Potlatch Reduces Annual Dividend To $1.24 Per Year

Potlatch Corporation (NASDAQ:PCH) today announced that its Board of Directors has reduced the Company’s dividend to $1.24 per year or $0.31 per quarter. This reduction was made following the Company’s presentation of its 2012 annual plan to its Board of Directors, which included management recommendations to reduce harvest levels to preserve the long-term value of its strategic timberland holdings. Together with this dividend reduction, the Board approved the Company’s plan to temporarily reduce harvest levels by 15% to 3.5 million tons, until such time as log demand improves.

“We have been able to support our dividend during a prolonged and unprecedented downturn in the housing market through very opportunistic non-strategic land and timber sales over the past couple of years,” said Michael Covey, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “However, with the continuing housing weakness coupled with weak southern log prices, it became clear that a reduction to the dividend commensurate with our harvest reductions for 2012 was the most prudent step to take to preserve long-term value for our shareholders. We recognize the importance of the dividend to our shareholders, and believe this new payout level remains attractive and is appropriate given current industry conditions. We are hopeful that shareholders recognize that these decisions support their long-term interests and balance the stewardship of the Company’s valuable assets, while meeting near term objectives. Following this dividend reduction, the Company’s dividend yield will be in-line with the rest of our industry peers with less financial risk, and preservation of asset value for shareholders. We will continue to monitor our markets and we will increase harvest levels as industry conditions improve,” concluded Mr. Covey.

The distribution of $0.31 per share is payable December 29, 2011 to stockholders of record on December 15, 2011.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

A live conference call for investors will be held today, December 5, 2011, at 8 a.m. Pacific Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time). Those interested may access the webcast at www.potlatchcorp.com by clicking on the Investor Resources link or by conference call at 1-866-393-8403 for U.S./Canada and 1-706-679-7929 for international callers. Participants will be asked to provide conference I.D. number 33078964.

A telephone replay will be available two hours following the conference call until December 12, 2011 by calling 1-800-585-8367 for U.S./Canada or 1-404-537-3406 for international callers. Callers must enter conference I.D. number 33078964 to access the replay.

1 2 3 Next › Last »