Prepared By R.R. Donnelley Financial -- Form 8-K
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Form 8-K
 
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  11/30/2006
 
RAYONIER INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Commission File Number:  1-6780
 
North Carolina
  
13-2607329
(State or other jurisdiction of
  
(IRS Employer
incorporation)
  
Identification No.)
 
50 North Laura Street
Jacksonville, Florida
32202
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
 
904-357-9100
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ]   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 

Information to be included in the report

 
Item 8.01.    Other Events
 
On November 30, 2006, Rayonier Inc. announced that it entered into an agreement to purchase 55,000 acres of timberland in Texas for $121 million from an investment fund advised by Global Forest Partners LP.
 

 

Signature(s)
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
     
 
RAYONIER INC.
 
 
Date: December 01, 2006
     
By:
 
/s/    Hans E. Vanden Noort

               
Hans E. Vanden Noort
               
Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
 
 


 

Exhibit Index
 
Exhibit No.

  
Description

EX-99.1
  
Press release entitled "Rayonier to Acquire 55,000 Acres of Timberland in Texas", dated November 30, 2006.
board

For further information

Media Contact: Jay Fredericksen

904-357-9106

Investor Contact: Parag Bhansali

904-357-9155

Rayonier to Acquire 55,000 Acres of Timberland in Texas

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., November 30, 2006 -- Rayonier (NYSE:RYN) announced today it has agreed to acquire 55,000 acres of high-quality timberland in Texas for $121 million from an investment fund advised by Global Forest Partners LP. The transaction is expected to close by year-end.

The well-managed timberland has an unusually large percentage of immediately harvestable, high-value pine sawtimber. In addition, the property is located approximately 70 miles north of Houston along Interstate 45 in an area with good demand for rural land.

"This property is an excellent fit for Rayonier," said Lee Nutter, Chairman, President and CEO. "Because of the very high percentage of mature timber and its exceptional quality, the transaction will be immediately cash accretive. The property also complements the 31,000 acres of timberland we recently acquired in Texas. In addition to increasing our timberland base, this purchase provides very significant like-kind-exchange tax benefits, giving us further opportunity to efficiently develop our high-value real estate business along the I-95 coastal corridor in Georgia and Northeast Florida."

About Rayonier

Rayonier is a leading international forest products company with three core businesses: Timber, Real Estate and Performance Fibers. It owns, leases or manages 2.7 million acres of timber and land in the U.S., New Zealand and Australia. 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.

About Global Forest Partners LP

Global Forest Partners LP is an SEC-registered investment adviser that structures and manages innovative timberland investments on behalf of institutional and other qualified investors worldwide. As of September 30, 2006, the firm managed approximately $1.6 billion for over 100 clients.

Except for historical information, the statements made in this press release 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, which include statements regarding anticipated earnings, revenues, tax savings and other statements relating to Rayonier's financial and operational performance, in some cases are identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "estimate," "believe," "anticipate" and other similar language. The following important factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in this release: unexpected delays in the entry into or closing of real estate sale transactions, including, without limitation, the above-described transaction; changes in law o r policy that might condition, limit or restrict the development of real estate; the ability of the company to identify and complete timberland and higher-value real estate acquisitions, including the transactions referenced above; the ability of the company to complete tax-efficient, like-kind exchanges of real estate; and implementation or revision of governmental policies and regulations affecting taxes, including changes in tax laws that could reduce the benefits associated with REIT status or like-kind exchanges of real estate. For additional factors that could impact future results, please see 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 may be required by law.