Press Release

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 25, 2013-- Rayonier (NYSE:RYN) today reported second quarter 2013 net income attributable to shareholders of $87 million, or 67 cents per share, compared to $69 million, or 54 cents per share, in the prior year period. The second quarter results included a $16 million gain¹ related to the consolidation of its 65 percent owned New Zealand joint venture (JV). Excluding this gain, pro forma net income² was $71 million, or 54 cents per share, compared to $66 million, or 52 cents per share, in the prior year period, excluding discontinued operations.

For the first six months, net income attributable to shareholders was $235 million, or $1.80 per share, compared to $123 million, or 96 cents per share, in the prior year period. Pro forma net income² was $174 million, or $1.33 per share, compared to $119 million, or 93 cents per share, in 2012.

Cash provided by operating activities was $236 million for the first six months of 2013 compared to $209 million for the prior year period. Year-to-date cash available for distribution (CAD) ³ was $170 million versus $141 million in the first half of 2012.

The following table summarizes the current quarter and comparable prior period results:

The following table summarizes the year-to-date and comparable prior period results:

“We are pleased with our continued strong performance in 2013. In Forest Resources, sales volumes and prices increased compared with the prior year due to somewhat improved sawlog demand, particularly in our Northwest and New Zealand holdings. In Performance Fibers, our key cellulose specialties markets remain strong. In addition, CAD has grown reflecting higher operating results across all segments,” said Paul Boynton, Chairman, President and CEO.

Forest Resources

Second quarter sales of $109 million were $56 million above the prior year period, while operating income of $21 million improved $13 million. Year-to-date sales of $166 million increased $61 million from 2012, while operating income of $34 million rose $18 million above prior year results. Second quarter and year-to-date 2013 periods included $47 million of sales and $3 million of operating income from the consolidation of the New Zealand JV. In the second quarter, Rayonier increased its JV ownership from 26 percent to 65 percent.

In the Atlantic region, operating results improved due to stronger pulpwood and sawlog demand and wet weather conditions restricting supply. The Gulf region operating results improved due to higher sawlog demand and increased volumes from our December 2012 Texas acquisition, partially offset by lower non-timber income. In the Pacific Northwest, second quarter and year-to-date results reflected higher prices and volumes driven largely by stronger export demand, partially offset by increased logging costs.

Real Estate

Second quarter sales of $13 million were $1 million above the prior year period, while operating income of $6 million was comparable. Year-to-date sales of $38 million were $14 million above 2012, and operating income of $23 million was $11 million above the prior year as higher non-strategic prices and volumes more than offset lower rural prices (due to mix) and volumes.

Performance Fibers

Second quarter sales of $253 million were comparable to the prior year period, as higher cellulose specialties prices and volumes were offset by reduced absorbent material prices, reflecting continued weakness in that market and lower volumes as we exit this business. Operating income of $79 million decreased $5 million, due to higher wood and chemical prices and increased production costs. Year-to-date sales of $537 million were $32 million above 2012, while operating income of $171 million increased $7 million. Higher cellulose specialties prices and volumes were partially offset by lower absorbent materials results and increased costs.

Other Items

Excluding the gain related to the consolidation of the New Zealand JV, second quarter corporate and other operating expenses increased $7 million from the prior year period due to higher legal, compensation and corporate development costs. For the first six months, expenses increased $3 million due to higher legal costs. The prior year periods also benefited from a $2 million insurance recovery benefit.

Interest and other expenses were $8 million and $13 million below the prior year second quarter and year-to-date periods, respectively. Interest expense decreased primarily as a result of lower borrowing rates and higher capitalized interest related to the cellulose specialties expansion (CSE) project. Also, second quarter 2012 included a $3 million interest charge related to the exchange of alternative fuel mixture credit (AFMC) for cellulosic biofuel producer credit (CBPC).

The second quarter effective tax rate before discrete items was 20.7 percent compared to 26.3 percent in the prior year period. The year-to-date effective tax rate before discrete items was 21.9 percent compared to 26.4 percent in the prior year period. The current quarter and year-to-date decline in the effective tax rates was primarily due to proportionately higher earnings from REIT operations in 2013 and a benefit associated with the internal transfer of timberland properties.

Including discrete items, the second quarter effective tax rate was 14.8 percent versus 15.4 percent in the prior year period. On a year-to-date basis, the effective tax rate was 9.3 percent compared to 20.4 percent in 2012, as the 2013 AFMC for CBPC exchange was higher than the 2012 exchange.

Outlook

“Monday’s announcement of an 11 percent dividend increase underscores our confidence in future cash flow growth,” added Boynton. “In Forest Resources, sawlog demand and prices are benefiting from the early stages of a gradually improving housing market, and Asian demand for sawlogs from our US Northwest and New Zealand timberlands remains strong. In Real Estate, we are seeing increased interest in our development properties and demand for our nonstrategic timberlands.

In this transition year for Performance Fibers, we recently reached an important milestone by the on time start-up of the CSE project at our Jesup mill. I am especially pleased to report that early production volumes and quality have exceeded our expectations. We will begin qualifying production from the converted line with our cellulose specialties customers this quarter.

Consistent with our earlier guidance, we expect earnings from continuing operations to be weighted more heavily to the first half of the year with the benefit of tax credits recognized in the first quarter and the impact of the CSE project phase-in on the second half. Overall, excluding the results of the Wood Products business and gain on sale, and the gain related to consolidation of our New Zealand JV, we expect 2013 operating income to be slightly above 2012, and 2013 EPS to be moderately above 2012 reflecting lower income tax and interest expenses,” concluded Boynton.

Further Information

A conference call will be held on Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 2 p.m. EDT to discuss these results. Presentation materials and access to the live webcast will be available at www.rayonier.com. Investors may also choose to access the conference call by dialing (888) 989-7543, password: Rayonier. A replay of this webcast will be available on the Company’s website shortly after the call. Complimentary copies of Rayonier press releases and other financial documents are also available by calling 1-800-RYN-7611.

¹ The $16 million gain includes the recognition of a $10.1 million deferred gain based on the original sale of Rayonier’s New Zealand operations to the joint venture in 2005 and a $6 million benefit due to the required fair market value remeasurement of Rayonier’s equity interest in the JV held before the purchase of the additional interest.

² Pro forma net income is a non-GAAP measure which is defined and reconciled to GAAP in the attached exhibits.

³ CAD is a non-GAAP measure defined and reconciled to GAAP in the attached exhibits.

Rayonier is a leading international forest products company with three core businesses: Forest Resources, Real Estate and Performance Fibers. The company owns, leases or manages 2.7 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 Interstate 95 corridor between Savannah, GA and Daytona Beach, FL. Its Performance Fibers business is one of the world's leading producers of high-value specialty cellulose fibers, which are used in products such as filters, pharmaceuticals and LCD screens. Approximately 50 percent of the company's sales are outside the U.S. to customers in approximately 40 countries. Rayonier is structured as a real estate investment trust. More information is available at www.rayonier.com.

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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 events, developments or financial or operational performance or results, 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," "intend,” "anticipate" and other similar language. However, the absence of these or similar words or expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable when made, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and undue reliance should not be placed on these statements.

The following important factors, among others, could cause actual results or events 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; fluctuations in demand for our products in Asia, and especially China; the uncertainties of potential impacts of climate-related initiatives; changes in energy and raw material prices, particularly for our Performance Fibers business; impacts of the rising cost of fuel, including the cost and availability of transportation for our products, both domestically and internationally, and the cost and availability of third party logging and trucking services; unanticipated equipment maintenance and repair requirements at our manufacturing facilities; the geographic concentration of a significant portion of our timberland; our ability to identify, finance 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; 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 property; changes in key management and personnel; our ability to meet all necessary legal requirements to continue to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and to fund distributions using cash generated through our taxable REIT subsidiaries, and changes in tax laws that could adversely affect tax treatment of our specific businesses or 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; a delayed or weak recovery in the housing market; 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 and 10-Q reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Rayonier assumes no obligation to update these statements except as is required by law.

Source: Rayonier

Rayonier
Investors:
Ed Kiker, 904-357-9186
or
Media:
Russell Schweiss, 904-357-9158