JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Rayonier Inc. announced this week that it intends to separate its Performance Fibers business from its Forest Resources and Real Estate businesses. The separation will result in two independent, publicly-traded companies by means of a tax-free spin-off of the Performance Fibers business to Rayonier shareholders. The separation is expected to be completed in mid-2014.

“Rayonier’s board and management team continuously evaluate strategic options to best position the company to drive value for shareholders. As part of our strategic planning process, we began in-depth analysis and preparation for the business separation almost two years ago. With an improving U.S. housing market, strong timber export markets, and the successful expansion of our cellulose specialties capacity, we concluded that now is the optimal time to pursue the separation of these two non-integrated businesses,” said Paul Boynton, Chairman, President and CEO.

Boynton continued, “While these businesses have historically provided Rayonier with balance and financial strength, the company has evolved into two distinct businesses and investment opportunities. Accordingly, through this separation, each business will gain the flexibility to pursue its own growth strategies and operating priorities, and develop the optimal capital structure and allocation to generate long-term growth and value for shareholders.”

Benefits of Separation

Rayonier has achieved important milestones to transition Performance Fibers to a specialty chemical company with an excellent foundation for long-term growth and stability. The company has recently unlocked significant growth potential with the completion of its cellulose specialties expansion project, which increased production capacity of high-value cellulose specialties at its Jesup, Ga. mill by 190,000 metric tons. Compared with 2013, Performance Fibers is expected to sell an additional 30,000 to 50,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties in 2014 as it commences the multi-year ramp-up to full cellulose specialties production.

In its Forest Resources business, Rayonier has repositioned its portfolio to focus on core regions, including the recent sale of its New York timberlands. It has made significant acquisitions of high-quality timberlands, and owns some of the most valuable timberlands in North America and New Zealand. In its Real Estate business, the company has obtained land use entitlements for higher-and-better-use properties to position them for enhanced sales values. Together, these businesses are positioned for ongoing growth in the current environment of increasing housing starts and improving economic conditions.

Following completion of the separation, each company is expected to be well capitalized, generate strong free cash flows, be well positioned for future growth and be best-in-class in its respective industry. Additional benefits of the separation include:

•    Distinct investment identity - The companies have different markets, growth drivers, risk profiles, business processes and capital needs. With the separation, investors will be able to evaluate and invest in each business based on its respective merits, performance and future prospects.

•    Enhanced strategic and management focus - The board and management team of each company will be able to pursue its distinct operating priorities and strategies, and focus on its own long-term growth and profitability.

•    More efficient allocation of capital - Each company will concentrate its financial resources solely on its own operations, and have greater flexibility to invest capital in a time and manner appropriate for its distinct strategy.

•    Independent access to capital markets - Each company will have ready access to the capital markets and more flexibility to capitalize on its unique growth opportunities.

•    Alignment of incentives with performance objectives - The separation will focus incentive compensation arrangements for employees more directly to the performance and growth objectives of the relevant company’s business.

Upon completion of the planned separation, the two business profiles will be:

Rayonier Inc.

Comprised of the company’s existing Forest Resources and Real Estate businesses, Rayonier Inc. will be a geographically diverse pure-play forest resources company with 2.6 million acres of high-quality timberlands, including approximately 200,000 acres well situated for real estate development along coastal Florida and Georgia. Since early 2011, Rayonier has invested $700 million in timberland acquisitions in executing its strategy to grow its timberland ownership. Rayonier will maintain its status as a highly tax-efficient REIT. The company will maintain its strong balance sheet, pay a competitive dividend to its shareholders, and expects to retain an investment-grade credit profile.

Performance Fibers

The Performance Fibers company, not yet named, will be the world’s leading producer of high-value specialty cellulose fibers with revenue of more than $1 billion and EBITDA1 of $386 million in 2013. The Performance Fibers business has intellectual property and manufacturing processes that have been developed over 85 years and today, with facilities in Florida and Georgia, has approximately 675,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties capacity and nearly double the sales of its next largest competitor. The company is expected to continue to generate strong cash flows and to pay a dividend competitive with its peer group. The Performance Fibers company intends to target a mid-BB grade credit profile.

Leadership

Upon completion of the separation, Mr. Boynton will become Chairman, President and CEO of the Performance Fibers company, and Hans Vanden Noort, CFO, will remain CFO of Rayonier. The current business unit leaders will continue in their roles with Lynn Wilson, EVP Forest Resources and Chris Corr, SVP Real Estate at Rayonier and Jack Kriesel, SVP Performance Fibers at the Performance Fibers company.

In addition, each company will have its own separate board of directors. The current Rayonier board membership will be assigned to the board of one of the two companies. Richard Kincaid will serve as chairman of the Rayonier board and David Brown will be the lead director of the new Performance Fibers company board. Mr. Boynton will be working with the Rayonier board over the coming months to identify the CEO of Rayonier as well as the additional board members for each company.

Transaction Details

Rayonier expects to maintain its quarterly dividend until the separation is completed.
Upon completion of the transaction, each company is expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Performance Fibers company plans to file a Form 10 this week with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register its securities. Work to effect the separation is underway and further details will be disclosed during the next several months.

The planned separation does not require a shareholder vote but is subject to final Rayonier board approval, receipt of a favorable ruling from the Internal Revenue Service concerning the tax-free status of the separation, effectiveness of the Form 10 registration statement, and satisfactory completion of related financing.