Newsroom
Brascan Corporation Buys Weyerhaeuser's B.C. Coastal Group Operations
PRNewswire-FirstCall
VANCOUVER, B.C.
Feb 18, 2005
Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY) today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to sell its B.C. Coastal Group assets to Brascan Corporation of Toronto, Canada for approximately $1.2 billion ($970 million US), plus working capital.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040116/WYLOGO-a http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040116/WYLOGO-b )
Weyerhaeuser expects to complete the sale in the second quarter. The transaction is not conditional on financing, but is subject to regulatory approvals. The company expects to use the proceeds for debt repayment.
The transaction includes 258,000 hectares (635,000 acres) of private timberlands and the annual harvesting rights to 3.6 million cubic meters of public land timber. The sale also includes five softwood sawmills, with a combined annual production of 690 million board feet, and two remanufacturing facilities.
"This sale will allow Weyerhaeuser to focus on its core North American softwood lumber business, while strengthening its balance sheet," said Sandy D. McDade, President of Weyerhaeuser Company Limited.
McDade said the transaction is a good strategic move for both companies and is a sign that efforts to rebuild the Coastal forest industry are taking hold.
"Thanks to the efforts of employees and changes in provincial forest policy, a stronger, safer, more competitive forest products industry is emerging on the B.C. Coast," said McDade. "Coupled with a significantly improving investment climate in British Columbia, this enhanced competitiveness attracted the interest of Brascan."
Following the transaction, Weyerhaeuser will maintain a significant presence in Canada and British Columbia. The company will continue to employ about 7,000 Canadian employees -- producing and distributing softwood and hardwood lumber, engineered wood, oriented strand board, pulp, and fine paper -- in seven provinces.
Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest integrated forest products companies, was incorporated in 1900. In 2004, sales were $29.5 billion ($22.7 billion US). It has offices or operations in 19 countries, with customers worldwide. Weyerhaeuser is principally engaged in the growing and harvesting of timber; the manufacture, distribution and sale of forest products; and real estate construction, development and related activities. Weyerhaeuser Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary, has Exchangeable Shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol WYL. Additional information about Weyerhaeuser's businesses, products and practices is available at www.weyerhaeuser.com.
For more information contact: Canadian Media -- Sarah Goodman 604-661-8408 U.S. Media -- Bruce Amundson 253-924-3047 Analysts -- Kathy McAuley 253-924-2058Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040116/WYLOGO-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040116/WYLOGO-b
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
SOURCE: Weyerhaeuser Company
CONTACT: Canadian Media, Sarah Goodman, +1-604-661-8408, or U.S. Media,
Bruce Amundson, +1-253-924-3047, or Analysts, Kathy McAuley, +1-253-924-2058,
all for Weyerhaeuser Company
Web site: http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/