10-Q 1 tnqsqol.htm HTML 10-Q Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc.

Conformed Copy without Exhibits

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(X) QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2001

OR

( ) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 1-10239

 

PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

999 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98104-4096 Telephone: (206) 467-3600

Organized in the State of Delaware I.R.S. Employer Identification No. 91-1443693

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [ X ] No [ ]

The number of outstanding shares of the registrant's common stock as of August 1, 2001 was 68,572,009. The number of outstanding shares of the registrant's special voting stock as of August 1, 2001 was 634,566.

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

         

PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

       

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

       

(UNAUDITED)

       
   

Quarter Ended June 30,

   

2001

 

2000

         
   

(In Thousands, Except Per Share)

         

Revenues

$

157,677 

$

53,149 

         

Costs and Expenses:

       

    Cost of Goods Sold

 

109,088 

 

16,455 

    Selling, General and Administrative

 

10,894 

 

3,401 

    Merger Expenses

 

    4,524 

 

           - 

        Total Costs and Expenses

 

124,506 

 

  19,856 

         

Operating Income

 

33,171 

 

33,293 

         

Interest Expense

 

(15,766)

 

(11,782)

Interest Income

 

2,332 

 

1,496 

Gain on Disposition of Assets - Net

 

       18 

 

       251 

         

Income before Income Taxes, Equity in Earnings (Loss) of
    Unconsolidated Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock Dividends

 

19,755 

 

23,258 

         

Provision for Income Taxes

 

(2,733)

 

         

Equity in Earnings (Loss) of Unconsolidated Subsidiaries and
    Preferred Stock Dividends

 

           - 

 

    (2,255)

         

Net Income

$

17,022 

$

21,003 

=====

=====

Net Income per Share - Basic & Diluted

$

0.25 

$

0.30 

   

=====

 

=====

Dividends Declared Per Share

$

0.57 

$

0.57 

   

=====

 

=====

Weighted average number of Shares outstanding - Basic

 

69,187 

 

69,192 

Weighted average number of Shares outstanding - Diluted

 

69,268 

 

69,209 

 
         

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   

 

 

         

PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

       

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

       

(UNAUDITED)

       
   

Six months Ended June 30,

   

2001

 

2000

         
   

(In Thousands, Except Per Share)

         

Revenues

$

318,972 

$

112,100 

         

Costs and Expenses:

       

    Cost of Goods Sold

 

218,423 

 

32,958 

    Selling, General and Administrative

 

21,323 

 

6,850 

    Merger Expenses

 

  5,027 

 

       - 

        Total Costs and Expenses

 

244,773 

 

39,808 

         

Operating Income

 

74,199 

 

72,292 

         

Interest Expense

 

(31,422)

 

(23,698)

Interest Income

 

3,781 

 

3,003 

Gain on Disposition of Assets - Net

 

24,678 

 

50,072 

         

Income before Income Taxes, Equity in Earnings (Loss) of
    Unconsolidated Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock Dividends

 

71,236 

 

101,669 

         

Provision for Income Taxes

 

(3,163)

 

         

Equity in Earnings (Loss) of Unconsolidated Subsidiaries
    and Preferred Stock Dividends

 

          - 

 

       (87)

         

Net Income

$

68,073 

$

101,582 

=====

=====

Net Income per Share - Basic & Diluted

$

0.98 

$

1.47 

=====

=====

Dividends Declared Per Share

$

1.14 

$

1.14 

=====

=====

Weighted average number of Shares outstanding - Basic

 

69,187 

 

69,199 

Weighted average number of Shares outstanding - Diluted

 

69,252 

 

69,208 

 
         

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   

 

 

         

PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

       

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

       

(UNAUDITED)

       
         
   

June 30,

 

December 31,

   

2001

 

2000

         
   

(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

         

ASSETS

       

Current Assets:

       

    Cash and Cash Equivalents

$

152,155

$

143,958

    Restricted Cash

 

23,646

 

37,490

    Accounts Receivable

 

33,466

 

-

    Inventories

 

36,248

 

-

    Investments in Grantor Trusts

 

11,350

 

12,301

    Other Current Assets

 

   9,068

 

     886

   

265,933

 

194,635

         

Timber and Timberlands - Net

 

947,580

 

975,921

Property, Plant and Equipment - Net

 

111,727

 

1,074

Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

 

-

 

74,261

Deferred Tax Asset

 

57,147

 

-

Other Assets

 

   6,154

 

   4,177

    Total Assets

$

1,388,541

$

1,250,068

=====

=====

LIABILITIES

       

Current Liabilities:

       

    Current Portion of Long-Term Debt

$

27,441

$

6,153

    Line of Credit

 

123,000

 

96,000

    Accounts Payable

 

21,971

 

1,295

    Related Party Payables

 

-

 

37,340

    Interest Payable

 

10,759

 

9,714

    Wages Payable

 

8,990

 

-

    Taxes Payable

 

4,308

 

1,680

    Liabilities Associated with Grantor Trust

 

11,097

 

12,106

    Deferred Income

 

-

 

10,890

    Other Current Liabilities

 

  12,859

 

   4,527

   

220,425

 

179,705

         

Long-Term Debt

 

660,177

 

559,798

Deferred Income

 

-

 

2,806

Workers' Compensation Liabilities

 

5,738

 

225

Other Liabilities

 

   6,162

 

     866

    Total Liabilities

 

892,502

 

743,400

         

Commitments and Contingencies

       
         

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

       

Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, authorized shares - 75 million,
    outstanding - none

 

-

 

-

Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized shares - 300 million,
    outstanding - 68,572,009

 

686

 

686

Special Voting Stock, $0.01 par value, convertible to common
    stock, authorized and outstanding - 634,566

 

6

 

6

Additional Paid-In Capital

 

495,117

 

505,939

Retained Earnings

 

-

 

-

Other Equity

 

     230

 

       37

    Total Stockholders' Equity

 

496,039

 

506,668

    Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

$

1,388,541

$

1,250,068

=====

=====

         

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   

 

 

 

PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

       

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

   

(UNAUDITED)

       
   

Six Months Ended June 30,

   

2001

 

2000

         
   

(In Thousands)

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

       

Net Income

$

68,073 

$

101,582 

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to

       

       Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities:

       

       Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

 

24,841 

 

19,144 

       Deferred Income Taxes

 

3,163 

 

-

       Gain on Asset Dispositions - Net

 

(24,678)

 

(50,072)

       Equity in Earnings (Loss) of Unconsolidated Subsidiaries
            and Preferred Stock Dividends

 

-

 

87 

       Common and Preferred Stock Dividends

 

-

 

12,638 

         

       Working Capital Changes, net of effect of business acquisition

       

          Accounts Receivable

 

(3,850)

 

828 

          Inventories

 

9,336 

 

          Accounts Payable

 

4,225 

 

52 

          Deferred Income

 

 

(7,064)

          Wages Payable

 

(2,916)

 

(949)

          Other Current Assets and Liabilities

 

2,616 

 

1,718 

       Other

 

  3,893 

 

  2,645 

Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities

 

84,703 

 

80,609 

         

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:

       

       Additions to Properties

 

(49,250)

 

(9,524)

       Proceeds from Asset Dispositions

 

45,554 

 

63,176 

       Restricted Cash Change

 

13,844 

 

       Advances/Distributions with Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

 

 

(29,317)

       Acquisition of Controlling Interest

 

(7,571)

 

      - 

Net Cash Provided By Investing Activities

 

 2,577 

 

24,335

         

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

       

       Cash Distributions

 

(78,895)

 

(78,895)

       Retirement of Long-Term Debt

 

(27,188)

 

(5,910)

       Borrowings on Line of Credit

 

219,000

 

145,000

       Repayments on Line of Credit

 

(192,000)

 

(154,000)

       Other

 

         - 

 

     (350)

Net Cash Used In Financing Activities

 

   (79,083)

 

   (94,155)

         

Increase In Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

8,197 

 

10,789 

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

       

       Beginning of Period

 

143,958 

 

115,389 

         

       End of Period

$

152,155 

$

126,178 

=====

=====

Supplementary Cash Flow Information

       
         

Noncash Activities:

       

       Distribution of common stock from deferred incentive
          compensation plan for payment of liability

$

1,174

 

1,303

         

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   

 

 

 

PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

1. Basis of Presentation

 

        The consolidated financial statements include all of the accounts of Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation, has elected to be treated for Federal income tax purposes as a real estate investment trust or "REIT." The corporation and its subsidiaries own, manage and operate approximately 3.1 million acres of timberland in the Northwest, Southern and Northeast United States, and nine wood product conversion facilities in the Northwest United States. Certain reclassifications have been made, none of which affected operating income or net income, to present the financial statements on a consistent basis. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in the consolidation of the financial statements.

        On July 1, 1999, Plum Creek Timber Company, L.P. converted from a master limited partnership to a REIT. In order to qualify as a REIT, substantially all assets and associated liabilities related to manufacturing operations and harvesting activities and some higher and better use lands were transferred to several unconsolidated corporate subsidiaries. During the period July 1, 1999 to December 31, 2000, the unconsolidated subsidiaries were accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Furthermore, during this period the corporation was entitled to approximately 99% of the economic value of the unconsolidated subsidiaries through its ownership of a combination of preferred stock and nonvoting common stock. The remaining 1% of the economic value and 100% of the voting control of the unconsolidated subsidiaries were owned by three of the corporation's current officers and one of its former officers.

        On January 1, 2001, in connection with an amendment to the Internal Revenue Code, the corporation acquired all of the voting stock of the unconsolidated subsidiaries from its current and former officers. As a result of this purchase, for the reporting period beginning January 1, 2001 and each reporting period thereafter, the corporation's financial statements will reflect the consolidated results of its timberland operations with those of its manufacturing operations, harvesting activities and its higher and better use land sales activities. See Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements for the book value of the assets and liabilities consolidated as of January 1, 2001.

        The financial statements included in this Form 10-Q are unaudited and do not contain all of the information required by generally accepted accounting principles to be included in a full set of financial statements. The financial statements in the corporation's 2000 annual report on Form 10-K include a summary of significant accounting policies of the corporation and should be read in conjunction with this Form 10-Q. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments necessary to present fairly the results of operations for such periods have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the entire year.

 

2. Inventories

         Inventories consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

June 30,
2001

Raw Materials (logs)

$ 9,891

Work-in-process

3,276

Finished Goods

14,856

28,023

Supplies

8,225

Total

$ 36,248

=====

        Excluding supplies, which are valued at average cost, the cost of the LIFO inventories, valued at the lower of average cost or market (which approximates current cost), at June 30, 2001 was $30.2 million.

        As part of the REIT conversion on July 1, 1999, all inventories were contributed to the unconsolidated subsidiaries. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2000 there were no inventories held by the corporation or its wholly owned subsidiaries.

 

3. Timber and Timberlands and Property, Plant and Equipment

         Timber and timberlands consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

June 30,
2001

December 31,
2000

Timber and logging roads - net

$ 829,636

$ 855,028

Timberlands

117,944

120,893

Timber and Timberlands - net

$ 947,580

$ 975,921

======

======

        In March 2001, the corporation sold approximately 44,000 acres of timberlands located in southwest Washington to Pope Resources, a Delaware Limited Partnership. The transaction was valued at approximately $54 million, of which $5.8 million was recognized as operating income related to the sale of higher and better use property and $24.7 million was reported as non-operating income. At June 30, 2001, restricted cash represents cash received from the sale of timberlands to Pope Resources, a Delaware Limited Partnership, and may only be used to invest in timberlands or to reduce outstanding debt in accordance with the terms of current debt agreements.

        In January 2000, the corporation sold approximately 90,000 acres of timberlands located near St. Maries, Idaho to Crown Pacific Limited Partnership. The transaction was valued at approximately $73 million, of which $8.8 million was recognized as operating income related to the sale of higher and better use property and $49.5 million was reported as non-operating income.

         Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

June 30,
2001

December 31,
2000

Land, buildings and improvements

$ 40,854 

$ 1,184     

Machinery and equipment

264,734 

699     

 

305,588 

1,883     

Accumulated depreciation

(193,861)

(809)    

Property, Plant and Equipment - net

$ 111,727 

$ 1,074     

=======

======    

 

        As part of the REIT conversion on July 1, 1999, substantially all of the property, plant and equipment were contributed to the unconsolidated subsidiaries.

 

4. Manufacturing and Harvesting Operations and some Higher and Better Use Lands

        In connection with the REIT conversion on July 1, 1999, substantially all of the assets and associated liabilities related to the manufacturing operations and harvesting activities and some higher and better use lands were transferred to several unconsolidated taxable corporate subsidiaries of the corporation in exchange for preferred stock and nonvoting common stock. The corporation's equity earnings and preferred stock dividends from the unconsolidated subsidiaries for the three months ended June 30, 2000 and for the six months ended June 30, 2000, is comprised of the following (in thousands):

 

Three months
Ended
June 30, 2000

Six months
Ended
June 30, 2000

Share of Equity Earnings (Losses)

$ (6,392)  

$ (9,112)  

Preferred Stock Dividends

3,919   

7,838   

Amortization of difference between carrying
     amount and share of underlying equity

218   

1,187   

Total Equity Earnings (Losses) and Preferred
     Stock Dividends

($ 2,255)  

($ 87)  

 

======  

======  

 

        Summarized combined financial data for the unconsolidated subsidiaries' operations for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2000 are as follows (in thousands):

 

Three months
Ended
June 30, 2000

Six months
Ended
June 30, 2000

Revenues

$ 164,386 

$ 352,906 

Gross Profit

7,655 

21,678 

Operating Income

(1,104)

4,339 

Interest Expense

4,598 

9,355 

Income Tax Benefit

2,569 

3,019 

Net Income

(2,739)

(1,654)

        Revenues for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2000 have been restated to reflect the reclassification of shipping expenses in accordance with Emerging Issues Tax Force Issue No. 00-10, "Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs." Gross profit includes depreciation and amortization expense of $7.0 million for the second quarter of 2000 and $14.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2000. The Income Tax Benefit includes a benefit of $0.4 million for the second quarter and $1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2000 related to interest expense for tax purposes that is eliminated for financial reporting purposes. For the six months ended June 30, 2000, the unconsolidated subsidiaries had capital expenditures of $16.4 million. Revenues reported by the corporation that were also included in the revenues of the unconsolidated subsidiaries amounted to $41.6 million for the second quarter and $89.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2000.

        On January 1, 2001, the corporation purchased all of the voting stock of the unconsolidated subsidiaries from certain current officers and one former officer. As a result of this purchase, the assets and liabilities of the manufacturing operations, harvesting activities and higher and better use lands sales activities were consolidated with the timberland operations effective January 1, 2001. Summarized below are the assets and liabilities of the unconsolidated subsidiaries as of January 1, 2001 (excluding related party receivables and payables that have been eliminated in consolidation):

Cash

$ (7,571)

Accounts Receivable

29,616 

Inventory

45,584 

Other Current Assets

9,792 

Property, Plant and Equipment and Land

85,210 

Other Assets

60,108 

Accounts Payable

16,451 

Wages Payable

11,906 

Interest Payable

1,058 

Other Current Liabilities

21,030 

Long-Term Debt, including current portion

148,856 

Other Liabilities

8,632 

5. Borrowings

        As of June 30, 2001, we had $123.0 million of borrowings outstanding under our revolving line of credit. Subject to customary covenants, the line of credit allows us to borrow from time to time up to $125 million, including up to $20 million of standby letters of credit, through December 13, 2001. During June 2001, we made scheduled principal payments of approximately $27 million on our Senior and First Mortgage Notes due in 2007. As of July 6, 2001, we had repaid $27.0 million of borrowings on the line of credit.

6. Related Party Transactions

        On January 1, 2001, the corporation purchased all of the voting stock of the unconsolidated subsidiaries from certain current officers and one former officer for a total purchase price of $1,940,000. In connection with the July 1, 1999 REIT conversion, the officers' purchase of the voting stock was financed through loans from the corporation evidenced by interest-bearing promissory notes made by each officer to the corporation. At December 31, 2000, non-current assets of the corporation included these notes receivable of $1,955,195 from the current and former officers. The principal and interest amount of the notes were fully repaid on January 1, 2001.

 

7. Commitments and Contingencies

        In June 1999, the partnership and its general partner settled previously disclosed unitholder litigation relating to the REIT conversion. The settlement obligates the former general partner to pay up to $30 million into a fund for distribution to eligible unitholders if specified five-year financial targets of the corporation are not met. Payments by the general partner, if any, would generally be made following the end of the five-year period, on or about April 15, 2004, and may be accelerated upon the occurrence of an extraordinary transaction.

        Pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission's Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 79, any payment made by the former general partner under the settlement will be accounted for as a deemed capital contribution by the former general partner to the corporation, followed by a non-cash expense of the corporation. The Staff Accounting Bulletin requires that payments made by a principal shareholder of a corporation or a general partner of a partnership be expensed by the corporation or partnership if the entity receives any benefit as a result of such payment. Therefore, in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 79, the corporation will record a non-cash expense in the period(s) in which, and to the extent that, it appears probable that a payment is required. Payments by the former general partner, if any, will have no impact on the corporation's cash flow.

        There are no other contingent liabilities that would have a materially adverse effect on the financial position, the results of operations or liquidity of the corporation.

8. Segment Information

        The table below presents information about reported segments for the quarters ended June 30 (in thousands).

Northern
Resources

Southern
Resources

  Lumber  

   Panel   

Land Sales

   Total   

June 30, 2001

External revenues

$ 25,477

$ 15,734

$ 52,004 

$ 39,248

$ 25,214  

$ 157,677

Intersegment revenues

18,668

18,668

Operating income

9,294

3,348

3,274 

2,726

21,108  

39,750

June 30, 2000

External revenues

$ 31,023

$ 8,123

$ 82,371 

$ 43,073

$ 11,380  

$ 175,970

Intersegment revenues

20,346

9,611

29,957

Operating income (loss)

15,052

5,901

(1,837)

2,886

10,235  

32,237

        The table below presents information about reported segments for the six months ended June 30 (in thousands):

Northern
Resources

Southern
Resources

  Lumber  

   Panel   

Land Sales

   Total   

June 30, 2001

External revenues

$ 62,602

$ 28,932

$ 95,586

$ 77,724

$ 54,128  

$ 318,972

Intersegment revenues

37,723

37,723

Operating income

24,159

6,676

769

3,955

45,527  

81,086

June 30, 2000

External revenues

$ 73,124

$ 18,133

$ 172,948

$ 87,888

$ 23,109  

$ 375,202

Intersegment revenues

52,235

19,422

71,657

Operating income

41,819

13,359

606

5,928

20,740  

82,452

        External revenues for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2000 have been restated to reflect the reclassification of shipping expenses in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 00-10, "Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs."

        A reconciliation of total operating income to income before income taxes for the quarters ended June 30, is presented below (in thousands):

  2001

  2000

Total segment operating income

$ 39,750 

$ 32,237 

Operating (income) loss recognized by
unconsolidated subsidiaries

1,104 

Gain on disposition of assets - net

18 

251 

Interest expense - net

(13,434)

(10,286)

Corporate and other unallocated expenses

(6,579)

(48)

Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of
unconsolidated subsidiaries and preferred stock
dividends

$ 19,755 

$ 23,258 

=======

======

        A reconciliation of total operating income to income before income taxes for the six months ended June 30, is presented below (in thousands):

  2001

  2000

Total segment operating income

$ 81,086 

$ 82,452 

Operating (income) loss recognized by
unconsolidated subsidiaries

(4,339)

Gain on disposition of assets - net

24,678 

50,072 

Interest expense - net

(27,641)

(20,695)

Corporate and other unallocated expenses

(6,887)

(5,821)

Income before income taxes, equity in earnings of
unconsolidated subsidiaries and preferred stock
dividends

$ 71,236 

$ 101,669 

======

=======

9. Earnings Per Share

        The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the quarters ended June 30:

(In millions, except per share amounts)

2001

2000

Net income allocable to common stockholders

$17.0 

$21.0 

Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average
  shares

69.19


69.19

Effect of dilutive securities - stock options

0.01

0.01

Effect of dilutive securities - unvested restricted stock,
  dividend equivalent rights, and value management plan

0.07


0.01

Denominator for diluted earnings per share - weighted
  average shares adjusted for dilutive securities

69.27


69.21

Basic Earnings per Share

$0.25

$0.30

Dilutive Earnings per Share

$0.25

$0.30

        The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the six months ended June 30:

(In millions, except per share amounts)

2001

2000

Net income allocable to common stockholders

$68.1 

$101.6 

Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average
  shares

69.19


69.20

Effect of dilutive securities - stock options

0.00

0.00

Effect of dilutive securities - unvested restricted stock,
  dividend equivalent rights, and value management plan

0.06


0.01

Denominator for diluted earnings per share - weighted
  average shares adjusted for dilutive securities

69.25


69.21

Basic Earnings per Share

$0.98

$1.47

Dilutive Earnings per Share

$0.98

$1.47

 

10. Income Taxes

        Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. has elected to be taxed as a REIT under sections 856-860 of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, under these sections of the Internal Revenue Code, the corporation deducts dividends paid to stockholders in computing its taxable income. The corporation anticipates that distributions will exceed its taxable income for the year ended December 31, 2001. Therefore, no federal or state income tax provision with respect to the activities of the REIT have been provided for the quarter ended June 30, 2001.

        The activities of the REIT are conducted by the corporation through various wholly owned operating partnerships. The harvesting and delivery of logs, manufacturing operations and some higher and better use land sales do not constitute qualified REIT activities. Therefore, these operations are conducted through various taxable REIT subsidiaries. An income tax provision of $2.7 million for the quarter and $3.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2001 has been provided for the operations conducted by the taxable REIT subsidiaries. Because a substantial portion of the corporation's consolidated activities are conducted by the REIT, the consolidated effective tax rate is anticipated to average less than five percent. Furthermore, because the manufacturing of wood products has historically been a cyclical business, there may be periods in which we report consolidated pre-tax income, while the taxable REIT subsidiaries generate a pre-tax loss. In this case, a tax benefit will be recorded in the consolidated financial statements.

        At June 30, 2001, the consolidated financial statements reflect a deferred tax asset of $63.1 million, of which $5.9 million is classified as a current asset.

 

11. Merger with The Timber Company

         On July 18, 2000, we announced the signing of a definitive agreement to merge The Timber Company, a separate operating group of Georgia-Pacific Corporation ("Georgia Pacific") that manages and operates its timber business, with and into the corporation, with Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. remaining as the surviving entity. Generally, the assets and liabilities of The Timber Company are attributed under Georgia-Pacific's charter to the shareholders of The Timber Company under a tracking stock structure. On June 12, 2001, the merger agreement was amended in part to provide as new conditions to closing (1) the receipt by each of Plum Creek and Georgia-Pacific of legal opinions from tax counsel addressing certain tax matters related to the transaction and (2) the procurement of insurance binders providing a total of $500 million of insurance against the risk that Georgia-Pacific would be subject to certain tax as a result of the transaction. Following the merger, we will own and manage over 7.8 million acres of geographically diverse timberlands within 19 states. Under the terms of the merger agreement as amended, The Timber Company shareholders will receive 1.37 shares of the corporation's common stock for each share of The Timber Company stock. The Georgia-Pacific debt allocated to The Timber Company will be settled in connection with the closing of the merger. At closing, Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. will refinance The Timber Company's debt with variable-rate or fixed-rate debt, or a combination thereof. This transaction is subject to approval by the stockholders of Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. and the holders of The Timber Company stock and is contingent upon receipt of advice from counsel that there is not a substantial risk that the principles similar to section 1374 of the Internal Revenue Code (corporate-level tax imposed on certain built-in gains) would apply to the cutting of timber during the ten-year period following the merger. Stockholder meetings are set for August 15, 2001. The transaction is also subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The merger is expected to be completed by the end of September 2001.

        We incurred approximately $4.5 million of merger-related expenses during the second quarter and $5.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2001. These costs have been expensed in the income statement (because for accounting purposes The Timber Company is the acquiring company) and have been reported as a separate line item.

 

12. Subsequent Events

        On July 24, 2001, the board of directors authorized the corporation to make a dividend distribution of $0.57 per share. Total dividends will approximate $39.4 million and will be paid on August 31, 2001 to stockholders of record on August 17, 2001.

 

 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward-Looking Statements

       This Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are generally identified by words such as "may," "should," "seeks," "believes," "expects," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "strategy" and similar expressions or the negative of those words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, expressed or implied in the statements. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are not within the corporation's control, include, but are not limited to, the cyclical nature of the forest products industry, our ability to harvest our timber, our ability to execute our acquisition strategy, and regulatory constraints. These risks are detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and neither the company nor its management undertakes any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. It is likely that if one or more of the risks and uncertainties materializes, the current expectations of the corporation and its management will not be realized.

Overview

        On July 1, 1999, Plum Creek Timber Company, L.P., the former partnership and registrant, converted from a master limited partnership to a corporation that is taxed as a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). In order to qualify as a REIT, substantially all assets and associated liabilities related to manufacturing operations and harvesting activities and some higher and better use lands were transferred to several unconsolidated corporate subsidiaries. Following the transfers, Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc., the new corporation and successor registrant, became entitled to approximately 99% of the economic value of the unconsolidated subsidiaries through a combination of preferred stock and nonvoting common stock. The remaining 1% of the economic value and 100% of the voting control of the manufacturing and harvesting subsidiaries were owned by four individuals who were also officers of the corporation at the time of the REIT conversion.

        On January 1, 2001, in connection with an amendment to the Internal Revenue Code, the corporation acquired all of the voting stock of the unconsolidated subsidiaries from certain current officers and one former officer. As a result of this purchase, for the reporting period beginning January 1, 2001 and each reporting period thereafter, the corporation's financial statements will reflect the consolidated results of its timberland operations with those of its manufacturing operations, harvesting activities and its higher and better use land sales activities. Therefore, the financial statements for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2001 are not comparable to prior period financial statements. However, in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 131, "Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information," the corporation has the same five reportable business segments. Furthermore, except for the reclassification of shipping costs as noted below, the segment disclosure has been prepared on a basis consistent with that of the previous year.

        Revenues and expenses for 2000 have been restated in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 00-10, "Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs." Revenues have been restated to reclassify shipping costs from revenues to cost of goods sold.

 

Results of Operations

Second Quarter 2001 Compared to Second Quarter 2000

        The following table compares operating income by segment for the quarters ended June 30:

Operating Income by Segment

(In Thousands)

 

2001

     2000

     

Northern Resources

$  9,294 

$  15,052 

Southern Resources

3,348 

5,901 

Lumber

3,274 

(1,837)

Panel

2,726 

2,886 

Land Sales

21,108 

10,235 

Total Segment Operating Income

39,750 

32,237 

Merger Expenses

(4,524)

Other Costs & Eliminations

(2,055)

(48)

Total Combined Operating Income

33,171 

32,189 

Less Operating Income recognized
  by Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

      - 

1,104 

Operating Income

$ 33,171 

$ 33,293 

=======

=======

 

        The accounting policies of the segments are substantially the same as those described in Note 1 of the Notes to Financial Statements in the corporation's 2000 annual report on Form 10-K. For segment purposes, however, inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or market. The difference in computing cost of goods sold under the last-in, first-out and the average cost methods is included in "Other Costs & Eliminations."

                Northern Resources Segment. Revenues decreased by $7.3 million, or 14%, to $44.1 million in the second quarter of 2001, compared to $51.4 million in the second quarter of 2000. This decline was primarily due to lower sawlog prices in the Rocky Mountain and Cascade Regions, and lower harvest levels in the Northeast Region. Sawlogs prices declined in the Rocky Mountain Region by 12% due to weaker demand and an ample supply of logs. The demand for logs in the Rocky Mountain Region declined due to high mill log inventories as a result of first quarter of 2001 production curtailments by lumber and plywood manufacturers due to weak product prices. The supply of logs in the region has increased due to salvage operations in connection with timber that was burned during last summer's wildfires. Harvest levels in the Northeast Region were 20% lower than the same period in the prior year due to accelerated production during the second quarter of 2000 to take advantage of strong prices.

        Northern Resources Segment operating income was 21% of its revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 and 29% for the quarter ended June 30, 2000. This decline was primarily due to lower sawlog sales prices in the Rocky Mountain and Cascade Regions. Northern Resources Segment costs and expenses decreased by $1.4 million, or 4%, to $34.9 million in 2001, compared to $36.3 million in 2000. This decrease was primarily due to lower log sales volume in the Northeast Region.

 

        Southern Resources Segment. Revenues decreased by $2.0 million, or 11%, to $15.7 million in the second quarter of 2001, compared to $17.7 million in the second quarter of 2000. This decrease was primarily due to a 29% decline in sawlogs prices, offset partially by 12% increase in sawlogs sales volume. Sawlog prices decreased due to high mill log inventories as a result of first quarter of 2001 production curtailments, and concerns that lumber prices will remain weak for the balance of the year. Sawlog sales volume increased due to the deferral of some planned first quarter of 2001 harvesting activity into the second quarter of 2001 as a result of weather-related harvesting curtailments.

        Southern Resources Segment operating income was 21% as a percentage of its revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 and 33% for the quarter ended June 30, 2000. This decline is primarily due to lower sawlog prices. Southern Resources Segment costs and expenses increased by $0.6 million, or 5%, to $12.4 million in 2001, compared to $11.8 million in 2000.

 

        Lumber Segment. Revenues decreased by $30.4 million, or 37%, to $52.0 million in the second quarter of 2001, compared to $82.4 million in the prior year second quarter. Excluding revenues associated with our Southern lumber facilities that were sold in December 2000, revenues decreased by $4.1 million, or 7%, to $52.0 million, compared to $56.1 million in the second quarter of 2000. This decrease of $4.1 million was primarily due to lower lumber prices and a 3% decline in sales volume. Despite a temporary surge in dimension lumber prices during the second quarter of 2001, our average lumber prices were 5% below our average prices during the same period in the prior year due to an approximate 9% decline in board prices. (Approximately 50% of our lumber sales are from boards.) Board prices declined due to falling demand and an increase in supply. The demand for boards has declined due to softer home repair and remodeling markets as a result of the slowing U.S. economy. The supply of boards has increased primarily due to increased imports. Lumber sales volume decreased primarily due to production curtailments of boards as a result of weak prices.

        Excluding our Southern lumber operations which were sold in December 2000, Lumber Segment operating income was $3.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2001, compared to operating income of $0.1 million for the second quarter of 2000. This change of $3.2 million was primarily due to lower log costs. Lumber Segment costs and expenses decreased by $35.5 million, or 42%, to $48.7 million in the second quarter of 2001, compared to $84.2 million in the same quarter of 2000. Excluding costs and expenses associated with our Southern lumber facilities, costs and expenses decreased by $7.3 million, or 13%, to $48.7 million, compared to $56.0 million in the second quarter of 2000. This decrease in costs is primarily due to lower log costs and sales volume. Log costs have declined primarily due to falling demand and an ample supply of logs.

        Panel Segment. Revenues decreased by $3.9 million, or 9%, to $39.2 million in the second quarter of 2001, compared to $43.1 million in the second quarter of 2000. This decrease is primarily due to a 12% decline in plywood sales volume. Plywood sales volume declined primarily due to production curtailments as a result of weak plywood prices and our efforts to focus on higher margin products.

        Panel Segment operating income was 7% as a percentage of its revenues for the quarters ended June 30, 2001 and 2000. Panel Segment costs and expenses decreased by $3.7 million, or 9%, to $36.5 million for the second quarter of 2001, compared to $40.2 million for the same period in 2000. This decrease was primarily due to lower plywood sales volume and log costs, offset in part by higher MDF operating costs. MDF operating costs have increased primarily due to higher energy costs.

        Land Sales Segment. Revenues increased by $13.8 million, or 121%, to $25.2 million in the second quarter of 2001, compared to $11.4 million in the second quarter of 2000. Second quarter of 2001 revenues include approximately $12.0 million from conservation easements.

        Land Sales Segment operating income was 84% as a percentage of its revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 and 90% for the same period in 2000. Land Sales Segment costs and expenses increased by $3.0 million, to $4.1 million in the second quarter of 2001, compared to $1.1 million in the same period of 2000.

 

        Other Costs and Eliminations. Other Costs and Eliminations (which consists of corporate overhead, intercompany log profit elimination and the change in the LIFO reserve) decreased combined operating income by $2.1 million in the second quarter of 2001, compared to $48,000 in the second quarter of 2000. This change of $2.1 million was primarily due to a decrease in the amount of intercompany log profit recognized. Intercompany profit of $3.4 million was recognized during the second quarter of 2001, compared to $6.4 million during the second quarter of 2000. This decrease was primarily due to higher internal log deliveries and lower lumber and plywood sales volume during the second quarter of 2001, compared to the second quarter of 2000. The profit on intercompany log sales is deferred until the lumber and plywood manufacturing facilities convert existing log inventories into finished products and sell them to third parties, at which time intercompany profit is recognized.

        Interest Expense. Interest expense increased by $4.0 million, or 34%, to $15.8 million, for the quarter ended June 30, 2001, compared to $11.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2000. This increase was primarily due to consolidating the assets and liabilities of the manufacturing operations, harvesting activities and some higher and better use lands as of January 1, 2001. See Note 1 of the Notes to Financial Statements. At January 1, 2001, the long-term debt associated with the manufacturing operations, harvesting activities and some higher and better use lands was $149 million.

 

Six Months Ending 2001 Compared to Six Months Ending 2000

        The following table compares operating income by segment for the six months ended June 30:

Operating Income by Segment
(In Thousands)

 

2001

2000

Northern Resources

$ 24,159 

$ 41,819 

Southern Resources

6,676 

13,359 

Lumber

769 

606 

Panel

3,955 

5,928 

Land Sales

45,527 

20,740 

Total Segment Operating Income

81,086 

82,452 

Merger Expenses

(5,027)

Other Costs & Eliminations

(1,860)

(5,821)

Total Combined Operating Income

74,199 

76,631 

Less Operating Income recognized by
    Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

         - 

(4,339)

Operating Income

$ 74,199

$ 72,292

 

======

======

        The accounting policies of the segments are substantially the same as those described in Note 1 of the Notes to Financial Statements in the corporation's 2000 annual report on Form 10-K. For segment purposes, however, inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or market on the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method. Therefore, the difference in computing cost of goods sold under the LIFO and FIFO methods is included in "Other Costs & Eliminations."

                Northern Resources Segment. Revenues decreased by $25.1 million, or 20%, to $100.3 million in the first six months of 2001, compared to $125.4 million in the same period of 2000. This decrease was primarily due to lower harvest levels and sawlog prices in the Rocky Mountain Region, lower harvest levels in the Northeast Region and lower sawlog prices in the Cascade Region. Sawlog harvest levels in the Rocky Mountain Region decreased by 36,800 cunits or 14% and sawlog prices declined by 15% due to weaker demand and an ample supply of logs. The demand for logs in the Rocky Mountain Region declined due to high mill log inventories as a result of first quarter of 2001 production curtailments by lumber and plywood manufacturers due to weak product prices. The supply of logs in the region has increased due to salvage operations in connection with timber that was burned during last summer's wildfires. We still expect that harvest levels in the Rocky Mountain Region for the year 2001 will be slightly higher than harvest levels during 2000. Harvest levels in the Northeast Region were 17% lower than the same period in the prior year due to accelerated production during the first six months of 2000 to take advantage of strong prices.

        Northern Resources Segment operating income was 24% as a percentage of its revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2001 and 33% for the six months ended June 30, 2000. This decline was primarily due to lower sawlog sales prices in the Rocky Mountain and Cascade Regions. Northern Resources Segment costs and expenses decreased by $7.3 million, or 9%, to $76.2 million in 2001, compared to $83.5 million in 2000. This decrease was primarily due to lower log sales volume in the Rocky Mountain and Northeast Regions.

 

                Southern Resources Segment. Revenues decreased by $8.7 million, or 23%, to $28.9 million in the first six months of 2001, compared to $37.6 million in the same period of 2000. This decrease was primarily due to a 26% decline in sawlog sales price and a 6% decline in pulp log sales prices. Sawlog prices decreased due to high mill log inventories as a result of first quarter of 2001 production curtailments, and concerns that lumber prices will remain weak for the balance of the year. The pulp log sales price decline is primarily due to an abundant supply of pulpwood in the region and moderating North American demand for pulp and paper.

        Southern Resources Segment operating income was 23% as a percentage of its revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2001 and 36% for the six months ended June 30, 2000. This decline is primarily due to lower sawlog and pulp log sales prices. Southern Resources Segment costs and expenses decreased by $1.9 million, or 8%, to $22.3 million in 2001, compared to $24.2 million in 2000. This decrease is primarily due to lower sawlog and pulp log sales volume.

 

        Lumber Segment. Revenues decreased by $77.3 million, or 45%, to $95.6 million during the first six months of 2001, compared to $172.9 million in the prior year six months. Excluding revenues associated with our Southern lumber facilities that were sold in December 2000, revenues decreased by $21.5 million, or 18%, to $95.6 million, compared to $117.1 million in the first six months of 2000. This decrease of $21.5 million was primarily due to a decrease in lumber sales prices and a 9% decrease in sales volume. Despite a temporary surge in dimension lumber prices during the second quarter of 2001, our average lumber prices were 11% below our average prices during the same period in the prior year due to a 13% decline in board prices. (Approximately 50% of our lumber sales are from boards.) Board prices declined due to falling demand and an increase in supply. The demand for boards has declined due to softer home repair and remodeling markets as a result of the slowing U.S. economy. The supply of boards has increased primarily due to increased imports. Lumber sales volume decreased primarily due to production curtailments of boards as a result of weak prices.

       Excluding our Southern lumber operations which were sold in December 2000, lumber Segment operating income was $0.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2001, compared to operating income of $2.2 million for the six months of 2000. This change in operating income of $1.4 million was primarily due to lower lumber sales prices, offset in part by lower log costs. Lumber Segment costs and expenses decreased by $77.5 million, or 45%, to $94.8 million for the six months ended of 2001, compared to $172.3 million in the same period of 2000. Excluding costs and expenses associated with our Southern lumber facilities, costs and expenses decreased by $20.2 million, or 18%, to $94.8 million, compared to $114.9 million in the second quarter of 2000. This decrease of $20.2 million was primarily due to lower sales volume and log costs. Log costs have declined primarily due to falling demand and an ample supply of logs.

 

        Panel Segment. Revenues decreased by $10.2 million, or 12%, to $77.7 million for the first six months of 2001, compared to $87.9 million for the same period of 2000. This decrease is primarily due to a 13% decline in plywood sales volume and a 6% decline in MDF sales volume. Plywood sales volume declined primarily due to production curtailments as a result of weak plywood prices and our efforts to focus on higher margin products. MDF sales volume declined primarily due to a temporary decline in production in connection with the construction of our new thin-board line.

        Panel Segment operating income was 5% as a percentage of its revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2001, and 7% for the same period in 2000. Panel Segment costs and expenses decreased by $8.2 million, or 10%, to $73.8 million in the first six months of 2001, compared to $82.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2000. This decrease was primarily due to a reduction in plywood and MDF sales volume and lower plywood log costs, offset in part by higher MDF operating costs. MDF operating costs have increased primarily due to higher energy costs.

 

        Land Sales Segment. Revenues increased by $31.0 million to $54.1 million for the first six months of 2001, compared to $23.1 million for the same period of 2000. Revenues for 2001 include proceeds of $7.4 million for higher and better use lands that were sold as part of the approximately 44,000 acre sale of timberlands in southwest Washington and $12.0 million for conservation easements. See Note 3 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

        Land Sales Segment operating income was 84% as a percentage of its revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2001, and 90% for the same period in 2000. Land Sales Segment costs and expenses increased by $6.2 million to $8.6 million during the six months ended of 2000, compared to $2.4 million in the same period of 2000.

        Other Costs and Eliminations. Other Costs and Eliminations (which consists of corporate overhead, intercompany log profit elimination and the change in the LIFO reserve) decreased operating income by $1.9 million in the first six months of 2001, compared to $5.8 million in 2000. This change of $3.9 million is primarily due to an increase in the amount of intercompany log profit recognized and a decrease in corporate expenses. Intercompany profit of $9.7 million was recognized during the first six months of 2001, compared to $7.2 million during the same period in the prior year. This increase of $2.5 million was primarily due to the 14% decline in harvest levels in the Rocky Mountain Region during the first six months of 2001 (of which the vast majority of the volume would have been delivered to our lumber and plywood facilities) and the decrease in log profit margins in the Rocky Mountain Region. The profit on intercompany log sales is deferred until the lumber and plywood manufacturing facilities convert existing log inventories into finished products and sell them to third parties, at which time intercompany profit is recognized. Corporate expenses during the first six months of 2001 were $11.2 million, compared to $12.9 million during the first six months of 2000. This decrease of $1.7 million was primarily due to lower incentive compensation accruals as a result of below budgeted operating performance by most of our product lines.

       Interest. Interest expense increased by $7.7 million, or 33%, to $31.4 million, for the six months ended June 30, 2001, compared to $23.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2000. This increase was primarily due to consolidating the assets and liabilities of the manufacturing operations, harvesting activities and some higher and better use lands as of January 1, 2001. See Note 1 of the Notes to Financial Statements. At January 1, 2001, the long-term debt associated with the manufacturing operations, harvesting activities and some higher and better use lands was $149 million.

        Interest income increased by $0.8 million to $3.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2001, compared to $3.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2000. Interest income is higher due to the temporary investing of the proceeds from the sale of our Southern lumber manufacturing operations in December 2000 for $60 million plus working capital and $54 million from the sale of approximately 44,000 acres of timberlands in Washington State in March 2001. These proceeds are temporarily invested until they are re-deployed in our business.

 

Financial Condition and Liquidity

        Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $84.7 million for the first six months of 2001 and $80.6 million for the first six months of 2000. As a result of reporting the manufacturing and harvesting activities and higher and better use land sales on a consolidated basis effective January 1, 2001, the net cash provided by operating activities for 2001 is not comparable with the net cash provided by operating activities in 2000 for the following reasons:

    • During 2000, substantially all of the working capital changes were reflected on the books of the unconsolidated subsidiaries. However, working capital changes indirectly affected the corporation through its advances to/from the unconsolidated subsidiaries.

    • Also during 2000, the corporation's share of equity earnings from the unconsolidated subsidiaries was not reflected in its net cash provided by operating activity until the earnings were distributed as a preferred stock dividend.

        On March 29, 2001, we sold approximately 44,000 acres of timberlands near Kelso, Washington to Pope Resources, a Delaware Limited Partnership, for approximately $54 million. The sale resulted in approximately $5.8 million of operating income (the portion of the sales proceeds related to higher and better use land) and $24.7 million of gain on sale of assets. Proceeds from the sale will be used to reduce outstanding indebtedness and to invest in our timberlands.

        Subject to customary covenants, our unsecured line of credit allows for borrowings from time to time of up to $125 million for general corporate purposes, including up to $20 million of standby letters of credit. The line of credit matures on December 13, 2001, and bears a floating rate of interest. As of June 30, 2001, $123.0 million was outstanding under the line of credit. In connection with our financing of the proposed merger with The Timber Company, we expect to establish a new line of credit. See Note 11 of the Notes to Financial Statements. Absent the merger, we expect to establish a new line of credit by the end of the third quarter of 2001.

        Our borrowing agreements contain various restrictive covenants, including limitations on harvest levels, sales of assets, the incurrence of indebtedness and payment of cash dividends. In addition, our line of credit requires that we maintain an interest coverage ratio on borrowings. We were in compliance with all of our borrowing agreement covenants as of June 30, 2001. The corporation cannot currently incur significant levels of additional indebtedness under the terms of our debt agreements. However, based upon the pro forma cash flow of the corporation following the merger of The Timber Company into the corporation, we expect that the corporation will be able to incur all indebtedness required in connection with the merger transaction. If market conditions experienced during the twelve months ended June 30, 2001 were to persist for an extended period of time, our current debt agreements would restrict our ability to maintain our current dividend level.

        Cash required to meet the corporation's financial needs will be significant. We believe, however, that cash on hand and cash flows from continuing operations will be sufficient to fund planned capital expenditures, and interest and principal payments on our indebtedness for the next year.

        We will distribute to our stockholders $0.57 per share for the second quarter of 2001, payable on August 31, 2001 to stockholders of record as of August 17, 2001. Future dividends will be determined by our board of directors, in its sole discretion, based on consideration of a number of factors including, but not limited to, our results of operations, cash flow and capital requirements, economic conditions, tax considerations, debt covenant restrictions that may impose limitations on the corporation's ability to make cash payments, borrowing capacity, changes in the price and demand for Plum Creek's products and the general market for timberlands and those timberland properties that have higher and better uses. Other factors that our board of directors might consider include the appropriate timing of timber harvests, acquisition and divestiture opportunities, stock repurchases, debt repayment and other means by which the corporation could deliver value to its stockholders.

Capital Expenditures

        Capital expenditures for the first six months of 2001 totaled $49.3 million, compared to $25.9 million for the corporation and its unconsolidated subsidiaries for the same period in 2000. Total 2001 capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $81 million. Planned capital expenditures include approximately $58 million (which includes approximately $4.5 million of capitalized interest) to complete the construction of a thin-board production line being added to our existing medium density fiberboard facility in Columbia Falls, Montana, $3 million for replacement and equipment upgrades in our manufacturing facilities and $20 million for logging roads, reforestation and other expenditures associated with the planting and growing of trees.

 

Other Information

        In July 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 141 -- "Business Combinations." SFAS 141 addresses financial accounting and reporting for business combinations. SFAS 141 is effective for all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 and is effective for all business combinations accounted for by the purchase method for which the date of acquisition is July 1, 2001, or later. Management is currently evaluating the requirements of SFAS 141.

 

        In July 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS 142 - "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets." SFAS 142 addresses financial accounting and reporting for acquired goodwill and other intangible assets. The provisions of SFAS 142 shall be applied in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001, except that certain provisions of SFAS 142 shall be applied to goodwill and other acquired intangible assets for which the acquisition date is after June 30, 2001. Management is currently evaluating the requirements of SFAS 142.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

        Approximately $688 million of the long-term debt of the corporation bears interest at fixed rates, and therefore the fair value of these instruments is affected by changes in market interest rates. The following table presents principal cash flows (in thousands) based upon maturity dates of the debt obligations and the related weighted-average interest rates by expected maturity dates for the fixed rate debt. The interest rate on the variable rate debt as of June 30, 2001, was LIBOR plus 0.55% (5.2%), however, this rate could range from LIBOR plus 0.35% to LIBOR plus 0.875% depending on our financial results.

 

June 30, 2001:
Long-term debt,
including current
portion               

    2001   

   2002  

   2003  

   2004  

   2005  

Thereafter

   Total   

Fair
   Value   

Fixed rate debt

$236

$27,459

$27,495

$27,535

$27,576

$577,317

$687,618

$706,400


Avg. interest rate


8.8%


8.7%


8.6%


8.5%


8.4%


8.2%

Variable rate debt

$123,000

$123,000

$123,000

 

PART II

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        There is no pending or threatened litigation involving the corporation that we believe would have a material adverse effect on the corporation's financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

Items 2 and 3 of Part II are not applicable and have been omitted.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

        The corporation's 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held on May 8, 2001. At the meeting, the following items were submitted to a vote of the stockholders:

        a)   Proxies were solicited pursuant to Regulation 14 under the Securities Exchange
              Act of 1934, as amended. There were no solicitations in opposition to
              management's nominees as listed in the proxy statement, and all of the nominees
              were re-elected.

        b)   A shareholder proposal requiring the Board of Directors to solicit shareholder
              approval before any "shareholder rights" plan may be adopted was defeated with
              37,517,430 votes against, 5,158,098 votes in favor, 1,396,204 abstentions and
              21,552,082 non-votes.

        c)   A shareholder proposal to change the practice of allowing a proxy to cast a
              stockholder's vote on "such other business as may properly come before the
              meeting or any adjournment thereof" was defeated with 38,426,322 votes against,
              4,205,609 votes in favor, 1,455,301 abstentions and 21,546,582 non-votes.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

        On August 15, 2001 at the corporation's Special Meeting of Stockholders, stockholders of the corporation will vote on a proposal to approve the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of July 18, 2000, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of June 12, 2001, by and among Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc., Georgia-Pacific Corporation and six subsidiaries of Georgia-Pacific Corporation, and the transactions contemplated thereby. If the merger agreement is approved by the required votes, all of the outstanding options to acquire shares of The Timber Company stock, which under the terms of the merger agreement are automatically converted to options to acquire the corporation's common stock, will become immediately exercisable. If all or most of the shares of stock acquired upon exercise of these options were subsequently sold within a limited amount of time, it is likely that there would be a temporary decrease in the market price of the corporation's common stock unrelated to the corporation's financial performance. In addition, a temporary price decrease could occur if institutional investors owning a significant number of shares of The Timber Company stock were required by their investment charters or other governing documents to sell their shares of the corporation's common stock received in the merger. For example, institutional investors that target specific non-REIT market indexes may not be able to own shares of the corporation because the corporation is a REIT and, therefore, is not eligible for inclusion in their investment portfolios. The amount of any such market price decrease, and the extent to which it would persist, is uncertain.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

        (a) List of Exhibits

        Each exhibit set forth below in the Index to Exhibits is filed as a part of this report. All exhibits not filed herewith are incorporated herein by reference to a prior filing as indicated.

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit

Designation

Nature of Exhibit

2.2

Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Conversion, dated as of July 17, 1998, by and
among Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc., Plum Creek Timber Company, L.P. and Plum
Creek Management Company, L.P. (Form S-4, Regis. No. 333-71371, filed January 28,
1999).

2.3

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 17, 1998, by and among Plum Creek Timber
Company, L.P., Plum Creek Acquisitions Partners, L.P. and Plum Creek Timber Company,
Inc. (Form S-4, Regis. No. 333-71371, filed January 28, 1999).

2.4

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 17, 1998, by and among Plum Creek Timber
Company, Inc. and Plum Creek Management Company, L.P. (Form S-4, Regis. No. 333-
71371, filed January 28, 1999).

2.5

Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Georgia-Pacific Corporation, North American
Timber Corp., NPI Timber, Inc., GNN Timber, Inc., GPW Timber, Inc., LRFP Timber, Inc.,
NPC Timber, Inc. and Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. (filed as an exhibit to the
corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K/A, dated July 18, 2000). Amendment No. 1 to the
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 12, 2001 (filed as an exhibit to the
corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 12, 2001).

3.1

Certificate of Incorporation of Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. (Form 10-Q, File No. 1-
10239, for the quarter ended September 30, 1999).

3.2

Amended and Restated By-laws of Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. (Form S-4, Regis. No.
333-71371, filed January 28, 1999).

 

b) Reports on Form 8-K

        The corporation filed a current report on Form 8-K dated June 12, 2001, announcing an amendment to the agreement and plan of merger by and among the corporation, Georgia-Pacific Corporation and six wholly owned subsidiary corporations of Georgia Pacific Corporation.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

(Registrant)

 

By: /s/ William R. Brown

WILLIAM R. BROWN

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: August 13, 2001