The $8.4 billion merger of Weyerhaeuser Company with Plum Creek Timber Company created the nation’s largest private landowner, leading one analyst to label the 13-million-acre behemoth the “new Paul Bunyan.” The company, which will operate under the Weyerhaeuser name, has the potential to generate big returns for shareholders as Weyerhaeuser adds valuable timberlands as well as operations in prime locations in the South and Pacific Northwest. Weyerhaeuser will benefit from Plum Creek’s expertise in timberland acquisition and operations under the guidance of CEO Rick Holley. A new board of directors was recently announced, including eight from Weyerhaeuser, including CEO Doyle Simons, and five from Plum Creek, including Holley. “This is an exciting day for Weyerhaeuser as we bring together the best assets and talent in the industry,” said Simons. “In the coming months, we will be relentlessly focused on creating value for our shareholders by capturing cost synergies, leveraging our scale, sharing best practices, delivering the most value from every acre, and driving operational excellence.”
Read more about this 2015 Land Report Timberland Deal of the Year in the Spring issue of The Land Report.