Rayonier to acquire Pope Resources

Rayonier Inc. and Pope Resources have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Rayonier will acquire all of the outstanding limited partnership units of Pope Resources for consideration consisting of equity and cash.

 

“We are delighted to be combining two premier pure-play timber organizations using an innovative tax-deferred UPREIT structure,” said David Nunes, President and CEO of Rayonier. “Pope Resources has a strong track record as a best-in-class Pacific Northwest timberland operator and possesses an excellent set of assets in high-quality markets. Our two organizations have very compatible cultures, a complementary set of assets and a shared dedication to value maximization through intensive silvicultural practices and higher-and-better-use real estate operations.

“The addition of these high-quality Pacific Northwest timberlands increases Rayonier’s ownership in the region to 504,000 acres, adds 57 MMBF to our sustainable yield, increases our proportion of Douglas-fir inventory and offers a complementary age-class fit. We look forward to completing this transaction by mid-year, which continues our strategy of adding high-quality timberlands in strong log markets and building long-term value for our shareholders through prudent capital allocation.”

 

“This transaction is the culmination of a thorough process undertaken by Pope Resources’ board to maximize value for our unitholders,” said Tom Ringo, President and CEO of Pope Resources.