SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). These statements include the accounts of Rayonier Inc. and its subsidiaries, in which it has a majority ownership or controlling interest. As of April 2013, the Company held a controlling interest (65%) in its New Zealand JV, and, as such, consolidates its results of operations and Balance Sheet. The Company also records a noncontrolling interest in its consolidated financial statements representing the minority ownership interest (35%) of the New Zealand JV’s results of operations and equity. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and to disclose contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. There are risks inherent in estimating and therefore actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include time deposits with original maturities of three months or less. The consolidated cash balance includes time deposits of $23.4 million and $0 million at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are primarily amounts due to the Company for the sale of timber and are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts.

Inventory

HBU real estate properties that are expected to be sold within one year are included in inventory at lower of cost or market value. HBU properties that are expected to be sold after one year are included in a separate balance sheet line, entitled “Higher and Better Use Timberlands and Real Estate Development Investments.” See below for additional information.

Inventory also includes logs available to be sold by the Trading segment. Log inventory is recorded at the lower of cost or market and expensed to cost of goods sold when sold to third-party buyers.

Prepaid Logging Roads

Costs for roads in the Pacific Northwest built to access particular tracts to be harvested in the upcoming 24 months are recorded as prepaid logging roads. The Company charges such costs to expense as timber is harvested using an amortization rate determined annually as the total cost of prepaid roads divided by the estimated tons of timber to be accessed by those roads. The prepaid balance is classified as short-term or long-term based on the upcoming harvest schedule.

Timber and Timberlands

Timber is stated at the lower of cost or market value. Costs relating to acquiring, planting and growing timber including real estate taxes, site preparation and direct support costs relating to facilities, vehicles and supplies are capitalized. Annual lease payments are also capitalized if the remaining lease term is greater than five years. Lease payments made within five years of expiration are expensed as incurred. Payroll costs are capitalized for time spent on timber growing activities, while interest or any other intangible costs are not capitalized. An annual depletion rate is established for each particular region by dividing merchantable inventory cost by standing merchantable inventory volume, which is estimated annually. The Company charges accumulated costs attributed to merchantable timber to depletion expense (cost of sales), at the time the timber is harvested or when the underlying timberland is sold based on the relationship of timber sold to the estimated volume of currently merchantable timber.

Upon the acquisition of timberland, the Company makes a determination on whether to combine the newly acquired merchantable timber with an existing depletion pool or to create a new, separate pool. This determination is based on the geographic location of the new timber, the customers/markets that will be served and the species mix. If the acquisition is similar, the cost of the acquired timber is combined into an existing depletion pool and a new depletion rate is calculated for the pool. This determination and depletion rate adjustment normally occurs in the quarter following the acquisition.

Higher and Better Use Timberlands and Real Estate Development Investments

HBU timberland is recorded at the lower of cost or market value. These properties are managed as timberlands until sold or developed with sales and depletion expense related to the harvesting of timber accounted for within the respective timber segment. At the time of sale, the cost basis of any unharvested timber is recorded as depletion expense, a component of cost of goods sold, within the Real Estate segment.

Real estate development investments include capitalized costs for targeted infrastructure improvements, such as roadways and utilities. HBU timberland and real estate development investments expected to be sold within twelve months are recorded as inventory. See Note 6 — Higher and Better Use Timberlands and Real Estate Development Investments for additional information.

Property, Plant, Equipment and Depreciation

Property, plant and equipment additions are recorded at cost, including applicable freight, interest, construction and installation costs. The Company depreciates its assets, including office and transportation equipment, using the straight-line depreciation method over 3 to 25 years. Buildings and land improvements are depreciated using the straight-line method over 15 to 35 years and 5 to 30 years, respectively.

Gains and losses on the retirement of assets are included in operating income. Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets that are held and used is measured by net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is the amount the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the assets, which is based on a discounted cash flow model. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A three-level hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value was established as follows:

Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the acquisition cost of the New Zealand Timber segment over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized, but is periodically reviewed for impairment. An impairment test for this reporting unit’s goodwill is performed annually and whenever events or circumstances indicate that the value of goodwill may be impaired. In performing Step 1 (recoverability test) of the impairment test as outlined in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360-10-35, Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, the Company compares the fair value of the New Zealand Timber segment to its carrying value including goodwill. If the carrying value including goodwill were to exceed the fair value of the New Zealand Timber segment, Step 2 of the test would be performed. Step 2 of the impairment test requires the carrying value of goodwill to be reduced to its fair value, if lower, as of the test date.

For Step 1 of the test, the Company estimates the reporting unit's fair value using an independent valuation for the New Zealand forest assets. The independent valuation of the New Zealand forest assets is based on discounted cash flow models where the fair value is calculated using cash flows from sustainable forest management plans. The fair value of the forest assets is measured as the present value of cash flows from one growth cycle based on the productive forest land, taking into consideration environmental, operational, and market restrictions. These cash flow valuations involve a number of estimates that require broad assumptions and significant judgment regarding future performance. The annual impairment test was performed as of October 1, 2015; the estimated fair value of the New Zealand Timber segment exceeded its carrying value and no impairment was recorded.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of the Company’s New Zealand-based operations is the New Zealand dollar. All assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect at the respective balance sheet dates. Translation gains and losses are recorded as a separate component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss), (“AOCI”), within Shareholders’ Equity.

U.S. denominated transactions of the New Zealand JV are translated into New Zealand dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the date of the transaction and recognized in earnings, net of related cash flow hedges. All income statement items of the New Zealand JV are translated into U.S. dollars for reporting purposes using monthly average exchange rates with translation gains and losses being recorded as a separate component of AOCI, within Shareholders’ Equity.

Revenue Recognition

The Company generally recognizes revenues when the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services rendered, (iii) the Company’s price to the buyer is fixed and determinable, and (iv) collectibility is reasonably assured.

Timber Sales

Revenue from the sale of timber is recognized when title passes to the buyer. The Company utilizes two primary methods or sales channels for the sale of timber, a stumpage or standing timber model and delivered logs. Under the stumpage model, standing timber is sold primarily under pay-as-cut contracts, with specified duration (typically one year or less) and fixed prices, whereby revenue is recognized as timber is severed and the sales volume is determined. The Company also sells stumpage under lump-sum contracts for specified parcels where the Company receives cash for the full agreed value of the timber prior to harvest and title and risk of loss pass to the buyer upon signing the contract. The Company retains interest in the land, slash products, and the use of the land for recreational and other purposes. Any uncut timber remaining at the end of the contract period reverts to the Company. Revenue is recognized for lump-sum timber sales when payment is received, the contract is signed and title and risk of loss pass to the buyer. A third type of stumpage sale the Company utilizes is an agreed-volume sale, whereby revenue is recognized as periodic physical observations are made of the percentage of acreage harvested.

In delivered log sales, the Company hires third-party loggers and haulers to harvest timber and deliver it to a buyer. Revenue is recognized when the logs are delivered and title and risk of loss transfer to the buyer. Sales of delivered logs generally do not require an initial payment and are made to third-party customers on open credit terms. The sales method the Company employs for a given tract of timber depends upon local market conditions and which method is expected to provide the best overall margin.

Non-timber income included in “Other Operating Income, Net” is primarily comprised of hunting and recreational leases. Lease income is recognized ratably over the period of the lease.

Log Trading

Domestic log trading revenue for sales within New Zealand is recorded when the goods are received by the customer and title passes. Export log trading revenue is recorded when the ship leaves the port, at which time title passes to the customer.

Real Estate

The Company recognizes revenue on sales of real estate when the sale is consummated, generally when payment is received and title and risk of loss have passed to the buyer. Cost of sales associated with real estate sold comprises the cost of the land, the cost of any timber on the property that was conveyed to the buyer, and any closing costs including sales commissions that may be borne by the Company. Costs incurred to obtain land use entitlements or for infrastructure such as utilities, roads or other improvements are charged to cost of sales for a project as a percentage of revenue earned to total anticipated revenue and costs for each project.

Employee Benefit Plans

The determination of expense and funding requirements for Rayonier’s defined benefit pension plan, its unfunded excess pension plan and its postretirement life insurance plan are largely based on a number of actuarial assumptions. The key assumptions include discount rate, return on assets, salary increases, mortality rates, longevity and service lives of employees. See Note 15 — Employee Benefit Plans for assumptions used to determine benefit obligations, and the net periodic benefit cost for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Periodic pension and other postretirement expense is included in “Cost of sales,” “Selling and general expenses” and “Income from discontinued operations, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company’s pension plans were in a net liability position (underfunded) of $33.0 million and $31.8 million, respectively. The estimated amount to be paid in the next 12 months is recorded in “Accrued payroll and benefits” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, with the remainder recorded as a long-term liability in “Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits.” Changes in the funded status of the Company’s plans are recorded through comprehensive income (loss) in the year in which the changes occur. The Company measures plan assets and benefit obligations as of the fiscal year-end. See Note 15 — Employee Benefit Plans for additional information.

Income Taxes

The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured pursuant to tax laws using rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The Company recognizes the effect of a change in income tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income in the period that includes the enactment date of the rate change. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets if it is more-likely-than-not that such deferred tax assets will not be realized.

In determining the provision for income taxes, the Company computes an annual effective income tax rate based on annual income by legal entity, permanent differences between book and tax, and statutory income tax rates by jurisdiction. Inherent in the effective tax rate is an assessment of the ultimate outcome of current period uncertain tax positions. The Company adjusts its annual effective tax rate as additional information on outcomes or events becomes available. Discrete items such as taxing authority examination findings or legislative changes are recognized in the period in which they occur.

The Company’s income tax returns are subject to audit by U.S. federal, state and foreign taxing authorities. In evaluating the tax benefits associated with various tax filing positions, the Company records a tax benefit for an uncertain tax position if it is more-likely-than-not to be realized upon ultimate settlement of the issue. The Company records a liability for an uncertain tax position that does not meet this criterion. The Company adjusts its liabilities for uncertain tax benefits in the period in which it is determined the issue is settled with the taxing authorities, the statute of limitations expires for the relevant taxing authority to examine the tax position or when new facts or information becomes available. Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits are included in “Other Non-Current Liabilities” in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 9 — Income Taxes for additional information.

Reclassifications

Certain 2014 and 2013 amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation, including the Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows to better reflect the intended use of the assets and funds. These reclassifications did not affect revenue, total costs and expenses, operating income, or net income.

The following summarizes reclassifications at December 31, 2015:


•	Seeds and seedlings have been reclassified on the Consolidated Balance Sheet from “Inventory” and “Other Assets” to “Timber and Timberlands, Net” to better reflect the intended use of the assets. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, seeds and seedlings were $5.5 million and $4.8 million, respectively.


•	HBU timberlands and real estate development investments have been reclassified on the Consolidated Balance Sheet from “Other Assets” to a separate balance sheet caption. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the cost of Rayonier’s HBU real estate not expected to be sold within the next 12 months was $65.4 million and $77.4 million, respectively.

•

Consistent with the reclassification of HBU timberland and real estate development investments from “Other Assets” to a separate balance sheet caption, real estate development investments have been reclassified on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows from “Cash Provided by Operating Activities” to “Cash Used for Investing Activities.” For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, real estate development investments were $2.7 million and $3.7 million, respectively.


•	Silvicultural expenditures on Rayonier’s HBU real estate have been reclassified on the Consolidated Statement of “Cash Flows from Cash Provided by Operating Activities” to “Cash Used for Investing Activities.” For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, silvicultural expenditures on Rayonier’s HBU property were $0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

New or Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) jointly issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard that will supersede current revenue recognition guidance. The guidance provides a unified model to determine when and how revenue is recognized and will require enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers – Deferral of the Effective Date. ASU No. 2015-14 provides a one-year deferral of the effective date of the new standard, with an option for organizations to adopt early based on the original effective date. This standard will be effective for Rayonier beginning January 1, 2018 and can be applied either retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new guidance on the consolidated financial statements and has completed a preliminary analysis of the specific impacts to our New Zealand Timber segment.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) – Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. ASU No. 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs be presented in the Balance Sheet as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability. ASU No. 2015-03 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2015, including interim periods within that reporting period, and is required to be applied on a retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15 which clarified and amended the guidance so that debt issuance costs related to a line-of-credit arrangement can continue to be deferred and presented as an asset on the balance sheet, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. Rayonier intends to adopt ASU No. 2015-03 in the Company’s first quarter 2016 Form 10-Q and as required will present debt issuance costs as a deduction of the carrying amount of debt while presenting debt issuance costs related to the Company’s revolving credit facility as an asset with subsequent amortization over the life of the facility. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had approximately $3.3 million and $0.6 million of capitalized debt costs related to its outstanding non-revolving debt and revolving credit facilities, respectively.

In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-07, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) – Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent). ASU No. 2015-07 requires that investments for which the fair value is measured at NAV using the practical expedient (investments in funds measured at NAV) under “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (Topic 820) be excluded from the fair value hierarchy. ASU No. 2015-07 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within that reporting period. ASU No. 2015-07 is required to be applied retrospectively to all periods presented beginning in the period of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. Rayonier intends to adopt ASU No. 2015-07 in the Company’s first quarter 2016 Form 10-Q filing, which will not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740) – Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. ASU No. 2015-17 requires deferred tax assets and liabilities to be classified as noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. ASU No. 2015-17 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted. Rayonier adopted ASU No. 2015-17 in its Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015 in this annual report on Form 10-K. The Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2014 was not retrospectively adjusted. See Note 9 — Income Taxes for additional information.

Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated events occurring from December 31, 2015 to the date of issuance for potential recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements.

Share Repurchase

On February 10, 2016, the Board of Directors approved the repurchase of an additional $100 million of Rayonier’s common shares (the “share repurchase program”). The program has no time limit and may be suspended or discontinued at any time.