 million for both maintenance and discretionary capital projects.

Non-GAAP Measures

This MD&A makes reference to the following non-GAAP measures: EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Net debt to invested capital, Operating cash flow per share (before working capital changes), and Annualized return on capital employed which are used by the Company and certain investors to evaluate operating performance and financial position. These non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

The following table provides a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to figures as reported in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements (unaudited for interim periods) prepared in accordance with IFRS:

 For the three months endedFor the nine months ended
 Sept. 30Sept. 30Jun. 30Sept. 30Sept. 30
Millions of Canadian Dollars except number of shares and per share amounts20232022202320232022
      
Adjusted EBITDA     
Net earnings (loss)$(42.4)$3.5$(14.1)$(97.8)$670.4
Add:     
Depreciation of plant and equipment46.740.646.7138.5115.3
Depletion and amortization of timber, roads and other7.69.89.929.728.0
Finance costs10.21.513.334.411.0
Income tax expense (recovery)(5.1)35.8(8.1)(24.7)257.3
EBITDA17.091.247.780.11,082.0
Add:     
Long-term incentive compensation expense (recovery)(1.3)2.52.84.1(4.2)
Other foreign exchange loss (gain)14.046.9(13.7)0.354.4
Other expense (income) excluding business interruption insurance2.2(11.9)5.013.6(9.0)
Asset write-downs and restructuring costs0.80.11.75.0
Adjusted EBITDA$31.9$129.5$41.9$99.8$1,128.2
Sales$828.1$1,035.6$871.8$2,529.8$3,773.7
Adjusted EBITDA margin3.9%12.5%4.8%3.9%29.9%
      
Net debt to invested capital     
Net debt     
Total debt$877.1$396.4$918.5$877.1$396.4
Cash and cash equivalents(99.4)(146.7)(102.8)(99.4)(146.7)
Total net debt$777.7$249.7$815.7$777.7$249.7
Invested capital     
Net debt$777.7$249.7$815.7$777.7$249.7
Shareholders’ equity1,927.92,123.31,943.21,927.92,123.3
Total invested capital$2,705.6$2,373.0$2,758.9$2,705.6$2,373.0
Net debt to invested capital128.7%10.5%29.6%28.7%10.5%
      
Operating cash flow per share (before working capital changes)     
Cash provided by operating activities$107.2$47.0$123.0$145.7$722.0
Cash used in (generated from) operating working capital(15.7)(47.9)(88.4)4.8(113.1)
Operating cash flow (before working capital changes)$91.5$(0.9)$34.6$150.5$608.9
Weighted average number of shares – basic (millions)51.454.151.451.456.1
Operating cash flow per share (before working capital changes)$1.78$(0.02)$0.68$2.93$10.86
      
Annualized return on capital employed     
Net earnings (loss)$(42.4)$3.5$(14.1)$(97.8)$670.4
Add:     
Finance costs10.21.513.334.411.0
Income tax expense (recovery)(5.1)35.8(8.1)(24.7)257.3
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and finance costs$(37.3)$40.8$(8.9)$(88.1)$938.7
Capital Employed     
Total assets$3,577.8$3,294.6$3,603.9$3,577.8$3,294.6
Current liabilities(345.4)(378.8)(318.9)(345.4)(378.8)
Less:     
Current portion of long-term debt45.17.444.145.17.4
Current portion of lease liabilities16.015.615.816.015.6
Capital employed, end of period$3,293.5$2,938.8$3,344.9$3,293.5$2,938.8
Capital employed, beginning of period3,344.92,869.93,419.33,316.02,303.2
Average capital employed$3,319.2$2,904.3$3,382.1$3,304.7$2,621.0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and finance costs divided by
average capital employed
(1.1%)1.4%(0.3%)(2.7%)35.8%
Annualization factor4.04.04.01.31.3
Annualized return on capital employed(4.5%)5.6%(1.1%)(3.6%)47.8%
 
Note 1: Net debt to invested capital as of the period end.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 (unaudited)
(millions of Canadian Dollars except per share amounts)Three MonthsThree MonthsNine MonthsNine Months
 Sept. 30, 2023Sept. 30, 2022Sept. 30, 2023Sept. 30, 2022
     
Sales$828.1$1,035.6$2,529.8$3,773.7
     
Costs and expenses:    
Production778.1902.92,353.42,536.0
Selling and administration17.215.652.049.4
Long-term incentive compensation expense (recovery)(1.3)2.54.1(4.2)
U.S. countervailing and anti-dumping duty deposits0.9(12.4)28.669.8
Depreciation of plant and equipment46.740.6138.5115.3
Depletion and amortization of timber, roads and other7.69.829.728.0
 849.2959.02,606.32,794.3
     
Operating earnings (loss) before asset write-downs and    
restructuring costs(21.1)76.6(76.5)979.4
     
Asset write-downs and restructuring costs0.81.75.0
Operating earnings (loss)(21.1)75.8(78.2)974.4
     
Finance costs(10.2)(1.5)(34.4)(11.0)
Other foreign exchange loss(14.0)(46.9)(0.3)(54.4)
Other income (expense)(2.2)11.9(9.6)18.7
 (26.4)(36.5)(44.3)(46.7)
     
Earnings (loss) before income taxes(47.5)39.3(122.5)927.7
     
Income tax expense (recovery):    
Current(5.9)27.5(24.0)242.9
Deferred0.88.3(0.7)14.4
 (5.1)35.8(24.7)257.3
     
Net earnings (loss)$(42.4)$3.5$(97.8)$670.4
     
Net earnings (loss) per share    
Basic$(0.82)$0.06$(1.90)$11.95
Diluted$(0.82)$0.06$(1.90)$11.91

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 (unaudited)
(millions of Canadian Dollars)Three MonthsThree MonthsNine MonthsNine Months
 Sept. 30, 2023Sept. 30, 2022Sept. 30, 2023Sept. 30, 2022
     
Net earnings (loss)$(42.4)$3.5$(97.8)$670.4
     
Other comprehensive income (loss):    
Items that will not be recycled to Net earnings (loss):    
Defined benefit plan actuarial gain (loss), net of tax(1.2)0.70.6
     
Items that are or may be recycled to Net earnings (loss):    
Foreign currency translation differences for foreign operations,    
net of tax26.9115.0(2.8)142.9
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax26.9113.8(2.1)143.5
     
Comprehensive income (loss)$(15.5)$117.3$(99.9)$813.9

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 (unaudited)
(millions of Canadian Dollars)Three MonthsThree MonthsNine MonthsNine Months
 Sept. 30, 2023Sept. 30, 2022Sept. 30, 2023Sept. 30, 2022
     
Cash provided by (used in):    
Operating activities:    
Net earnings (loss)$(42.4)$3.5$(97.8)$670.4
Items not involving cash:    
Depreciation of plant and equipment46.740.6138.5115.3
Depletion and amortization of timber, roads and other7.69.829.728.0
Deferred income tax expense (recovery)0.88.3(0.7)14.4
Current income tax expense (recovery)(5.9)27.5(24.0)242.9
Finance costs10.21.534.411.0
Other assets(6.4)(27.5)(6.1)(30.0)
Reforestation liability1.5(2.9)(0.5)(2.8)
Provisions and other liabilities(2.3)(1.8)(3.8)(27.5)
Stock option vesting0.20.20.60.7
Write-down of plant and equipment0.81.53.2
Unrealized foreign exchange loss8.842.70.450.9
Other expense (income)2.2(11.9)9.6(18.7)
Income taxes refunded (paid)70.5(91.7)68.7(448.9)
 91.5(0.9)150.5608.9
Cash generated from (used in) operating working capital:    
Trade accounts receivable and other(1.6)19.4(39.3)35.1
Inventories(7.3)42.557.675.4
Prepayments4.60.8(4.2)(5.9)
Trade accounts payable and provisions20.0(14.8)(18.9)8.5
 107.247.0145.7722.0
     
Investing activities:    
Additions to property, plant and equipment(31.6)(82.5)(152.2)(194.4)
Additions to roads and bridges(6.9)(3.6)(7.6)(7.7)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired0.5(536.1)
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant, equipment and other0.220.74.932.0
Investment in GreenFirst Forest Products Inc.(55.6)
Net proceeds from (additions to) deposits and other assets0.8(3.4)2.1(3.2)
 (37.5)(68.8)(152.3)(765.0)
     
Financing activities:    
Issuance of share capital, net of expenses0.10.4
Share repurchases, net of expenses(100.4)(327.6)
Interest payments(9.4)(3.8)(37.5)(13.1)
Lease liability payments(4.7)(4.2)(13.4)(12.0)
Debt refinancing costs(0.2)(0.3)
Term line net drawings (repayments)(61.2)88.3(3.9)
Repayments of Senior Secured Notes(7.1)(7.0)
 (75.3)(108.4)30.2(363.5)
     
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on cash and cash equivalents    
held in a foreign currency2.26.2(1.8)14.5
Increase (decrease) in cash(3.4)(124.0)21.8(392.0)
     
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period102.8270.677.6538.6
     
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$99.4$146.6$99.4$146.6

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (unaudited)
(millions of Canadian Dollars)Sept. 30, 2023Dec. 31, 2022
   
Assets  
Current assets:  
Cash and cash equivalents$99.4$77.6
Trade accounts receivable and other217.0174.1
Income tax receivable60.1104.1
Inventories339.1396.9
Prepayments29.825.9
 745.4778.6
   
Employee future benefits17.818.4
Deposits and other assets279.3281.6
Right of use assets35.734.0
Property, plant and equipment1,702.91,701.2
Roads and bridges35.238.1
Timber licences173.2178.4
Goodwill and other intangible assets583.6588.1
Deferred income taxes4.71.4
   
 $3,577.8$3,619.8
   
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity  
Current liabilities:  
Trade accounts payable and provisions$265.3$285.5
Current portion of long-term debt45.17.3
Reforestation liability18.017.9
Lease liabilities16.014.8
Income taxes payable1.00.3
 345.4325.8
   
Reforestation liability28.828.7
Lease liabilities20.820.5
Long-term debt832.0790.6
Employee future benefits10.59.9
Provisions and other liabilities19.824.2
Deferred income taxes392.6393.0
   
Equity:  
Share capital408.9408.7
Contributed surplus6.05.5
Translation reserve173.1175.9
Retained earnings1,339.91,437.0
   
 1,927.92,027.1
   
 $3,577.8$3,619.8

Approved on behalf of the Board of Directors:  
“L. Sauder”“T.V. Milroy”
DirectorDirector


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward-looking information about the Company’s business outlook, objectives, plans, strategic priorities and other information that is not historical fact. A statement contains forward-looking information when the Company uses what it knows and expects today, to make a statement about the future. Statements containing forward-looking information may include words such as: will, could, should, believe, expect, anticipate, intend, forecast, projection, target, outlook, opportunity, risk or strategy. Readers are cautioned that actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this release, and undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking information. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this release are described in Interfor’s third quarter and annual Management’s Discussion and Analysis under the heading “Risks and Uncertainties”, which are available on www.interfor.com and under Interfor’s profile on www.sedarplus.ca. Material factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking information in this release include the timing and value of proceeds received from the disposition of Coast B.C. forest tenures; volatility in the selling prices for lumber, logs and wood chips; the Company’s ability to compete on a global basis; the availability and cost of log supply; natural or man-made disasters; currency exchange rates; changes in government regulations; Indigenous reconciliation; the softwood lumber trade dispute between Canada and the United States; environmental impacts of the Company’s operations; labour availability; and information systems security. Unless otherwise indicated, the forward-looking statements in this release are based on the Company’s expectations at the date of this release. Interfor undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking information or statements, except as required by law.

ABOUT INTERFOR

Interfor is a growth-oriented forest products company with operations in Canada and the United States. The Company has annual lumber production capacity of approximately 5.2 billion board feet and offers a diverse line of lumber products to customers around the world. For more information about Interfor, visit our website at www.interfor.com.

The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis for Q3’23 are available at www.sedarplus.ca and www.interfor.com.

There will be a conference call on Friday, November 3, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) hosted by INTERFOR CORPORATION for the purpose of reviewing the Company’s release of its third quarter 2023 financial results.

The dial-in number is 1-888-396-8049. The conference call will also be recorded for those unable to join in for the live discussion and will be available until December 3, 2023. The number to call is 1-877-674-7070, Passcode 026550#.

For further information:
Richard Pozzebon, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(604) 422-3400

 

Disclaimer & Cookie Notice

Welcome to GOLDEA services for Professionals

Before you continue, please confirm the following:

Professional advisers only

I am a professional adviser and would like to visit the GOLDEA CAPITAL for Professionals website.

Cookie Notice

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website

Information we collect about your use of Goldea Capital website

Goldea Capital website collects personal data about visitors to its website.

When someone visits our websites, we use a third party service, Google Analytics, to collect standard internet log information (such as IP address and type of browser they’re using) and details of visitor behavior patterns. We do this to allow us to keep track of the number of visitors to the various parts of the sites and understand how our website is used. We do not make any attempt to find out the identities or nature of those visiting our websites. We won’t share your information with any other organizations for marketing, market research or commercial purposes and we don’t pass on your details to other websites.

Use of cookies
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or other device by websites that you visit. They are widely used to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site.