RYN Rayonier Inc

Rayonier (NYSE:RYN) today reported first quarter net income of $40.6 million, or 51 cents per share, compared to $35.1 million, or 45 cents per share, in first quarter 2007. �Despite a weak timber market, first quarter results were quite good,� said Lee M. Thomas, Chairman, President and CEO. �Softness in timber prices and lower volumes from our planned reductions in sawlog harvests were offset by strong demand in Performance Fibers and demand for higher and better use rural properties and non-strategic timberlands. We also executed on our strategy to grow and upgrade our timberland portfolio, as evidenced by our recent acquisitions of more than 110,000 acres in Washington and New York." Cash provided by operating activities of $100 million was $48 million above the prior year period due to lower working capital requirements and higher operating earnings. Cash available for distribution1 of $61 million was comparable to first quarter 2007. (See Schedule H for more details.) Timber In first quarter 2008, sales and operating income were $47 million and $12 million, $18 million and $14 million below the prior year period, respectively, due to the weak housing market�s impact on sawlog pricing and the Company�s planned reductions in sawlog volume. Based on current conditions, the Company expects to continue to limit its sawtimber harvest for the balance of the year preserving higher-value timber until markets improve. Real Estate Sales and operating income were $29 million and $22 million, $8 million and $7 million above first quarter 2007, respectively, due to increased rural property prices and volumes and non-strategic timberland sales. The first quarter improvement in volume was partially attributable to the acceleration of transactions originally expected to close in second quarter 2008. Performance Fibers Sales and operating income were $175 million and $37 million, an improvement of $9 million and $10 million from the prior year period, respectively. Increased prices and lower depreciation expense more than offset higher raw materials costs as well as the maintenance costs and lower volume resulting primarily from unplanned downtime early in the quarter. Other Items Corporate expenses were $7 million, down $2 million from the prior year period primarily due to lower stock-based and other incentive compensation expenses. Interest expense of $11 million was $2 million below first quarter 2007 primarily due to lower interest rates resulting from the fourth quarter 2007 debt refinancing. The first quarter effective tax rate before discrete items increased to 20.5 percent compared to 16.7 percent in 2007 due to proportionately higher earnings from the Company�s taxable REIT subsidiary.2 Including discrete items, the first quarter effective tax rate was 20.2 percent. Outlook �Given the outlook for the timber and real estate markets, we expect that second quarter and full year 2008 earnings will be below prior year periods. However, we anticipate that the softness in those markets will be somewhat offset by the continued strength in Performance Fibers,� said Thomas. �In Real Estate, we anticipate continued interest in rural properties and non-strategic timberlands although sales will be more heavily weighted to the second half of the year. Cash available for distribution is expected to remain strong, although below 2007.� Further Information A conference call will be held on Tuesday, April 22, at 2:00 p.m. ET to discuss these results. Interested parties are invited to listen to the live Webcast by logging on to www.rayonier.com and following the link. Investors may also choose to access the �listen only� conference call by dialing 913-981-5584. Supplemental materials will be available at the website. A replay will be available on the site shortly after the call, and it will be archived for one month. For further information, visit the company�s web site at www.rayonier.com. Complimentary copies of Rayonier press releases and other financial documents are also available by mail or fax by calling 1-800-RYN-7611. 1 Cash available for distribution (CAD) is a non-GAAP measure defined and reconciled to GAAP in the attached exhibits. 2 See Schedule J for details. Rayonier is a leading international forest products company with three core businesses: Timber, Real Estate and Performance Fibers. The company owns, leases or manages 2.6 million acres of timber and land in the United States and New Zealand. The company�s holdings include approximately 200,000 acres with residential and commercial development potential along the fast-growing Interstate 95 corridor between Savannah, Georgia, and Daytona Beach, Florida. Its Performance Fibers business is the world�s leading producer of high-value specialty cellulose fibers. Approximately 40 percent of the company�s sales are outside the U.S. to customers in more than 50 countries. Rayonier is structured as a real estate investment trust. More at www.rayonier.com. Certain statements in this document regarding anticipated financial outcomes including earnings guidance, if any, business and market conditions, outlook and other similar statements relating to Rayonier's future financial and operational performance, are "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "estimate," "believe," "anticipate" and other similar language. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. The following important factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements that may have been made in this document: the cyclical and competitive nature of the industries in which we operate; fluctuations in demand for, or supply of, our forest products and real estate offerings; entry of new competitors into our markets; changes in global economic conditions and world events, including political changes in particular regions or countries; changes in energy and raw material prices, particularly for our performance fibers and wood products businesses; unanticipated equipment maintenance and repair requirements at our manufacturing facilities; the geographic concentration of a significant portion of our timberland; our ability to identify and complete timberland acquisitions; changes in environmental laws and regulations, including laws regarding air emissions and water discharges, remediation of contaminated sites, timber harvesting, delineation of wetlands, and endangered species, that may restrict or adversely impact our ability to conduct our business, or increase the cost of doing so; adverse weather conditions, natural disasters and other catastrophic events such as hurricanes, wind storms and wildfires, which can adversely affect our timberlands and the production, distribution and availability of our products and raw materials such as wood, energy and chemicals; interest rate and currency movements; the availability of credit generally, including its impact on the cost and terms of obtaining financing; our capacity to incur additional debt, and any decision we may make to do so; changes in tariffs, taxes or treaties relating to the import and export of our products or those of our competitors; the ability to complete like-kind-exchanges of timberlands and real estate; changes in key management and personnel; our ability to continue to qualify as a REIT and to fund distributions using cash generated through our taxable REIT subsidiaries; and changes in tax laws that could reduce the benefits associated with REIT status. In addition, specifically with respect to our Real Estate business, the following important factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements that may have been made in this document: the cyclical nature of the real estate business generally, including fluctuations in demand for both entitled and unentitled property; the lengthy, uncertain and costly process associated with the ownership, entitlement and development of real estate, especially in Florida, which also may be affected by changes in law, policy and political factors beyond our control; the potential for legal challenges to entitlements and permits in connection with our properties; unexpected delays in the entry into or closing of real estate transactions; the existence of competing developers and communities in the markets in which we own property; the pace of development and the rate and timing of absorption of existing entitled property in the markets in which we own property; changes in the demographics affecting projected population growth and migration to the Southeastern U.S.; changes in environmental laws and regulations, including laws regarding water withdrawal and management and delineation of wetlands, that may restrict or adversely impact our ability to sell or develop properties; the cost of the development of property generally, including the cost of property taxes, labor and construction materials; the timing of construction and availability of public infrastructure; and the availability of financing for real estate development and mortgage loans. Additional factors are described in the company's most recent Form 10-K on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Rayonier assumes no obligation to update these statements except as is required by law. RAYONIER FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS MARCH 31, 2008 (unaudited) (millions of dollars, except per share information) � � � � � Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, � 2008 � � 2007 � � 2007 � Profitability Sales $ 284.2 $ 290.4 $ 299.7 Operating income $ 60.5 $ 43.1 $ 55.2 Pro forma operating income (a) $ 60.5 $ 43.9 $ 55.2 Net income $ 40.6 $ 34.4 $ 35.1 Income per diluted common share Net income $ 0.51 $ 0.44 $ 0.45 Pro forma net income (a) $ 0.51 $ 0.45 $ 0.45 Pro forma operating income as a percent of sales (a) 21.3 % 15.1 % 18.4 % Average diluted shares (millions) 79.2 79.3 78.5 � Three Months Ended March 31, � 2008 � � 2007 � Capital Resources and Liquidity Cash provided by operating activities $ 100.2 $ 52.4 Cash used for investing activities $ (38.2 ) $ (46.9 ) Cash used for financing activities $ (96.1 ) $ (17.0 ) Adjusted EBITDA (b) (d) $ 96.5 $ 97.5 Cash Available for Distribution (CAD) (c) (d) $ 61.4 $ 60.8 � � 03/31/08 � � 12/31/07 � Debt $ 694.8 $ 749.8 Debt / capital 41.3 % 43.3 % Cash $ 146.9 $ 181.1 � (a), (b), (c) and (d), see Schedule B. � � � - A - RAYONIER FOOTNOTES FOR SCHEDULE A MARCH 31, 2008 (unaudited) � � � (a) Pro forma operating income and net income are non-GAAP measures. See Schedule H for reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure. (b) Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings from operations before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization and the non-cash cost basis of real estate sold. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure of operating cash generating capacity of the Company. See reconciliation on Schedule I. (c) Cash Available for Distribution (CAD) is defined as cash provided by operating activities less capital spending, adjusted for the tax benefits associated with certain strategic acquisitions, the change in committed cash and other items which include the proceeds from matured energy forward contracts and the change in capital expenditures purchased on account. CAD is a non-GAAP measure of cash generated during a period that is available for dividend distribution, repurchase of the Company�s common shares, debt reduction and for strategic acquisitions net of associated financing. See reconciliation on Schedule H. (d) Management considers these measures to be important to estimate the enterprise and shareholder values of the Company as a whole and of its core segments, and for allocating capital resources. In addition, analysts, investors and creditors use these measures when analyzing the financial condition and cash generating ability of the Company. � � � - B - RAYONIER CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME MARCH 31, 2008 (unaudited) (millions of dollars, except per share information) � � � � Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, � 2008 � � 2007 � � 2007 � Sales $ 284.2 � $ 290.4 � $ 299.7 � Costs and expenses Cost of sales (a) 211.0 231.9 231.7 Selling and general expenses 14.9 18.1 15.8 Other operating income, net � (2.2 ) � (2.7 ) � (3.0 ) Operating income (a) 60.5 43.1 55.2 Interest expense (11.2 ) (14.1 ) (13.6 ) Interest and other income, net � 1.5 � � 4.1 � � 1.0 � Income before taxes 50.8 33.1 42.6 Income tax (expense) / benefit � (10.2 ) � 1.3 � � (7.5 ) Net income $ 40.6 � $ 34.4 � $ 35.1 � Income per Common Share: Basic Net income $ 0.52 � $ 0.45 � $ 0.45 � Diluted Net income $ 0.51 � $ 0.44 � $ 0.45 � Pro forma net income (b) $ 0.51 � $ 0.45 � $ 0.45 � Weighted average Common Shares used for determining Basic EPS � 78,254,220 � � 77,969,013 � � 77,130,711 � Diluted EPS � 79,212,287 � � 79,264,982 � � 78,528,221 � � � (a) Cost of sales and operating income for the three months December 31, 2007 include a $0.8 million charge, for timber destroyed by forest fires. Excluding this amount, cost of sales and operating income were $231.1 million and $43.9 million, respectively. � (b) Non-GAAP measure, see Schedule H for a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure. � � - C - RAYONIER BUSINESS SEGMENT SALES AND OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) MARCH 31, 2008 (unaudited) (millions of dollars) � � � Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2008 2007 2007 Sales Timber $ 47.2 $ 49.4 $ 65.0 Real Estate 29.4 10.2 21.0 Performance Fibers Cellulose specialties 132.7 143.3 129.5 Absorbent materials � 42.2 � � 56.0 � � 36.9 � Total Performance Fibers � 174.9 � � 199.3 � � 166.4 � Wood Products 18.9 20.3 19.7 Other Operations � 13.8 � � 11.2 � � 27.6 � � Total sales $ 284.2 � $ 290.4 � $ 299.7 � � Pro forma operating income/(loss)(a) Timber $ 12.0 $ 11.8 $ 26.3 Real Estate 21.8 6.0 15.2 Performance Fibers 37.1 39.9 27.1 Wood Products (2.5 ) (2.9 ) (3.3 ) Other Operations (0.6 ) (1.3 ) (1.3 ) Corporate and other � (7.3 ) � (9.6 ) � (8.8 ) Pro forma operating income (a) $ 60.5 � $ 43.9 � $ 55.2 � � (a) Timber segment pro forma operating income excludes the $0.8 million fire loss for the three months ended December 31, 2007. Pro forma operating income is a non-GAAP measure, see Schedule H for a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure. � � - D - RAYONIER CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS MARCH 31, 2008 (unaudited) (millions of dollars) � CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS � � � March 31, � December 31, � 2008 � � 2007 � Assets Current assets $ 351.1 $ 396.2 Timber and timberlands, net of depletion and amortization 1,122.3 1,117.2 Property, plant and equipment 1,361.5 1,340.2 Less - accumulated depreciation � (1,006.8 ) � (994.4 ) � 354.7 � � 345.8 � Investment in New Zealand JV 68.8 62.8 Other assets � 151.8 � � 157.0 � $ 2,048.7 � $ 2,079.0 � Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities $ 180.8 $ 218.4 Long-term debt 694.3 694.3 Non-current liabilities for dispositions and discontinued operations 102.4 103.6 Other non-current liabilities 81.6 81.6 Shareholders' equity � 989.6 � � 981.1 � $ 2,048.7 � $ 2,079.0 � CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Three Months Ended March 31, March 31, � 2008 � � 2007 � Cash provided by operating activities: Net Income $ 40.6 $ 35.1 Depreciation, depletion, amortization and non-cash basis of real estate sold 36.1 42.3 Other non-cash items included in income 8.0 4.9 Changes in working capital and other assets and liabilities � 15.5 � � (29.9 ) � 100.2 � � 52.4 � Cash used for investing activities: Capital expenditures (31.8 ) (31.4 ) Purchase of timberlands and wood chipping facilities (19.6 ) (8.7 ) Decrease / (increase) in restricted cash 10.0 (14.0 ) Other � 3.2 � � 7.2 � � (38.2 ) � (46.9 ) Cash used for financing activities: (Repayment) / borrowing of debt, net (55.0 ) 12.0 Dividends paid (39.1 ) (36.3 ) Issuance of common shares 0.6 5.1 Repurchase of common shares (3.5 ) - Excess tax benefits from equity-based compensation � 0.9 � � 2.2 � � (96.1 ) � (17.0 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash � (0.1 ) � (0.2 ) Cash and cash equivalents: Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (34.2 ) (11.7 ) Balance, beginning of year � 181.1 � � 40.2 � Balance, end of period $ 146.9 � $ 28.5 � � � - E - RAYONIER SELECTED SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA MARCH 31, 2008 (unaudited) (millions of dollars) � � � Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2008 2007 2007 � Timber Sales Western U.S. $ 20.6 $ 20.1 $ 30.7 Eastern U.S. 24.1 25.7 31.1 New Zealand � 2.5 � � 3.6 � � 3.2 � Total $ 47.2 � $ 49.4 � $ 65.0 � � Pro forma operating income (a) Western U.S. $ 8.5 $ 5.7 $ 18.0 Eastern U.S. (a) 2.5 5.9 7.8 New Zealand � 1.0 � � 0.2 � � 0.5 � Total $ 12.0 � $ 11.8 � $ 26.3 � � Adjusted EBITDA by Segment (b) Timber $ 30.1 $ 30.6 $ 48.0 Real Estate 27.0 7.7 18.8 Performance Fibers 48.2 58.5 42.4 Wood Products (1.1 ) (1.5 ) (1.7 ) Other Operations (0.6 ) (1.6 ) (1.3 ) Corporate and other � (7.1 ) � (9.4 ) � (8.7 ) Total $ 96.5 � $ 84.3 � $ 97.5 � � (a) Timber segment pro forma operating income excludes the $0.8 million fire loss for the three months ended December 31, 2007. Pro forma operating income is a non-GAAP measure, see Schedule H for a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure. (b) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure, see Schedule I for reconciliation to nearest GAAP measure. � � - F - RAYONIER SELECTED OPERATING INFORMATION MARCH 31, 2008 (unaudited) � � � Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2008 2007 2007 Timber Sales Volume Western U.S. in millions of board feet 59 47 79 Eastern U.S. in thousands of short green tons 1,312 1,615 1,643 � Real Estate Acres sold HBU Development 47 351 123 HBU Rural 6,488 861 6,014 Non-Strategic Timberlands 4,073 � - � - � Total 10,608 1,212 6,137 � Performance Fibers Sales Volume Cellulose specialties, in thousands of metric tons 107 123 114 Absorbent materials, in thousands of metric tons 56 75 55 Production as a percent of capacity 94.7 % 99.4 % 95.1 % � Lumber Sales volume, in millions of board feet 74 81 73 � � - G - RAYONIER RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES MARCH 31, 2008 (unaudited) (millions of dollars, except per share information) � CASH AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION: � Three Months Ended March 31, March 31, 2008 � 2007 � Cash provided by operating activities $ 100.2 $ 52.4 Capital spending (a) (31.8 ) (31.4 ) (Increase) / decrease in committed cash (8.0 ) 27.8 (b) Equity based compensation adjustments - 5.8 Like-kind exchange tax benefits on real estate sales (c) (2.9 ) (1.0 ) Other � 3.9 � � 7.2 � Cash Available for Distribution $ 61.4 � $ 60.8 � � (a) Capital spending excludes strategic acquisitions and dispositions. (b) Primarily 2006 interest paid in 2007 and previously reflected as a reduction in 2006 CAD. (c) Represents taxes that would have been paid if the Company had not completed LKE transactions. PRO FORMA OPERATING INCOME AND NET INCOME: � � � Three Months Ended March 31, � December 31, � March 31, 2008 2007 2007 � � � � � � � $ Per DilutedShare � $ Per DilutedShare � $ Per DilutedShare Operating Income $ 60.5 $ 43.1 $ 55.2 Forest fire loss � - � 0.8 � - Pro Forma Operating Income $ 60.5 $ 43.9 $ 55.2 � Net Income $ 40.6 $ 0.51 $ 34.4 $ 0.44 $ 35.1 $ 0.45 Forest fire loss � - � - � 0.8 � 0.01 � - � - Pro Forma Net Income $ 40.6 $ 0.51 $ 35.2 $ 0.45 $ 35.1 $ 0.45 � � - H - RAYONIER RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES MARCH 31, 2008 (unaudited) (millions of dollars) � ADJUSTED EBITDA: � � � � Timber � Real Estate � Perfor-mance Fibers � Wood Products � Other Oper-ations � Cor-porate and other � Total Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 Cash provided by operating activities $ 26.5 $ 26.2 $ 58.3 $ (4.0 ) $ 2.2 $ (9.0 ) $ 100.2 Income tax expense - - - - - 10.2 10.2 Interest, net - - - - - 9.7 9.7 Working capital and other � 3.6 � 0.8 � � (10.1 ) � 2.9 � � (2.8 ) � (18.0 ) � (23.6 ) Adjusted EBITDA $ 30.1 $ 27.0 � $ 48.2 � $ (1.1 ) $ (0.6 ) $ (7.1 ) $ 96.5 � December 31, 2007 Cash provided by operating activities $ 20.0 $ 6.5 $ 81.9 $ 0.3 $ (4.3 ) $ (44.1 ) $ 60.3 Income tax benefit - - - - - (1.3 ) (1.3 ) Interest, net - - - - - 10.2 10.2 Working capital and other � 10.6 � 1.2 � � (23.4 ) � (1.8 ) � 2.7 � � 25.8 � � 15.1 � Adjusted EBITDA $ 30.6 $ 7.7 � $ 58.5 � $ (1.5 ) $ (1.6 ) $ (9.4 ) $ 84.3 � March 31, 2007 Cash provided by operating activities $ 47.3 $ 19.0 $ 45.4 $ (1.3 ) $ (7.3 ) $ (50.7 ) $ 52.4 Income tax expense - - - - - 7.5 7.5 Interest, net - - - - - 12.6 12.6 Working capital and other � 0.7 � (0.2 ) � (3.0 ) � (0.4 ) � 6.0 � � 21.9 � � 25.0 � Adjusted EBITDA $ 48.0 $ 18.8 � $ 42.4 � $ (1.7 ) $ (1.3 ) $ (8.7 ) $ 97.5 � � � - I - RAYONIER RECONCILIATION OF STATUTORY INCOME TAX TO REPORTED INCOME TAX MARCH 31, 2008 (unaudited) (millions of dollars, except percentages) � � � Three Months Ended March 31, � December 31, � March 31, 2008 2007 2007 � $ � � % � � $ � � % � � $ � � % � � Income tax provision at the U.S. statutory rate $ (17.8 ) (35.0 ) $ (11.6 ) (35.0 ) $ (14.9 ) (35.0 ) � REIT income not subject to federal tax 9.1 17.9 11.5 34.8 10.7 25.2 � Lost deduction on REIT interest expense and overhead expenses associated with REIT activities � � � (1.4 ) (2.8 ) (3.0 ) (9.1 ) (3.1 ) (7.2 ) Foreign, state and local income taxes, foreign exchange rate changes and permanent differences � � � (0.3 ) (0.6 ) � 0.4 � 1.3 � � 0.2 � 0.3 � � Income tax expense before discrete items $ (10.4 ) (20.5 ) $ (2.7 ) (8.0 ) $ (7.1 ) (16.7 ) � Return to accrual adjustment - - 0.1 0.3 - - � Taxing authority settlements and FIN 48 adjustments (0.1 ) (0.3 ) 1.1 3.3 - - � Deferred tax adjustments / other � 0.3 � 0.6 � � 2.8 � 8.4 � � (0.4 ) (0.9 ) � Income tax (expense) / benefit $ (10.2 ) (20.2 ) $ 1.3 � 4.0 � $ (7.5 ) (17.6 ) � � - J -