Press Release

JACKSONVILLE, FL, Oct 25, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Rayonier (NYSE:RYN) today reported third quarter net income of $105 million, or 84 cents per share. The results include a $16 million tax benefit from the reversal of a reserve relating to the taxability of the 2009 alternative fuel mixture credit ("AFMC"). Excluding this benefit, net income was $89 million, or 71 cents per share, compared to $63 million, or 51 cents per share, in the prior year period.

Year-to-date 2011 net income totaled $220 million, or $1.75 per share, compared to $158 million, or $1.30 per share, in 2010. Excluding special items,¹ year-to-date 2011 net income rose to $204 million, or $1.62 per share, from $147 million, or $1.21 per share in 2010.

Cash provided by operating activities was $326 million for the first nine months of 2011 compared to $473 million for the prior year period. Year-to-date cash available for distribution² ("CAD") was $242 million versus $400 million in 2010. The 2010 results included the receipt of $189 million related to the AFMC. (See Schedule D for more details.)

"We continued to deliver strong operating results this quarter, with solid earnings and cash flows well in excess of our recently increased dividend," said Lee M. Thomas, Chairman and CEO.

"In Forest Resources, we leveraged our proximity to major ports in the Pacific Northwest, selling into growing Asian export markets and locking in volumes as prices increased. In Performance Fibers, demand continued to exceed production capacity for our high purity cellulose specialties."

Forest Resources

Third quarter sales of $57 million were $10 million above the prior year period, while operating income of $11 million increased $2 million. Year-to-date sales of $162 million increased $19 million from 2010, while operating income of $34 million was $8 million above prior year results despite a $3 million second quarter loss for damage from forest fires.

Prices for our logs in the Northwest United States and New Zealand increased from the prior year periods due to continuing strong export demand from Asian markets. The strength in these regions more than offset higher logging costs in the Northern region and lower results in the Atlantic and Gulf regions primarily due to the impact from forest fires and softer grade markets.

Real Estate

Third quarter sales of $32 million were $13 million below the prior year period, while operating income of $28 million declined $3 million. Year-to-date, sales of $58 million were $33 million below 2010, and operating income of $40 million declined $12 million. Decreases in non-strategic timberland and rural volumes were offset in part by higher margins per acre due to property mix. Third quarter 2011 also benefited from a $6 million property tax settlement covering 2005 through 2010.

Performance Fibers

Third quarter sales of $255 million were $9 million above the prior year period, while operating income of $75 million was $13 million higher. The third quarter 2011 results reflect higher cellulose specialties prices due to strong market demand partially offset by increased input costs and lower sales volumes due to the timing of customer orders. Absorbent materials prices declined from the prior year.

For the nine month period, sales of $739 million were $91 million above 2010, while operating income of $222 million increased $70 million. Higher cellulose specialties and absorbent materials prices reflecting stronger global market demand more than offset increased input and transportation costs.

Other Items

Corporate and other expenses of $6 million for third quarter 2011 were $2 million below the prior year period primarily due to the receipt of an insurance settlement. Year-to-date, corporate and other expenses were $21 million, consistent with 2010 (excluding the first quarter 2010 New Zealand gain on sale.¹) Interest and other expenses were comparable for the 2011 and 2010 periods.

The effective tax rates for the quarter and year-to-date 2011 were a 9.0 percent benefit and a 7.5 percent expense, respectively. The effective tax rates for the comparable 2010 periods were 20.9 percent and 16.0 percent, respectively. The decline in the effective tax rates for the 2011 periods is primarily due to the reversal of the $16 million reserve relating to the taxability of the AFMC and benefits associated with the structuring of a transfer of higher and better use properties to the Taxable REIT Subsidiary from the REIT.

Outlook

"Our actions to create value continue to drive strong cash flows and operating results. We are increasing our 2011 guidance as we now expect pro forma earnings of $2.07 to $2.15 per share versus our prior guidance of $1.90 to $2.07 per share," commented Thomas.

"We're pleased with the progress we've made on key strategic initiatives that position us for future growth. We expect to close on the acquisition of 250,000 acres of Southeastern timberland in November, strengthening our presence in attractive end markets and increasing our timberland holdings to more than 2.7 million acres," Thomas said. "We are on track with the 190,000 ton expansion of our high purity cellulose specialties capacity at Jesup mill. Approximately 70 percent of this new volume is already committed, and we continue to see strong interest from customers for the remaining volume."

"We believe our strategy of providing an attractive, growing dividend and investing strategic capital to strengthen and expand our businesses will continue to create superior value over time for our shareholders," Thomas concluded.

Further Information

A conference call will be held on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 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) 790-3052, 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 Year-to-date 2011 operating income includes a $16 million tax benefit from the reversal of a reserve relating to the taxability of the AFMC. Year-to-date 2010 operating income included a first quarter gain of $12 million from the sale of a portion of the Company's interest in its New Zealand joint venture.

² 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 2.5 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 45 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.

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 effect of the current economic downturn, which is impacting many areas of our economy, including the housing market, availability and cost of credit, and demand for our products and real estate; 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; the uncertainties of potential impacts of climate-related initiatives; changes in energy and raw material prices, particularly for our Performance Fibers and wood products businesses; 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 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 current downturn 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: Carl Kraus, 904-357-9158
Media: Robin Keegan, 904-357-9194