The creation of one of the United States’ most significant timberland companies has been finalized. The merger between Rayonier Inc. and PotlatchDeltic Corporation was officially completed on January 30, with the combined entity commencing trading on the New York Stock Exchange the following day. This move ushers in a new chapter for shareholders, establishing a corporation with a vast portfolio of forestlands and industrial manufacturing assets.
Leadership and Corporate Governance
The governance of the new company reflects a merger of equals. A ten-member Board of Directors has been established, with five directors appointed from each legacy company. Mark McHugh, formerly of Rayonier, serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer. Eric Cremers, the previous CEO of PotlatchDeltic, has taken on the role of Executive Chairman.
This leadership team will oversee an operational footprint encompassing more than four million acres of timberland across the U.S. South and Pacific Northwest. The land base is supported by an integrated manufacturing segment that includes six sawmills and one industrial plywood facility. The strategic aim is to merge PotlatchDeltic’s operational expertise in wood products with Rayonier’s extensive geographical reach.
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Transaction Terms and Ownership Structure
Under the terms of the deal, each share of PotlatchDeltic common stock was automatically converted into the right to receive 1.8185 shares of the new company’s common stock. Shareholders also received a cash payment of $0.61 for each PotlatchDeltic share they held. Following the completion of the transaction, former PotlatchDeltic stockholders own approximately 46% of the combined company, with former Rayonier shareholders holding the remaining 54%.
Market Debut and Future Branding
Trading under the Rayonier name began on February 2. However, company leadership has already announced plans to introduce a new corporate brand identity and a corresponding stock ticker symbol during the first quarter of 2026.
Investor attention is now turning toward the upcoming release of the first combined quarterly financial results. These figures will provide initial insight into how quickly the anticipated synergies from the merger are being realized and how the enlarged company’s operational performance is evolving within the current market environment.
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