10-Q 1 d10q.htm FORM 10-Q Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

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 March 31, 2008

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)

 

 

 

Organized in the   I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
State of Delaware   91-1912863

999 Third Avenue, Suite 4300

Seattle, Washington 98104-4096

Telephone: (206) 467-3600

 

 

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  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.

Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨    Smaller reporting company  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock, as of April 30, 2008 was 171,109,131.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

For the Quarter ended March 31, 2008

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

  

Financial Statements

  
  

PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

   2
  

PLUM CREEK TIMBERLANDS, L.P.

   12

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   22

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   31

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   32

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

   32

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   32

Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   33

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

   34

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

   34


Table of Contents

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,  

(In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)

   2008     2007  

 

REVENUES:

    

Timber

   $ 201     $ 209  

Real Estate

     52       39  

Manufacturing

     105       115  

Other

     5       6  
                

Total Revenues

     363       369  
                

COSTS AND EXPENSES:

    

Cost of Goods Sold:

    

Timber

     139       134  

Real Estate

     16       16  

Manufacturing

     112       113  

Other

     —         1  
                

Total Cost of Goods Sold

     267       264  

Selling, General and Administrative

     30       30  
                

Total Costs and Expenses

     297       294  
                

Other Operating Income (Expense), net

     3       2  
                

Operating Income

     69       77  

Interest Expense, net

     36       36  
                

Income before Income Taxes

     33       41  

Benefit for Income Taxes

     (5 )     (4 )
                

Net Income

   $ 38     $ 45  
                

PER SHARE AMOUNTS:

    

Net Income per Share – Basic

   $ 0.22     $ 0.26  

Net Income per Share – Diluted

   $ 0.22     $ 0.25  

Dividends Declared – per Common Share Outstanding

   $ 0.42     $ 0.42  

Weighted-Average Number of Shares Outstanding

    

– Basic

     171.6       177.1  

– Diluted

     172.1       177.5  

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

 

(In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)

   March 31,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 

 

ASSETS

    

Current Assets:

    

Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ 118     $ 240  

Accounts Receivable

     39       33  

Like-Kind Exchange Funds Held in Escrow

     31       —    

Inventories

     86       82  

Deferred Tax Asset

     7       7  

Real Estate Development Properties

     6       5  

Assets Held for Sale

     66       64  

Other Current Assets

     24       25  
                
     377       456  

Timber and Timberlands, net

     3,924       3,949  

Property, Plant and Equipment, net

     196       202  

Investment in Grantor Trusts (at Fair Value)

     24       27  

Other Assets

     35       30  
                

Total Assets

   $ 4,556     $ 4,664  
                

LIABILITIES

    

Current Liabilities:

    

Current Portion of Long-Term Debt

   $ 150     $ 147  

Accounts Payable

     37       48  

Interest Payable

     39       29  

Wages Payable

     11       25  

Taxes Payable

     15       23  

Deferred Revenue

     7       13  

Other Current Liabilities

     17       18  
                
     276       303  

Long-Term Debt

     2,020       1,820  

Line of Credit

     369       556  

Deferred Tax Liability

     18       20  

Other Liabilities

     57       64  
                

Total Liabilities

     2,740       2,763  
                

Commitments and Contingencies

    

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Preferred Stock, $0.01 Par Value, Authorized Shares—75.0, Outstanding – None

     —         —    

Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value, Authorized Shares—300.6, Outstanding (net of Treasury Stock) – 171.1 at March 31, 2008 and 172.3 at December 31, 2007

     2       2  

Additional Paid-In Capital

     2,206       2,204  

Retained Earnings

     168       202  

Treasury Stock, at Cost, Common Shares—15.9 at March 31, 2008 and 14.6 at December 31, 2007

     (560 )     (509 )

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

     —         2  
                

Total Stockholders’ Equity

     1,816       1,901  
                

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

   $ 4,556     $ 4,664  
                

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

 

      Three Months Ended March 31,  

(In Millions)

   2008     2007  

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    

Net Income

   $ 38     $ 45  

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities:

    

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

     33       33  

Basis of Real Estate Sold

     10       9  

Expenditures for Real Estate Development

     (3 )     (2 )

Deferred Income Taxes

     (2 )     (3 )

Working Capital Changes Impacting Cash Flow:

    

Like-Kind Exchange Funds

     (31 )     (10 )

Other Working Capital Changes

     (39 )     (31 )

Other

     (7 )     (3 )
                

Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities

     (1 )     38  
                

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    

Capital Expenditures (Excluding Timberland Acquisitions)

     (13 )     (11 )

Timberlands Acquired

     (1 )     —    

Other

     —         2  
                

Net Cash Used In Investing Activities

     (14 )     (9 )
                

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    

Dividends

     (72 )     (75 )

Borrowings on Line of Credit

     477       649  

Repayments on Line of Credit

     (664 )     (577 )

Proceeds from Issuance of Long-Term Debt

     250       —    

Principal Payments and Retirement of Long-Term Debt

     (47 )     (72 )

Proceeds from Stock Option Exercises

     —         5  

Acquisition of Treasury Stock

     (51 )     (22 )
                

Net Cash Used In Financing Activities

     (107 )     (92 )
                

Decrease In Cash and Cash Equivalents

     (122 )     (63 )

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

    

Beginning of Period

     240       273  
                

End of Period

   $ 118     $ 210  
                

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Note 1. Basis of Presentation

General. When we refer to “Plum Creek,” “the company,” “we,” “us,” or “our,” we mean Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc., a Delaware Corporation and a real estate investment trust, or “REIT,” and all of its wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries.

The consolidated financial statements include all of the accounts of Plum Creek and its subsidiaries. At March 31, 2008, the company owned and managed approximately 8 million acres of timberlands in the Northwest, Southern, and Northeast United States, and owned and operated ten wood product conversion facilities in the Northwest United States. Included in the 8 million acres are about 1.7 million acres of higher and better use timberlands, which are expected to be sold and/or developed over approximately the next 15 years for recreational, conservation or residential purposes. In addition, the company has approximately 300,000 acres of non-strategic timberlands, which are expected to be sold over the next five years. In the meantime, all of these timberlands continue to be used productively in our business of growing and selling timber.

Plum Creek has elected to be taxed as a REIT under sections 856-860 of the United States Internal Revenue Code and, as such, is generally not subject to corporate-level income tax. However, the company conducts certain non-REIT activities through various taxable REIT subsidiaries, which are subject to corporate-level income tax. These activities include our manufacturing operations, the harvesting and selling of logs, and the development and/or sales of some of our higher and better use timberlands. Plum Creek’s overall effective tax rate is lower than the federal statutory corporate rate due to Plum Creek’s status as a REIT.

Intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. All transactions are denominated in United States dollars.

The consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q are unaudited and do not contain all of the information required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America to be included in a full set of financial statements. The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2007, has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. The audited financial statements in the company’s 2007 annual report on Form 10-K include a summary of significant accounting policies of the company 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 in this Form 10-Q. 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.

New Accounting Pronouncements (Adopted during 2008)

SFAS No. 157. In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurement (“SFAS No. 157”). SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements, but does not require any new fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 supersedes the definition of fair value in most existing pronouncements under generally accepted accounting principles that require or permit the use of fair value, including (but not limited to) business combinations, impairments and exchanges of nonmonetary assets. SFAS No. 157 established a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level I measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level III measurements).

SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 157-2 which delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for certain non-financial assets and liabilities to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years.

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

The company partially adopted SFAS No. 157 in the first quarter of 2008, which did not result in recognition of a transition adjustment to retained earnings. The company will fully adopt SFAS No. 157, including all non-financial assets and liabilities, in the first quarter of 2009. The company is in the process of determining the effect, if any, the full adoption of SFAS No. 157 will have on the consolidated financial statements.

SFAS No. 159. In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities-Including an Amendment of SFAS Statement No. 115 (“SFAS No. 159”). SFAS No. 159 allows entities to measure certain financial assets and liabilities and similar non-financial assets and liabilities at fair value on an instrument-by-instrument basis, that are otherwise not accounted for at fair value under other accounting standards. Generally, the adoption of this standard is optional. SFAS No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007; early adoption is permitted for an entity’s first fiscal year that begins on or before November 15, 2007, provided that entity also adopts the provisions of SFAS No. 157 with the early adoption. The company did not elect to adopt the provisions of SFAS No. 159 for existing eligible instruments at December 31, 2007.

New Accounting Pronouncements (Not Yet Adopted)

SFAS No. 141(R). In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (“SFAS No. 141(R)”), which is a revision of SFAS No. 141. In general, SFAS No. 141(R) expands the definition of a business and transactions that are accounted for as business combinations. In addition, SFAS No. 141(R) generally requires all assets and liabilities of acquired entities to be recorded at fair value, and changes the recognition and measurement of related aspects of business combinations. SFAS No. 141(R) is effective for business combinations with an acquisition date within fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The standard is required to be adopted prospectively and early adoption is not allowed. The Company is in the process of determining the effect, if any, the adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) will have on the consolidated financial statements.

SFAS No. 160. In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an Amendment of ARB No. 51 (“SFAS No. 160”). In general, SFAS No. 160 requires that a noncontrolling interest in a consolidated subsidiary be presented in the consolidated statement of financial position as a separate component of equity and also establishes a framework for recognition of changes in control for a consolidated subsidiary that is not 100% owned. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The standard is required to be adopted prospectively and early adoption is not allowed. The Company does not own any noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and therefore does not expect the adoption of SFAS No. 160 to have any impact on the company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2008 presentation. The reclassifications had no impact on operating income or net income.

Note 2. Earnings Per Share

The following tables sets forth the reconciliation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the quarters ended March 31 (in millions, except per share amounts):

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

      Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2008     2007  

Net Income Available to Common Stockholders

   $ 38     $ 45  
                

Denominator for Basic Earnings per Share

     171.6       177.1  

Effect of Dilutive Securities – Stock Options

     0.4       0.3  

Effect of Dilutive Securities – Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Dividend Equivalents and Value Management Plan

     0.1       0.1  
                

Denominator for Diluted Earnings per Share – Adjusted for Dilutive Securities

     172.1       177.5  
                

Per Share Amounts:

    

Net Income per Share – Basic

   $ 0.22     $ 0.26  

Net Income per Share – Diluted

   $ 0.22     $ 0.25  

Antidilutive options were excluded for certain periods from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares. Antidilutive options were as follows for the quarters ended March 31 (shares in millions):

 

   

      Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2008     2007  

Number of Options

     0.8       0.7  

Range of Exercise Prices

     $39.31 to $43.23       $35.54 to $40.42  

Expiration on or before

     February 2018       March 2017  

 

Note 3. Timber and Timberlands, Property, Plant and Equipment, and Inventory

 

Timber and Timberlands consisted of the following (in millions):

 

 

     March 31, 2008     December 31, 2007  

Timber and Logging Roads, net

   $ 2,661     $ 2,689  

Timberlands

     1,263       1,260  
                

Timber and Timberlands, net

   $ 3,924     $ 3,949  
                

 

Property, Plant and Equipment consisted of the following (in millions):

 

    
     March 31, 2008     December 31, 2007  

Land, Buildings and Improvements

   $ 86     $ 88  

Machinery and Equipment

     316       312  
                
     402       400  

Accumulated Depreciation

     (206 )     (198 )
                

Property, Plant and Equipment, net

   $ 196     $ 202  
                

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

Inventories, accounted for using the lower of average cost or market, consisted of the following (in millions):

 

     March 31, 2008     December 31, 2007  

Raw Materials (logs)

   $ 25     $ 21  

Work-in-process

     6       5  

Finished Goods

     42       43  
                
     73       69  

Supplies

     13       13  
                

Total

   $ 86     $ 82  
                

 

Note 4. Borrowings

 

Debt consists of the following (in millions):

 

 

 

     March 31, 2008     December 31, 2007  

Variable Rate Debt

    

Term Credit Agreement (A)

   $ 350     $ 350  

Term Credit Agreement (B)

     250       —    

Revolving Line of Credit (C)

     369       556  

Fixed Rate Debt

    

Senior Notes

     1,570       1,617  
                

Total Debt

     2,539       2,523  

Less: Current Portion

     (150 )     (147 )
                

Long-term Portion

   $ 2,389     $ 2,376  
                

 

(A) As of March 31, 2008, the interest rate on the $350 million term credit agreement was 3.05%
(B) On March 28, 2008, the company entered into a $250 million term credit agreement that matures in June 2012. As of March 31, 2008, the interest rate for the $250 million term credit agreement was 3.68%. The interest rate on this term credit agreement is based on LIBOR plus 1.00%. This rate can range from LIBOR plus 0.5% to LIBOR plus 1.5% depending on our published debt ratings. The $250 million term credit agreement is subject to covenants that are substantially the same as those of our revolving line of credit, and allows prepayment of the borrowings at any time prior to the maturity date without premium or penalty.
(C) As of March 31, 2008, the weighted-average interest rate for the borrowings on the line of credit was 3.25%. As of March 31, 2008, we had $369 million of borrowings and $13 million of standby letters of credit outstanding; $368 million remained available for borrowing under our $750 million line of credit. As of April 1, 2008, $34 million of the borrowings under our line of credit was repaid.

The company has a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under which Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc., from time to time, may offer and sell any combination of preferred stock, common stock, depositary shares, warrants and guarantees, and under which Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P., the company’s wholly-owned operating partnership, may from time to time, offer and sell debt securities. The shelf registration statement expires on April 25, 2009.

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

Note 5. Capital

The changes in the company’s capital accounts were as follows during the first three months of 2008 (in millions):

 

     Common Stock    Paid-in
Capital
   Retained
Earnings
    Treasury
Stock
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Total
Equity
 
   Shares     Dollars            

January 1, 2008

   172.3     $ 2    $ 2,204    $ 202     $ (509 )   $ 2     $ 1,901  

Net Income

   —         —        —        38       —         —         38  

Other Comprehensive Income (loss), net of tax

   —         —        —        —         —         (2 )     (2 )
                      

Total Comprehensive Income

                   36  
                      

Dividends

   —         —        —        (72 )     —         —         (72 )

Shares Issued under Stock Incentive Plans

   0.1       —        2      —         —         —         2  

Common Stock Repurchased

   (1.3 )     —        —        —         (51 )     —         (51 )
                                                    

March 31, 2008

   171.1     $ 2    $ 2,206    $ 168     $ (560 )   $ —       $ 1,816  
                                                    

Note 6. Fair Value Measurements

Summarized below are the assets reported at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2008 (in millions):

 

      Balance at
March 31, 2008
   Fair Value Measurements
at Reporting Date Using
Quoted Prices in Active
Markets of Identical Assets
(Level 1 Measurements)

Cash Equivalents (A)

   $ 48    $ 48

Investment in Grantor Trusts

     24      24
             

Total

   $ 72    $ 72
             

 

(A) Included in the $118 million of Cash and Cash Equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2008.

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

Note 7. Employee Pension Plans

The components of pension cost were as follows for the quarterly periods ended March 31 (in millions):

 

      Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2008     2007  

Service Cost

   $ 2     $ 2  

Interest Cost

     1       1  

Expected Return on Plan Assets

     (1 )     (1 )
                

Total Pension Cost

   $ 2     $ 2  
                

Note 8. Commitments and Contingencies

Contingencies. The company is subject to regulations regarding forest and harvest practices and is, from time to time, involved in various legal proceedings, including environmental and regulatory matters, incidental to its business.

Environmental Contingencies. In connection with the October 6, 2001 merger with The Timber Company, Plum Creek agreed to indemnify Georgia-Pacific for substantially all of the liabilities attributed to The Timber Company. During 2003, Georgia-Pacific provided Plum Creek with information about the existence of mine tailings and acidic surface water on approximately 90 acres in Hot Spring County, Arkansas, on former Georgia-Pacific properties (“Arkansas Environmental Issue”). Barite mining and related activities were conducted on the site between 1939 and 1981 in part by lessees of an entity that was acquired by Georgia-Pacific. A remediation plan has not yet been approved. The company believes that it has strong defenses in the matter. Furthermore, to the extent Plum Creek is required to indemnify Georgia-Pacific for its share of the remediation costs, Plum Creek may be able to recover all or a portion of its cost from Georgia-Pacific’s insurance policy, or indemnity obligations of the various lessees that conducted mining operations on the property, or both. No amounts have been accrued for this potential liability.

Unrecorded Contingencies. The company believes it will be successful in defending the Arkansas Environmental Issue. If the company is not successful in defending this claim, we believe the loss for the Arkansas Environmental Issue would not be material. Management currently believes that resolving other pending legal proceedings against the company, individually or in aggregate, will not have a material adverse impact on our financial position or results of operations. However, these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties and management’s view on these matters may change in the future. Were an unfavorable final outcome in one or multiple legal proceedings to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on our financial position and the results of operations for the period in which any unfavorable outcome becomes reasonably estimable.

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

Note 9. Segment Information

The tables below present information about reported segments for the quarterly periods ended March 31 (in millions):

 

     Northern
Resources
   Southern
Resources
   Real
Estate
   Manufactured
Products (A)
    Other    Total (B)

Quarter Ended March 31, 2008

                

External Revenues

   $ 79    $ 122    $ 52    $ 105     $ 5    $ 363

Intersegment Revenues

     15      —        —        —         —        15

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

     10      15      —        7       —        32

Basis of Real Estate Sold

     —        —        10      —         —        10

Operating Income (loss)

     14      37      33      (9 )     5      80

Quarter Ended March 31, 2007

                

External Revenues

   $ 82    $ 127    $ 39    $ 115     $ 6    $ 369

Intersegment Revenues

     17      —        —        —         —        17

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

     10      15      —        7       —        32

Basis of Real Estate Sold

     —        —        9      —         —        9

Operating Income (loss)

     19      46      21      (1 )     5      90

 

(A) For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, the Manufactured Products segment recorded a loss of $4 million related to the write-down of inventory to market, which is included in Manufacturing Cost of Goods Sold in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
(B) Consolidated depreciation, depletion and amortization includes unallocated corporate depreciation of $1 million each for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and 2007.

A reconciliation of total segment operating income to income before income taxes is presented below for the quarterly periods ended March 31 (in millions):

 

      Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2008     2007  

Total Segment Operating Income

   $ 80     $ 90  

Corporate and Other Unallocated Expenses

     (14 )     (15 )

Other Operating Income (Expense), net

     3       2  
                

Operating Income

     69       77  

Interest Expense, net

     (36 )     (36 )
                

Income before Income Taxes

   $ 33     $ 41  
                

Note 10. Subsequent Event

On May 6, 2008, the Board of Directors authorized the company to make a dividend payment of $0.42 per share, or approximately $72 million, which will be paid on May 30, 2008 to stockholders of record on May 16, 2008.

 

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ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Following are the consolidated financial statements of Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and wholly-owned subsidiary of Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. These financial statements are provided pursuant to Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X in connection with the shelf registration statement on Form S-3 filed in April 2006, pursuant to which Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P. has registered, and from time to time may offer and sell, debt securities. As of March 31, 2008, Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P. has sold $525 million of debt securities.

PLUM CREEK TIMBERLANDS, L.P.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

 

      Quarter Ended March 31,  

(In Millions)

   2008     2007  

 

REVENUES:

    

Timber

   $ 201     $ 209  

Real Estate

     52       39  

Manufacturing

     105       115  

Other

     5       6  
                

Total Revenues

     363       369  
                

COSTS AND EXPENSES:

    

Cost of Goods Sold:

    

Timber

     139       134  

Real Estate

     16       16  

Manufacturing

     112       113  

Other

     —         1  
                

Total Cost of Goods Sold

     267       264  

Selling, General and Administrative

     30       30  
                

Total Costs and Expenses

     297       294  
                

Other Operating Income (Expense), net

     3       2  
                

Operating Income

     69       77  

Interest Expense, net

     36       36  
                

Income before Income Taxes

     33       41  

Benefit for Income Taxes

     (5 )     (4 )
                

Net Income

   $ 38     $ 45  
                

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBERLANDS, L.P.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

 

(In Millions)

   March 31,
2008
   December 31,
2007

 

ASSETS

     

Current Assets:

     

Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ 118    $ 240

Accounts Receivable

     39      33

Like-Kind Exchange Funds Held in Escrow

     31      —  

Inventories

     86      82

Deferred Tax Asset

     7      7

Real Estate Development Properties

     6      5

Assets Held for Sale

     66      64

Other Current Assets

     24      25
             
     377      456

Timber and Timberlands, net

     3,924      3,949

Property, Plant and Equipment, net

     196      202

Investment in Grantor Trusts ($24 at Fair Value)

     25      28

Other Assets

     35      30
             

Total Assets

   $ 4,557    $ 4,665
             

LIABILITIES

     

Current Liabilities:

     

Current Portion of Long-Term Debt

   $ 150    $ 147

Accounts Payable

     37      48

Interest Payable

     39      29

Wages Payable

     11      25

Taxes Payable

     15      23

Deferred Revenue

     7      13

Other Current Liabilities

     17      18
             
     276      303

Long-Term Debt

     2,020      1,820

Line of Credit

     369      556

Deferred Tax Liability

     18      20

Other Liabilities

     58      65
             

Total Liabilities

     2,741      2,764
             

Commitments and Contingencies

     

EQUITY

     

Total Partners’ Capital

     1,816      1,901
             

Total Liabilities and Partners’ Capital

   $ 4,557    $ 4,665
             

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBERLANDS, L.P.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

 

      Three Months Ended March 31,  

(In Millions)

   2008     2007  

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    

Net Income

   $ 38     $ 45  

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities:

    

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

     33       33  

Basis of Real Estate Sold

     10       9  

Expenditures for Real Estate Development

     (3 )     (2 )

Deferred Income Taxes

     (2 )     (3 )

Working Capital Changes Impacting Cash Flow:

    

Like-Kind Exchange Funds

     (31 )     (10 )

Other Working Capital Changes

     (39 )     (31 )

Other

     (7 )     (3 )
                

Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities

     (1 )     38  
                

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    

Capital Expenditures (Excluding Timberland Acquisitions)

     (13 )     (11 )

Timberlands Acquired

     (1 )     —    

Other

     —         2  
                

Net Cash Used In Investing Activities

     (14 )     (9 )
                

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    

Cash Distributions

     (123 )     (92 )

Borrowings on Line of Credit

     477       649  

Repayments on Line of Credit

     (664 )     (577 )

Proceeds from Issuance of Long-Term Debt

     250       —    

Principal Payments and Retirement of Long-Term Debt

     (47 )     (72 )
                

Net Cash Used In Financing Activities

     (107 )     (92 )
                

Decrease In Cash and Cash Equivalents

     (122 )     (63 )

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

    

Beginning of Period

     240       273  
                

End of Period

   $ 118     $ 210  
                

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBERLANDS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Note 1. Basis of Presentation

General. Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P. is a Delaware Limited Partnership and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. (“Parent”) is a Delaware Corporation and real estate investment trust, or “REIT”. References herein to “the Operating Partnership,” “we,” “us,” or “our” relate to Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P. and all of its wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries; references to “Plum Creek” relate to Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. and all of its wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries.

At March 31, 2008, the Operating Partnership owned and managed approximately 8 million acres of timberlands in the Northwest, Southern, and Northeast United States, and owned and operated ten wood product conversion facilities in the Northwest United States. Included in the 8 million acres are about 1.7 million acres of higher and better use timberlands, which are expected to be sold and/or developed over approximately the next 15 years for recreational, conservation or residential purposes. In addition, the Operating Partnership has approximately 300,000 acres of non-strategic timberlands, which are expected to be sold over the next five years. In the meantime, all of these timberlands continue to be used productively in our business of growing and selling timber.

The consolidated financial statements of the Operating Partnership include the accounts of Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P. and its subsidiaries. The Operating Partnership is 100% owned by Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. has no independent assets or liabilities. Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. has no operations other than its investment in Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P. and transactions in its own equity, such as the issuance and/or repurchase of common stock and the receipt of proceeds from stock option exercises. Intercompany transactions and accounts between Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P. and its subsidiaries have been eliminated in consolidation. All transactions are denominated in United States dollars.

Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. has elected to be taxed as a REIT under sections 856-860 of the United States Internal Revenue Code and, as such, is not generally subject to corporate-level income tax. However, the Operating Partnership conducts certain non-REIT activities through various taxable REIT subsidiaries, which are subject to corporate-level income tax. These activities include our manufacturing operations, the harvesting and selling of logs, and the development and/or sale of some of our higher and better use timberlands. The Operating Partnership’s tax provision includes the tax expense and/or benefit associated with Plum Creek’s taxable REIT subsidiaries, as well as any tax expense and/or benefit incurred by the REIT. The effective tax rate for the Operating Partnership is lower than the federal statutory corporate rate due to Plum Creek’s status as a REIT.

The consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q are unaudited and do not contain all of the information required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America to be included in a full set of financial statements. These interim consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P. for the three years ended December 31, 2007, which were included on Form 10-K of Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. and filed with the SEC on February 28, 2008, and which include a summary of significant accounting policies of the Operating Partnership. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments necessary to present fairly the results of operations for such periods have been included in this Form 10-Q. 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.

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBERLANDS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

New Accounting Pronouncements (Adopted during 2008)

SFAS No. 157. In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurement (“SFAS No. 157”). SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements, but does not require any new fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 supersedes the definition of fair value in most existing pronouncements under generally accepted accounting principles that require or permit the use of fair value, including (but not limited to) business combinations, impairments and exchanges of nonmonetary assets. SFAS No. 157 established a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level I measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level III measurements).

SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 157-2 which delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for certain non-financial assets and liabilities to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years.

The Operating Partnership partially adopted SFAS No. 157 in the first quarter of 2008, which did not result in recognition of a transition adjustment to retained earnings. The Operating Partnership will fully adopt SFAS No. 157, including all non-financial assets and liabilities, in the first quarter of 2009. The Operating Partnership is in the process of determining the effect, if any, the full adoption of SFAS No. 157 will have on the consolidated financial statements.

SFAS No. 159. In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities-Including an Amendment of SFAS Statement No. 115 (“SFAS No. 159”). SFAS No. 159 allows entities to measure certain financial assets and liabilities and similar non-financial assets and liabilities at fair value on an instrument-by-instrument basis, that are otherwise not accounted for at fair value under other accounting standards. Generally, the adoption of this standard is optional. SFAS No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007; early adoption is permitted for an entity’s first fiscal year that begins on or before November 15, 2007, provided that entity also adopts the provisions of SFAS No. 157 with the early adoption. The Operating Partnership did not elect to adopt the provisions of SFAS No. 159 for existing eligible instruments at December 31, 2007.

New Accounting Pronouncements (Not Yet Adopted)

SFAS No. 141(R). In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (“SFAS No. 141(R)”), which is a revision of SFAS No. 141. In general, SFAS No. 141(R) expands the definition of a business and transactions that are accounted for as business combinations. In addition, SFAS No. 141(R) generally requires all assets and liabilities of acquired entities to be recorded at fair value, and changes the recognition and measurement of related aspects of business combinations. SFAS No. 141(R) is effective for business combinations with an acquisition date within fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The standard is required to be adopted prospectively and early adoption is not allowed. The Operating Partnership is in the process of determining the effect, if any, the adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) will have on the consolidated financial statements.

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBERLANDS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

SFAS No. 160. In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an Amendment of ARB No. 51 (“SFAS No. 160”). In general, SFAS No. 160 requires that a noncontrolling interest in a consolidated subsidiary be presented in the consolidated statement of financial position as a separate component of equity and also establishes a framework for recognition of changes in control for a consolidated subsidiary that is not 100% owned. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The standard is required to be adopted prospectively and early adoption is not allowed. The Operating Partnership does not own any noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and therefore does not expect the adoption of SFAS No. 160 to have any impact on the Operating Partnership’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2008 presentation. The reclassifications had no impact on operating income or net income.

Note 2. Timber and Timberlands, Property, Plant and Equipment, and Inventory

Timber and Timberlands consisted of the following (in millions):

 

     March 31, 2008     December 31, 2007  

Timber and Logging Roads, net

   $ 2,661     $ 2,689  

Timberlands

     1,263       1,260  
                

Timber and Timberlands, net

   $ 3,924     $ 3,949  
                

Property, Plant and Equipment consisted of the following (in millions):

 

    
     March 31, 2008     December 31, 2007  

Land, Buildings and Improvements

   $ 86     $ 88  

Machinery and Equipment

     316       312  
                
     402       400  

Accumulated Depreciation

     (206 )     (198 )
                

Property, Plant and Equipment, net

   $ 196     $ 202  
                

Inventories, accounted for using the lower of average cost or market, consisted of the following (in millions):

 

 

     March 31, 2008     December 31, 2007  

Raw Materials (logs)

   $ 25     $ 21  

Work-in-process

     6       5  

Finished Goods

     42       43  
                
     73       69  

Supplies

     13       13  
                

Total

   $ 86     $ 82  
                

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBERLANDS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

Note 3. Borrowings

Debt consists of the following (in millions):

 

     March 31, 2008     December 31, 2007  

Variable Rate Debt

    

Term Credit Agreement (A)

   $ 350     $ 350  

Term Credit Agreement (B)

     250       —    

Revolving Line of Credit (C)

     369       556  

Fixed Rate Debt

    

Senior Notes

     1,570       1,617  
                

Total Debt

     2,539       2,523  

Less: Current Portion

     (150 )     (147 )
                

Long-term Portion

   $ 2,389     $ 2,376  
                

 

(A) As of March 31, 2008, the interest rate on the $350 million term credit agreement was 3.05%
(B) On March 28, 2008, the Operating Partnership entered into a $250 million term credit agreement that matures in June 2012. As of March 31, 2008, the interest rate for the $250 million term credit agreement was 3.68%. The interest rate on this term credit agreement is based on LIBOR plus 1.00%. This rate can range from LIBOR plus 0.5% to LIBOR plus 1.5% depending on our published debt ratings. The $250 million term credit agreement is subject to covenants that are substantially the same as those of our revolving line of credit, and allows prepayment of the borrowings at any time prior to the maturity date without premium or penalty.
(C) As of March 31, 2008, the weighted-average interest rate for the borrowings on the line of credit was 3.25%. As of March 31, 2008, we had $369 million of borrowings and $13 million of standby letters of credit outstanding; $368 million remained available for borrowing under our $750 million line of credit. As of April 1, 2008, $34 million of the borrowings under our line of credit was repaid.

Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. has a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under which Plum Creek, from time to time, may offer and sell any combination of preferred stock, common stock, depositary shares, warrants and guarantees, and under which Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P., may from time to time, offer and sell debt securities. The shelf registration statement expires on April 25, 2009.

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBERLANDS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

Note 4. Partners’ Capital

The changes in the Operating Partnerships’ capital accounts were as follows during the first three months of 2008 (in millions):

 

     Partners’
Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Total
Partners’
Capital
 

January 1, 2008

   $ 1,899     $ 2     $ 1,901  

Net Income

     38       —         38  

Other Comprehensive Income (loss), net of tax

     —         (2 )     (2 )
            

Total Comprehensive Income

         36  
            

Distributions to Parent

     (123 )     —         (123 )

Capital Contributions from Parent

     2       —         2  
                        

March 31, 2008

   $ 1,816     $ —       $ 1,816  
                        

Note 5. Fair Value Measurements

Summarized below are the assets reported at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2008 (in millions):

 

      Balance at
March 31, 2008
   Fair Value Measurements
at Reporting Date Using
Quoted Prices in Active
Markets of Identical Assets
(Level 1 Measurements)

Cash Equivalents (A)

   $ 48    $ 48

Investment in Grantor Trusts

     24      24
             

Total

   $ 72    $ 72
             

 

(A) Included in the $118 million of Cash and Cash Equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2008.

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBERLANDS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

Note 6. Employee Pension Plans

The components of pension cost were as follows for the quarterly periods ended March 31 (in millions):

 

      Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2008     2007  

Service Cost

   $ 2     $ 2  

Interest Cost

     1       1  

Expected Return on Plan Assets

     (1 )     (1 )
                

Total Pension Cost

   $ 2     $ 2  
                

Note 7. Commitments and Contingencies

Contingencies. The Operating Partnership is subject to regulations regarding forest and harvest practices and is, from time to time, involved in various legal proceedings, including environmental and regulatory matters, incidental to its business.

Environmental Contingencies. In connection with the October 6, 2001 merger with The Timber Company, Plum Creek agreed to indemnify Georgia-Pacific for substantially all of the liabilities attributed to The Timber Company. During 2003, Georgia-Pacific provided the Operating Partnership with information about the existence of mine tailings and acidic surface water on approximately 90 acres in Hot Spring County, Arkansas, on former Georgia-Pacific properties (“Arkansas Environmental Issue”). Barite mining and related activities were conducted on the site between 1939 and 1981 in part by lessees of an entity that was acquired by Georgia-Pacific. A remediation plan has not yet been approved. The Operating Partnership believes that it has strong defenses in the matter. Furthermore, to the extent the Operating Partnership is required to indemnify Georgia-Pacific for its share of the remediation costs, the Operating Partnership may be able to recover all or a portion of its cost from Georgia-Pacific’s insurance policy, or indemnity obligations of the various lessees that conducted mining operations on the property, or both. No amounts have been accrued for this potential liability.

Unrecorded Contingencies. The Operating Partnership believes it will be successful in defending the Arkansas Environmental Issue. If the Operating Partnership is not successful in defending this claim, we believe the loss for the Arkansas Environmental Issue would not be material. Management currently believes that resolving other pending legal proceedings against the Operating Partnership, individually or in aggregate, will not have a material adverse impact on our financial position or results of operations. However, these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties and management’s view on these matters may change in the future. Were an unfavorable final outcome in one or multiple legal proceedings to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on our financial position and the results of operations for the period in which any unfavorable outcome becomes reasonably estimable.

 

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PLUM CREEK TIMBERLANDS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

Note 8. Segment Information

The tables below present information about reported segments for the quarterly periods ended March 31 (in millions):

 

     Northern
Resources
   Southern
Resources
   Real
Estate
   Manufactured
Products
 (A)
    Other    Total (B)
Quarter Ended March 31, 2008                 

External Revenues

   $ 79    $ 122    $ 52    $ 105     $ 5    $ 363

Intersegment Revenues

     15      —        —        —         —        15

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

     10      15      —        7       —        32

Basis of Real Estate Sold

     —        —        10      —         —        10

Operating Income (loss)

     14      37      33      (9 )     5      80
Quarter Ended March 31, 2007                 

External Revenues

   $ 82    $ 127    $ 39    $ 115     $ 6    $ 369

Intersegment Revenues

     17      —        —        —         —        17

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

     10      15      —        7       —        32

Basis of Real Estate Sold

     —        —        9      —         —        9

Operating Income (loss)

     19      46      21      (1 )     5      90

 

(A) For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, the Manufactured Products segment recorded a loss of $4 million related to the write-down of inventory to market, which is included in Manufacturing Cost of Goods Sold in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
(B) Consolidated depreciation, depletion and amortization includes unallocated corporate depreciation of $1 million each for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and 2007.

A reconciliation of total segment operating income to income before income taxes is presented below for the quarterly periods ended March 31 (in millions):

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2008     2007  

Total Segment Operating Income

   $ 80     $ 90  

Corporate and Other Unallocated Expenses

     (14 )     (15 )

Other Operating Income (Expense), net

     3       2  
                

Operating Income

     69       77  

Interest Expense, net

     (36 )     (36 )
                

Income before Income Taxes

   $ 33     $ 41  
                

 

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

Forward-Looking Statement

References to “Plum Creek,” “the company,” “we,” “us,” or “our,” are references to Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a real estate investment trust, or “REIT,” for federal income tax purposes, and all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

This Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “strategy,” or “anticipates,” or the negative of those words or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including, but not limited to, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Some factors include changes in governmental, legislative and environmental restrictions, catastrophic losses from fires, floods, windstorms, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, insect infestations or diseases, as well as changes in economic conditions and competition in our domestic and export markets and other factors described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those contemplated by our projected, forecasted, estimated or budgeted results as reflected in forward-looking statements relating to our operations and business include, but are not limited to:

 

   

the failure to meet our expectations with respect to our likely future performance;

 

   

an unanticipated reduction in the demand for timber products and/or an unanticipated increase in supply of timber products;

 

   

an unanticipated reduction in demand for higher and better use timberlands or non-strategic timberlands;

 

   

our failure to make strategic acquisitions or to integrate any such acquisitions effectively or, conversely, our failure to make strategic divestitures; and

 

   

our failure to qualify as a real estate investment trust, or REIT.

It is likely that if one or more of the risks materializes, or if one or more assumptions prove to be incorrect, the current expectations of Plum Creek and its management will not be realized. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and neither Plum Creek nor its management undertakes any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the financial information and analysis included in our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2008.

 

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Recent Events

Potential Timberland Transaction. We are currently pursuing a transaction involving approximately 450,000 acres of timberlands in our Southern Resources Segment. We expect to close any transaction by the end of 2008. If consummated, we intend to apply 50% of the net proceeds from any such transaction to repay debt.

Results of Operations

First Quarter 2008 Compared to First Quarter 2007

The following table and narrative compare operating results by segment for the quarters ended March 31 (in millions):

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,     Change  
     2008     2007    

 

Operating Income (Loss) by Segment

      

Northern Resources

   $ 14     $ 19     $ (5 )

Southern Resources

     37       46       (9 )

Real Estate

     33       21       12  

Manufactured Products

     (9 )     (1 )     (8 )

Other

     5       5       —    
                        

Total Segment Operating Income

     80       90       (10 )

Other Costs and Eliminations

     (14 )     (15 )     1  

Other Operating Income (Expense), net

     3       2       1  
                        

Operating Income

   $ 69     $ 77     $ (8 )
                        

Northern Resources Segment. Revenues decreased by $5 million, or 5%, to $94 million in the first quarter of 2008. This decrease was due primarily to lower harvest volumes ($4 million) and lower sawlog prices ($3 million), partially offset by higher pulpwood prices ($1 million). Harvest volumes decreased by approximately 4% compared to the first quarter of 2007 due primarily to a temporary increase in harvest levels during 2007 to take advantage of favorable pulpwood prices. Harvest levels for all of 2008 are expected to range between 5.6 and 6.0 million tons compared to 6.2 million tons harvested in 2007. Sawlog prices were 6% lower in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same quarter of 2007 due primarily to mill curtailments as a result of weak lumber prices caused by the significant decline in housing starts.

Northern Resources Segment operating income was 15% of its revenues for the first quarter of 2008 and 19% for the first quarter of 2007. This decrease was due primarily to lower sawlog prices and higher hauling rates. Segment costs and expenses were $80 million for both the first quarter of 2008 and 2007. Despite lower harvest volumes, operating costs (on a per ton basis) were higher in the first quarter of 2008 due primarily to higher logging and hauling costs. On a per ton basis, logging and hauling costs increased 5% ($3 million) due primarily to longer hauling distances and higher fuel costs.

Southern Resources Segment. Revenues decreased by $5 million, or 4%, to $122 million in the first quarter of 2008. This decrease was due primarily to lower sawlog harvest volumes ($4 million) and lower sawlog prices ($4 million), partially offset by higher pulpwood prices ($3 million). Harvest volumes decreased by approximately 5% compared to the first quarter of 2007 due primarily to a reduction in sawlog harvest volumes as a result of weaker lumber demand caused by the decline in housing starts. Harvest levels for all of 2008 are expected to range between 12.9 and 13.5 million tons compared to 14.1 million tons harvested in 2007, and will likely be on the high end of the range if pulpwood markets remain strong. Sawlog prices were 9% lower in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same quarter of 2007 due primarily to mill curtailments as a result of weak lumber prices caused by the significant decline in housing starts. Pulpwood prices were 17% higher in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the first quarter of 2007 due primarily to the continued strong demand for wood fiber from pulp and paper companies and a reduced supply of woodchips as a result of lumber and plywood mill curtailments.

Southern Resources Segment operating income was 30% of its revenues for the first quarter of 2008 and 36% for the first quarter of 2007. This decrease was due primarily to lower sawlog prices and higher hauling rates. Segment costs and expenses increased by $4 million, or 5%, to $85 million. Despite lower

 

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harvest volumes, operating costs were higher in the first quarter of 2008 due primarily to higher logging and hauling costs. On a per ton basis, logging and hauling costs increased 6% ($3 million) due primarily to higher fuel costs.

Real Estate Segment.

 

     Quarter Ended March 31, 2008    Quarter Ended March 31, 2007

Property

   Acres
Sold
   Revenues
(millions)
   Revenue
per Acre
   Acres
Sold
   Revenues
(millions)
   Revenue
per Acre

 

Small Non-Strategic

   17,145    $ 20    $ 1,180    8,645    $ 13    $ 1,445

Conservation

   1,015      —        395    4,210      7      1,740

Higher and Better Use / Recreational

   10,635      31      2,875    3,750      16      4,300

Development Properties

   65      —        5,825    45      1      22,045

Conservation Easements

   n/a      —        —      n/a      —        —  
                             

Total

   28,860    $ 52       16,650    $ 37   
                             

Proceeds from Joint Ventures

      $ —            $ 2   
                         

Revenues increased by $13 million to $52 million in 2008. This increase is due primarily to the increase in the number of acres sold of higher and better use / recreational properties ($30 million) and small non-strategic properties ($12 million), offset in part by lower prices from higher and better use / recreational and small non-strategic land sales ($20 million), and decreased revenue from conservation sales ($7 million).

The number of acres of higher and better use / recreational properties sold during the first quarter of 2008 increased compared to the first quarter of 2007 due primarily to a plan to expand the number of acres sold during 2008. The number of acres of small non-strategic properties sold during the first quarter of 2008 increased primarily due to the timing of sales. For all of 2008, we expect the number of acres of small non-strategic properties sold should approximate the 78,000 acres sold during 2007. Our average sale price per acre for higher and better use / recreational properties decreased by 33% due primarily to sales mix. During the first quarter of 2008, we increased our sales of properties with a lower value per acre while demand for properties with a higher value per acre has weakened. Demand in regions with a higher value per acre has weakened due to the slowing U.S. economy, the decline in consumer confidence and the reduced availability of credit. Our average sale price per acre for small non-strategic properties decreased by 18% due primarily to sales mix. Sales during the first quarter of 2008 and our remaining small non-strategic properties have a lower percentage of high value properties compared to our sales mix during the same period in the prior year.

Additionally, the timing of real estate sales is a function of many factors, including the general state of the economy, demand in local real estate markets, the ability to obtain entitlements, the number of properties listed for sale, the seasonal nature of sales (particularly in the northern states), the plans of adjacent landowners, our expectation of future price appreciation, the timing of harvesting activities, and the availability of government and not-for-profit funding. Also, in any period the sales average will vary based on the location and physical characteristics of the parcels sold.

We expect revenues from real estate sales during 2008 to range between $320 million and $340 million of which $25 million to $35 million is from development properties. We estimate selling up to 150,000 acres. These sales will consist of up to 70,000 acres of higher and better use / recreational properties, up to 4,000 acres of development properties and the remainder from small non-strategic and conservation sales. In addition to the above acres, from time to time, we may sell large blocks of other timberlands to maximize value.

Real Estate Segment operating income was 63% of its first quarter revenues for 2008, compared to 54% for 2007. This increase was due primarily to selling a greater percentage of higher and better use / recreational

 

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properties during the first quarter of 2008 compared to sales during the first quarter of 2007. Real Estate Segment costs and expenses increased by $1 million to $19 million in the first quarter of 2008 due primarily to selling more acres during 2008.

At March 31, 2008, we had 25 internal development properties, or approximately 7,500 acres entitled and an additional 18 properties, or approximately 12,000 acres, in the planning process. Listed below are a summary of our entitled or developed properties as of March 31, 2008:

Development Projects

 

PROJECT STATUS Location (County, State)

   Year Sales
Begin
   Total Acres    Acres
Sold (A)
   Average Selling
Price Per Acre

 

Greene, GA

   2008    51    —      $ —  

Heard, GA

   2008    1,451    —        —  

Newton, GA

   2008    396    —        —  

Oconee, GA

   2008    459    —        —  

Oconee, GA

   2009    295    —        —  

Wayne, GA

   2007    10    7      28,694

Wayne, GA

   2008    114    —        —  

Piscataquis, ME

   2002    450    395      16,475

Flathead, MT

   2008    370    —        —  

Flathead, MT

   2008    648    —        —  

Flathead, MT

   2010    22    —        —  

Lake, MT

   2006    467    165      26,318

Lincoln, MT

   2007    222    196      11,156

Lincoln, MT

   2008    270    —        —  

Ravalli, MT

   2010    1,381    —        —  

Sanders, MT

   2008    519    —        —  

Adams, WI

   2008    40    —        —  

Adams, WI

   2008    266    —        —  

Bayfield, WI

   2008    77    —        —  

Langdale, WI

   2006    610    142      4,116

Oneida, WI

   2005    47    23      11,427

Price, WI

   2006    121    28      3,506

Price, WI

   2007    74    —        —  

Price, WI

   2008    109    —        —  

Vilas, WI

   2007    81    61      4,187
               
      8,550    1,017   
               

 

(A) Acres Sold represents sales since inception of the project.

The company estimates approximately 130,000 acres of its properties will be developed through joint venture arrangements over the next 15 to 20 years. At March 31, 2008, we had six joint venture arrangements with land developers for three projects in northeast Florida, two in southeast Georgia, and one in South Carolina, covering approximately 26,000 acres. However, in May 2008 we terminated four of these ventures due to a partner’s change in management focus, market conditions and project priorities. The partner has agreed to release the properties from the related joint venture agreements free of any conditions or contingencies. The released properties had certain entitlement and/or permitting activities performed by our joint venture partner over the course of the arrangements. Plum Creek has no current or future financial obligations to the former joint venture partner for any of these entitlement or permitting activities.

The company may choose to pursue development of these properties with new partners or pursue entitlements on the properties and then enter into joint venture arrangements for development of the entitled property. The company, consistent with its business plan for these properties, expects any significant capital costs of the projects to be funded by a joint venture partner.

 

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Listed below is a summary of our current joint venture arrangements (dollars in millions):

Joint Venture Arrangements

 

Location (County, State)

   Expected
Year of
Initial
Closing(A)
   Total
Acres(B)
   Phase(s)    Non-Contingent
Purchase
Price(C)
(millions)
   Expected
Participation
Timeline

St. Johns, Florida

   2010    3,590    5    $ 15    until 2021

Berkeley, South Carolina(D)

   2007    2,035    1    $ 8    until 2013

 

(A) Year land is expected to be sold to the joint venture. This represents the year of initial transfer for projects with multiple phases.
(B) Actual development acreage will depend upon final approval(s).
(C) Total proceeds for all phases in connection with sale of land to joint ventures. Does not include contingent consideration associated with future lot sales.
(D) During the first quarter of 2007, the property was transferred to a joint venture arrangement in exchange for $2 million in cash and a $5.5 million note.

Manufactured Products Segment. Revenues decreased by $10 million, or 9%, to $105 million in the first quarter of 2008 due primarily to lower lumber sales volume ($9 million), lower lumber prices ($3 million) and lower MDF sales volumes ($3 million), offset in part by higher MDF prices ($6 million).

Lumber prices were 6% lower during the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same quarter of 2007. The demand for lumber has declined due primarily to significantly lower housing starts. U.S. housing starts during the first quarter of 2008 were 30% lower compared to the first quarter of 2007. In response to the decline in housing starts, North American lumber production has also been declining. The supply of lumber decreased by 11% during 2007 compared to the previous year. Despite the decline in lumber production, there still remains an excess supply of lumber at current demand levels. Lumber sales volume declined 27% during the first quarter of 2008 compared to the first quarter of 2007 due primarily to curtailed production as a result of extremely depressed lumber prices.

MDF prices during the first quarter of 2008 were 21% higher than during the same period in the prior year due primarily to higher raw material costs. Due to supply conditions, customers were generally willing to pay higher prices to compensate manufacturers for the higher cost of raw materials. MDF sales volume decreased by 9% during the first quarter due primarily to weak demand for MDF products used in home construction.

Manufactured Products Segment operating losses were $9 million for the first quarter of 2008 and $1 million for the first quarter of 2007. This decrease in operating performance was due primarily to a $4 million lumber inventory write-down and weak lumber prices. Manufactured Products Segment costs and expenses decreased by $2 million to $114 million for the first quarter of 2008. This decrease was due primarily to lower lumber and MDF sales volume, offset in part by a $4 million lumber inventory write-down and higher MDF costs. During the first quarter of 2008, as a result of depressed lumber prices, our lumber inventory (finished goods, work in progress and logs) was written-down from its cost to its current market value. MDF raw material costs increased by $4 million as a result of higher wood chip (due to a regional shortage from lower lumber production) and resin costs.

Other Costs and Eliminations. Other Costs and Eliminations (which consists of corporate overhead and intercompany profit elimination) decreased operating income by $14 million during the first quarter of 2008 and by $15 million during the first quarter of 2007.

Other Operating Income (Expense), net. Other Operating Income (Expense), net (which consists of gains and losses from miscellaneous asset sales, litigation settlements and other similar items) increased by $1

 

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million to $3 million during the first quarter of 2008. The increase was due primarily to the one-time receipt of $3 million of contingent sales proceeds in the first quarter of 2008. The payment related to the 2004 sale of our interest in a joint venture to explore and develop coalbed methane gas on certain of our timberlands (“CBM payment”).

Interest Expense, net. Interest expense (net of interest income) was $36 million for both the first quarter of 2008 and 2007. Increases to interest expense due to additional borrowings ($4 million) were offset by lower interest rates on our variable rate debt ($4 million). During 2007, a combination of cash and debt financing was used to fund $174 million of timberland acquisitions and repurchase $202 million, or approximately 5.1 million shares, of common stock. Additionally, during the first quarter of 2008 a combination of cash and debt financing was used to repurchase $51 million, or approximately 1.3 million shares, of common stock.

Benefit for Income Taxes. The benefit for income taxes was $5 million for the first quarter of 2008 and $4 million for the first quarter of 2007. The increase in the benefit for income taxes is due primarily to larger operating losses from our manufacturing business, offset in part by the CBM payment discussed in “Other Operating Income (Expense), net.”

Financial Condition and Liquidity

The following table details our sources and uses of cash for the quarters ended March 31 (in millions):

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,     Change  
     2008     2007    

 

Sources of Cash:

      

Operations (A)

   $ 72     $ 81     $ (9 )

Changes in Working Capital

     (70 )     (41 )     (29 )

Cash from Stock Option Exercises

     —         5       (5 )

Increase in Debt Obligations, net

     16       —         16  

Other Cash Changes, net (B)

     —         2       (2 )
                        

Total Sources of Cash

     18       47       (29 )
                        

Uses of Cash:

      

Returned to Stockholders:

      

Dividends

     (72 )     (75 )     3  

Common Stock Repurchases

     (51 )     (22 )     (29 )

Reinvest in the Business:

      

Capital Expenditures (C)

     (16 )     (13 )     (3 )

Acquire Timberlands

     (1 )     —         (1 )
                        

Total Uses of Cash

     (140 )     (110 )     (30 )
                        

Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ (122 )   $ (63 )   $ (59 )
                        

 

(A) Calculated from the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows by adding Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Basis of Real Estate Sold, Deferred Income Taxes and Other Operating Activities to Net Income.
(B) From the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, Other Investing Activities.
(C) Calculated from the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows by adding Capital Expenditures (excluding Timberland Acquisitions) and Expenditures for Real Estate Development.

Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $122 million from $240 million at December 31, 2007 to $118 million at March 31, 2008. The following table summarizes total cash flows for operating, investing and financing activities for the three months ended March 31 (in millions):

 

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     Quarter Ended March 31,     Change  
     2008     2007    

 

Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities

   $ (1 )   $ 38     $ (39 )

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

     (14 )     (9 )     (5 )

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

     (107 )     (92 )     (15 )
                        

 

Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ (122 )   $ (63 )   $ (59 )
                        

Cash Flows from Operating Activities. Net cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2008 totaled $1 million, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $38 million for the same period in 2007. The decrease of $39 million was due primarily to a $29 million negative working capital change and a $8 million decrease in operating income. The negative working capital change relates primarily to proceeds from real estate sales held in a like-kind exchange escrow account. Proceeds associated with a forward like-kind exchange are either reinvested in like-kind property within 180 days, or if the exchange is not successful, are distributed to the company at the end of either the 45-day identification period or the 180-day reinvestment period. At March 31, 2008, there was $31 million of proceeds held in a forward like-kind exchange escrow account compared to $10 million at March 31, 2007. There were no proceeds in a forward like-kind exchange account at either December 31, 2007 or December 31, 2006.

Capital Expenditures. Capital expenditures were as follows for the quarters ending March 31 (in millions):

 

     2008    2007

 

Capital Expenditures (Excluding Timberland Acquisitions)

   $ 13    $ 11

Expenditures for Real Estate Development

     3      2
             

 

Total Capital Expenditures

   $ 16    $ 13
             

Planned capital expenditures for 2008, excluding the acquisition of timberlands, are expected to range between $75 million and $85 million and include approximately $53 million for our timberlands, $7 million for real estate development investments, $11 million for our manufacturing facilities, and $8 million for investments in information technology, primarily for resources initiatives and data protection. The timberland expenditures are primarily for reforestation and other expenditures associated with the planting and growing of trees. Approximately 40% of planned capital expenditures in 2008 are discretionary, primarily expenditures for silviculture and land development. Other capital expenditures consist primarily of reforestation and projects at our manufacturing facilities to sustain operating activities and improve safety. Included within the planned capital expenditures for our manufacturing facilities for 2008 is approximately a $4 million investment to expand our bio-filter emissions control equipment at our MDF facilities to comply with stricter environmental standards that become effective October 1, 2008.

Debt Financing. The company has filed a shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission under which Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc., from time to time, may offer and sell any combination of preferred stock, common stock, depositary shares, warrants and guarantees, and under which Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P., the company’s wholly-owned operating partnership, may from time to time, offer and sell debt securities. The shelf registration statement expires on April 25, 2009.

The company has a $750 million revolving line of credit agreement that matures in June 2011. As of March 31, 2008, the weighted-average interest rate for the borrowings on the line of credit was 3.25%. The interest rate on the line of credit is based on LIBOR plus 0.425%. This rate can range from LIBOR plus

 

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0.27% to LIBOR plus 1% depending on our debt ratings. Subject to customary covenants, the line of credit allows for borrowings from time to time up to $750 million, including up to $100 million of standby letters of credit. Borrowings on the line of credit fluctuate daily based on cash needs. As of March 31, 2008, we had $369 million of borrowings and $13 million of standby letters of credit outstanding; $368 million remained available for borrowing under our line of credit. As of April 1, 2008, $34 million of the borrowings under our line of credit was repaid.

On March 28, 2008, the company entered into a $250 million term credit agreement that matures in June 2012. As of March 31, 2008, the interest rate for the $250 million term credit agreement was 3.68%. The interest rate on this term credit agreement is based on LIBOR plus 1.00%. This rate can range from LIBOR plus 0.5% to LIBOR plus 1.5% depending on our published debt ratings. The $250 million term credit agreement is subject to covenants that are substantially the same as those of our revolving line of credit, and allows prepayment of the borrowings at any time prior to the maturity date without premium or penalty. The net proceeds of $250 million were used to reduce our borrowings on our line of credit.

The company’s borrowing agreements contain various restrictive covenants, including limitations on harvest levels, sales of assets, the incurrence of indebtedness and making restricted payments (such as payments of cash dividends or stock repurchases). The borrowing agreements limit our ability to make restricted payments based on available cash, which is generally our net income (excluding gains on the sale of capital assets) after adjusting for non-cash charges (such as depreciation and depletion), changes in various reserves, less capital expenditures and principal payments on indebtedness that are not financed. Additionally, the amount of available cash may be increased by the amount of proceeds from the sale of higher and better use properties and, under certain circumstances, by 50% of the amount of net proceeds from the sale of other assets. Furthermore, our line of credit and term credit agreements require that we maintain certain interest coverage and maximum leverage ratios. The company was in compliance with all of our borrowing agreement covenants as of March 31, 2008.

The company’s financial policy is to maintain a balance sheet that provides the financial flexibility to pursue our strategic objectives. In order to maintain this financial flexibility, the company’s objective is to maintain its investment grade credit rating. This is reflected in our moderate use of debt, good access to credit markets and no material covenant restrictions in our debt agreements that would prevent us from prudently using debt capital.

Equity. On May 6, 2008, the Board of Directors authorized the company to make a dividend payment of $0.42 per share, or approximately $72 million, which will be paid on May 30, 2008 to stockholders of record on May 16, 2008. 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 company’s ability to make cash payments, borrowing capacity, changes in the prices of and demand for Plum Creek’s products, and changes in our ability to sell timberlands at attractive prices. Other factors that our Board of Directors considers include the appropriate timing of timber harvests, acquisition and divestiture opportunities, stock repurchases, debt repayment and other means by which the company could deliver value to its stockholders.

Plum Creek’s Board of Directors has authorized a common stock repurchase program that may be increased from time to time at their discretion. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the company repurchased approximately 1.3 million shares of common stock at a total cost of $51 million, or an average cost per share of $40.14. As of March 31, 2008, the company had $149 million remaining on its share repurchase authorization.

Future Cash Requirements. Cash required to meet our 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 payments on our indebtedness for the next year. During the next twelve months, the company has approximately $150 million of scheduled long-term debt principal payment requirements. The company intends to refinance these principal payments with the use of a combination of short-term and long-term borrowings, depending on interest rate and market conditions. Management believes that the company’s credit ratings, asset base and historical financial performance will allow these refinancings to be completed at attractive interest rates.

 

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Contractual Obligations, Contingent Liabilities and Commitments

The company has no off-balance sheet debt. For information on contractual obligations, see the table Contractual Obligations in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our 2007 annual report on Form 10-K. Other than the discussion below, there have been no material changes to our contractual obligations outside the normal course of business.

On March 28, 2008, the company entered into a $250 million term credit agreement at a rate of LIBOR plus 1.0%, resulting in a rate of 3.68% at March 31, 2008. The term credit agreement matures in June 2012.

 

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Approximately $1.6 billion of Plum Creek’s long-term debt 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 contractual principal cash flows based upon maturity dates of the company’s debt obligations and the related weighted-average contractual interest rates by expected maturity dates for the fixed rate debt (in millions):

 

     2008     2009     2010     2011     2012     Thereafter     Total    Fair
Value (A)

March 31, 2008

                 

Fixed Rate Debt

                 

Principal Due (B)

   $ 100     $ 200     $ 59     $ 424     $ 4     $ 791     $ 1,578    $ 1,631

Average Interest Rate(C)

     6.9 %     6.8 %     6.7 %     6.6 %     6.2 %     6.0 %     

Variable Rate Debt (D)

     —         —         —       $ 369     $ 600       —       $ 969    $ 969
     2007     2008     2009     2010     2011     Thereafter     Total    Fair
Value

March 31, 2007

                 

Fixed Rate Debt

                 

Principal Due (B)

   $ 52     $ 147     $ 200     $ 59     $ 423     $ 796     $ 1,677    $ 1,729

Average Interest Rate(C)

     6.9 %     6.9 %     6.8 %     6.7 %     6.6 %     6.0 %     

Variable Rate Debt

     —         —         —         —       $ 653       —       $ 653    $ 653

 

(A) The fair value of the company’s publicly-traded debt (i.e., Senior Notes due 2015) is estimated using market indicators; the fair value of the remainder of the company’s debt is estimated using the same rates adjusted for the different maturities. The decrease in fair value of our fixed rate debt compared to March 31, 2007 was due primarily to the repayment of $52 million of senior and mortgage notes in 2007 and $47 million in 2008.
(B) Excludes unamortized discount of $8 million and $7 million at March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
(C) Represents the average interest rate of total fixed rate debt outstanding at the end of the period.
(D) As of March 31, 2008, the weighted-average interest rate on the $369 million borrowings under our $750 million revolving line of credit was 3.25%. The interest rate on the line of credit is based on LIBOR plus 0.425%. This rate can range from LIBOR plus 0.27% to LIBOR plus 1% depending on our debt ratings. As of April 1, 2008, $34 million of the borrowings under our line of credit was repaid. As of March 31, 2008, the interest rate for the $350 million term credit agreement was 3.05%. The interest rate on the $350 million term credit agreement is based on LIBOR plus 0.45%. This rate can range from LIBOR plus 0.3% to LIBOR plus 1.15% depending on our debt ratings. As of March 31, 2008, the interest rate for the $250 million term credit agreement was 3.68%. The interest rate on the $250 million term credit agreement is based on LIBOR plus 1.00%. This rate can range from LIBOR plus 0.5% to LIBOR plus 1.5% depending on our debt ratings.

 

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The company’s management, with the participation of the company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has concluded that the company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of such period.

 

(b) Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in the company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) during the quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

None. (See also Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc.)

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes to the company’s Risk Factors as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2008.

 

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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

The following table contains information about the company’s purchases of equity securities during the first quarter of 2008:

 

Period

  

Total Number of

Shares Purchased (B)

   Average Price Paid
per Share
  

Total Number of

Shares Purchased as

Part of Publicly

Announced Plans or

Programs (A)

   Maximum Number
(or Approximate
Dollar Value) of
Shares that May Yet
Be Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs (A)

January 1, 2008

through

January 31, 2008

  

199,324

shares of common
stock

   $ 38.77   

199,300

shares of common
stock

   $  192 million

February 1, 2008

through

February 29, 2008

  

1,027,241

shares of common
stock

   $ 40.42   

1,014,200

shares of common
stock

   $ 151 million

March 1, 2008

through

March 31, 2008

  

48,182

shares of common
stock

   $ 39.90   

47,300

shares of common
stock

   $ 149 million
                   

Total

  

1,274,747

shares of common
stock

   $ 40.14   

1,260,800

shares of common
stock

  

 

(A) Shares purchased during the period January 1, 2008 through March 31, 2008 were purchased pursuant to the $200 million share repurchase program that was publicly announced on October 30, 2007.
(B) Includes shares of the company’s common stock purchased from employees in non-open market transactions. The shares of stock were sold by the employees to the company in exchange for cash that was used to pay withholding taxes associated with the vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards under the company’s stock incentive plan and also for payouts from deferred compensation plans. The price per share surrendered is based on the closing price of the company’s stock on the vesting dates of the awards. Surrendered shares totaled 24 in January, 13,041 in February and 882 in March.

Items 3, 4 and 5 of Part II are not applicable and have been omitted.

 

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

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

2.1   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. (Form 8-K/A, File No. 1-10239, filed July 24, 2000). Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 12, 2001 (Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K, File No. 1-10239, filed June 14, 2001).
3.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. (Exhibit 3.1 to Form 10-Q, File No. 1-10239, for the quarter ended March 31, 2002).
3.2   Amended and Restated By-laws of Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc., as amended. (Exhibit 3.2 to Form 10-K, File No. 1-10239, for the year ended December 31, 2007).
10.1   Credit Agreement, dated as of March 28, 2008, among Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P., Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., and The Royal Bank of Scotland, as Syndication Agents, Banc of America Securities LLC and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers, and the Other Financial Institutions Party Thereto (Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K, File No. 1-10239, filed March 31, 2008).
12.1   Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges and computation of ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends.
31.1   Certification of Rick R. Holley, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
31.2   Certification of David W. Lambert, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
32.1   Certification of Rick R. Holley, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rules 13a-14(b) and 15d-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2   Certification of David W. Lambert, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rules 13a-14(b) and 15d-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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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/ DAVID W. LAMBERT

  DAVID W. LAMBERT
 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer)

Date: May 7, 2008

 

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