Quarterly Report
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 SEPTEMBER 30, 2007

or

 

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

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                      TO                     

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 1-4825

 


WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY

 


 

Washington    91-0470860

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

33663 Weyerhaeuser Way South

Federal Way, Washington

   98063-9777
(Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)

(253) 924-2345

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


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.    x  Yes    ¨  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Large accelerated filer  x

  

Accelerated filer  ¨

  

Non-accelerated filer  ¨

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

As of November 2, 2007, 209,533,414 shares of the registrant’s common stock ($1.25 par value) were outstanding.

 



Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I

   FINANCIAL INFORMATION   

    ITEM 1.

   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:   
   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS    1
   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET    2
   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS    4
   INDEX FOR NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    5
   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    6

    ITEM 2.

   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS    18

    ITEM 3.

   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK    32

    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 3.

   DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES    33

    ITEM 4.

   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS    33

    ITEM 5.

   OTHER INFORMATION    33

    ITEM 6.

   EXHIBITS    33

The financial information included in this report has been prepared in conformity with accounting practices and methods reflected in the financial statements included in the annual report (Form 10-K) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2006. Though not audited by an independent registered public accounting firm, the financial information reflects, in the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to present a fair statement of results for the interim periods indicated. The results of operations for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 30, 2007, should not be regarded as necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.

Signature

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 thereto duly authorized.

 

WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY
Date: November 8, 2007
 

By:

 

/s/ Jeanne M. Hillman

  Jeanne M. Hillman
  Vice President and Principal Accounting Officer


Table of Contents
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS

(DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER-SHARE FIGURES)

(UNAUDITED)

FOR THE THIRTEEN AND THIRTY-NINE WEEK PERIODS ENDED

SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 AND SEPTEMBER 24, 2006

 

     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED     THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED  
    

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   

SEPTEMBER 24,

2006

   

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   

SEPTEMBER 24,

2006

 
          

(REVISED –

SEE NOTE 2)

         

(REVISED –

SEE NOTE 2)

 

Net sales and revenues:

        

Weyerhaeuser

   $ 3,548     $ 3,805     $ 10,727     $ 11,687  

Real Estate and Related Assets

     598       749       1,644       2,185  
                                

Total net sales and revenues

     4,146       4,554       12,371       13,872  
                                

Costs and expenses:

        

Weyerhaeuser:

        

Costs of products sold

     2,845       3,038       8,715       9,175  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     230       231       685       695  

Selling expenses

     102       111       320       328  

General and administrative expenses

     184       214       583       654  

Research and development expenses

     18       23       52       54  

Charges for restructuring (Note 12)

     16       4       21       21  

Charges for closure of facilities (Note 13)

     19       15       43       22  

Impairment of goodwill (Note 6)

     1       —         23       —    

Other operating costs (income), net (Note 14)

     1       (36 )     27       (31 )
                                
     3,416       3,600       10,469       10,918  
                                

Real Estate and Related Assets:

        

Costs and operating expenses

     451       539       1,245       1,574  

Depreciation and amortization

     6       10       17       17  

Selling expenses

     45       44       131       124  

General and administrative expenses

     26       30       81       95  

Charges for impairment of long-lived assets

     23       14       35       17  

Other operating costs, net

     (4 )     (2 )     (4 )     (2 )
                                
     547       635       1,505       1,825  
                                

Total costs and expenses

     3,963       4,235       11,974       12,743  
                                

Operating income

     183       319       397       1,129  

Interest expense and other:

        

Weyerhaeuser:

        

Interest expense incurred (Note 7)

     (131 )     (126 )     (441 )     (383 )

Less: interest capitalized

     29       21       88       57  

Interest income and other

     20       17       65       51  

Equity in income of affiliates

     5       —         5       9  

Real Estate and Related Assets:

        

Interest expense incurred

     (16 )     (12 )     (44 )     (40 )

Less: interest capitalized

     16       12       44       40  

Interest income and other

     1       7       5       20  

Equity in income of unconsolidated entities

     8       14       38       50  
                                

Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes

     115       252       157       933  

Income taxes

     (41 )     (86 )     (62 )     (278 )
                                

Earnings from continuing operations

     74       166       95       655  

Discontinued operations, net of income taxes (Note 3)

     27       58       793       (709 )
                                

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 101     $ 224     $ 888     $ (54 )
                                

Basic earnings (loss) per share (Note 4):

        

Continuing operations

   $ 0.34     $ 0.67     $ 0.43     $ 2.65  

Discontinued operations

     0.13       0.24       3.57       (2.87 )
                                

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 0.47     $ 0.91     $ 4.00     $ (0.22 )
                                

Diluted earnings (loss) per share (Note 4):

        

Continuing operations

   $ 0.34     $ 0.67     $ 0.43     $ 2.64  

Discontinued operations

     0.13       0.24       3.55       (2.86 )
                                

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 0.47     $ 0.91     $ 3.98     $ (0.22 )
                                

Dividends paid per share

   $ 0.60     $ 0.60     $ 1.80     $ 1.60  
                                

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

1


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS)

(UNAUDITED)

 

     SEPTEMBER 30,
2007
   DECEMBER 31,
2006

ASSETS

     

Weyerhaeuser:

     

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 72    $ 223

Receivables, less allowances of $13 and $15

     1,419      1,183

Inventories (Note 5)

     1,323      1,355

Prepaid expenses

     406      385

Assets held for sale (Note 3)

     —        105

Current assets of discontinued operations (Note 3)

     —        870
             

Total current assets

     3,220      4,121

Property and equipment, less accumulated depreciation of $9,511 and $8,901

     6,894      7,061

Construction in progress

     412      395

Timber and timberlands at cost, less depletion charged to disposals

     3,736      3,681

Investments in and advances to equity affiliates

     497      499

Goodwill (Note 6)

     2,200      2,185

Deferred pension and other assets

     1,525      1,368

Restricted assets held by special purpose entities

     915      917

Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations (Note 3)

     —        3,011
             
     19,399      23,238
             

Real Estate and Related Assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

     8      20

Receivables, less discounts and allowances of $5 and $4

     72      144

Real estate in process of development and for sale

     1,587      1,449

Land being processed for development

     1,528      1,365

Investments in unconsolidated entities, less allowances of $14 and $11

     77      72

Other assets

     423      423

Consolidated assets not owned

     277      151
             
     3,972      3,624
             

Total assets

   $ 23,371    $ 26,862
             

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

2


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(CONTINUED)

 

     SEPTEMBER 30,
2007
   DECEMBER 31,
2006

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ INTEREST

     

Weyerhaeuser

     

Current liabilities:

     

Notes payable and commercial paper

   $ 92    $ 72

Current maturities of long-term debt (Note 7)

     262      488

Accounts payable

     894      948

Accrued liabilities

     1,185      1,363

Current liabilities of discontinued operations (Note 3)

     —        258
             

Total current liabilities

     2,433      3,129

Long-term debt (Note 7)

     6,428      7,069

Deferred income taxes

     2,863      3,011

Deferred pension, other postretirement benefits and other liabilities

     1,780      1,759

Liabilities (nonrecourse to Weyerhaeuser) held by special purpose entities

     764      765

Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operations (Note 3)

     —        717

Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)

     
             
     14,268      16,450
             

Real Estate and Related Assets:

     

Notes payable and commercial paper

     295      —  

Long-term debt

     605      606

Other liabilities

     497      606

Consolidated liabilities not owned

     237      115

Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)

     
             
     1,634      1,327
             

Total liabilities

     15,902      17,777
             

Shareholders’ interest:

     

Common shares: $1.25 par value; authorized 400,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 209,505,398 and 236,020,282 shares

     262      295

Exchangeable shares: no par value; unlimited shares authorized; issued and held by nonaffiliates: 1,600,610 and 1,987,770 shares

     109      135

Other capital

     1,554      3,812

Retained earnings

     5,239      4,755

Cumulative other comprehensive income (Note 10)

     305      88
             

Total shareholders’ interest

     7,469      9,085
             

Total liabilities and shareholders’ interest

   $ 23,371    $ 26,862
             

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS) (UNAUDITED)

 

    

FOR THE THIRTY-NINE WEEK PERIODS ENDED

SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 AND SEPTEMBER 24, 2006

 
    CONSOLIDATED     WEYERHAEUSER     REAL ESTATE AND RELATED
ASSETS
 
   

SEPTEMBER. 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
    SEPTEMBER 30,
2007
    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
    SEPTEMBER 30,
2007
    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
 

Cash flows from operations:

           

Net earnings (loss)

  $ 888     $ (54 )   $ 774     $ (330 )   $ 114     $ 276  

Noncash charges (credits) to income:

           

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    753       942       736       925       17       17  

Deferred income taxes, net

    (159 )     (142 )     (172 )     (133 )     13       (9 )

Pension and other postretirement benefits (Note 8)

    51       89       48       85       3       4  

Share-based compensation expense

    41       19       37       17       4       2  

Reclass of excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements to financing

    (51 )     (20 )     (48 )     (19 )     (3 )     (1 )

Equity in income of affiliates and unconsolidated entities

    (43 )     (59 )     (5 )     (9 )     (38 )     (50 )

Net litigation reversals

    —         (21 )     —         (21 )     —         —    

Charge for impairment of long-lived assets (Notes 3, 6, 12, 13 and 14)

    123       822       88       805       35       17  

Loss on early extinguishment of debt (Note 7)

    45       —         45       —         —         —    

Net gains on disposition of assets and operations (Notes 3 and 14)

    (722 )     (33 )     (722 )     (33 )     —         —    

Charge for research and development acquisition

    —         9       —         9       —         —    

Net foreign exchange transaction gains (Note 14)

    (39 )     (12 )     (39 )     (12 )     —         —    

Decrease (increase) in working capital, net of divestiture and acquisitions:

           

Receivables

    (193 )     (212 )     (264 )     (107 )     71       (105 )

Inventories, real estate and land

    (241 )     (527 )     15       (75 )     (256 )     (452 )

Prepaid expenses

    (29 )     (36 )     (31 )     (37 )     2       1  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

    (215 )     (316 )     (137 )     (397 )     (78 )  

 


81


 

Deposits on land positions

    (38 )     (98 )     —         —         (38 )     (98 )

Intercompany advances (1)

    —         —         —         —         (263 )     152  

Other

    (85 )     (50 )     (56 )     (60 )     (29 )     10  
                                               

Net cash from operations (1)

    86      
301
 
    269       608       (446 )     (155 )
                                               

Cash flows from investing activities:

           

Property and equipment

    (446 )     (561 )     (430 )     (539 )     (16 )     (22 )

Timberlands reforestation

    (32 )     (27 )     (32 )     (27 )     —         —    

Acquisition of timberlands

    (97 )     (45 )     (97 )     (45 )     —         —    

Acquisition of businesses and facilities, net of cash acquired

    (38 )     (220 )     —         (7 )     (38 )     (213 )

Investments in, advances to and returns of equity affiliates, net

    21       1       6       1       15       —    

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

    70       19       70       19       —         —    

Proceeds from sale of operations (Note 3)

    1,457       187       1,457       187       —         —    

Intercompany loans and advances (1)

    —         —         87       (279 )     —         —    

Other

    3       (13 )     3       (13 )     —         —    
                                               

Cash from investing activities (1)

    938       (659 )     1,064       (703 )     (39 )     (235 )
                                               

Cash flows from financing activities:

           

Issuance of debt (Note 7)

    451       3       451       3       —         —    

Notes, commercial paper borrowings and revolving credit facilities, net

    475       521       180       146       295       375  

Cash dividends

    (404 )     (396 )     (404 )     (396 )     —         —    

Payments on debt (Note 7)

    (1,611 )     (612 )     (1,610 )     (226 )     (1 )     (386 )

Exercises of stock options

    319       171       319       171       —         —    

Repurchases of common stock

    (463 )     (332 )     (463 )     (332 )     —         —    

Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements

    51       20       48       19       3       1  

Intercompany loans and advances (1)

    —         —         —         —         176       127  

Other

    (5 )     6       (5 )     6       —         —    
                                               

Cash from financing activities (1)

    (1,187 )     (619 )     (1,484 )     (609 )     473       117  
                                               

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

    (163 )     (977 )     (151 )     (704 )     (12 )     (273 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

    243       1,104       223       818       20       286  

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

  $ 80     $ 127     $ 72     $ 114     $ 8     $ 13  
                                               

Cash paid (received) during the year for:

           

Interest, net of amount capitalized

  $ 415     $ 476     $ 415     $ 476     $ —       $ —    

Income taxes

  $ 104     $ 580     $ (206 )   $ 580     $ 310     $ —    

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(1) Intercompany loans and advances represent payments and receipts between Weyerhaeuser and Real Estate and Related Assets and are classified as operating, investing or financing based on the perspective of each entity and the characteristics of the underlying cash flows. Intercompany loans and advances are eliminated and do not appear in the consolidated cash flows above.

 

4


Table of Contents

INDEX FOR NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 1:

   BASIS OF PRESENTATION    6

NOTE 2:

   ACCOUNTING CHANGES    6

NOTE 3:

   DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AND ASSETS HELD FOR SALE    7

NOTE 4:

   NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE    9

NOTE 5:

   INVENTORIES    10

NOTE 6:

   GOODWILL    10

NOTE 7:

   DEBT    10

NOTE 8:

   PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS    11

NOTE 9:

   UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS    11

NOTE 10:

   COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)    12

NOTE 11:

   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES    12

NOTE 12:

   CHARGES FOR RESTRUCTURING    14

NOTE 13:

   CHARGES FOR CLOSURE OF FACILITIES    15

NOTE 14:

   OTHER OPERATING COSTS (INCOME), NET    15

NOTE 15:

   BUSINESS SEGMENTS    16

NOTE 16:

   SUBSEQUENT EVENTS    17

 

5


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE THIRTEEN AND THIRTY-NINE WEEK PERIODS ENDED

SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 AND SEPTEMBER 24, 2006

NOTE 1: BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Weyerhaeuser Company and all of its majority-owned domestic and foreign subsidiaries and variable interest entities of which Weyerhaeuser Company or its subsidiaries are determined to be the primary beneficiary. Intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated. Investments in and advances to unconsolidated equity affiliates over which the company has significant influence are accounted for using the equity method with taxes provided on undistributed earnings.

Certain of the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are presented in two groupings: (1) Weyerhaeuser, principally engaged in the growing and harvesting of timber and the manufacture, distribution and sale of forest products, and (2) Real Estate and Related Assets, principally engaged in real estate development and construction and other real estate related activities. The term “company” refers to Weyerhaeuser Company, all of its majority-owned domestic and foreign subsidiaries and variable interest entities of which Weyerhaeuser Company or its subsidiaries are determined to be the primary beneficiary. The term “Weyerhaeuser” refers to the forest products-based operations and excludes the Real Estate and Related Assets operations.

The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the company’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods presented. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission pertaining to interim financial statements; as such certain disclosures normally provided in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been omitted. These Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the company’s Form 8-K filed on September 12, 2007.

Certain reclassifications of prior period balances have been made for consistent presentation with the current period. Refer to Note 2: Accounting Changes regarding the retrospective application of a change in accounting for planned major maintenance costs. Refer to Note 3: Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale regarding the reclassification of balances related to the fine paper business and related assets and the Canadian distribution facilities. In addition, the company has changed the presentation of intercompany activities in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Intercompany loans and advances represent payments and receipts between Weyerhaeuser and Real Estate and Related Assets and are classified as operating, investing or financing based on the perspective of each entity and the characteristics of the underlying cash flows. Intercompany activities are eliminated and are not included in the amounts reported for consolidated cash flows. Therefore, this change had no effect on the classification of amounts reported for consolidated cash flows.

NOTE 2: ACCOUNTING CHANGES

Accounting Changes Implemented

The company has implemented the following accounting changes in the thirty-nine week period ended September 30, 2007. None of these changes had a material effect on the company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Accounting for Income Tax Uncertainties

The company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“Interpretation 48”) on January 1, 2007. Interpretation 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. Interpretation 48 also prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.

The cumulative effects of applying this interpretation have been recorded as an increase of $1 million to beginning retained earnings, a decrease of $23 million to net deferred tax liabilities and an increase of $22 million to current income taxes payable. Refer to Note 9: Uncertain Tax Positions for additional information.

Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities

Effective January 1, 2007, the company transitioned to the expense-as-incurred method of accounting for planned annual maintenance costs in its primary manufacturing mills. Previously, the company used the accrue-in-advance method of accounting for these planned major maintenance activities during interim reporting periods; however, under FASB Staff Position AUG AIR-1, Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities (“FSP AUG AIR-1”), issued in September 2006, this method is no longer allowed. This change was applied retrospectively for all interim periods presented. Accordingly, the company has eliminated the liability recorded under the accrue-in-advance method and has recognized the annual maintenance costs in the interim periods in which they were incurred. There will not be any adjustment to the company’s annual results of operations as a result of implementation or retrospective application of FSP AUG AIR-1.

The net effect of these planned major maintenance adjustments on the Consolidated Statement of Earnings for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 24, 2006, was as follows:

 

     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED SEPTEMBER 24, 2006  

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER-SHARE FIGURES

   PRIOR TO
ADJUSTMENT
    ADJUSTMENT    AS CURRENTLY
REPORTED
 

Net earnings

   $ 211     $ 13    $ 224  

Earnings per share – diluted

   $ 0.85     $ 0.06    $ 0.91  
     THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED SEPTEMBER 24, 2006  

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER-SHARE FIGURES

   PRIOR TO
ADJUSTMENT
    ADJUSTMENT    AS CURRENTLY
REPORTED
 

Net earnings

   $ (55 )   $ 1    $ (54 )

Earnings per share - diluted

   $ (0.22 )   $ —      $ (0.22 )

 

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Accounting for Oil and Gas and Leasing Revenues

During the second quarter of 2007, the company changed from the cash basis of accounting to the accrual basis of accounting for oil and gas revenues and for revenues associated with leasing the company’s timberlands. The company recognized a pre-tax charge of $7 million in the second quarter of 2007 in connection with this change.

Prospective Accounting Changes

Fair Value Measurements

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“Statement 157”). Statement 157 provides a common definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosure about such fair value measurements. Statement 157 is effective as of the beginning of 2008 and will be applied prospectively when other accounting standards require or permit fair value measurements; it will not require new fair value measurements. The primary items that will be affected by Statement 157 are the company’s annual goodwill impairment test and long-lived asset impairment tests. While it is unable to forecast the amount of impairment charges that might be recognized in future periods, the company does not expect Statement 157 to materially change the fair value amounts that will be calculated in the future relative to the fair value amounts that would be calculated if Statement 157 were not adopted. See also Critical Accounting Policies in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Fair Value Option

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (“Statement 159”), which allows an entity the irrevocable option to elect fair value for the initial and subsequent measurement for certain financial assets and liabilities under an instrument-by-instrument election. Subsequent measurements for the financial assets and liabilities an entity elects to fair value will be recognized in earnings. Statement 159 also establishes additional disclosure requirements. Statement 159 will be effective for the company in fiscal 2008. The company will not adopt the fair value option for any of its existing financial instruments.

NOTE 3: DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AND ASSETS HELD FOR SALE

Discontinued operations for the thirty-nine week period ended September 30, 2007 include nine weeks of operations of the fine paper business and related assets that were divested in March 2007 – see Domtar Transaction below. In addition to the operations of the fine paper business and related assets, discontinued operations for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 24, 2006, also include the company’s North American composite panel operations, which were sold in July 2006, and its Irish composite panel operations, which were sold in November 2006. During the third quarter of 2006, the company recognized an $8 million out-of-period charge to write-off additional goodwill associated with the B.C. Coastal operations which were sold in May 2005.

The following table summarizes net sales and net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations:

 

     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED     THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED  

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
   

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
 

Net sales

   $ —       $ 844     $ 563     $ 2,697  
                                

Income (loss) from operations

     44       77       80       (665 )

Interest expense

     —         (23 )     (17 )     (70 )

Income tax (expense) benefit

     (17 )     (21 )     (22 )     1  
                                

Net earnings (loss) from operations

     27       33       41       (734 )
                                

Pre-tax gain on divestiture

     —         —         678       —    

Income tax benefit on divestiture

     —         —         74       —    
                                

Net gain on divestiture of fine paper and related assets (after-tax)

     —         —         752       —    

Net gain on sale of North American composite panel operations (after-tax)

     —         33       —         33  

Adjustment to net gain on sale of B.C. Coastal operations (after-tax)

     —         (8 )     —         (8 )
                                

Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations

   $ 27     $ 58     $ 793     $ (709 )
                                

Domtar Transaction

On March 7, 2007, the company completed the following set of transactions:

 

 

a series of transfers and other transactions resulting in the company’s fine paper business and related assets becoming wholly-owned by Domtar Corporation;

 

 

the distribution of shares of Domtar Corporation to the company’s shareholders in exchange for 25 million shares of the company’s common stock; and

 

 

the acquisition of Domtar, Inc., an unaffiliated Canadian corporation, by Domtar Corporation.

Collectively, these transactions are referred to as the “Domtar Transaction”.

The company also received $1.35 billion of cash proceeds in connection with the Domtar Transaction that were used to pay down debt. The company does not allocate interest to discontinued operations unless the interest is directly attributable to the discontinued operations or is interest on debt that is required to be repaid as a result of a disposal transaction. Interest expense included in discontinued operations primarily reflects interest expense related to the debt that was paid with the proceeds from the Domtar Transaction.

Prior to the distribution of Domtar Corporation shares to the company’s shareholders, Domtar Corporation was a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company. Concurrent with the distribution to shareholders, Domtar Corporation ceased being a subsidiary of the company.

The operating assets divested as part of the Domtar Transaction are referred to as “fine paper and related assets” or the “fine paper business and related assets” and included the following:

 

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the fine paper business including 7 paper mills and one coated groundwood mill with a combined capacity of 2.9 million tons, and 16 paper converting facilities with a total capacity of 2.0 million tons;

 

 

5 cellulose fiber manufacturing facilities with total capacity of 0.8 million tons; and

 

 

1 sawmill with a capacity of 160 million board feet.

Also included in the fine paper and related assets divested were:

 

 

the Prince Albert, Saskatchewan pulp and paper facility that the company closed in the first quarter of 2006;

 

 

sawmills in Big River and Wapawekka, Saskatchewan that were closed in second quarter 2006; and

 

 

forest licenses on 12.2 million acres associated with the Dryden, Ontario and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan facilities.

Discontinued operations for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 30, 2007 include a $43 million gain on a pre-tax legal settlement related to the Dryden, Ontario facility. See Note 14: Other operating costs (income), net.

The following table presents the components of the net gain on divestiture:

 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

 

Proceeds:

  

Cash

   $ 1,350  

Common shares tendered (25,490,194 shares at $85.99 per share)

     2,192  
        
     3,542  

Less:

  

Net book value of contributed assets

     (2,858 )

Costs not reimbursed

     (6 )
        
     (2,864 )
        

Pre-tax gain

     678  

Tax benefit

     74  
        

Net gain on divestiture

   $ 752  
        

The U.S. portion of the transaction resulted in a gain that is not taxable while the Canadian portion of the transaction resulted in a net loss for which the company has recognized a tax benefit. The net pre-tax gain on the Domtar Transaction, which includes $682 million recognized in the first quarter of 2007 reduced by $4 million of additional expense recognized in the second quarter of 2007, is recorded in the Corporate and Other segment. The company also recognized a net tax benefit of $74 million in the first quarter of 2007 – largely due to a reduction in timing differences related to the fixed assets that were distributed to shareholders. The finalization of certain matters may result in additional adjustments in future periods.

The net loss from discontinued operations for the thirty-nine week period ended September 24, 2006, includes $749 million in charges for the impairment of goodwill associated with the fine paper reporting unit.

Sale of North American Composite Panel Operations

In July 2006, the company sold its North American composite panel operations to Flakeboard America Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Flakeboard Company Ltd. The company recognized a net gain on the sale of $33 million, including a related tax expense of $18 million, in 2006. The pre-tax gain of $51 million is included in contribution to earnings of the Wood Products segment for the third quarter of 2006. The company received net proceeds of approximately $187 million from the sale, including working capital.

Carrying Value of the Assets and Liabilities of Discontinued Operations

The following table summarizes the carrying values of the assets and liabilities of the fine paper business and related assets as of December 31, 2006.

 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

   DECEMBER 31,
2006

Assets

  

Receivables, less allowances

   $ 339

Inventories

     516

Prepaid expenses

     15
      

Total current assets

     870
      

Property and equipment, net

     2,948

Construction in progress

     12

Timber and timberlands

     1

Goodwill

     18

Deferred pension and other assets

     32
      

Total noncurrent assets

     3,011
      

Total assets

   $ 3,881
      

Liabilities

  

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ 6

Accounts payable

     100

Accrued liabilities

     152
      

Total current liabilities

     258
      

 

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Deferred income taxes

     680

Deferred pension, postretirement benefits and other liabilities

     37
      

Total noncurrent liabilities

     717
      

Total liabilities

   $ 975
      

Sale of Canadian Building Products Distribution Centers

On February 16, 2007, the company announced its intent to sell its Canadian and select U.S. building materials distribution centers. In the second quarter of 2007, the company sold its Canadian distribution facilities to Platinum Equity of Los Angeles, California. Certain assets of the Canadian facilities are classified as held for sale on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet and include inventories and accounts receivables of $58 million and $47 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2006. Under the terms of sale, the company will continue to sell wood products through these Canadian distribution centers. As a result of this continuing involvement, the operations of these facilities do not meet the technical accounting requirements of discontinued operations and, therefore, have not been included in discontinued operations in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.

The company recognized pre-tax charges in the thirty-nine week period ended September 30, 2007 of $38 million in connection with the sale of the Canadian distribution facilities, including $22 million for the impairment of goodwill. The company received approximately $100 million in cash proceeds from the sale in the second quarter of 2007.

The company continues to pursue alternatives for certain U.S. building materials distribution centers; however, these assets are not classified as assets held for sale or discontinued operations as of September 30, 2007.

NOTE 4: NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

Basic net earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net earnings (loss) for the period by the weighted average number of common and exchangeable shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net earnings (loss) for the period by the weighted average number of common and exchangeable shares outstanding, plus the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period, calculated using the treasury stock method. Dilutive potential common shares can include outstanding stock options, restricted stock units and performance share units. The components of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share are as follows:

 

   

THIRTEEN WEEKS

ENDED

 

THIRTY-NINE WEEKS

ENDED

 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA,

SHARES IN THOUSANDS

 

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

 

SEPTEMBER 24,

2006

 

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

 

SEPTEMBER 24,

2006

 

Earnings from continuing operations

  $ 74   $ 166   $ 95   $ 655  

Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations

    27     58     793     (709 )
                         

Net earnings (loss) available for common and exchangeable shareholders

  $ 101   $ 224   $ 888   $ (54 )
                         

Weighted average outstanding shares of common and exchangeable stock (basic)

    215,154     247,428     222,028     247,123  

Dilutive effect of share-based awards

    674     472     1,055     899  
                         

Common and exchangeable stock and stock equivalents (diluted)

    215,828     247,900     223,083     248,022  
                         

Basic earnings (loss) per share:

       

Continuing operations

  $ 0.34   $ 0.67   $ 0.43   $ 2.65  

Discontinued operations

    0.13     0.24     3.57     (2.87 )
                         

Net earnings (loss)

  $ 0.47   $ 0.91   $ 4.00   $ (0.22 )
                         

Diluted earnings (loss) per share:

       

Continuing operations

  $ 0.34   $ 0.67   $ 0.43   $ 2.64  

Discontinued operations

    0.13     0.24     3.55     (2.86 )
                         

Net earnings (loss)

  $ 0.47   $ 0.91   $ 3.98   $ (0.22 )
                         
The following awards were not included in the calculation for diluted earnings (loss) per share because they were either anti-dilutive or the required performance conditions were not met:  
   

THIRTEEN WEEKS

ENDED

 

THIRTY-NINE WEEKS

ENDED

 

SHARES IN THOUSANDS

 

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

 

SEPTEMBER 24,

2006

 

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

 

SEPTEMBER 24,

2006

 

Options

    1,934     9,821     1,495     3,931  

Performance share units

    313     282     104     300  

The decrease in the basic weighted average number of shares outstanding from the 2006 periods reflects the cancellation of 25,490,194 shares as part of the Domtar Transaction in March 2007 and the repurchase of 17,826,200 shares since August 2006. During the thirty-nine week period ended

 

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September 30, 2007, the company repurchased 6,709,400 shares of common stock under the company’s stock repurchase program. As of September 30, 2007, the company has repurchased 18 million shares under the company’s stock repurchase program, the entire amount authorized by the board.

NOTE 5: INVENTORIES

 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

   SEPTEMBER 30,
2007
   DECEMBER 31,
2006
 

Logs and chips

   $ 69    $ 101  

Lumber, plywood, panels and engineered lumber

     395      457  

Pulp and paper

     91      402  

Containerboard and packaging

     248      270  

Other products

     194      214  

Materials and supplies

     326      485  
               
     1,323      1,929  

Less: discontinued operations

     —        (516 )

Less: assets held for sale

     —        (58 )
               
   $ 1,323    $ 1,355  
               

NOTE 6: GOODWILL

The following table provides a reconciliation of changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the thirty-nine week period ended September 30, 2007:

 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

   TIMBERLANDS    WOOD
PRODUCTS
    CELLULOSE
FIBERS
    CONTAINERBOARD,
PACKAGING, AND
RECYCLING
    CORPORATE
AND OTHER
   TOTAL  

Balance as of December 31, 2006

   $ 40    $ 800     $ 105     $ 1,244     $ 14    $ 2,203  

Less: discontinued operations

     —        (7 )     (11 )     —         —        (18 )
                                              

Balance as of December 31, 2006, excluding discontinued operations

     40      793       94       1,244       14      2,185  

Goodwill transferred from investments in and advances to equity affiliates

     —        —         —         —         1      1  

Impairment of goodwill

     —        (23 )     —         —         —        (23 )

Goodwill associated with facility sales

     —        (1 )     —         —         —        (1 )

Effect of foreign currency translation

     —        45       —         —         1      46  

Tax adjustments

     —        —         (1 )     (7 )     —        (8 )
                                              

Balance as of September 30, 2007

   $ 40    $ 814     $ 93     $ 1,237     $ 16    $ 2,200  
                                              

As disclosed in Note 3: Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale, impairment of goodwill includes $22 million in connection with the sale of the company’s Canadian distribution facilities. Effect of foreign currency translation is primarily related to translation adjustments on goodwill carried by a Canadian subsidiary.

NOTE 7: DEBT

In addition to repaying debt that was scheduled to mature during the thirty-nine week period ended September 30, 2007, the company repaid approximately $962 million in long-term debt, including $825 million paid in the second quarter in connection with two debt tender offers. The company recognized pre-tax charges in 2007 of $45 million, which included early retirement premiums, unamortized debt issuance costs and other miscellaneous charges in connection with early extinguishment of debt. This charge is classified as interest expense incurred on the Consolidated Statement of Earnings.

On September 24, 2007 the company issued $450 million of floating rate senior notes that mature in September 2009.

 

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NOTE 8: PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

The company recognized net pension and other postretirement benefit income of $6 million and expense of $51 million in the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to net pension and other postretirement benefit expense of $25 million and $89 million during the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 24, 2006, respectively. The components of net periodic benefit costs are:

 

     PENSION  
      THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED     THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED  

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
   

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
 

Service cost

   $ 29     $ 36     $ 94     $ 109  

Interest cost

     65       71       205       217  

Expected return on plan assets

     (124 )     (121 )     (386 )     (355 )

Amortization of (gain) loss

     (2 )     3       1       15  

Amortization of prior service costs

     8       9       25       28  

(Gain) loss due to curtailment, settlement and special termination benefits

     (3 )     —         52       —    
                                
   $ (27 )   $ (2 )   $ (9 )   $ 14  
                                
     OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS  
     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED     THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED  

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
   

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
 

Service cost

   $ 5     $ 6     $ 14     $ 17  

Interest cost

     12       15       39       41  

Amortization of loss

     6       8       18       23  

Amortization of prior service credits

     (2 )     (2 )     (6 )     (6 )

Gain due to curtailment, settlement and special termination benefits

     —         —         (5 )     —    
                                
   $ 21     $ 27     $ 60     $ 75  
                                

Gain due to curtailment, settlement and special termination benefits for the thirty-nine week period ended September 30, 2007 is primarily related to the Domtar Transaction, which included the transfer of four Canadian pension plans and is recorded in discontinued operations. Refer to Note 3: Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale for additional information about the Domtar Transaction. For the thirteen week period ended September 30, 2007, a gain of $3 million was recognized for the settlement of three Canadian pension plans.

The company contributed $11 million to its Canadian pension plans in the thirty-nine week period ended September 30, 2007, and expects to contribute an additional $1 million in 2007. The expected contribution amount for 2007 is substantially less than the $37 million that was reported in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. The decrease is primarily due to stronger-than-expected investment returns on the Canadian pension assets, as well as the effect of transferring four of the company’s Canadian pension plans as part of the Domtar Transaction. The company is not required to make any contributions to its U.S. plans during 2007.

NOTE 9: UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS

The company adopted Interpretation 48 on January 1, 2007. Subsequent to adoption, the company recognized tax expense and taxes payable of $28 million in accordance with Interpretation 48 of which $27 million was recognized in discontinued operations during the first quarter of 2007. Under Interpretation 48, unrecognized tax benefits represent potential future funding obligations to taxing authorities if uncertain tax positions the company has taken on previously filed tax returns are not sustained. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2007, and January 1, 2007, are $190 million and $175 million, respectively, which includes interest related to such positions of $25 million and $17 million, respectively. This amount represents the gross amount of exposure in individual jurisdictions and does not reflect any additional benefits expected to be realized if such positions were not sustained, such as the federal deduction that could be realized if an uncertain state deduction was not sustained. The net liability recognized on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet under Interpretation 48 is $84 million as of September 30, 2007, and $94 million as of January 1, 2007, which includes interest related to such positions of $23 million and $15 million, respectively. This amount considers the combined effects across all jurisdictions and represents the amount of tax positions that, if sustained, would affect the company’s effective tax rate. The net liability decreased by $20 million in the second quarter of 2007, including $2 million of interest, due to settlement with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) on the company’s 2003-2004 U.S. federal tax audit.

In accordance with the company’s accounting policy, accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized as a component of income tax expense and current taxes payable. This policy did not change as a result of Interpretation 48.

As of September 30, 2007, the company is undergoing examination in the U.S. federal tax jurisdiction for the 2005-2006 tax years. The company’s 2007 federal income tax return is being examined under the IRS Compliance Assurance Process (“CAP”). This program accelerates the examination of key issues in an attempt to resolve them before the tax return is filed. The company is also undergoing examination in various state and foreign jurisdictions for the 1984-2005 tax years. Management expects that the outcome of any examination will not have a material effect on the company’s financial statements; however, audit outcomes and the timing of audit settlements are subject to significant uncertainty.

In the next 12 months, the company estimates a decrease of up to $18 million in the unrecognized tax benefits due to the lapse of applicable statutes of limitation and $2 million related to audit settlement.

 

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NOTE 10: COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

The company’s comprehensive income (loss) includes the following, net of tax:

 

     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED     THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED  

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
   

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
 

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 101     $ 224     $ 888     $ (54 )

Other comprehensive income:

        

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net

     82       4       174       56  

Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial net loss

     6       —         29       —    

Net derivative gains (losses) on cash flow hedges

     6       (18 )     34       (53 )

Reclassification of net (gains) losses on cash flow hedges

     (5 )     1       (20 )     (8 )
                                
   $ 190     $ 211     $ 1,105     $ (59 )
                                

The company’s cumulative other comprehensive income includes the following, net of tax:

 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    DECEMBER 31,
2006
 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

   $ 487     $ 313  

Prior service cost and actuarial net loss not yet recognized in earnings

     (179 )     (208 )

Cash flow hedge fair value adjustments

     (7 )     (21 )

Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities

     4       4  
                
   $ 305     $ 88  
                

NOTE 11: LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Proceedings

Hardboard Siding Claims

In June 2000, the company entered into a nationwide settlement of hardboard siding class action cases and created a reserve of $130 million before taxes to cover the estimated cost of the settlement and related claims. In the third quarter of 2001, the company reassessed the adequacy of the reserve and increased the reserve by $43 million. The settlement class consists of all persons who own or owned structures in the United States on which the company’s hardboard siding had been installed from January 1, 1981 through December 31, 1999. This is a claims-based settlement, which means the claims are paid as submitted over a nine-year period. The right to file claims expires in three six-year increments. The first six years of claims expired in 2003. In September 2004, the reserve was reduced $20 million based on less than anticipated claim and litigation activity. At the end of 2006, the right to file claims for the second six-year period expired, leaving only claims from 1994 through 1999 which will expire in 2009. Another reserve reduction of $23 million was recognized in September 2006. An independent adjuster reviews claims submitted and determines payment under the terms of the settlement agreement. Reserves for future claims settlements relating to hardboard siding cases require judgment regarding projections of future claims rates and amounts. Cumulative charges to the reserve through the third quarter of 2007 were $108 million. The company believes the reserve balance of $22 million as of September 30, 2007, is adequate, but is unable to estimate at this time the amount of additional charges, if any, that may be required for these matters in the future.

The following table presents an analysis of the claims activity related to the hardboard siding class action cases:

 

    

THIRTY-NINE

WEEKS

   FIFTY-THREE
WEEK PERIOD
   FIFTY-TWO
WEEK PERIOD
     SEPTEMBER 30, 2007    2006    2005

Number of claims filed during the period

     1,180      2,200      765

Number of claims resolved

     1,500      1,420      640

Number of claims unresolved at end of period

     1,165      1,485      705

Number of damage awards paid

     860      675      270

Average damage award paid

   $ 2,225    $ 3,478    $ 4,100

The lower average award in the first three quarters of 2007 was due primarily to a lower number of awards for multi-family structures in 2007 than in 2005 or 2006.

The company has received $52 million in recoveries from its insurance carriers by way of negotiated settlements.

The company currently has no litigation pending with any person or entity that has opted out of the settlement. Individuals and entities that have opted out of the settlement may file lawsuits against the company in the future.

Alder Antitrust Litigation

Initial Alder Case and Complaint in Equity

In December 2000, a lawsuit was filed against the company in U.S. District Court in Oregon (the “Initial Alder Case”) alleging from 1996 to 2001 the company had monopoly power or attempted to gain monopoly power in the Pacific Northwest market for alder logs and finished alder lumber. A jury verdict of trebled damages of $79 million was appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit where the decision was upheld. In February 2007, the Supreme Court vacated the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in the Initial Alder Case and remanded the matter to the Ninth Circuit for further action. The Supreme Court held that because the plaintiff had conceded it had not satisfied the test established by the Supreme Court, the claim on which the damage award was based could not be supported. Based on the Supreme Court ruling, the $79 million reserve that had previously been established for this matter was reversed in the fourth quarter of 2006, because the requirements for establishing a reserve under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies, (“Statement 5”), were no longer met. In April 2007, the Ninth Circuit issued an order vacating the judgment of the District Court and remanding the matter to the District Court for further proceedings.

In January 2005, the company received a copy of a “complaint in equity” filed in U.S. District Court in Oregon to set aside the judgment in the Initial Alder Case on behalf of a plaintiff who did not prevail in the trial. It alleged a fraud was committed on the court and requested judgment against the plaintiff be vacated and a new trial set on plaintiff’s claim of monopolization of the alder sawlog market. Trebled damages of $20 million were alleged. The U.S. District Court stayed this matter pending final disposition by the U.S. Supreme Court of the Initial Alder Case.

 

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In August 2007, the company reached a settlement of the Initial Alder Case and the “complaint in equity” matter, which resulted in the recognition of an after-tax charge in the amount of $11 million in the second quarter of 2007.

Washington Alder

In June 2003, Washington Alder filed an antitrust lawsuit against the company in U.S. District Court in Oregon alleging monopolization of the alder log and lumber markets and seeking trebled damages of $36 million and divestiture of the company’s Northwest Hardwoods Division and alder sawmills in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. A jury verdict of trebled damages of $16 million was appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The matter was stayed pending final disposition by the U.S. Supreme Court of the Initial Alder Case. Based on the February 2007 Supreme Court ruling in the Initial Alder Case, the $16 million reserve previously established for this matter was reversed in the fourth quarter of 2006. In May 2007, the Ninth Circuit issued an order vacating the judgment and remanding to the District Court. On August 31, 2007, an order of dismissal with prejudice was issued by the District Court pursuant to a settlement between the parties. The company recognized an after-tax charge of $3 million for this matter in the third quarter of 2007.

Civil Class Action

In April 2004, a civil class action antitrust lawsuit was filed against the company in U.S. District Court in Oregon claiming that as a result of the company’s alleged monopolization of the alder sawlog market in the Pacific Northwest as determined in the Initial Alder Case, the company monopolized the market for finished alder and charged monopoly prices for finished alder lumber. In December 2004, the judge issued an order certifying the plaintiff as a class representative for all U.S. purchasers of finished alder lumber between April 28, 2000, and March 31, 2004, for purposes of awarding monetary damages. The claimed value of this matter, with trebling, is $59 million. The company denies the allegations in the complaint and intends to vigorously defend the matter. In February 2005, class counsel notified the court that approximately 5 percent of the class members opted out of the class action lawsuit. The company has no litigation pending with any entity that has opted out of the class, but it is possible that entities who have opted out may file lawsuits against the company in the future. In April 2007, the court granted the plaintiffs’ motion to file a second, amended complaint, extended the claims period to December 31, 2006, and scheduled trial on the matter for April 2008. New notices to the class members will be issued. In July 2007, the court denied the company’s motion to decertify the class. In October 2007, a request was granted to allow plaintiffs to file a third amended complaint which eliminated all allegations of overbidding and overbuying of alder sawlogs as a mechanism to impact the price of alder lumber.

The company is unable to estimate at this time the amount of charges, if any, that may be required in the future for the remaining alder antitrust litigation.

OSB Antitrust Litigation

A consolidated lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania in 2006 seeking class action status for persons and entities who purchased oriented strand board (“OSB”) directly from Weyerhaeuser, Louisiana-Pacific, Georgia-Pacific, Potlatch, Ainsworth Lumber, Norbord, Tolko Industries, Grant Forest Products, and J.M. Huber Corp. between June 2002 through the present. The lawsuit alleges the defendants conspired to fix and raise OSB prices in the United States during the class period and as a result, class members paid artificially inflated prices for OSB during that period. Additional lawsuits have also been filed and have been consolidated in the same court for discovery purposes on behalf of “indirect purchasers” of OSB in different states that have laws permitting such actions on behalf of indirect purchasers. Plaintiffs’ experts in the direct and indirect cases have estimated total damages, with trebling, at $8.7 billion. The company has not established a reserve for this matter and is unable to estimate at this time the amount of charges, if any, that may be required in the future. In the third quarter of 2006, the court dismissed with prejudice the claims filed by Pennsylvania indirect purchasers. In August 2007, the court certified a class of direct purchasers consisting of persons and entities who purchased OSB structural panel products directly from defendants from June 1, 2002 through the present. The court also certified as a class, nationwide indirect purchaser end users who indirectly purchased for their own use and not for resale, new OSB manufactured or sold by one or more of the defendants between June 1, 2002, and the present. The class excludes persons who purchased OSB already incorporated into a house or other structure. The court also certified a multistate class of indirect purchasers from eight states, but declined to certify such a class for indirect purchasers from an additional 13 states. Money damages for indirect multistate claims can be recovered only as permitted by state law and plaintiffs are generally limited to injunctive relief in the nationwide indirect class. In August 2007, the defendants filed a petition for permission to appeal the certification of a direct class of purchasers to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The indirect purchasers filed both a motion for reconsideration of the indirect class certification order, which resulted in the Judge certifying an additional multi-state class of indirect purchasers from three states and an appeal of the class certification order asking the Third Circuit to expand the definition of the indirect class. In October 2007, the Third Circuit denied the separate petitions of the defendants and the indirect purchaser plaintiffs for leave to appeal the class certification order. A March 2008 trial has been scheduled. In May 2007, J.M. Huber Corp. reached a settlement with the direct purchasers which has been approved by the court. In August 2007, Georgia-Pacific announced it had reached settlement with the direct purchasers and Ainsworth Lumber announced it had reached a settlement with direct and indirect purchasers. The company has not established a reserve for this matter and is unable to estimate at this time the amount of charges, if any, that may be required in the future.

Paragon Trade Brands, Inc. Litigation

In 1999, the Equity Committee (“Committee”) in the Paragon Trade Brands, Inc. (“Paragon”) bankruptcy proceeding commenced an adversary proceeding against the company in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia, asserting the company breached certain warranties in agreements between Paragon and the company connected with Paragon’s public offering of common stock in February 1993. The Committee sought to recover damages sustained by Paragon in two patent infringement cases, one brought by Procter & Gamble and the other by Kimberly-Clark. In June 2002, the Bankruptcy Court held the company liable for breaches of warranty. In the second quarter of 2005, the Bankruptcy Court imposed damages of approximately $470 million. The company appealed the liability and damages determinations to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and posted a bond of $500 million. In September 2007, the District Court issued an order reversing the Bankruptcy Court’s decision and directing the court clerk to enter judgment in favor of the company. On September 27, 2007, the clerk entered an order dismissing the case. On September 28, 2007, the company filed a motion to amend the judgment to specifically enter a judgment in Weyerhaeuser’s favor and to dismiss the action with prejudice. On October 4, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court signed an order releasing the $500 million appeal bond. In October 2007, the Committee appealed the opinion to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. The company has not established a reserve for this matter and is unable to estimate at this time the amount of charges, if any, that may be required in the future.

Other Litigation

The company is party to other matters generally incidental to its business in addition to the matters described above.

Summary

Although the final outcome of any legal proceeding is subject to a great many variables and cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty, management currently believes that adequate reserves have been established for probable losses from litigation when the amounts could be reasonably determined. Management further believes that the ultimate outcome of these legal proceedings could materially adversely affect results of operations, cash flows or financial condition in any given quarter or year, but will not have a material adverse effect on the company’s long-term results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

 

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Environmental Matters

The company is also a party to various proceedings relating to the cleanup of hazardous waste sites under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, commonly known as “Superfund,” and similar state laws. The EPA and/or various state agencies have notified the company that it may be a potentially responsible party with respect to other hazardous waste sites as to which no proceedings have been instituted against the company.

The following table reflects changes in the reserve for environmental remediation:

 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

 

Reserve balance as of December 31, 2006

   $ 28  

Liabilities transferred to Domtar

     (4 )

Remediation costs accrued

     10  

Remediation costs charged to reserve

     (8 )
        

Reserve balance as of September 30, 2007

   $ 26  
        

Total active sites as of September 30, 2007

     62  

The changes in environmental remediation reserves reflect the incorporation of new information on all sites concerning remediation alternatives, updates on prior cost estimates and new sites, and the costs incurred to remediate these sites during this period.

Based on currently available information and analysis, the company believes that it is reasonably possible that costs associated with all identified sites may exceed current accruals by up to $38 million, which may be incurred over several years. This estimate of the upper end of the range of reasonably possible additional costs is much less certain than the estimates upon which accruals are currently based, and utilizes assumptions less favorable to the company among the range of reasonably possible outcomes. In estimating both its current accruals for environmental remediation and the possible range of additional future costs, the company has assumed that it will not bear the entire cost of remediation of every site to the exclusion of other known potentially responsible parties who may be jointly and severally liable. The ability of other potentially responsible parties to participate has been taken into account, generally based on each party’s financial condition and probable contribution on a per-site basis. No amounts have been recorded for potential recoveries from insurance carriers.

The company has not recognized a liability under FASB Interpretation No. 47, Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations – an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143 (“Interpretation 47”), for certain legal obligations, primarily special handling for the removal and disposal of encapsulated asbestos from facilities and equipment. The fair value of such obligations cannot be reasonably estimated because the settlement dates are not reasonably determinable. The company will establish a liability under Interpretation 47 at the time the fair value becomes reasonably estimable.

NOTE 12: CHARGES FOR RESTRUCTURING

Weyerhaeuser charges for restructuring include the following costs recognized in connection with business restructuring and overall cost reduction efforts:

 

     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED    THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED  

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
 

Asset impairment charges

   $ —      $ —      $ —      $ 13  

Termination benefits

     14      4      19      10  

Other restructuring costs

     2      —        2      2  

Reversal of restructuring charges recorded in prior periods

     —        —        —        (3 )
                             
     16      4      21      22  

Less: discontinued operations

     —        —        —        (1 )
                             
   $ 16    $ 4    $ 21    $ 21  
                             

The charges recognized in both the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 30, 2007, included the restructuring of an administration facility in Kamloops, British Columbia covering various business functions. The charges recognized in the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 24, 2006 were primarily related to the restructuring of the Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling business model.

As of September 30, 2007, Weyerhaeuser’s accrued liabilities include approximately $18 million of severance accruals related to restructuring charges recognized during 2007. These accruals are associated with approximately 130 employee terminations that have not yet occurred.

 

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NOTE 13: CHARGES FOR CLOSURE OF FACILITIES

Weyerhaeuser incurred the following charges for the closure of facilities:

 

     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED     THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED  

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
   

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
 

Asset impairment charges

   $ 9     $ 34     $ 19     $ 36  

Termination benefits

     9       4       19       6  

Other closure costs

     2       8       9       26  

Reversal of closure charges recorded in prior periods

     (1 )     (3 )     (2 )     (7 )
                                
     19       43       45       61  

Less: discontinued operations

     —         (28 )     (2 )     (39 )
                                
   $ 19     $ 15     $ 43     $ 22  
                                

The charges recognized during the thirty-nine week period ended September 30, 2007, include asset impairment charges and severance costs related primarily to the closures of the Okanagan Falls, British Columbia sawmill facility, the Miramichi, New Brunswick oriented strand board facility and the Claresholm, Alberta engineered I-joist plant, as well as additional costs recognized in connection with previously announced Wood Products mill closures.

Other closure costs include costs of dismantling and demolition of plant and equipment, gain or loss on disposition of assets, environmental clean-up and general costs to wind down operating facilities.

During the thirteen week period ended September 24, 2006, the company recognized an out-of-period charge of $26 million in connection with additional impairment of assets related to the closure of the Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, facility, which was announced in the fourth quarter of 2005. This charge and additional 2006 costs associated with the wind down of the pulp and paper operations in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan are included in discontinued operations. Other 2006 closure charges related primarily to the closure of two packaging facilities and three lumber mills.

Changes in accrued termination benefits related to facility closures during the thirty-nine week period ended September 30, 2007, were as follows:

 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

 

Accrued severance as of December 31, 2006

   $ 44  

Charges

     19  

Payments

     (22 )

Other adjustments

     (5 )
        

Accrued severance as of September 30, 2007

   $ 36  
        

NOTE 14: OTHER OPERATING COSTS (INCOME), NET

Other operating costs (income), net, are an aggregation of both recurring and occasional income and expense items and, as a result, can fluctuate from year to year. Weyerhaeuser’s other operating costs (income), net, include the following items:

 

     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED     THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED  

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
   

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
 

Gain on the Domtar Transaction (Note 3)

   $ —       $ —       $ (678 )   $ —    

Gain on the sale of the North American composite panels operations (Note 3)

     —         (51 )     —         (51 )

(Gain) loss on disposition of assets

     (11 )     5       (42 )     5  

Asset impairment charges other than for closures

     —         7       46       7  

Net charges (reversals) related to legal matters

     (36 )     (23 )     4       (21 )

Net foreign exchange gains

     (3 )     (17 )     (39 )     (12 )

Other, net

     6       (7 )     10       (7 )
                                
     (44 )     (86 )     (699 )     (79 )

Less: discontinued operations

     45       50       726       48  
                                
   $ 1     $ (36 )   $ 27     $ (31 )
                                

(Gain) loss on disposition of assets for the thirty-nine week period ended September 30, 2007, includes a pre-tax gain of $29 million recognized in the second quarter of 2007, and pre-tax gains of $9 million recognized in the third quarter of 2007, for the sales of property containing previously closed operations.

Asset impairment charges for the thirty-nine week period ended September 30, 2007 include a $26 million pre-tax charge recognized in the first quarter of 2007 related to the Miramichi, New Brunswick, oriented strand board mill that had been offered for sale and $10 million related to the Canadian distribution facilities.

 

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Net charges (reversals) related to legal matters for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 30, 2007, include $43 million of pre-tax proceeds received from the settlement of litigation in connection with the 1998 purchase of a pulp and paper mill in Ontario that has since been sold to Domtar. This income is included in discontinued operations; see Note 3: Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale. The thirteen and thirty-nine week period ended September 30, 2007 also includes pre-tax charges of $4 million and $21 million, respectively, related to the settlement of Alder litigation; see Note 11: Legal Proceedings, Commitments and Contingencies.

Net charges (reversals) related to legal matters for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 24, 2006, include the reversal of $23 million of reserves related to hardboard siding claims.

Net foreign exchange gains result from changes in exchange rates, primarily the changes in the relative value of the U.S. dollar to the Canadian dollar and the relative value of the Canadian dollar to the New Zealand dollar.

NOTE 15: BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The company is principally engaged in the growing and harvesting of timber; the manufacture, distribution and sale of forest products; and real estate development and construction. The company’s principal business segments are:

 

 

Timberlands, which includes logs, chips and timber;

 

 

Wood Products, which includes softwood lumber, plywood, veneer, OSB, hardwood lumber, engineered lumber and building materials distribution;

 

 

Cellulose Fibers, which includes pulp, liquid packaging board and an equity interest in a newsprint joint venture;

 

 

Fine Paper, which was divested as part of the Domtar Transaction in the first quarter of 2007;

 

 

Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling; and

 

 

Real Estate and Related Assets.

In addition, the Corporate and Other segment includes marine transportation; shortline railroads; timberlands, distribution and converting facilities located outside North America; and general corporate support activities.

Following the completion of the Domtar Transaction in the first quarter of 2007, the company changed the composition of its reportable segments to align with the current management structure of the company. Operations that were previously aggregated in the Cellulose Fiber and White Papers segment are now reported in two separate segments – Cellulose Fibers and Fine Paper. The Cellulose Fibers segment includes pulp, liquid packaging board and the company’s equity interest in North Pacific Paper Corporation (“NORPAC”) – a joint venture that produces newsprint. The Fine Paper segment includes fine paper, coated groundwood and paper converting operations – all of which were divested as part of the Domtar Transaction. Results for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 24, 2006, have been recast for consistent presentation with the current period.

As disclosed in Note 2: Accounting Changes, the financial results for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 24, 2006, have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect an accounting change to expense planned major maintenance costs in the company’s primary mill operations in the period such costs were incurred. This retrospective adjustment affects the Cellulose Fibers, Fine Paper and Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling segments.

As disclosed in Note 3: Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale, the company sold its North American composite panel operations in the third quarter of 2006 and its Irish composite panel operations in the fourth quarter of 2006. The segment data below includes the activities of the North American composite panel operations in the Wood Products segment. The activities of the Irish composite panel operations are included in the Corporate and Other segment.

The company also divested its fine paper business and related assets through completion of the Domtar Transaction in the first quarter of 2007. The majority of the operations that were divested as a result of the Domtar Transaction are included in the Fine Paper segment. The additional related assets are included in the following segments:

 

 

Cellulose Fibers – includes the Kamloops, British Columbia cellulose fiber operations; also includes sales of cellulose fiber produced in four mills with integrated paper and cellulose fiber operations.

 

 

Wood Products – includes the Ear Falls, Ontario sawmill and activities associated with the Big River and Wapawekka, Saskatchewan sawmills that were closed in second quarter 2006.

 

 

Timberlands – includes forest licenses on 12.2 million acres associated with the Dryden, Ontario and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan facilities.

The pre-tax gain of $682 million recognized in the first quarter of 2007 in connection with the Domtar Transaction, reduced by charges of $4 million in the second quarter of 2007, are included in the Corporate and Other segment.

An analysis and reconciliation of the company’s business segment information to the respective information in the Consolidated Financial Statements is as follows:

 

     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED     THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED  

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
   

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
 

Sales to and revenues from unaffiliated customers:

        

Timberlands

   $ 249     $ 246     $ 693     $ 778  

Wood Products

     1,449       1,905       4,581       6,278  

Cellulose Fibers

     436       482       1,388       1,415  

Fine Paper

     —         648       459       1,948  

Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling

     1,293       1,245       3,846       3,609  

Real Estate and Related Assets

     598       749       1,644       2,185  

Corporate and Other

     121       123       323       356  
                                
     4,146       5,398       12,934       16,569  

Less: sales of discontinued operations (Note 3)

     —         (844 )     (563 )     (2,697 )
                                
     4,146       4,554       12,371       13,872  

Intersegment sales:

        

Timberlands

     324       411       1,024       1,256  

Wood Products

     55       57       178       168  

Cellulose Fibers

     4       23       34       96  

Fine Paper

     —         60       43       185  

Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling

     1       10       9       42  

Corporate and Other

     15       8       48       25  
                                
     399       569       1,336       1,772  
                                

Total sales and revenues

     4,545       5,123       13,707       15,644  

Intersegment eliminations

     (399 )     (569 )     (1,336 )     (1,772 )
                                
   $ 4,146     $ 4,554     $ 12,371     $ 13,872  
                                

Contribution (charge) to earnings:

        

Timberlands

   $ 165     $ 178     $ 482     $ 600  

Wood Products

     (131 )     11       (421 )     259  

Cellulose Fibers

     79       66       149       84  

Fine Paper

     —         68       20       (708 )

Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling

     104       97       283       192  

Real Estate and Related Assets

     60       135       182       430  

Corporate and Other

     (16 )     (78 )     573       (220 )
                                
     261       477       1,268       637  

Interest expense (Weyerhaeuser only, continuing and discontinued operations)

     (131 )     (149 )     (458 )     (453 )

Less: capitalized interest (Weyerhaeuser only)

     29       21       88       57  
                                

Earnings before income taxes (continuing and discontinued operations)

     159       349       898       241  

Income tax expense (continuing and discontinued operations)

     (58 )     (125 )     (10 )     (295 )
                                

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 101     $ 224     $ 888     $ (54 )
                                

 

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NOTE 16: SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Significant events that occurred after September 30, 2007, but prior to the filing of this report, and which have not already been disclosed in this report, included:

Indefinite Curtailments

On October 18, 2007, the company announced the indefinite curtailment of its oriented strand board plants in Drayton Valley, Alberta, and Wawa, Ontario, and its laminated strand lumber plant in Deerwood, MN. Continued weakness in the OSB and engineered lumber markets resulting from the decline in North American housing starts and reduced customer demand for wood products led to the indefinite curtailments, which are expected to be effective before year-end 2007. In connection with this decision, management concluded an impairment charge of $30 million to $40 million would be required for these operations. The company considered both discounted cash flow projections and hypothetical market transactions in estimating the fair values of the asset groups. While the impairment charges will not result in future cash expenditures, the related indefinite curtailment decisions are expected to result in cash expenditures of $17 million to $23 million, primarily related to termination benefits.

Sale of New Zealand Joint Venture

On October 31, 2007, the company announced the completion of the sale of its 51 percent equity interest in the Nelson Forests Joint Venture (“Nelson JV”) to its former joint venture partner, Global Forest Partners (“GFP”). The Nelson JV assets include approximately 67,000 productive hectares of plantation forests on the South Island of New Zealand and the related Kaituna sawmill, which has a log input capacity on a single shift of 80,000 cubic meters annually. The company’s net investment in the Nelson JV was approximately $150 million as of September 30, 2007.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (“MD&A”)

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report contains statements concerning our future results and performance that are forward-looking statements according to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements:

 

 

use forward-looking terminology,

 

 

are based on various assumptions we make, and

 

 

may not be accurate because of risks and uncertainties surrounding the assumptions that we make.

Factors listed in this section – as well as other factors not included – may cause our actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements. There is no guarantee that any of the events anticipated by our forward-looking statements will occur. Or if any of the events occur, there is no guarantee what effect they will have on our operations or financial condition.

We will not update our forward-looking statements after the date of this report.

FORWARD-LOOKING TERMINOLOGY

Some forward-looking statements discuss our plans, strategies and intentions. They use words such as expects, may, will, believes, should, approximately, anticipates, estimates, and plans. In addition, these words may use the positive or negative or a variation of those terms.

STATEMENTS

We make forward-looking statements of our expectations for the fourth quarter 2007 regarding:

 

 

the company’s markets, earnings and performance of the company’s business segments;

 

 

demand, pricing, shipments and sales realizations for the company’s products;

 

 

nonstrategic land sales;

 

 

higher seasonal energy costs;

 

 

lower OCC fiber costs;

 

 

backlog of single-family homes sold, but not closed;

 

 

number of home closings;

 

 

single-family home margins; and

 

 

capital expenditures.

In addition, we also make forward-looking statements regarding:

 

 

annual capital expenditures;

 

 

adverse litigation outcomes and the adequacy of reserves;

 

 

regulations;

 

 

the effect of implementation or retrospective application of accounting methods;

 

 

expected rate of return on pension plan assets;

 

 

contributions to pension plans;

 

 

projected benefit payments;

 

 

outcome of tax examinations;

 

 

projected tax rates;

 

 

loss of tax benefits; and

 

 

other related matters.

RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND ASSUMPTIONS

The major risks and uncertainties – and assumptions that we make – that affect our business include, but are not limited to:

 

 

general economic conditions, including the level of interest rates, strength of the U.S. dollar and housing starts;

 

 

market demand for our products, which is related to the strength of the various U.S. business segments;

 

 

energy prices;

 

 

raw material prices;

 

 

chemical prices;

 

 

timing of equipment purchases;

 

 

performance of our manufacturing operations including unexpected maintenance requirements;

 

 

successful execution of our internal performance plans including restructurings and cost reduction initiatives;

 

 

level of competition from domestic and foreign producers;

 

 

forestry, land use, environmental and other governmental regulations;

 

 

weather;

 

 

loss from fires, floods, pest infestation and other natural disasters;

 

 

transportation costs;

 

 

legal proceedings;

 

 

performance of pension fund investments and derivatives;

 

 

changes in accounting principles;

 

 

IRS audit outcomes and timing of settlements;

 

 

foreign exchange rates;

 

 

the effect of timing of retirements and changes in the market price of our common stock on charges for share-based compensation; and

 

 

the other factors described under “Risk Factors” in this report and our annual report on Form 10-K.

EXPORTING ISSUES

We are a large exporter, affected by changes in:

 

 

economic activity in Europe and Asia – especially Japan;

 

 

currency exchange rates – particularly the relative value of the U.S. dollar to the Euro and the Canadian dollar; and

 

 

restrictions on international trade or tariffs imposed on imports.

 

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Table of Contents

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

As disclosed in Note 15: Business Segments, the company changed the composition of its reportable segments in the first quarter of 2007 to align with the current management structure following the completion of the Domtar Transaction. Results of operations that previously were aggregated in the Cellulose Fiber and White Papers segment are now discussed separately for the Cellulose Fibers segment and the Fine Papers segment.

As disclosed in Note 3: Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale, the following operations are classified as discontinued operations in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements:

 

 

Fine paper business and related assets (divested as part of the Domtar Transaction in March 2007);

 

 

Irish composite panel operations (sold in November 2006); and

 

 

North American composite panel operations (sold in July 2006).

In reviewing our results of operations, it is important to understand the following:

 

 

Net sales and revenues and operating income reported in Consolidated Results below exclude the results of discontinued operations.

 

 

Net earnings (loss) reported in Consolidated Results below includes the results of discontinued operations.

 

 

Net sales and revenues and contribution (charge) to earnings reported in the individual segment discussions that follow include the results of discontinued operations. Refer to Note 15: Business Segments for a discussion of which segments include the results of the various discontinued operations.

Results for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 24, 2006, have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

As discussed in Note 2: Accounting Changes, results for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 24, 2006 have also been retrospectively adjusted to reflect an accounting change to expense planned major maintenance costs in our primary mill operations in the period such costs were incurred.

In reviewing our results of operations, it’s important to understand these terms:

 

 

Price realizations refer to net selling prices, which includes selling price plus freight minus normal sales deductions.

 

 

Contribution to earnings refers to our business segment earnings before interest and taxes.

In the following discussion, unless otherwise noted, references to increases or decreases in income and expense items, price realizations, shipment volumes, and contributions (charge) to earnings are based on the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 30, 2007 and September 24, 2006. The thirteen-week periods are also referred to as “third quarter” and the thirty-nine week periods are also referred to as “year-to-date”.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

How We Did in the Third Quarter and Year-To-Date 2007

NET SALES AND REVENUE / OPERATING INCOME / NET EARNINGS (LOSS)

 

    

THIRTEEN WEEKS

ENDED

   AMOUNT OF
CHANGE
    THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED     AMOUNT OF
CHANGE
 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS,
EXCEPT PER-SHARE FIGURES

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
   2007
VS. 2006
   

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
    2007
VS. 2006
 

Net sales and revenues

   $ 4,146    $ 4,554    $ (408 )   $ 12,371    $ 13,872     $ (1,501 )

Operating income

   $ 183    $ 319    $ (136 )   $ 397    $ 1,129     $ (732 )

Earnings (loss) of discontinued operations, net of taxes

   $ 27    $ 58    $ (31 )   $ 793    $ (709 )   $ 1,502  

Net earnings (loss)

   $ 101    $ 224    $ (123 )   $ 888    $ (54 )   $ 942  

Net earnings (loss) per share, basic

   $ 0.47    $ 0.91    $ (0.44 )   $ 4.00    $ (0.22 )   $ 4.22  

Net earnings (loss) per share, diluted

   $ 0.47    $ 0.91    $ (0.44 )   $ 3.98    $ (0.22 )   $ 4.20  

Comparing 2007 with 2006

In 2007:

 

 

Net sales and revenue decreased $408 million, or 9 percent, for the third quarter and $1.5 billion, or 11 percent, year-to-date.

 

 

Net earnings decreased $123 million for the third quarter and increased $942 million year-to-date.

Net sales and revenue

Net sales and revenue for the third quarter and year-to-date decreased primarily due to the weakening U.S. housing market. On a seasonally adjusted basis, housing starts in the U.S. decreased 24 percent from an average of 1.7 million to 1.3 million in the third quarter and decreased 26 percent from an average of 1.9 million to 1.4 million year-to-date. The effects of the weakening U.S. housing market were reflected in the following:

 

 

lower demand for residential building products – refer to the Wood Products segment discussion; and

 

 

a decline in the number of single-family homes closed and average selling prices – refer to the Real Estate and Related Assets segment discussion.

These decreases were partially offset by improved market conditions for pulp and liquid packaging board products as well as packaging and containerboard products – refer to the Cellulose Fibers and Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling segment discussions.

Net earnings

Net earnings for the third quarter decreased primarily due to the following:

 

 

lower sales volumes for wood products and lower price realizations for softwood lumber, oriented strandboard and engineered lumber products – refer to the Wood Products segment discussion;

 

 

lower gross margins on single-family homes closed – refer to the Real Estate and Related Assets segment discussion;

 

 

loss of earnings from operations the company has divested – refer to the Wood Products and Fine Paper segment discussions; and

 

 

increased pre-tax asset impairment and closure charges – refer to the Wood Products and Real Estate and Related Assets segment discussions.

These decreases were partially offset by higher price realizations for pulp, containerboard and packaging products – refer to the Cellulose Fibers and Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling segment discussions.

Net earnings year-to-date increased primarily due to the following:

 

 

a net gain recognized as a result of the Domtar Transaction – refer to the Corporate and Other segment discussion; and

 

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lower charges for the impairment of goodwill – refer to the Fine Paper segment discussion.

These earnings improvements were partially offset by the following:

 

 

lower price realizations for softwood lumber, structural panels and engineered wood products – refer to the Wood Products segment discussion;

 

 

lower gross margins on single-family homes closed – refer to the Real Estate and Related Assets segment discussion; and

 

 

increased asset impairment and closure charges – refer to the Wood Products and Real Estate and Related Assets segment discussions.

TIMBERLANDS

How We Did in the Third Quarter and Year-To-Date 2007

Here is a comparison of net sales and revenues to third-party customers, intersegment sales, and contribution to earnings for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 30, 2007 and September 24, 2006:

NET SALES AND REVENUE / CONTRIBUTION TO EARNINGS – TIMBERLANDS

 

    

THIRTEEN WEEKS

ENDED

   AMOUNT OF
CHANGE
    THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED    AMOUNT OF
CHANGE
 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
   2007 
VS. 2006
   

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

  

SEPTEMBER 24,

2006

   2007 
VS. 2006
 

Net sales and revenues to third-party customers:

                

Logs

   $ 168    $ 200    $ (32 )   $ 510    $ 599    $ (89 )

Other

     81      46      35       183      179      4  
                                            
   $ 249    $ 246    $ 3     $ 693    $ 778    $ (85 )
                                            

Intersegment sales

   $ 324    $ 411    $ (87 )   $ 1,024    $ 1,256    $ (232 )
                                            

Contribution to earnings

   $ 165    $ 178    $ (13 )   $ 482    $ 600    $ (118 )
                                            

Comparing 2007 with 2006

In 2007:

 

 

Net sales and revenues to third-party customers increased $3 million, or 1 percent, during the third quarter and decreased $85 million, or 11 percent, year-to-date.

 

 

Intersegment sales decreased $87 million, or 21 percent, during the third quarter and $232 million, or 18 percent, year-to-date.

 

 

Contribution to earnings decreased $13 million, or 7 percent, during the third quarter and $118 million, or 20 percent, year-to-date.

Net sales and revenue – third-party customers

Net sales and revenues to third-party customers increased slightly for the third quarter primarily due to higher sales of non-strategic timberlands partially offset by a decrease in western log sales volumes and realizations of 5 percent and 13 percent, respectively, due to weaker domestic and export markets.

Year-to-date net sales and revenues to third-party customers decreased primarily due to the following:

 

 

Western log sales volumes and realizations decreased 5 percent and 9 percent, respectively, year-to-date due to weaker domestic and export markets.

 

 

Canadian sales volumes decreased 37 percent year-to-date, due to lower harvest levels in the eastern provinces as a result of downtime at various mills and the completion of the Domtar Transaction.

 

 

Chip sales volumes, reflected in other sales, decreased 62 percent year-to-date more than offsetting higher sales realizations.

These decreases were offset by higher sales of non-strategic timberlands reflected in other sales.

Intersegment sales

Intersegment sales decreased primarily due to the following:

 

 

Canadian sales decreased $57 million during the third quarter and $174 million year-to-date, due to lower harvest levels as a result of downtime at various mills across Canada and the completion of the Domtar Transaction.

 

 

Southern sales decreased $19 million, and western sales decreased $11 million during the third quarter due to lower internal consumption, and weaker domestic markets. Year-to-date, southern sales decreased $37 million due to lower internal consumption as well as lower non-fee harvest levels, and western sales decreased $21 million due to weaker domestic lumber markets, offset slightly by stronger chip markets.

Contribution to earnings

Contribution to earnings decreased $13 million and $118 million in the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively, primarily due to the following:

 

 

Lower export prices in the west and lower domestic prices in the west and south resulted in a negative price/mix variance of $25 million and $58 million in the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively.

 

 

Lower fee harvest and higher costs, mainly due to higher fuel costs, resulted in a decrease of $15 million in the third quarter and lower fee harvest and higher costs, primarily due to higher fuel costs and higher silviculture costs, resulted in a decrease of $34 million year-to-date.

 

 

Other income decreased $18 million year-to-date, in part due to changing from the cash basis to the accrual basis of accounting for oil and gas revenues and revenues related to recreational leasing of the company’s timberlands.

Partially offsetting the decreases above was:

 

 

Income from sales of non-strategic timberlands increased $31 million and $5 million in the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively.

Our Outlook

Weyerhaeuser expects Timberlands earnings to be lower in the fourth quarter compared with third quarter. The continued weakness in the U.S. and Japanese housing markets are expected to result in lower log sales volumes in the west, and lower prices in both the export and domestic markets.

 

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Table of Contents

THIRD-PARTY LOG SALES VOLUMES AND FEE HARVEST VOLUMES

 

    THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED   THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED

VOLUMES IN THOUSANDS

 

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

  SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
 

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

  SEPTEMBER 24,
2006

Third-party log sales – cunits (100 cubic feet)

  805   850   2,317   2,593

Fee harvest – cunits (100 cubic feet)

  2,029   2,040   6,207   6,255

WOOD PRODUCTS

How We Did in the Third Quarter and Year-To-Date 2007

Here is a comparison of net sales and revenues to third-party customers and contribution (charge) to earnings for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 30, 2007 and September 24, 2006:

NET SALES AND REVENUE / CONTRIBUTION TO EARNINGS – WOOD PRODUCTS

 

    THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED   AMOUNT OF
CHANGE
    THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED   AMOUNT OF
CHANGE
 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

 

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
  2007 VS. 2006    

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
  2007 VS. 2006  

Net sales and revenues:

           

Softwood lumber

  $ 580     $ 733   $ (153 )   $ 1,801     $ 2,372   $ (571 )

Engineered I-Joists

    124       162     (38 )     388       533     (145 )

Engineered solid section

    155       190     (35 )     495       625     (130 )

Oriented strand board

    151       203     (52 )     456       763     (307 )

Plywood

    89       134     (45 )     295       416     (121 )

Hardwood lumber

    89       96     (7 )     278       300     (22 )

Composite panels

    20       71     (51 )     68       332     (264 )

Veneer

    13       9     4       36       35     1  

Logs

    3       5     (2 )     13       17     (4 )

Other products

    225       302     (77 )     751       885     (134 )
                                           
  $ 1,449     $ 1,905   $ (456 )   $ 4,581     $ 6,278   $ (1,697 )
                                           

Contribution (charge) to earnings

  $ (131 )   $ 11   $ (142 )   $ (421 )   $ 259   $ (680 )
                                           

Comparing 2007 with 2006

In 2007:

 

 

Net sales and revenues decreased $456 million, or 24 percent, during the third quarter and $1.7 billion, or 27 percent, year-to-date.

 

 

Contribution to earnings decreased $142 million during the third quarter and $680 million year-to-date.

Net sales and revenue

Net sales and revenues decreased primarily due to the following:

 

 

Sales volumes for all primary product lines decreased during the third quarter and year-to-date, reflecting the continuing decline in housing construction activity and lower demand for residential construction products.

 

 

Average price realizations decreased for softwood lumber, oriented strand board, and engineered lumber products for both the third quarter and year-to-date.

 

 

Composite panel sales decreased during the third quarter and year-to-date, primarily due to the sale of the Composite Products business in 2006. The company no longer manufactures composite panels, but does continue to purchase some composite products for resale.

Contribution to earnings

Contribution to earnings decreased primarily due to the following:

 

 

Decreases in price realizations for most products resulted in a decrease of approximately $75 million and $484 million for the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively. Of the third quarter decrease, $54 million was due to softwood lumber and oriented strand board and $27 million was due to engineered products. Of the year-to-date decrease, $430 million was due to softwood lumber and oriented strand board and $76 million was due to engineered products.

 

 

Lower sales volumes resulted in a decrease of approximately $22 million for the third quarter and $128 million year-to-date.

 

 

The composite products business, which was sold in 2006, contributed earnings of $7 million in the third quarter of 2006 and $28 million year-to-date 2006.

 

 

Asset impairments and other charges related to the closure or sale of assets totaled $18 million and $112 million in the third quarter and year-to-date 2007, respectively. These charges were primarily related to the sale of the Canadian distribution business, the indefinite curtailment of the Miramichi, New Brunswick oriented strand board mill, the closure of the Claresholm, Alberta engineered I-joist facility, and the closure of Okanagan Falls, British Columbia sawmill. The company realized net income of $44 million in the third quarter and year-to-date 2006, which included a $51 million gain on the sale of the company’s Composite Products Business and $7 million in asset impairments.

 

 

Charges for the settlement of alder litigation were $4 million and $21 million in the third quarter and year-to-date 2007, respectively. The third quarter and year-to-date 2006 periods included income of $23 million related to a reduction in the reserve for hardboard siding.

Partially offsetting the decreases above was the following:

 

 

Manufacturing costs and selling, general, and administrative expensed decreased $45 million in the third quarter and $165 million year-to-date. The decreases were primarily due to lower purchase prices for wood raw materials, reduced operating postures in the segment’s manufacturing operations, the sale of the Canadian distribution business, and an increase in pension income.

Our Outlook

The company expects the segment’s operating loss to increase in the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter due to continuing pressures on volumes and prices. On October 18, the company announced indefinite curtailments at three mills and expects to continue actively adjusting operating posture to balance production with demand.

 

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Table of Contents
     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED    THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED

VOLUMES IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT LOGS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006

Softwood lumber – board feet

   1,654    1,974    5,116    6,008

Engineered I-Joists – lineal feet

   92    110    282    361

Engineered solid section – cubic feet

   8    9    25    29

Oriented strand board – square feet (3/8”)

   835    989    2,676    3,058

Plywood – square feet (3/8”)

   240    437    855    1,284

Hardwood lumber – board feet

   93    100    281    313

Composite panels – square feet (3/4”)

   29    139    100    765

Veneer – square feet (3/8”)

   73    48    212    172

Logs – in thousands of cunits (100 cubic feet)

   34    26    113    127

TOTAL PRODUCTION VOLUMES

 

     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED    THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED

VOLUMES IN MILLIONS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006

Softwood lumber – board feet

   1,405    1,559    4,283    4,872

Engineered I-Joists – lineal feet

   91    130    292    387

Engineered solid section – cubic feet

   8    10    23    33

Oriented strand board – square feet (3/8”)

   834    1,009    2,649    3,144

Plywood – square feet (3/8”)

   110    237    339    723

Hardwood lumber – board feet

   80    82    228    247

Composite panels – square feet (3/4”)

   —      100    —      666

Veneer – square feet (3/8”)(1)

   297    494    933    1,404

(1) Veneer production represents lathe production and includes volumes that are further processed into plywood and engineered lumber products by company mills.

CELLULOSE FIBERS

How We Did in the Third Quarter and Year-To-Date 2007

Pulp production declined as a result of the divestment of the Kamloops, British Columbia mill and other white paper mills in the Domtar Transaction and the closures of the Prince Albert, Saskatchewan mill in March 2006, and the Cosmopolis, Washington mill in September 2006. In January 2007, we announced our intent to sell the Cosmopolis mill and have continued to work toward a sale of the mill.

Here is a comparison of net sales and revenues to third-party customers and contribution to earnings for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 30, 2007 and September 24, 2006:

NET SALES AND REVENUE / CONTRIBUTION TO EARNINGS – CELLULOSE FIBERS

 

    THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED   AMOUNT OF
CHANGE
    THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED   AMOUNT OF
CHANGE
 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

 

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

  SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
  2007 VS. 2006    

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

  SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
  2007 VS. 2006  

Net sales and revenues:

           

Pulp

  $ 345   $ 404   $ (59 )   $ 1,120   $ 1,200   $ (80 )

Liquid packaging board

    61     59     2       189     167     22  

Other products

    30     19     11       79     48     31  
                                       
  $ 436   $ 482   $ (46 )   $ 1,388   $ 1,415   $ (27 )
                                       

Contribution to earnings

  $ 79   $ 66   $ 13     $ 149   $ 84   $ 65  
                                       

Comparing 2007 with 2006

In 2007:

 

 

Net sales and revenues decreased $46 million, or 10 percent, during the third quarter and $27 million, or 2 percent, year-to-date.

THIRD-PARTY SALES VOLUMES

 

 

Contribution to earnings increased $13 million during the third quarter and $65 million year-to-date.

Net sales and revenue

Net sales and revenues decreased primarily due to a decrease of approximately 155,000 tons in pulp sales volumes, or 25 percent, during the third quarter and 335,000 tons, or 17 percent, year-to-date, primarily due to facility closures and the Domtar Transaction. These decreases were partially offset by the following:

 

 

Pulp price realizations increased $85 per ton, or 13 percent in the third quarter, and $81 per ton, or 13 percent, year-to-date.

 

 

Liquid packaging board price realizations increased $38 per ton, or 5 percent, compared to the third quarter of 2006, and $20 per ton, or 2 percent, year-to-date.

 

 

Liquid packaging board sales volumes remained even relative to the third quarter of 2006, and increased 22,000 tons, or 11 percent, year-to-date.

Contribution to earnings

Contribution to earnings increased primarily due to the following:

 

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Higher pulp price realizations due to improved market conditions resulted in an increase of $40 million and $128 million in the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively.

 

 

Higher liquid packaging board and other product price realizations due to improved market conditions resulted in an increase of $5 million and $18 million in the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively.

 

 

Lower charges for energy and chemicals and increased cost recovery from slush pulp sales reduced expenses $9 million and $24 million in the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively.

Partially offsetting the increases in contribution to earnings above were the following:

 

 

Lower pulp sales volumes reduced the contribution by $18 million and $19 million in the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively.

 

 

Fiber costs increased $13 million and $45 million in the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively, primarily due to an increase in chip prices in the Pacific Northwest.

 

 

Maintenance and other operating costs increased $9 million and $20 million in the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively, primarily due to additional planned annual maintenance outages in the first and third quarters of 2007.

 

 

Earnings from the company’s interest in its newsprint joint venture were $3 million lower in the third quarter and $17 million lower year-to-date.

Our Outlook

The company expects favorable market conditions to continue, resulting in slightly higher earnings from the segment in the fourth quarter.

THIRD-PARTY SALES VOLUMES

 

     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED    THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED

VOLUMES IN THOUSANDS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006

Pulp – air-dry metric tons

   470    625    1,588    1,923

Liquid packaging board – tons

   72    72    221    199

TOTAL PRODUCTION VOLUMES

 

     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED    THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED

VOLUMES IN THOUSANDS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006

Pulp – air-dry metric tons

   445    660    1,403    1,924

Liquid packaging board - tons

   72    73    209    209

FINE PAPER

On March 7, 2007, the company’s fine paper operations and related assets were divested in the Domtar Transaction. As a result, the thirty-nine week period ended September 30, 2007, includes nine weeks of fine paper operations. Subsequent to the first quarter of 2007, we no longer have results of operations for the Fine Paper segment as the facilities contributing to this business segment were all divested in the Domtar Transaction.

NET SALES AND REVENUE / CONTRIBUTION TO EARNINGS – FINE PAPER

 

     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED    AMOUNT OF
CHANGE
    THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED     AMOUNT OF
CHANGE
 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN
MILLIONS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
   2007 VS. 2006    

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
    2007 VS. 2006  

Net sales and revenues:

               

Paper

   $ —      $ 606    $ (606 )   $ 433    $ 1,822     $ (1,389 )

Coated groundwood

     —        42      (42 )     26      126       (100 )
                                             
   $ —      $ 648    $ (648 )   $ 459    $ 1,948     $ (1,489 )
                                             

Contribution (charge) to earnings

   $ —      $ 68    $ (68 )   $ 20    $ (708 )   $ 728  
                                             

 

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Table of Contents

THIRD-PARTY SALES VOLUMES

 

     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED    THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED

VOLUMES IN THOUSANDS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006

Paper – tons(1)

   —      641    461    2,056

Coated groundwood – tons

   —      59    38    170

Paper converting – tons

   —      462    318    1,447

(1) Includes unprocessed rolls and converted paper volumes.

TOTAL PRODUCTION VOLUMES

 

     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED    THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED

VOLUMES IN THOUSANDS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006

Paper – tons(2)

   —      675    444    2,071

Coated groundwood – tons

   —      59    43    171

Paper converting – tons

   —      485    318    1,444

(2) Paper machine production.

CONTAINERBOARD, PACKAGING AND RECYCLING

How We Did in the Third Quarter and Year-To-Date 2007

Here is a comparison of net sales and revenues to third-party customers and contribution to earnings for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 30, 2007 and September 24, 2006:

NET SALES AND REVENUE / CONTRIBUTION TO EARNINGS – CONTAINERBOARD, PACKAGING AND RECYCLING

 

     THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED    AMOUNT OF
CHANGE
   THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED    AMOUNT OF
CHANGE

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN
MILLIONS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
   2007 VS. 2006   

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
   2007 VS. 2006

Net sales and revenues:

                 

Containerboard

   $ 99    $ 92    $ 7    $ 327    $ 258    $ 69

Packaging

     1,015      997      18      3,009      2,910      99

Recycling

     106      89      17      303      254      49

Kraft bags and sacks

     23      23      —        69      63      6

Other products

     50      44      6      138      124      14
                                         
   $ 1,293    $ 1,245    $ 48    $ 3,846    $ 3,609    $ 237
                                         

Contribution to earnings

   $ 104    $ 97    $ 7    $ 283    $ 192    $ 91
                                         

Comparing 2007 with 2006

In 2007:

 

 

Net sales and revenues increased by $48 million, or 4 percent, for the third quarter and $237 million, or 7 percent, year-to-date.

 

 

Contribution to earnings increased by $7 million for the third quarter and $91 million year-to-date.

Net sales and revenues

Net sales and revenues increased primarily due to the following:

 

 

Packaging price realizations were comparable in the third quarter, but increased 4 percent, or $2.21 per thousand square feet, year-to-date. The year-over-year improvement was primarily due to price increases that occurred into the third quarter of 2006 and were realized throughout 2007, and from improvements in our customer and product mix in 2007.

 

 

Packaging shipments increased 2 percent, or 326 million square feet, for the third quarter partially due to continuing sales to former Weyerhaeuser Fine Paper operations that are now reported as third-party shipments to Domtar, and as a result of an increase in sheet sales.

 

 

Containerboard price realizations increased $26 per ton for the third quarter and $42 per ton year-to-date, as both U.S. domestic prices and prices in our major export markets of Asia, Europe and Latin America improved.

 

 

Containerboard shipments increased 1 percent, or 3,000 tons, for the third quarter, and 15 percent, or 92,000 tons year-to-date. This increase was primarily due to strong global demand and a weaker U.S. dollar, combined with lower year-over-year internal consumption by our packaging plants in 2007.

 

 

Price realizations in recycled materials increased 29 percent, or $37 per ton, for the third quarter, and 31 percent, or $37 per ton, year-to-date, primarily due to strong global demand and a significant increase in demand from China.

The increase in net sales and revenues were partially offset by the following:

 

 

Packaging shipments decreased 1 percent, or 465 million square feet, year-to-date, primarily due to the sale or closure of 12 plants since December 2005 and reduced crop production in California due to the freeze and e-coli concerns. Housing and automotive markets also unfavorably impacted demand for durables.

 

 

Shipments of recycled materials decreased 7 percent, or 46,000 tons, for the third quarter and 9 percent, or 188,000 tons, year-to-date, due to tightening markets that have reduced the sources of supply.

The Fibre Box Association (“FBA”) reported that US packaging average week shipments decreased 1.5 percent and 1.7 percent year over year for the third quarter and year-to-date 2007, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

The weak U.S. dollar, strong global demand, low U.S. containerboard inventory levels and high U.S. mill operating rates are all favorable economic factors supporting the price increase initiative currently underway in our major markets.

Contribution to earnings

Contribution to earnings increased primarily due to the following:

 

 

Higher containerboard price realizations resulted in an increased contribution of $5 million for the third quarter and higher containerboard and corrugated packaging price realizations resulted in increased contributions of $30 million and $122 million, respectively, year-to-date.

 

 

Selling, general and administrative costs decreased $4 million and $26 million in the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively. The year-to-date improvement reflects the benefits of the segment’s restructuring that began in the second quarter of 2006, lower variable compensation expenses and an increase in pension income.

 

 

Outside purchases for resale decreased $19 million for the third quarter primarily due to internalizing the production of these products at lower costs.•

 

 

Non-fiber manufacturing costs improved by $16 million for the third quarter, primarily due to lower labor and maintenance costs resulting from the closure of several facilities during 2006 and 2007 and higher pension income. Non-fiber manufacturing costs improved $12 million year-to-date primarily due to lower labor costs and an increase in pension income, net of higher energy costs in the containerboard mills as increased fuel prices more than offset reductions in natural gas consumption.

 

 

The net effect of closures, restructuring and asset sales improved $7 million in the third quarter. The sale of a previously closed packaging facility in Chicago, IL resulted in a gain of $3 million in the third quarter of 2007. This gain was partially offset by $2 million of restructuring charges. Third quarter of 2006 included $3 million in restructuring charges for the Pine Hill containerboard mill and charges of $3 million related to various facility closures.

 

 

The net effect of closures, restructuring and asset sales improved $53 million year-to-date. In addition to the third quarter items noted above, 2007 included a gain of $29 million from the sale of a previously closed packaging facility in Cerritos, CA, charges of $4 million related to a fire and subsequent closure of the Closter, NJ packaging facility, and charges of $3 million related to various other plant closures. In addition to the third quarter items noted above, 2006 included charges of $7 million related to facility closures and restructuring charges of $17 million related to changing the segment’s business model.

Partially offsetting the earnings improvements above were:

 

 

Raw material costs increased $39 million for the third quarter and $146 million year-to-date. OCC costs increased $31 per ton for the third quarter, and $38 per ton year-to-date, primarily due to increased demand from China. Chip costs increased $8 per ton for the third quarter, and $12 per ton year-to-date, primarily due to tighter supply in the west.

OCC costs continued to increase during the third quarter of 2007 as a result of strong global demand. Prices for west coast wood chips moderated in the third quarter, but remained high in comparison to 2006 due to production curtailments at wood products manufacturing facilities caused by a decline in the housing market.

Our Outlook

The company expects fourth quarter earnings for the segment to be comparable to third quarter. The company also expects improved price realizations for both containerboard and packaging and slightly lower OCC fiber costs. Seasonally lower packaging shipments, additional scheduled maintenance downtime and higher seasonal energy costs are expected to offset the benefit of improved price realizations and lower OCC costs.

Strategic Review

May 4, 2007, we announced that our board of directors had authorized a process to consider a broad range of strategic alternatives for our Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling business. Alternatives range from continuing to hold and operate the assets to a possible sale or business combination. As of the date of this filing, this strategic review is ongoing.

THIRD-PARTY SALES VOLUMES

 

    

THIRTEEN WEEKS

ENDED

  

THIRTY-NINE WEEKS

ENDED

VOLUMES IN THOUSANDS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006

Containerboard – tons

   205    202    694    602

Packaging – MSF

   18,751    18,425    55,470    55,935

Recycling – tons

   632    678    1,942    2,130

Kraft bags and sacks – tons

   25    22    73    62

TOTAL PRODUCTION VOLUMES

 

    

THIRTEEN WEEKS

ENDED

  

THIRTY-NINE WEEKS

ENDED

VOLUMES IN THOUSANDS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006

Containerboard – tons(1)

   1,575    1,544    4,596    4,652

Packaging – MSF

   19,547    19,341    58,275    59,181

Recycling – tons(2)

   1,838    1,641    5,046    5,041

Kraft bags and sacks – tons

   23    18    69    57

(1) Containerboard production represents machine production and includes volumes that are further processed into packaging by company facilities.
(2) Recycling production includes volumes processed in Weyerhaeuser recycling facilities and brokered volumes.

 

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Table of Contents

REAL ESTATE AND RELATED ASSETS

How We Did in the Third Quarter and Year-To-Date 2007

Here is a comparison of net sales and revenues and contribution to earnings for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 30, 2007 and September 24, 2006:

NET SALES AND REVENUE / CONTRIBUTION TO EARNINGS – REAL ESTATE AND RELATED ASSETS

 

    

THIRTEEN WEEKS

ENDED

   AMOUNT OF
CHANGE
   

THIRTY-NINE WEEKS

ENDED

   AMOUNT OF
CHANGE
 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN
MILLIONS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
   2007 VS. 2006    

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
   2007 VS. 2006  

Net sales and revenues

   $ 598    $ 749    $ (151 )   $ 1,644    $ 2,185    $ (541 )
                                            

Contribution to earnings

   $ 60    $ 135    $ (75 )   $ 182    $ 430    $ (248 )
                                            

The following statistics show important trends in our single-family operations, which affected the net sales and revenues of our Real Estate and Related Assets segment, and its contribution to earnings. Here is a comparison of those key items for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 30, 2007 and September 24, 2006:

SUMMARY OF SINGLE-FAMILY STATISTICS

 

    

THIRTEEN WEEKS

ENDED

   

THIRTY-NINE WEEKS

ENDED

 

VOLUMES IN THOUSANDS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
   

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
 

Homes sold

   734     906     3,557     3,703  

Homes closed

   1,145     1,439     3,183     4,083  

Homes sold but not closed (backlog)

   1,873     2,414     1,873     2,414  

Single-family gross margin (%)

   17.9 %   26.1 %   18.7 %   27.5 %

Comparing 2007 with 2006

In 2007:

 

 

Net sales and revenues decreased $151 million, or 20 percent, during the third quarter and $541 million, or 25 percent, year-to-date.

 

 

Contribution to earnings decreased $75 million during the third quarter and $248 million year-to-date.

Results reflect continued market challenges for the U.S. homebuilding industry and our business. The industry continues to have a significant inventory of unsold homes and buyer incentives are prevalent. During the third quarter and year-to-date 2007, as compared to 2006, our traffic decreased 22 percent and 19 percent respectively; however, both our cancellation rate and traffic conversion ratio (the traffic required to generate one sale) improved slightly.

Net sales and revenues

Net sales and revenues decreased primarily due to the following:

 

 

Single-family home closings decreased 20 percent in the third quarter and 22 percent year-to-date due to lower sales in late 2006 and early 2007.

 

 

Average selling prices for single-family homes decreased 10 percent in the third quarter and 6 percent year-to-date due to competitive pressure to reduce prices and offer incentives.

 

 

As a result of lower single-family closings and lower average selling prices, single-family revenues decreased $209 million in the third quarter and $536 million year-to-date.

 

 

Revenues from land and lot sales increased $59 million in the third quarter and decreased $56 million year-to-date. Sales of land and lots are a routine part of our home building and land development business, but the amount and timing of closings varies from period to period.

The decrease in net sales and revenues year-to-date was partially offset by the sale of an apartment project in the second quarter which contributed $49 million in net sales and revenues. There were no comparable apartment project sales in the third quarter 2007 or year-to-date 2006.

Contribution to earnings

Contribution to earnings decreased primarily due to the following:

 

 

A decrease of $91 million in the third quarter and $263 million year-to-date related to the decline in single-family homes closed, as noted above.

 

 

Gross margins on single-family homes decreased as a result of lower average sales prices, higher land, land development and construction costs and changes in mix.

 

 

Impairment charges increased $9 million in the third quarter and $17 million year-to-date.

 

 

Land and lot sale contributions increased $30 million in the third quarter and increased $4 million year-to-date.

The year-to-date decrease in contribution to earnings above is partially offset by a $42 million gain on the sale of an apartment project in the second quarter of 2007.

Our Outlook

As of September 30, 2007, the company has a backlog of single-family homes sold but not closed of approximately four and one-half months, a slight decrease from the second quarter. Although the company expects the number of homes closed in the fourth quarter of 2007 to increase seasonally relative to the third quarter, the company expects earnings from single-family home closings to be significantly lower than the third quarter due to declining market conditions. Land sales not yet under contract that may close in the fourth quarter could offset some of this decline.

 

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Table of Contents

CORPORATE AND OTHER

How We Did in the Third Quarter and Year-to-date of 2007

Our Corporate and Other segment includes:

 

 

marine transportation—through Westwood Shipping Lines, a wholly-owned subsidiary;

 

 

timberlands, distribution and converting facilities located outside North America;

 

 

shortline railroads; and

 

 

general corporate support activities.

 

      THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED     AMOUNT OF
CHANGE
   THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED     AMOUNT OF
CHANGE

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

    SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
    2007 
VS. 2006
  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006
    2007 
VS. 2006

Contribution (charge) to earnings

   $ (16 )   $ (78 )   $ 62    $ 573    $ (220 )   $ 793

Comparing 2007 with 2006

In 2007, contribution (charge) to earnings increased $62 million in the third quarter, and increased $793 million year-to-date, due primarily to the following:

 

 

A pre-tax gain of $678 million from the Domtar Transaction during year-to-date 2007.

 

 

Net foreign exchange gains of $2 million were recognized in the third quarter of 2007 compared to $17 million in the third quarter of 2006. Year-to-date, net foreign exchange gains were $43 million in 2007 compared to $11 million during 2006. Foreign exchange gains and losses result from changes in exchange rates, primarily changes in the relative value of the U.S. dollar to the Canadian dollar and the relative value of the Canadian dollar to the New Zealand dollar. As discussed in Note 16: Subsequent Events, the company sold its investment in its New Zealand joint venture on October 31, 2007.

 

 

A pre-tax gain of $43 million from a legal settlement during the third quarter of 2007.

 

 

We recognized $34 million of out-of-period charges during the third quarter of 2006 – $26 million in connection with the additional impairment of assets related to the Prince Albert, Saskatchewan facility that was closed in early 2006 and $8 million related to the write-off of additional goodwill associated with the B.C. Coastal operations that were sold in 2005.

 

 

Donations of timberland to the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation decreased $27 million year-to-date.

 

 

Charges of $13 million and $25 million in the third quarter and year-to-date 2007, respectively, related to changing information technology service providers.

INTEREST EXPENSE

Including Real Estate and Related Assets and discontinued operations, our interest expense incurred was:

 

 

$147 million and $502 million during the third quarter and year-to-date 2007, respectively.

 

 

$161 million and $493 million during the third quarter and year-to-date 2006, respectively.

Interest expense incurred includes a $45 million loss on early extinguishment of debt for year-to-date 2007 and a $2 million gain on early extinguishment of debt for year-to-date 2006. Excluding these amounts, interest expense incurred decreased $38 million year-to-date, primarily due to reductions in the company’s debt position during 2007.

INCOME TAXES

Our effective income tax rate for continuing operations in the fourth quarter is expected to be 32.4 percent.

The expected rate for the fourth quarter excludes the results of discontinued operations and the following special items: losses in foreign countries without a related tax benefit, a $6 million tax benefit due to an audit settlement with Canada Revenue Agency and charges of $24 million for the impairment of goodwill and goodwill associated with facility sales. Charges for the impairment of goodwill are not deductible for income tax purposes and represent a permanent book-tax difference. As a result, no tax benefit has been recognized for these charges.

Income tax expense from continuing and discontinued operations decreased $67 million for the third quarter due to lower earnings from continuing operations. Income tax expense decreased $285 million year-to-date 2007 due to the $74 million Canadian tax benefit on the gain from the Domtar Transaction, as well as lower earnings from continuing operations.

The Domtar Transaction is nontaxable in the U.S., but is taxable in Canada.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

We are committed to maintaining a sound and conservative capital structure which enables us to:

 

 

protect the interests of our shareholders and lenders, and

 

 

have access at all times to all major financial markets.

Two important elements of our policy governing capital structure include:

 

 

viewing the capital structure of Weyerhaeuser separately from that of Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company (“WRECO”) and related assets given the very different nature of their assets and business activity, and

 

 

minimizing liquidity risk by managing a combination of maturing short-term and long-term debt.

The amount of debt and equity at Weyerhaeuser and WRECO will reflect the following:

 

 

basic earnings capacity, and

 

 

liquidity characteristics of their respective assets.

In the following discussion, unless otherwise noted, references to 2007 and 2006 are based on the thirty-nine week periods ended September 30, 2007 and September 24, 2006.

WHERE WE GET CASH

We generate cash from sales of our products, from short-term and long-term borrowings and from the issuance of our stock. In recent years, we have also generated cash proceeds from the sale of nonstrategic assets.

 

27


Table of Contents

Cash from operations

Our consolidated operations provided cash of $86 million during 2007 and $301 million during 2006.

Comparing 2007 with 2006

Net cash from our operations decreased $215 million in 2007 as compared to 2006.

 

 

Cash we received from customers, net of cash paid to employees, suppliers and others decreased by $752 million. The negative effect was primarily due to weak market conditions for both our wood products and real estate operations, as well as the divestiture of our Fine Paper and related assets operations in March 2007 and the sale of our North American composite panels operations in July 2006.

 

 

Cash paid for income taxes in 2007 decreased by $476 million as compared to 2006 due to lower pre-tax earnings from operations.

 

 

A portion of our real estate operations was funded with additional borrowings.

Financing

Cash generated from financing activities includes:

 

 

issuances of long-term debt,

 

 

borrowings under revolving lines of credit, and

 

 

proceeds from stock option exercises.

This section also includes information about our debt-to-total-capital ratio.

Debt

During 2007, we received net proceeds of $451 million from the issuance of long-term debt. In addition, our net borrowings under revolving credit facilities or from the issuance of commercial paper backed by the credit facilities were:

 

 

$475 million in 2007, and

 

 

$521 million in 2006.

Stock offerings and option exercises

Our cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options were:

 

 

$319 million in 2007, and

 

 

$171 million in 2006.

We recognized the following excess tax benefits from the exercise of stock options:

 

 

$51 million in 2007, and

 

 

$20 million in 2006.

The increased proceeds in 2007 reflect a high volume of stock options exercised in the first quarter of 2007, during which period our stock price reached record highs.

Debt-to-total-capital ratio

Our debt-to-total-capital ratio, as shown in the table below, was:

 

 

42.7 percent in 2007, and

 

 

39.4 percent in 2006.

DEBT-TO-TOTAL-CAPITAL RATIO DETAILS

 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

   SEPTEMBER 30,
2007
    DECEMBER 31,
2006
 

Notes payable and commercial paper:

    

Weyerhaeuser

   $ 92     $ 72  

Real Estate and Related Assets

     295       —    

Long-term debt:

    

Weyerhaeuser

     6,690       7,563  

Real Estate and Related Assets

     605       606  

Capital lease obligations:

    

Weyerhaeuser

     3       62  
                

Total debt

     7,685       8,303  

Minority Interest:

    

Weyerhaeuser

     30       28  

Real Estate and Related Assets

     43       40  

Deferred income taxes:

    

Weyerhaeuser

     2,863       3,691  

Real Estate and Related Assets

     (94 )     (98 )

Shareholders’ interest

     7,469       9,085  
                

Total capital

   $ 17,996     $ 21,049  
                

Debt-to-total-capital ratio

     42.7 %     39.4 %
                

Assuming the cash and cash equivalents balances of $80 million and $243 million as of September 30, 2007, and December 31, 2006, respectively, had been used to reduce outstanding debt, the consolidated debt-to-total-capital ratio would be:

 

 

42.5 percent in 2007, and

 

 

38.7 percent in 2006.

 

28


Table of Contents

Weyerhaeuser’s investment in our Real Estate and Related Assets business segment – excluding intercompany loans and advances – was:

 

 

$2.1 billion as of September 30, 2007, and

 

 

$2.0 billion as of December 31, 2006.

Excluding that investment – and the Real Estate and Related Assets amounts listed in the table – our debt-to-total-capital ratio was:

 

 

45.1 percent in 2007, and

 

 

41.6 percent in 2006.

Proceeds from the sale of operations

We received cash proceeds from the sale of operations as follows:

 

 

$1.5 billion in 2007, and

 

 

$187 million in 2006.

During 2007, we received cash proceeds of $1.35 billion as a result of the March 2007 Domtar Transaction. The total amount of these proceeds was used to reduce debt. During 2007, we also received approximately $100 million from the second quarter sale of distribution centers in Canada. During 2006, we received proceeds of $187 million from the sale of the North American composite panel operations.

HOW WE USE CASH

In addition to paying for ongoing operating costs, we use cash to:

 

 

invest in our business,

 

 

repay long-term debt and credit facilities, and

 

 

pay dividends and repurchase our stock.

Investing in our business

In February 2006, WRECO acquired Maracay Homes Arizona I, LLC, a privately held homebuilder in Arizona. During 2006, WRECO paid $213 million, including transaction related costs, in connection with the acquisition. An additional deferred purchase price payment of $38 million was made in the second quarter of 2007 in accordance with the terms of the acquisition.

SUMMARY OF CAPITAL SPENDING BY BUSINESS SEGMENT – EXCLUDING REAL ESTATE AND RELATED ASSETS

 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS

   THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED
  

SEPTEMBER 30,

2007

   SEPTEMBER 24,
2006

Timberlands

   $ 49    $ 45

Wood Products

     126      103

Cellulose Fibers

     87      135

Fine Paper

     2      62

Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling

     134      135

Corporate and Other

     64      86
             
   $ 462    $ 566
             

Our capital expenditures – excluding acquisitions and our Real Estate and Related Assets business segment – through the third quarter of 2007 were $462 million. Capital expenditures for the full year are expected to be approximately $725 million. The level of our capital expenditures could change due to:

 

 

future economic conditions,

 

 

weather, and

 

 

timing of equipment purchases.

Payment of long-term debt

Payments of long-term debt were:

 

 

$1.6 billion in 2007, and

 

 

$612 million in 2006.

In addition to repaying debt that was scheduled to mature during the thirty-nine week period ended September 30, 2007, we repaid approximately $962 million in other long-term debt. This included $825 million paid in the second quarter in connection with two debt tender offers. Premiums and other costs paid to retire debt prior to its scheduled maturity totaled $46 million in 2007.

Revolving credit facilities

Weyerhaeuser Company and WRECO have two multi-year revolving credit facility agreements: a $1.2 billion revolving credit facility that expires in March 2010 and a $1.0 billion 5-year revolving credit facility that expires in December 2011. WRECO can borrow up to $400 million under each of these facilities. Neither of the entities is a guarantor of the borrowing of the other under either of these credit facilities.

As of September 30, 2007, approximately $1.1 billion of our credit facilities were available for incremental borrowings. In connection with the Paragon Trade Brands, Inc. litigation discussed in Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Statements, Weyerhaeuser Company had secured a bond of $500 million. On October 4, 2007, following the U.S. District Court’s judgment in our favor, an order was signed releasing Weyerhaeuser Company from the bond, which increased the amount of our credit facilities that were available for incremental borrowings by $500 million.

Our wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary – Weyerhaeuser Company Limited – had a multi-year revolving credit facility with a group of banks that provided for borrowings up to $200 million (Canadian). The credit facility was fully drawn at December 31, 2006 with a balance of approximately $172 million (U.S.). Weyerhaeuser was a guarantor of the borrowings on this credit facility, which was scheduled to expire in December 2008. In January 2007, Weyerhaeuser Company Limited repaid the outstanding balance and terminated the credit facility.

Paying dividends and repurchasing stock

We paid dividends of:

 

 

$404 million in 2007, and

 

 

$396 million in 2006.

 

29


Table of Contents

The increase in the amount of dividends we paid was primarily due to increasing our quarterly dividend from $0.50 per share to $0.60 per share effective with the third quarter of 2006. Our intent, over time, is to maintain an annual dividend payout ratio of 20 percent to 30 percent of our operating cash flows.

In October 2005, we announced a stock repurchase program for the repurchase of up to 18 million shares of our common stock.

Share repurchases under the program were:

 

 

7.0 million shares for $473 million in 2007, and

 

 

5.3 million shares for $332 million in 2006.

As of September 30, 2007, we had repurchased 18 million shares of our common stock – the total amount authorized under the program – for approximately $1.2 billion. Final cash settlements of $10 million occurred at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Our critical accounting policies involve a higher degree of judgment and estimates. They also have a high degree of complexity.

Our most critical accounting policies relate to our:

 

 

pension and postretirement benefit plans;

 

 

potential impairments of long-lived assets and goodwill;

 

 

legal, environmental and product liability reserves; and

 

 

depletion.

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans

We sponsor several pension and postretirement benefit plans for our employees. Key assumptions we use in accounting for the plans include our:

 

 

discount rate,

 

 

expected rate of return,

 

 

anticipated trends in health care costs,

 

 

assumed increases in salaries,

 

 

mortality rates, and

 

 

other factors.

After the end of every year, we review our assumptions with external advisors and make adjustments as appropriate. Actual experience that differs from our assumptions or any changes in our assumptions could have a significant effect on our financial position and results and cash flows.

Other factors that affect our accounting for the plans include:

 

 

actual pension fund performance,

 

 

plan changes, and

 

 

changes in plan participation or coverage.

This section provides more information about our:

 

 

expected rate of return,

 

 

discount rate, and

 

 

cash contributions.

Expected rate of return

Our expected rate of return on our plan assets is 9.5 percent. Plan assets are investments used to pay our pension benefits.

The expected rate of return is our estimate of the long-term rate of return that our plan assets will earn. Every year, we review all available information – including returns for the last 22 years – and make the estimate accordingly. The review date for our current expected rate of return was December 31, 2006.

Our expected rate of return is important in determining the cost of our plans. Every 0.5 percent change in our expected rate of return would affect pre-tax earnings by approximately:

 

 

$24 million for our U.S. qualified pension plans, and

 

 

$4 million for our Canadian registered pension plans.

In accounting, we base our judgments and estimates on:

 

 

historical experience, and

 

 

assumptions we believe are appropriate and reasonable under current circumstances.

Actual results, however, may differ from the estimated amounts we have recorded.

Discount rate

Our discount rate as of December 31, 2006 is:

 

 

5.8 percent for our U.S. plans – compared to 5.9 percent at December 25, 2005; and

 

 

5.15 percent for our Canadian plans – the same rate as of December 25, 2005.

We review our discount rates annually and revise them as needed. The discount rates are selected at the measurement date by matching current spot rates of high quality corporate bonds with maturities similar to the timing of expected cash outflows for benefits. The U.S. plan discount rate was adjusted to reflect decreases in the benchmark rates of interest.

Our discount rate is important in determining the cost of our plans. Every 0.5 percent decrease in our discount rate would increase expense or reduce a credit by approximately:

 

 

$15 million for our U.S. qualified pension plans, and

 

 

$4 million for our Canadian registered pension plans.

Pension and postretirement benefit expenses for 2007 will be based on the 5.8 percent assumed discount rate for U.S. plans and 5.15 percent for the Canadian plans.

Contributions made and benefits paid

During the thirty-nine week period ended September 30, 2007, we contributed approximately $11 million to our registered and non-registered Canadian pension plans.

We expect to contribute an additional $1 million to the Canadian plans (registered and non-registered) during 2007. The required funding for the Canadian plans has decreased for 2007 due to several factors including our past funding of the plans, favorable investment returns and the assumption of four of the plans by Domtar.

We do not expect to have to fund the U.S. qualified plans during 2007.

 

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During the fourth quarter of 2007, we expect to receive cash proceeds of approximately $7 million as a result of a reversion of surplus from three closed plans in Canada.

Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill

We review the carrying value of our long-lived assets and goodwill whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable through future operations. The carrying value is the amount assigned to long-lived assets – including goodwill – in our books. In addition, we review the amount of goodwill we carry on our books in the fourth quarter of every year.

An impairment occurs when the fair market value of our goodwill drops below our carrying value or when the carrying value of long-lived assets will not be recovered from future cash flows. Fair market value is the amount we would get if we were to sell the assets.

In determining fair market value and whether impairment has occurred, we are required to estimate:

 

 

future cash flows,

 

 

residual values, and

 

 

fair values of the assets.

Key assumptions we use in developing the estimates include:

 

 

probability of alternative outcomes,

 

 

product pricing,

 

 

raw material costs,

 

 

product sales, and

 

 

discount rate.

Effect of acquisitions

We have made substantial acquisitions in recent years.

The acquisitions make up a large portion of the net book value – or carrying value – of our property and equipment and timber and timberlands. As a result, a large portion of our long-lived assets have carrying amounts that reflect relatively current values.

Our goodwill was $2.2 billion as of September 30, 2007. That amount represents approximately 9 percent of our consolidated assets.

Legal, Environmental and Product Liability Reserves

We record contingent liabilities when:

 

 

it becomes probable that we will have to make financial payments, and

 

 

the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated.

Legal matters

Determining our liabilities for legal matters requires projections about the outcome of litigation and the amount of our financial responsibility. We base our projections on:

 

 

historical experience, and

 

 

recommendations of legal counsel.

While we do our best in developing our projections, litigation is still inherently unpredictable, and excessive verdicts occur.

Details about our legal exposures and proceedings are discussed in Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. These exposures and proceedings are significant. Ultimate negative outcomes could be material to our operating results or cash flow in any given quarter or year.

Environmental matters

Determining our liabilities for environmental matters requires estimates of future remediation alternatives and costs. We base our estimates on:

 

 

detailed evaluations of relevant environmental regulations,

 

 

physical and risk assessments of our affected sites,

 

 

assumptions of probable financial participation by other known potentially responsible parties, and

 

 

amounts that we will receive from insurance carriers – though not recorded until we have a binding agreement with the carriers.

Product liability matters

We record reserves for contingent product liability matters when it becomes probable we will make financial payment. Determining the amount of reserves we record requires projections of future claims rates and amounts. The hardboard siding reserve is our sole material product liability reserve and is discussed in detail under Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Depletion

We record depletion – the costs attributed to timber harvested – as trees are harvested.

To calculate our depletion rate, which is updated annually, we:

 

 

take the total cost of the timber minus previously recorded depletion, and

 

 

divide by the total timber volume estimated to be harvested during the harvest cycle.

Estimating the volume of timber available for harvest over the harvest cycle requires the consideration of many factors. They include:

 

 

changes in weather patterns,

 

 

effect of fertilizer and pesticide applications,

 

 

changes in environmental regulations and restrictions,

 

 

limits on harvesting certain timberlands,

 

 

changes in harvest plans,

 

 

scientific advancement in seedling and growing technology, and

 

 

changes in harvest cycles.

In addition, the length of the harvest cycle varies by geographic region and species of timber.

Depletion rate calculations do not include estimates for:

 

 

future silviculture – or sustainable forest management – costs associated with existing stands;

 

 

future reforestation costs associated with a stand’s final harvest; and

 

 

future volume in connection with the replanting of a stand subsequent to its final harvest.

 

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QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

No changes occurred during the third quarter of 2007 that had a material effect on the information relating to quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk that was provided in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. Disclosure controls are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROLS

No changes occurred in the company’s internal control over financial reporting during the third quarter that have materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Refer to Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this report.

RISK FACTORS

The following risk factor was added during the first quarter of 2007 to the risk factors presented in the company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Risks Related to the Domtar Transaction

On March 7, 2007, we completed a transaction combining our fine paper business and related assets with Domtar, Inc., a Canadian corporation, to form a new company, Domtar Corporation (Domtar). The transaction was structured in a manner that was tax-free to us and our shareholders. In connection with the transaction, we entered into a tax sharing agreement with Domtar that requires Domtar, its subsidiaries and affiliates, for a two-year period following closing of the transaction, to avoid taking certain actions that might adversely affect the tax-free status of the transaction. To the extent that the tax-free status of the transaction is lost because of actions taken by Domtar, Domtar is generally required to indemnify us for any resulting tax-related losses incurred by us or our shareholders. In the event that conduct by Domtar affects the tax-free status of the transaction and Domtar is unable to meet its obligation to indemnify us and our shareholders, Weyerhaeuser and its shareholders could incur significant tax obligations.

 

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UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

INFORMATION ABOUT COMMON STOCK REPURCHASES DURING THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2007

 

Common Stock

Repurchases During the

Third Quarter:

  

TOTAL NUMBER

OF SHARES

(OR UNITS)

PURCHASED

(A)

  

AVERAGE PRICE

PAID PER

SHARE (OR UNIT)

(B)

  

TOTAL NUMBER OF

SHARES (OR UNITS)

PURCHASED AS PART OF

PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED

PLANS OR PROGRAMS

(C)

  

MAXIMUM NUMBER (OR

APPROXIMATE DOLLAR

VALUE) OF SHARES (OR

UNITS) THAT MAY YET BE

PURCHASED UNDER THE

PLANS OR PROGRAMS

(D)

July 2 – August 5

   685,000    $ 70.03    685,000    6,024,400

August 6 – September 2

   3,819,200      65.65    3,819,200    2,205,200

September 3 – September 30

   2,205,200      69.13    2,205,200    —  
               

Total repurchases during third quarter

   6,709,400    $ 67.24    6,709,400    —  
               

On October 21, 2005, we announced a stock repurchase program under which we are authorized by the Board of Directors to repurchase up to 18 million shares of our common stock. During the third quarter of 2007, we completed our stock repurchase program by purchasing 6,709,400 shares of common stock under the program for approximately $451 million. From the beginning of the share repurchase program, we have repurchased a total of 18 million shares of common stock under the program for approximately $1.2 billion. All common stock purchases under the program were made in open market transactions.

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not Applicable

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

Not Applicable

OTHER INFORMATION

In April 2007, the Canadian federal government proposed a regulatory framework for air emissions that adopts some aspects of the Kyoto Protocol. The federal framework calls for mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions for heavy industrial emissions producers to be put in place by 2010 among other measures. Canadian provincial governments also are working on emissions reduction strategies. It is not yet known what strategies or requirements will come into force or how any provincial and federal plans that may be put into place will relate to each other. It is also expected that a Canadian emissions trading system will be put in place in the future with potentially significant implications for Canadian businesses. We believe that these measures have not had, and in 2007 will not have, a significant effect on Weyerhaeuser’s Canadian operations although they may have such an effect in the future. We expect we will not be disproportionately affected by these measures as compared with typical owners of comparable operations. We also expect that these measures will not significantly disrupt our planned operations.

EXHIBITS

 

3.2    Bylaws of the company, as amended
12.    Statements regarding computation of ratios
31.    Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
32.    Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350)

 

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