Form 10-K
Table of Contents

Weyerhaeuser 2007 Annual Report and Form 10-K

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 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

A WASHINGTON CORPORATION

91-0470860

(IRS EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)

FEDERAL WAY, WASHINGTON 98063-9777 TELEPHONE (253) 924-2345

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:

 

TITLE OF EACH CLASS   NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED:
Common Shares ($1.25 par value)   Chicago Stock Exchange
    New York Stock Exchange
Exchangeable Shares (no par value)   Toronto Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  [X] Yes  [    ] No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  [    ] Yes  [X] No

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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  [X]

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

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 Act).  [    ] Yes  [X] No

As of June 29, 2007, the aggregate market value of the registrant's common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $16,643,213,266 based on the closing sale price as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Price Transactions.

As of February 1, 2008, 209,554,028 shares of the registrant’s common stock ($1.25 par value) were outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Notice of 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement for the company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held April 17, 2008, are incorporated by reference into Part II and III.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I

       

ITEM 1.

  OUR BUSINESS   1
    WE CAN TELL YOU MORE   1
    WHO WE ARE   1
    OUR BUSINESS SEGMENTS   1
    OUR HISTORY   1
    COMPETITION IN OUR MARKETS   1
    SALES OUTSIDE THE U.S.   2
    SHAPING OUR BUSINESS   2
    OUR EMPLOYEES   2
    WHAT WE DO   3
    TIMBERLANDS   3
    WOOD PRODUCTS   6
    CELLULOSE FIBERS   10
    FINE PAPER   12
    CONTAINERBOARD, PACKAGING & RECYCLING   13
    REAL ESTATE   16
    CORPORATE AND OTHER   18
    NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS   19
    ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTIONS   19
    REGULATIONS AFFECTING FORESTRY PRACTICES   19
    FOREST CERTIFICATION STANDARDS   19
   

WHAT THESE REGULATIONS & CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS MEAN TO US

  19
    REGULATIONS AND FOREST CERTIFICATION IN CANADA   19
    CANADIAN ABORIGINAL RIGHTS   20
    POLLUTION CONTROL REGULATIONS   20
    ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP   20
    REGULATION OF AIR EMISSIONS IN THE U.S.   20
    REGULATION OF AIR EMISSIONS IN CANADA   21
    POTENTIAL CHANGES IN POLLUTION REGULATION   21
    FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS   22

ITEM 1A.

  RISK FACTORS   23
    RISKS RELATED TO OUR INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESS   23
    CYCLICAL INDUSTRIES   23
    SUBSTITUTION   23
    CHANGES IN PRODUCT MIX OR PRICING   24
    INTENSE COMPETITION   24
    AVAILABILITY OF RAW MATERIALS AND ENERGY   24
    TRANSPORTATION   24
    MATERIAL DISRUPTION OF MANUFACTURING   24
    CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS   25
    ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS   25
    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS   26
    CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES   26
    EXPORT TAXES   26
    CHANGES IN CREDIT RATINGS   27
    NATURAL DISASTERS   27
    RISKS RELATED TO OWNERSHIP OF OUR COMMON STOCK   27
    STOCK PRICE VOLATILITY   27
    RISKS RELATED TO THE DOMTAR TRANSACTION   27

ITEM 1B.

  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS   28

ITEM 2.

  PROPERTIES   28

ITEM 3.

  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS   28

ITEM 4.

  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS   28

PART II

       

ITEM 5.

  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES   29

ITEM 6.

  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA   31

ITEM 7.

  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS   32
    WHAT YOU WILL FIND IN THIS MD&A   32
    ECONOMIC AND MARKET CONDITIONS AFFECTING OUR OPERATIONS   32
    HOW ECONOMIC AND MARKET CONDITIONS AFFECTED OUR OPERATIONS   32
    FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE SUMMARY   33
    RESULTS OF OPERATIONS   34
    CONSOLIDATED RESULTS   34
    TIMBERLANDS   37
    WOOD PRODUCTS   39
    CELLULOSE FIBERS   41
    FINE PAPER   43
    CONTAINERBOARD, PACKAGING & RECYCLING   44
    REAL ESTATE   46
    CORPORATE AND OTHER   48
    INTEREST EXPENSE   49
    INCOME TAXES   49
    LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES   50
    WHERE WE GET CASH   50
    HOW WE USE CASH   52
    OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS   53
    ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND OTHER CONTINGENCIES   53
    ACCOUNTING MATTERS   54
    CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES   54
    PROSPECTIVE ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS   56

ITEM 7A.

  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK   57
    LONG-TERM DEBT OBLIGATIONS   57
    OUR USE OF DERIVATIVES   57
    COMMODITY FUTURES, SWAPS AND COLLARS   57

ITEM 8.

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA   58
    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM   58
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS   59
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET   60
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS   62
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS’ INTEREST AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME   64
    INDEX FOR NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   65
    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   66

ITEM 9.

  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE   113

ITEM 9A.

  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES   113
    EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES   113
    CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROLS   113
    MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING   113
    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM   114

ITEM 9B.

  OTHER INFORMATION – NOT APPLICABLE    

PART III

       

ITEM 10.

  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS   115

ITEM 11.

  EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION   119

ITEM 12.

  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS   119

ITEM 13.

  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS   119

ITEM 14.

  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES   119

PART IV

       

ITEM 15.

  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES   120
    EXHIBITS   120
    SIGNATURES   121
    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE   122
    FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE   123
    CERTIFICATIONS    
    COMPANY OFFICERS    

 


Table of Contents

 

PART I

OUR BUSINESS

We are an integrated forest products company. We grow and harvest trees, build homes and make wood and paper products essential to everyday lives. Our goal is to do this safely, profitably and responsibly.

Our business has offices or operations in 13 countries and has customers worldwide. We manage 22 million acres of forests, and in 2007, we generated $16.3 billion in net sales and revenues.

This portion of our Annual Report and Form 10-K provides detailed information about who we are, what we do and where we are headed. Unless otherwise specified, current information reported in this Form 10-K is as of the end of 2007, or is for the fiscal year, ended December 30, 2007.

We break out financial information such as revenues, earnings and assets by the business segments that form our company. We also discuss the development of our company and the geographic areas where we do business.

We report our financial results and condition in two groups:

 

 

Weyerhaeuser – our forest products-based operations, principally the growing and harvesting of timber and the manufacture, distribution and sale of forest products.

 

Real Estate – our real estate development and construction operations and our other real estate related activities.

Throughout this Form 10-K, unless specified otherwise, references to “we”, “our”, and “us” refer to the consolidated company, including both Weyerhaeuser and Real Estate.

 


WE CAN TELL YOU MORE


AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We meet the information reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by filing periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports and statements – information about our company’s business, financial results and other matters – are available at:

 

 

the SEC internet site – www.sec.gov;

 

the SEC’s Public Conference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549, 1-800-SEC-0330; and

 

our internet site – www.weyerhaeuser.com.

When we file the information electronically with the SEC, it is also added to our internet site.

 


WHO WE ARE


OUR BUSINESS SEGMENTS

In the Consolidated Results section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, you will find our overall performance results for our business segments:

 

 

Timberlands;

 

Wood Products;

 

Cellulose Fibers;

 

Fine Paper;

 

Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling;

 

Real Estate; and

 

Corporate and Other.

Detailed financial information about our business segments and our geographic locations is in Note 2: Business Segments and Note 24: Geographic Areas of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements as well as further in this section and in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

OUR HISTORY

We started out as Weyerhaeuser Timber Company, incorporated in the state of Washington in January 1900 when Frederick Weyerhaeuser and 15 partners bought 900,000 acres of timberland. In the 107 years since then, we have worked to be the best forest products company in the world.

Our innovations and accomplishments through the years include:

 

 

establishing the nation’s first certified tree farm in 1941;

 

hand-planting 18.4 million seedlings through a foot or more of ash to transform 68,000 acres of devastated, heat-blasted landscape – left from the Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980 – into new forests that will be ready for harvesting in 2020; and

 

making our forests among the most productive in the world by using our High Yield Forestry program – an approach that combines economic benefits with a concern for habitat, wildlife, water quality and other forest values.

COMPETITION IN OUR MARKETS

Our major markets – both domestic and foreign – are highly competitive, with numerous companies selling similar products. Many of our products also compete against substitutes for wood and wood-fiber products. In real estate development and other related activities, we compete against numerous regional and national firms. We compete in our markets primarily through price, product quality and service levels.

 

Weyerhaeuser Company 2007 Annual Report and Form 10-K      1


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Our business segments compete based on the following strategies:

 

 

Timberlands is extracting maximum value for each acre.

 

Wood Products is delivering integrated solutions to the residential construction and industrial markets.

 

Cellulose Fibers is concentrating primarily on value-added pulp products.

 

Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling is focusing its packaging products and services in selected market segments where we meet customer requirements at the lowest cost for our supply chain.

 

Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company is delivering its unique value propositions and is looking for growth opportunities in target markets.

 

International operations, in the Corporate and Other segment, is expanding our position as a low cost softwood and hardwood timber grower.

Our Fine Paper segment was divested in a 2007 transaction with Domtar, Inc.

SALES OUTSIDE THE U.S.

In 2007, 18 percent – or $3.1 billion – of our total consolidated sales and revenues including sales from discontinued operations were to customers outside the U.S. That included:

 

 

$2.0 billion of exports from the U.S.;

 

$0.6 billion of Canadian export and domestic sales; and

 

$0.5 billion of other foreign sales.

In 2006, 17 percent – or $3.8 billion – of our total consolidated sales and revenues, including sales from discontinued operations, were to customers outside the U.S. That included:

 

 

$1.9 billion of exports from the U.S.;

 

$1.3 billion of Canadian export and domestic sales; and

 

$0.6 billion of other foreign sales.

SHAPING OUR BUSINESS

We strategically manage our portfolio to enhance shareholder returns. This ongoing process includes making key acquisitions to complement existing product lines or achieving greater scale in key operations. It also means that we exit businesses that do not fit our long-term strategic direction and divest ourselves of nonstrategic assets.

Key acquisition in recent years have included:

 

 

MacMillan Bloedel Limited in 1999;

 

Trus Joist International in 2000;

 

Willamette Industries in 2002; and

 

Maracay Homes in 2006.

 

In March 2007, we completed the following set of transactions:

 

 

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

 

the distribution of shares of Domtar Corporation to our shareholders in exchange for 25 million shares of our 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.”

In June 2007, we sold our Canadian wood products distribution centers.

Other recent dispositions have included:

 

 

Coastal British Columbia operations and timberlands (B.C. Coastal) in 2005;

 

French composite panel operations in 2005; and

 

North American and Irish composite panel operations in 2006.

We continue to reinvest in our businesses through a variety of capital projects. In 2007 our capital expenditures – excluding acquisitions and our Real Estate business segment – totaled $706 million. We expect these investments will:

 

 

optimize our existing operations;

 

allow us to use energy more efficiently; and

 

increase our competitiveness.

We are also focused on:

 

 

growing our Timberlands, Wood Products and Real Estate businesses;

 

structuring business and corporate overhead (selling, general and administrative expense) to support achieving our competitive performance goals; and

 

retaining and attracting talent critical to executing our strategies.

OUR EMPLOYEES

We have approximately 37,900 employees. This number includes:

 

 

36,400 employed by our corporate operations and business segments, not including our Real Estate segment; and

 

1,500 employed by our Real Estate segment.

Of these employees, approximately 12,000 are members of unions covered by multi-year collective bargaining agreements.

 

2       


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WHAT WE DO


This section provides information about how we grow and harvest trees, manufacture and sell products made from them, and build and sell homes. For each of our business segments, we provide details about what we do, where we do it, how much we sell and where we are headed.

TIMBERLANDS

Our Timberlands business segment manages 6.4 million acres of private commercial forestland in the U.S. We own 5.7 million of those acres and lease the other 700,000 acres. In addition, we have renewable, long-term licenses on 15.1 million acres of forestland located in five Canadian provinces. Information in the tables below includes data from all of the segment’s business units as of the end of 2007.

WHAT WE DO

We grow and harvest trees for use as lumber and other wood and building products. We also export logs to other countries where they are made into products. After harvest, we typically plant seedlings to reforest the harvested areas using the most effective regeneration method for the site and species. We monitor and care for the new trees as they grow to maturity. We seek to sustain and maximize the timber supply from our forestlands while keeping the health of our environment a key priority. We are recognized as a leading forest manager.

The goal of our Timberlands business is to maximize returns by selling logs and stumpage to internal and external customers. We focus on solid softwood and use intensive silviculture to improve forest productivity and returns while managing the forests on a sustainable basis to meet both customer and public expectations. We capture additional value from our land and timber through the lease or sale of minerals, oil, gas, recreation and communications sites; sales of higher-and-better-use property; and the sale of other nontimber products.

 

Timberlands Products and Revenues

 

MAIN PRODUCTS AND
REVENUES
  HOW THEY’RE USED
Logs   Made into lumber, other wood and building products, and pulp
   
   

Other revenues

  Nonstrategic timberlands

  Minerals, oil and gas

 

  Sold to other landowners

  Sold into energy markets

   
   

WHERE WE DO IT

We manage a balanced portfolio of timberlands assets located primarily in North America. In the U.S. we own and manage sustainable forests in nine states for use in wood products manufacturing. We own or lease:

 

 

4.2 million acres in the southern U.S.; and

 

2.2 million acres in the Pacific Northwest.

In addition, we have renewable, long-term licenses on 15.1 million acres of forestland located in five Canadian provinces. In Canada, forests generally are owned and administered by provincial governments.

We also own and manage forestlands in the Southern Hemisphere. The results of these international operations are reported in the Corporate and Other segment.

Our worldwide timber inventory is approximately 268 million cunits. One cunit equals 100 cubic feet of solid wood. The amount of timber inventory does not translate into an amount of lumber or panel products because the quantity of end products:

 

 

varies according to the species, size and quality of the timber; and

 

will change through time as the mix of these variables adjusts.

As a result, there is no standard for converting cubic feet of solid wood into board feet of lumber or square feet of panel products.

 

Weyerhaeuser Company 2007 Annual Report and Form 10-K      3


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Summary of 2007 Timber Inventory and Timberland

Locations

 

GEOGRAPHIC AREA   MILLIONS
OF CUNITS
    THOUSANDS OF ACRES AT DECEMBER 30,
2007
 
    TOTAL
INVENTORY
    FEE
OWNERSHIP
   

LONG-
TERM

LEASES

   

LICENSE

ARRANGE-

MENTS

   

TOTAL

ACRES

 
U.S.                              

West

  62        2,220                  2,220     

South

  49     3,426     728          4,154  
Total U.S.   111     5,646     728          6,374  
Canada                              

Alberta

  104               5,225     5,225  

British Columbia

  9               2,355     2,355  

New Brunswick

  2               177     177  

Ontario

  12               2,598     2,598  

Saskatchewan

  28               4,699     4,699  
Total Canada   155               15,054     15,054  

Subtotal North America

  266     5,646     728     15,054     21,428  
International(1)(2)   2     299     25          324  
Total   268     5,945     753     15,054     21,752  

(1)   International represents timberlands outside of North America, the results of which are reported in the Corporate and Other segment.

(2)   Includes Weyerhaeuser percentage ownership of timberlands owned and managed through joint ventures

      

      

Our Timberlands annual fee depletion represents the harvest of the timber assets that we own. Depletion is a method of expensing the fee timber asset based on the harvest or timber sales volume. The decline in fee depletion from 2004 through 2006 reflects the disposition of our B.C. Coastal operations in May 2005, and the decline in fee depletion from 2006 to 2007 reflects the Domtar Transaction in March 2007.

The 2007 harvest volume by region was 55 percent in the South and 45 percent in the West.

Five-Year Summary of Timberlands Production(1)(2)

 

PRODUCTION IN THOUSANDS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
Fee depletion – cunits    8,144        8,450        8,730        9,013        9,428     

(1)   Reflects the divestiture of the company’s B.C. Coastal operations in May 2005 and the Domtar Transaction in March 2007.

(2)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 and 2007.

      

      

 

HOW MUCH WE SELL

Our net sales to unaffiliated customers declined 10 percent in 2007 to slightly under $1 billion, with 2006 slightly exceeding $1 billion.

Five-Year Summary of Net Sales for Timberlands(1)(2)

 

NET SALES IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
To unaffiliated customers:                                         

Logs

   $ 659        $ 781        $ 761        $ 822        $ 730     

Other products

     251       235       286       280       264  
Subtotal    $ 910     $ 1,016     $ 1,047     $ 1,102     $ 994  
Intersegment sales    $ 1,328     $ 1,675     $ 1,794     $ 1,622     $ 1,605  
Total    $ 2,238     $ 2,691     $ 2,841     $ 2,724     $ 2,599  

(1)   Reflects the divestiture of the company’s B.C. Coastal operations in May 2005 and the Domtar Transaction in March 2007.

(2)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 and 2007.

      

      

Five-Year Trend for Total Net Sales in Timberlands(1)(2)

LOGO

Percentage of 2007 Net Sales in Timberlands

LOGO

 

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Log Sales Volumes

Logs sold to unaffiliated customers in 2007 declined 355,000 cunits, or 10 percent, from 2006. Sales volumes from Canada dropped 177,000 in 2007. This reduction in volume was due primarily to the Domtar Transaction in March 2007. Other factors that may affect our log sales volume include the following:

 

 

Domestic grade log sales depend on lumber usage, which is influenced by and depends on housing starts and repair and remodel activity. In addition, sales to unaffiliated customers can fluctuate based on the needs of our own mills as well as the availability of logs from outside markets and our own timberlands.

 

Domestic fiber log sales fluctuate as a result of the demand for chips by pulp and containerboard mills.

 

Export log sales depend on the level of housing starts in Japan, as that is where most of our North American export logs are sold.

All of our domestic and export logs are sold to unaffiliated customers or transferred at market prices to our internal mills by sales and marketing staff within our Timberlands business units.

Five-Year Summary of Log Sales Volumes to Unaffiliated Customers for Timberlands(1)(2)

 

SALES VOLUMES IN THOUSANDS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
Logs – cunits    3,081        3,436        3,552        3,920        4,125     

(1)   Reflects the divestiture of the company’s B.C. Coastal operations in May 2005 and the Domtar Transaction in March 2007.

(2)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 and 2007.

      

      

 

Log Prices

Average log price realizations in 2007 were down as compared with 2006, primarily due to lower export and domestic log prices. Our log prices are affected by the supply of and demand for grade and fiber logs, which are influenced by all of the factors described above.

Five-Year Summary of Selected Published Export Log Prices (#2 Sawlog Bark On – $/MBF)

LOGO

WHERE WE’RE HEADED

Our strategies for achieving continued success include:

 

 

managing forests on a sustainable basis to meet customer and public expectations;

 

reducing the time it takes to realize returns by practicing intensive forest management and focusing on the most advantageous markets;

 

efficiently delivering fiber to internal supply chains;

 

building long-term relationships with external customers who rely on a consistent supply of high-quality raw material;

 

continuously reviewing our portfolio to create the greatest value for the company; and

 

investing in technology and advances in silviculture to improve yields and timber quality.

 

Weyerhaeuser Company 2007 Annual Report and Form 10-K      5


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WOOD PRODUCTS

We are one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of wood products in North America.

WHAT WE DO

 

 

We provide the residential structural frame market with access to a family of high-quality softwood lumber, engineered lumber, structural panels and other specialty products.

 

We deliver innovative homebuilding solutions to help our customers quickly and efficiently meet their customers’ needs.

 

We sell our products and services primarily through our own sales organizations and distribution facilities, and we supplement our product offerings with building materials that we purchase from other manufacturers.

 

We sell certain of our products into the repair and remodel market through the wood preserving and home improvement warehouse channels.

 

We export our engineered building materials and industrial hardwood products to Europe and Asia.

 

We make and sell hardwood and softwood lumber and panels to manufacturers of furniture and cabinetry in more than 40 countries.

 

We acquire our raw materials at market price from our Timberlands business segment and from third parties.

Wood Products

 

PRODUCTS   HOW THEY’RE USED
Softwood lumber   Structural framing for residential and commercial structures

Engineered lumber

  Solid section

  I-joists

  Floor and roof joists, and headers and beams for residential and commercial structures

Structural panels

  Oriented strand board    (OSB)

  Plywood

  Structural sheathing, sub-flooring, and stair tread for residential and commercial structures; recreational vehicle flooring; furniture and cabinets
Veneer   Intermediate raw material for plywood and engineered lumber manufacturing
Hardwood lumber   Furniture, pallets, ties, moldings, panels, cabinets, architectural millwork, components, and retail boards
Other products   Complementary building products such as cedar and composite decking, siding, insulation, rebar, engineered lumber connectors and logs

 

WHERE WE DO IT

We have 71 manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Canada. We distribute through a combination of Weyerhaeuser and third party locations. Information about the locations, capacities and actual production of our manufacturing facilities is included below.

Principal Manufacturing Locations

Broken out by major products, locations of our principal manufacturing facilities are:

 

 

Softwood Lumber

  U.S. – Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington
  Canada – Alberta and British Columbia
 

Engineered Lumber

  U.S. – Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Oregon and West Virginia
  Canada – British Columbia and Ontario
 

Oriented Strand Board:

  U.S. – Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina and West Virginia
  Canada – Alberta, New Brunswick, Ontario and Saskatchewan
 

Plywood and Veneer

  U.S. – Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oregon and Washington
  Canada – Saskatchewan
 

Hardwood Lumber

  U.S. – Michigan, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin
  Canada – British Columbia

Summary of 2007 Wood Products Capacities

 

CAPACITIES IN MILLIONS             
    

PRODUCTION

CAPACITY

   

NUMBER OF

FACILITIES

 
    

 

    

 

Softwood lumber – board feet    6,000        28     
Engineered solid section – cubic feet    56     11  
Engineered I-Joists – lineal feet    545     6  
Oriented strand board – square feet (3/8”)    4,260     9  
Plywood – square feet (3/8”)    460     2  
Veneer – square feet (3/8”)    1,465     7  
Hardwood lumber – board feet    350     8  

 

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Five-Year Summary of Wood Products Production(1)(2)

 

PRODUCTION IN MILLIONS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
Softwood lumber –board feet    5,490        6,355        6,986        7,187        7,113     
Engineered solid section – cubic feet (3)    28     41     41     42     34  
Engineered I-Joists –lineal feet (3)    339     473     483     504     437  
Oriented strand board –square feet (3/8”)    3,428     4,166     4,078     4,081     4,170  
Plywood – square feet (3/8”) (4)    423     900     1,155     1,628     1,708  
Veneer – square feet (3/8”) (4)(5)    1,150     1,739     1,979     2,386     2,199  
Composite panels – square feet (3/4”)         666     1,080     1,066     988  
Hardwood lumber – board feet    294     324     364     349     373  

(1)   Reflects the divestitures of the company’s B.C. coastal operations in May 2005, North American composite panel operations in July 2006, and the Domtar Transaction in March 2007.

(2)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 and 2007.

(3)   Weyerhaeuser engineered I-Joist facilities may also produce engineered solid section.

(4)   All Weyerhaeuser plywood facilities also produce veneer.

(5)   Veneer production represents lathe production and includes volumes that are used to produce plywood and engineered lumber products by company mills.

      

      

     

     

      

HOW MUCH WE SELL

Revenues of our Wood Products business segment come from sales to wood products dealers, do-it-yourself retailers, builders, and industrial users. We provide products and services to the residential construction market under the iLevel™ and Trus-Joist™ brands. In 2007 our net sales were $5.7 billion compared with $7.9 billion in 2006.

Five-Year Summary of Net Sales for Wood Products(1)( 2)

 

NET SALES IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
Softwood lumber    $2,241        $2,997        $3,624        $3,915        $3,281     
Engineered solid section    608     794     833     701     542  

Engineered

I-Joists

   467     670     704     645     517  
Oriented strand board    589     939     1,164     1,390     1,109  
Plywood    366     529     735     929     784  
Veneer    44     42     44     44     39  
Composite panels    82     357     497     501     393  
Hardwood lumber    355     398     390     365     350  
Other products    947     1,176     1,287     1,285     1,125  
Total    $5,699     $7,902     $9,278     $9,775     $8,140  

(1)   Reflects the divestitures of the company’s B.C. coastal operations in May 2005, North American composite panel operations in July 2006, and the Domtar Transaction in March 2007.

(2)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 and 2007.

      

      

 

Five-Year Trend for Total Net Sales in Wood Products(1)(2)

LOGO

Percentage of 2007 Net Sales in Wood Products

LOGO

Wood Products Volume

The volume of wood products sold in 2007 declined from 2006 primarily because of the reduction in production capacity through the sale or closure of a number of facilities and production curtailments in response to market conditions in 2006 and 2007. The sales and closures include:

 

 

the sale of our 16 Canadian distribution centers and the sale or closure of 8 U.S. distribution centers;

 

the sale of our Elma, Washington plywood facility;

 

the permanent or indefinite closures of three Canadian OSB mills and four engineered lumber mills;

 

the closure of our Okanagan Falls, British Columbia lumber mill; and

 

the closure of our Dodson, Louisiana plywood line.

 

Weyerhaeuser Company 2007 Annual Report and Form 10-K      7


Table of Contents

 

Five-Year Summary of Sales Volume for Wood Products(1)(2)

 

SALES VOLUMES IN MILLIONS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  

Softwood lumber

– board feet

   6,538        7,871        8,650        8,890        8,981     

Engineered solid section

– cubic feet

   30     36     38     37     32  

Engineered I-Joists

– lineal feet

   338     456     484     496     447  

Oriented strand

board – square

feet (3/8”)

   3,466     4,096     3,948     4,213     4,361  

Plywood – square

feet (3/8”)

   1,049     1,663     2,180     2,629     2,665  

Veneer – square

feet (3/8”)

   262     215     231     225     239  

Composite

panels – square

feet (3/4”)

   121     802     1,229     1,234     1,162  

Hardwood lumber

– board feet

   363     412     427     417     435  

(1)   Reflects the divestiture of the company’s B.C. Coastal operations in May 2005, North American composite panel operations in July 2006, and the Domtar Transaction in March 2007.

(2)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 and 2007.

       

      

Wood Products Prices

Prices for wood products in 2007 declined from 2006. The following factors influence prices for wood products:

 

 

Overall demand for structural wood products used in new residential construction and the repair and remodel of existing homes affects prices. Residential construction is affected by the rate of household formation and other demographic factors, mortgage interest rates, the need for replacement of existing housing stock, and the demand for secondary or vacation homes. Repair and remodel activity is affected by the size and age of existing housing inventory.

 

Seasonality can affect prices, as residential construction slows during winter months and increases during spring and summer.

 

The availability of supply of commodity building products such as lumber and plywood affect prices. A number of factors can affect supply, including weather, raw material quality and availability, and availability of rail and truck transportation.

 

Proprietary-grade products and services can command higher prices. Our ability to differentiate our products and services from other manufacturers and create demand for them in the marketplace tends to generate higher prices.

 

Five-Year Summary of Selected Published Lumber Prices – $/MBF

LOGO

Five-Year Summary of Selected Published Oriented Strand Board Prices – $/MSF

LOGO

Five-Year Summary of Selected Published Plywood Prices ( 1/2” CDX) – $/MSF

LOGO

 

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WHERE WE’RE HEADED

Our strategies for achieving continued success vary by business.

 

 

During 2007, we delivered on our commitment to provide products and services to the residential construction market. Our strategies for continued success include:

   

delivering innovative home-building solutions to dealers so they can quickly and efficiently meet their customers’ needs;

   

leveraging technology to improve our processes and systems to provide our customers with performance-based proprietary products;

   

achieving operating excellence throughout the delivery chain; and

   

taking advantage of our size, scale, expertise, and breadth of products that make us unique in serving the residential structural-frame marketplace.

 

In our Hardwood and Industrial Products business our strategy is to meet the growing international demands of customers by aligning our global supply chain and strengthening our industrial wood products sales capability.

 

In all businesses within our Wood Products segment we continue to improve or remove underperforming and nonstrategic assets from our system and focus investments on strategic goals.

 

Weyerhaeuser Company 2007 Annual Report and Form 10-K      9


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CELLULOSE FIBERS

Our cellulose fibers (pulp) products are distributed through a global direct sales network, and liquid packaging products are sold directly to carton and food product packaging converters in North America and Asia. We also have a 50 percent interest in North Pacific Paper Corporation (NORPAC) – a joint venture with Nippon Paper Industries that produces newsprint and high brightness publication papers.

WHAT WE DO

 

 

We are one of the world’s largest softwood market pulp producers.

 

We provide cellulose fibers for targeted specialty markets, working closely with our customers to develop unique or specialized applications.

 

We manufacture liquid packaging board used primarily for the production of containers for liquid products.

 

Our joint venture, NORPAC, makes high-quality newsprint and high brightness publication papers. NORPAC activity is not included in the information that follows.

Cellulose Fibers Products

 

PRODUCTS   HOW THEY’RE USED

Pulp

   Fluff pulp (Southern softwood kraft fiber)

   Papergrade pulp (Southern and Northern softwood kraft fiber)

   Specialty chemical cellulose pulp

 

   Used in sanitary disposable products that require bulk, softness and absorbency

   Used in products that include printing and writing papers and tissue

 

   Used in textiles, absorbent products, specialty packaging, specialty applications and proprietary high-bulking fibers

Liquid packaging board   Converted into containers to hold liquid materials such as milk, juice and tea

Other products

   Slush pulp

   Wet lap pulp

  Used in the manufacture of paper products

 

WHERE WE DO IT

We have four pulp mills in strategic locations in the southern part of the U.S. and one pulp mill in Canada. Our liquid packaging mill and our NORPAC joint venture newsprint manufacturing facility are located in Washington state.

Principal Manufacturing Locations

Broken out by major product, locations of our principal manufacturing facilities are:

 

 

Pulp

   

U.S. – Georgia, Mississippi, and North Carolina

   

Canada – Alberta

 

Liquid Packaging Board

   

U.S. – Washington

Summary of 2007 Cellulose Fibers Capacities

 

CAPACITIES IN THOUSANDS  
     PRODUCTION
CAPACITY
    NUMBER OF
FACILITIES
 
Pulp – air-dry metric tons    1,750        5     
Liquid packaging board – tons    270     1  

Five-Year Summary of Cellulose Fibers Production(1)(2)

 

PRODUCTION IN THOUSANDS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
Pulp – air-dry metric tons    1,851        2,588        2,502        2,546        2,522     
Liquid packaging board – tons    283     282     264     266     261  

(1)   Reflects Domtar Transaction in March 2007.

(2)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 and 2007.

     

      

HOW MUCH WE SELL

Revenues of our Cellulose Fibers segment come from sales to customers who use the products for further manufacturing or distribution, and for direct use. In 2007, our net sales were approximately $1.8 billion compared with $2.0 billion in 2006.

Five-Year Summary of Net Sales for Cellulose Fibers(1)(2)

 

NET SALES IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
Pulp    $ 1,478        $ 1,657        $ 1,482        $ 1,471        $ 1,275     
Liquid packaging board      247       229       203       208       198  
Other products      107       70       51       43       15  
Total    $ 1,832     $ 1,956     $ 1,736     $ 1,722     $ 1,488  

(1)   Reflects Domtar Transaction in March 2007.

(2)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 and 2007.

     

      

 

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Five-Year Trend for Total Net Sales in Cellulose Fibers(1)(2)

LOGO

Percentage of 2007 Net Sales in Cellulose Fibers

LOGO

Pulp Volumes

Our sales volume of cellulose fiber products in 2007 was 2.1 million tons – a decrease of 21 percent compared with 2006 due to the divesture of five production facilities during the year. Factors that affect sales volumes for cellulose fiber products include:

 

 

growth of the world gross domestic product; and

 

demand for paper production and diapers.

Five-Year Summary of Sales Volume for Cellulose Fibers(1)(2)

 

SALES VOLUMES IN THOUSANDS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
Pulp – air-dry metric tons    2,070      2,621      2,502      2,558      2,414   
Liquid packaging board – tons    286     275     258     276     256  

(1)   Reflects the Domtar Transaction in March 2007.

(2)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 and 2007.

     

      

 

Pulp Prices

Our pulp prices in 2007 increased compared with 2006 due to:

 

 

the relative weakness of the U.S. dollar;

 

level of demand; and

 

the world economic environment.

Five-Year Summary of Selected Published Pulp Prices – $/TON

LOGO

WHERE WE’RE HEADED

Our strategies for achieving continued success include:

 

 

focusing our Cellulose Fibers businesses on value-added pulp products;

 

focusing research and development resources on new ways to expand and improve the range of applications for cellulose fiber, including chemically modified fibers to enhance performance and on new product opportunities for liquid packaging and newsprint;

 

providing our customers with access to our technical expertise;

 

improving our cost-competitiveness through operational excellence and noncapital solutions; and

 

focusing capital investments on new and improved product capabilities and cost-reduction opportunities.

 

Weyerhaeuser Company 2007 Annual Report and Form 10-K      11


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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 52 week period ended December 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.

Five-Year Summary of Net Sales for Fine Paper(1)

 

NET SALES IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
Paper    $ 432      $ 2,470      $ 2,417      $ 2,226      $ 2,182   
Coated groundwood      26       171       180       156       140  
Other products(2)      1       4       3       11       41  
Total    $ 459     $ 2,645     $ 2,600     $ 2,393     $ 2,363  

(1)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005. 2007 includes nine weeks of operations prior to the divesture of the Fine Paper business.

(2)   Other products for 2003 includes pulp sales from integrated mills (mills with both pulp and paper production). Subsequent to 2003, pulp sales from integrated mills are recorded in the Cellulose Fibers segment.

       

       

 

Five-Year Summary of Sales Volume for Fine Paper(1)

 

SALES VOLUMES IN THOUSANDS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
Paper – tons(2)    461      2,749      2,996      2,876      2,822   
Coated groundwood – tons    38     234     232     243     234  
Paper converting – tons    318     1,932     1,964     1,839     1,847  

(1)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005. 2007 includes nine weeks of operations prior to the divesture of the Fine Paper business.

(2)   Paper sales include unprocessed rolls and converted paper volumes.

       

     

Five-Year Summary of Fine Paper Production(1)

 

PRODUCTION IN THOUSANDS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
Paper – tons(2)    444      2,796      3,060      3,006      2,833   

Coated

groundwood – tons

   43     230     234     240     239  
Paper converting – tons    318     1,931     1,950     1,838     1,785  

(1)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005. 2007 includes nine weeks of operations prior to the divesture of the Fine Paper business.

(2)   Paper production includes unprocessed rolls and converted paper volumes.

       

     

 

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CONTAINERBOARD, PACKAGING AND RECYCLING

Our Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling business segment manufactures a wide range of packaging products and services. We also operate an extensive wastepaper collection system through which we collect and broker recovered paper (recycled fiber) to company mills and worldwide customers.

WHAT WE DO

We use a vertically integrated, full fiber-cycle strategy in delivering packaging products and services. This means that we:

 

 

produce the material – linerboard and medium – used to manufacture boxes and other packaging;

 

manufacture boxes and other packaging; and

 

recycle used packaging and paper in combination with other resource material to create new linerboard and medium.

We participate in the fresh produce markets and, as a result, a portion of our business is seasonal.

Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling Products

 

PRODUCTS   HOW THEY’RE USED

Containerboard

  Linerboard

  Medium

  White top linerboard

  Kraft bag paper

  Used to produce corrugated packaging and Kraft bags and sacks

Packaging

  Boxes,

  Tri-Wall™

  Laminated bins

  Sheets

  Corrugated packaging for the transport of products and a wide variety of other uses

Recycling

  Used corrugated containers

  Used office paper

  Other recyclable materials

  Used in the manufacture of paper and other products
Kraft bags and sacks   Sacks used for groceries in retail, bags used for fast food

Other products

  SpaceKraft and bulk packaging

  Inks and plates

  Retail centers

  Preprinted linerboard

 

  Used primarily to transport high density products such as liquids, chemicals and bulk foods

  Printing for corrugated packaging

  Design and project services for display, point-of-purchase and retail needs

  Used to produce enhanced graphics packaging

WHERE WE DO IT

Our plants and facilities are located throughout the U.S. and Mexico near major customer locations and our products are sold globally. Our operations include 106 manufacturing facilities and 10 specialty packaging plants. Information about the locations, capacities and actual production of our manufacturing facilities is included below.

 

Principal Manufacturing Locations

Broken out by major products, locations of our principal manufacturing facilities are:

 

 

Containerboard

  U.S. – Alabama, California, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Oregon
  Mexico – Xalapa
 

Packaging

  U.S. – Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin
  Mexico – Ixtac, Mexico City, Monterrey and Silao,
 

Specialty Packaging

  U.S. – California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio and Oregon
 

Recycling

  U.S. – Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington
 

Kraft Bags and Sacks

  U.S. – California, North Carolina, Oregon and Texas

Summary of 2007 Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling Capacities

 

CAPACITIES IN THOUSANDS  
     PRODUCTION
CAPACITY
    NUMBER OF
FACILITIES
 
Containerboard – tons    6,300        9     
Packaging – MSF    100,700     74  
Recycling – tons    N/A     19  
Kraft bags and sacks – tons    199     4  

Five-year Summary of Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling Production(1)

 

PRODUCTION IN THOUSANDS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
Containerboard –tons(2)    6,106        6,260        6,268        6,291        6,003     
Packaging – MSF(3)    77,221     79,851     78,089     77,822     77,830  
Recycling – tons(4)    6,655     6,829     6,743     6,718     6,216  
Kraft bags and sacks – tons    93     82     88     94     98  

(1)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 and 2007.

(2)   Containerboard production represents machine production and includes volumes that are further processed into packaging and kraft bags and sacks by company facilities.

(3)   Packaging production capacity is based on corrugator production.

(4)   Recycling production includes volumes processed in Weyerhaeuser recycling facilities that are consumed by company facilities and brokered volumes.

      

      

     

      

 

Weyerhaeuser Company 2007 Annual Report and Form 10-K      13


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HOW MUCH WE SELL

Our capability, expertise and performance have made us one of the world’s largest developers, producers and suppliers of packaging products and services. In 2007, our net sales were $5.2 billion compared with $4.9 billion in 2006.

Five-Year Summary of Net Sales for Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling(1)

 

NET SALES IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
Containerboard    $ 457        $ 377        $ 395        $ 368        $ 304     
Packaging      4,019       3,931       3,710       3,584       3,544  
Recycling      413       345       352       347       247  
Kraft bags and sacks      96       88       83       80       80  
Other products      183       171       167       156       147  
Total    $ 5,168     $ 4,912     $ 4,707     $ 4,535     $ 4,322  

(1)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared to 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 and 2007.

      

Five-Year Trend for Total Net Sales in Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling(1)

LOGO

Percentage Breakdown of 2007 Net Sales in Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling

LOGO

 

Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling Volumes

We are the second-largest producer of corrugated packaging products in North America.

 

 

We produce approximately 6.1 million short tons of containerboard per year, and we convert the majority to packaging in our manufacturing facilities.

 

Our manufacturing facilities can produce 101 billion square feet of corrugated packaging annually.

 

Our recycling operation annually collects nearly 6.7 million tons of used corrugated boxes and paper, and we consume a majority in our manufacturing operations.

Factors that affect sales volumes of containerboard, packaging and recycling products and services include:

 

 

the level of industrial activity in North America;

 

growth in retail segments and markets, which is affected by changes in consumer spending;

 

the level of production of durable and nondurable goods, including fresh produce, fresh protein and processed foods;

 

growth in demand for high-performance containerboard and packaging in industrial countries; and

 

growth in demand for high-quality recovered fiber – particularly in China – for use in the manufacture of paper and containerboard.

Our volume of containerboard sales increased in 2007 as a result of a rise in export sales, compensating for the decline in packaging volume. Our packaging sales declined in 2007 because of the closure of eight plants and the sale of two others in 2006 and due to the effect of cold weather and E. coli on produce markets during the first quarter of 2007. Our sales volume in the kraft bag market increased in 2007 as the start-up of a new facility in the second quarter of 2007 more than offset the closure of another bag plant in 2006.

Five-Year Summary of Sales Volume for Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling(1)

 

SALES VOLUMES IN THOUSANDS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
Containerboard – tons    957        856        1,046        1,001        890     
Packaging – MSF    73,572     74,867     73,631     72,885     72,741  
Recycling – tons    2,580     2,875     2,728     2,694     2,290  
Kraft bags and sacks – tons    99     89     89     95     100  

(1)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2002 through 2005 and 2007.

      

 

14       


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Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling Prices

The factors that affect selling prices for our containerboard, packaging and recycling products and services vary.

 

 

Containerboard and recycled fiber prices reflect the relative level of supply and demand for these materials in local and international markets. Supply is affected by capacity in the industry and demand is a direct result of economic activity.

 

Packaging prices are negotiated between buyers and sellers, as each box is generally designed to meet a particular customer’s need.

 

Packaging prices are also affected by supply and demand dynamics as well as changes in prices for paper and other production raw materials.

Five-year Summary of Selected Published Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling Prices – $/TON

LOGO

WHERE WE’RE HEADED

During 2007, this segment continued to refine its business model implemented in 2006: shifting from a plant-focused management model to a customer-focused, integrated supply-chain model. Our strategies for achieving continued success include:

 

 

optimizing and aligning the business’ supply chain from a customer-back perspective;

 

developing and producing innovative, cost-effective solutions to meet our customers’ needs for packaging that both protects their products through the distribution channel and communicates to the people who buy these products;

 

aligning our asset base to meet customer needs; and

 

targeting market segments, and customers within those segments, that will increase margins and enable the business to earn the cost of capital.

 

Our research and development activity in this segment is focused in two primary areas; recyclable products that would replace waxed corrugated package products, and radio-frequency identification (RFID) for corrugated packages. We are commercializing our line of recyclable wax-replacement products called Clima Series™ and have demonstrated success in applying RFID tags to corrugated boxes.

The proposed banning of plastic grocery bags in several major municipalities offers the potential to further expand the kraft bag market.

Strategic Review

On 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.

 

Weyerhaeuser Company 2007 Annual Report and Form 10-K      15


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REAL ESTATE

Our Real Estate business segment includes our wholly-owned subsidiary, Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company (WRECO), and other real estate-related activities. WRECO’s operations are concentrated in select, high-growth metropolitan areas in the U.S.

WHAT WE DO

The Real Estate segment is focused on:

 

 

constructing single-family housing;

 

developing residential lots for our use and for sale; and

 

making residential real estate investments with institutional investors.

Real Estate Products and Activities

 

PRODUCTS   HOW THEY’RE USED
Single-family housing   Residential living
Land development   Residential lots and land for construction and sale, master planned communities
Other   Residential homebuilding related investments

WHERE WE DO IT

Our operations are concentrated in the U.S., including select, metropolitan areas:

 

 

Single-Family Housing and Land Development

  Arizona, California, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Washington
 

Real Estate Investment Management Offices

  Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, Virginia and Washington

HOW MUCH WE SELL

We are one of the top 20 homebuilding companies in the U.S. as measured by annual single-family home closings.

Our revenues decreased from $3.3 billion in 2006 to $2.4 billion in 2007, primarily due to a 24 percent decline in single-family closings. The decline is the result of a general housing-market downturn, caused by excess supply and slow demand. This was worsened by the changing mortgage market which resulted in tightened credit standards.

The following factors affect revenues from our Real Estate business segment:

 

 

Market prices of the homes that we construct for sale may vary.

 

The product mix and geographic mix of sales vary based on the following:

  We build in a variety of geographic locations. Market conditions vary by geography which affects total revenues.
 
  We provide homes at a range of price points to meet our target customers’ needs, from entry-level products in Washington to ocean view homes in Southern California and waterfront homes in Maryland. The mix of these sales affects total revenues.
  We build both traditional single-family, detached homes and attached products such as town homes and condominiums. The mix of price points at which these products sell creates variability in our revenue from period to period.
 

Land and lot sales are a component of our master-planned development activities. These sales do not occur evenly from year to year, but average approximately 5 percent to 15 percent of total Real Estate revenues annually.

 

From time to time, we sell apartment buildings that we have constructed.

Five-Year Summary of Revenue for Real Estate(1)(2)

 

REVENUE IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
Single-family housing    $ 2,079        $ 2,951        $ 2,686        $ 2,193        $ 1,730     
Land development    $ 213     $ 310     $ 202     $ 284     $ 237  
Other    $ 67     $ 74     $ 27     $ 18     $ 62  
Total    $ 2,359     $ 3,335     $ 2,915     $ 2,495     $ 2,029  

(1)   Reflects the acquisition of Maracay Homes in February 2006.

(2)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 and 2007.

     

      

Five-Year Trend for Total Net Sales in Real Estate(1)(2)

LOGO

 

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Percentage Breakdown of 2007 Net Sales in Real Estate

LOGO

Five-Year Summary of Single-Family Unit Statistics(1)(2)

 

SINGLE-FAMILY UNIT STATISTICS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
Homes sold    4,152     4,541     5,685     5,375     5,005  
Homes closed    4,427     5,836     5,647     5,264     4,626  
Homes sold but not closed    1,224     1,499     2,410     2,372     2,261  
Single-family gross margin (%)    15.4 %     26.5 %     32.8 %     29.7 %     25.7 %  

(1)   Reflects the acquisition of Maracay Homes in February 2006.

(2)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 and 2007.

     

      

 

WHERE WE’RE HEADED

Our strategies for achieving continued success include:

 

 

delivering quality homes to satisfied customers – a principle we measure through “willingness to refer” rates from surveys of every homebuyer;

 

focusing on new market areas where demand for new single-family housing and master-planned communities is high;

 

creating different and distinct value propositions that target a specific market niche in each of our chosen geographies;

 

expanding into adjacent markets where our local value propositions fit;

 

replicating best practices developed in each geographic area; and

 

leveraging our size to improve supply agreements, and attract and retain a highly-talented workforce.

 

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CORPORATE AND OTHER

Our Corporate and Other segment includes:

 

 

our international operations, which include distribution and converting facilities located outside North America;

 

governance related corporate support activities and company wide initiatives such as major system and infrastructure deployments; and

 

transportation operations including Westwood Shipping Lines and five short line railroads.

We may also record one time gains or charges in the Corporate and Other segment related to dispositions or events that are not related to an individual operating segment.

WHAT WE DO

International operations in this segment generally are conducted by wholly owned subsidiaries or joint ventures for which we are the managing partner. Our international assets consist principally of forest plantations, forest licenses and converting assets.

Our transportation operations provide services to our manufacturing operations and to third parties.

WHERE WE DO IT

Our international operations are primarily located in Australia, Uruguay and Brazil. As part of our strategic restructuring of our international holdings, we took the following actions in our international operations during the last three years, we:

 

 

sold our French composite panels operations – Dec. 2005;

 

sold our Irish composite panels operation – Nov. 2006,

 

restructured our investment in our Uruguay joint ventures in preparation for a partitioning of the assets to the joint venture owners – June 2007; and

 

sold our investment in our New Zealand joint venture, Nelson Forests – Oct. 2007.

See Note 7: Equity Affiliates in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information related to our joint ventures.

Our transportation operations include our marine operations that operate between North America and Asia and our railroad operations located in the western and southern U.S.

HOW MUCH WE SELL

Sales and revenues for our Corporate and Other segment comes primarily from our international operations and marine transportation. In 2007, our net sales were $444 million compared with $484 million in 2006. The decline in revenues is primarily due to the sale of the Irish composite panel operation in November 2006.

 

Factors that affect revenues in our international operations include:

 

 

overall demand for wood products used in residential construction and remodeling of existing homes in Australia, Europe and Japan; and

 

environmental concerns, particularly in Europe, related to endangered tropical hardwoods, which increases demand for the type of sustainable plantation wood we grow in South America.

Factors that affect revenues in our transportation operations include:

 

 

international trade levels between North America and its trading partners in Asia;

 

the profile of our competition within our shipping lanes; and

 

overall demand for wood and packaging products.

Five-Year Summary of Revenue for Corporate and Other(1)(2)

 

REVENUE IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
International wood products    $ 218      $ 283      $ 389      $ 381      $ 319   
Transportation      223       198       203       194       173  
Other      3       3       8                
Total    $ 444     $ 484     $ 600     $ 575     $ 492  

(1)   Reflects the divestiture of our French composite panels operations in December 2005 and our Irish composite panels operation in November 2006.

(2)   Fiscal year 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared with 52 weeks in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 and 2007.

      

      

Five-Year Trend for Total Net Sales in Corporate and Other(1)(2)

LOGO

WHERE WE’RE HEADED

Our strategies for achieving continued success in our international operations include:

 

 

establishing a position as one of the largest, lowest-cost, global softwood and hardwood timber growers; and

 

producing plantation hardwood and softwood raw materials and finished products for structural and appearance uses in the global marketplace.

 

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NATURAL RESOURCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS


Growing and harvesting timber is subject to numerous laws and regulations to protect the environment, nontimber resources such as wildlife and water, and other social values. Changes in those laws and regulations can significantly affect local or regional timber harvest levels and market values of timber-based raw materials.

ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTIONS

In the U.S., a number of fish and wildlife species that inhabit geographic areas near or within our timberlands have been listed as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) or similar state laws. Some of these listed species include the northern spotted owl, the marbled murrelet, a number of salmon species, bull trout and steelhead trout in the Pacific Northwest and the red-cockaded woodpecker, gopher tortoise and American burying beetle in the Southeast. Additional species or populations may be listed as a result of pending or future citizen petitions or may be initiated by federal or state agencies.

Federal and state requirements to protect habitat for threatened and endangered species have resulted in restrictions on timber harvest on some timberlands, including some of our timberlands. Additional listings of fish and wildlife species as endangered, threatened or sensitive under the ESA and similar state laws as well as regulatory actions taken by federal or state agencies to protect habitat for these species may, in the future, result in additional restrictions on our timber harvests and other forest management practices. They also could increase our operating costs and affect timber supply and prices in general.

REGULATIONS AFFECTING FORESTRY PRACTICES

In the U.S., regulations established by the federal, state and local governments or agencies to protect water quality and wetlands could affect our future harvests and forest management practices on some of our timberlands. Forest practice acts in some states in the U.S. increasingly affect present or future harvest and forest management activities. For example, in some states, these acts limit the size of clearcuts, require some timber to be left unharvested to protect water quality and fish and wildlife habitat, regulate construction and maintenance of forest roads, require reforestation following timber harvest and contain procedures for state agencies to review and approve proposed forest practice activities. Some states and local governments regulate certain forest practices through various permit programs. Each state in which we own timberlands has developed best management practices to reduce the effects of forest practices on water quality and aquatic hab-itats. Additional and more stringent regulations may be adopted by various state and local governments to achieve water-quality standards under the federal Clean Water Act, protect fish and wildlife habitats or achieve other public policy objectives.

FOREST CERTIFICATION STANDARDS

We operate in the U.S. under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative®. This is a certification standard designed to supplement government regulatory programs with voluntary landowner initiatives to further protect certain public resources and values. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® is an independent standard, overseen by a governing board consisting of conservation organizations, academia, the forest industry, and large and small forest landowners. Compliance with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® may result in some increases in our operating costs and curtailment of our timber harvests in some areas.

WHAT THESE REGULATIONS AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS MEAN TO US

The regulatory and nonregulatory forest management programs described above have increased our operating costs, resulted in changes in the value of timber and logs from our timberlands, and contributed to increases in the prices paid for wood products and wood chips during periods of high demand. These kinds of programs also can make it more difficult for us to respond to rapid changes in markets, extreme weather or other unexpected circumstances. One additional effect may be further reductions in the usage of or substitution of other products for lumber and plywood. We believe that these kinds of programs have not had, and in 2008 will not have, a significant effect on the total harvest of timber in the U.S. or any major U.S. region. However, these kinds of programs may have such an effect in the future. We expect we will not be disproportionately affected by these programs as compared with typical owners of comparable timberlands. We also expect that these programs will not significantly disrupt our planned operations over large areas or for extended periods.

REGULATIONS AND FOREST CERTIFICATION IN CANADA

Our forest operations in Canada are carried out on public forestlands under forest licenses. All forest operations are subject to forest practices and environmental regulations, and operations under licenses also are subject to contractual requirements between us and the relevant province designed to protect environmental and other social values. In Canada, the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) was enacted in 2002. SARA enacted protective measures for species identified as being at risk and for critical habitat. To date, SARA has not had a significant effect on our operations; however, it is anticipated that SARA will, over time, result in some additional restrictions on timber harvests and other forest management practices and increase

 

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some operating costs for operators of forestlands in Canada. For these reasons, SARA is expected to affect timber supply and prices in the future.

In Canada, we participate in the Canadian Standards Association Sustainable Forest Management System standard, a voluntary certification system that further protects certain public resources and values. Compliance with this standard will result in some increases in our operating costs and curtailment of our timber harvests in some areas in Canada.

CANADIAN ABORIGINAL RIGHTS

Many of the Canadian forestlands also are subject to the constitutionally protected treaty or common-law rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada in the British Columbia province. Most of British Columbia (B.C.) is not covered by treaties and as a result the claims of B.C.’s aboriginal peoples relating to forest resources are largely unresolved, although many aboriginal groups are actively engaged in treaty discussions with the governments of B.C. and Canada. Final or interim resolution of claims brought by aboriginal groups is expected to result in additional restrictions on the sale or harvest of timber and may increase operating costs and affect timber supply and prices in Canada. We believe that such claims will not have a significant effect on our total harvest of timber or production of forest products in 2008, although they may have such an effect in the future.

POLLUTION CONTROL REGULATIONS

Our operations also are subject to federal, state and provincial, and local pollution controls with regard to air, water and land; solid and hazardous waste management; disposal and remediation laws; and regulations in all areas in which we have operations. We also are subject to market demands with respect to chemical content of some of our products and our use of recycled fiber. Compliance with these laws, regulations and demands usually involves capital expenditures as well as additional operating costs. We cannot easily quantify the future amounts of capital expenditures we might have to make to comply with these laws, regulations and demands, or the effects on our operating costs, because in some instances, compliance standards have not been developed or have not become final or definitive. In addition, when we make changes in operations to comply with regulatory standards, we frequently are making changes for other purposes as well. These purposes might include the extension of facility life, increase in capacity, changes in raw material requirements, or increase in economic value of assets or products.

It is difficult to isolate the environmental component of most manufacturing capital projects, but we estimate that our capital expenditures for environmental compliance were approximately $14 million in 2007 (approximately 2 percent of total capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions and Real Estate). Based on our understanding of current regulatory requirements in the U.S. and Canada, we expect that capital expenditures for environmental compliance will be approximately $24 million in 2008 (approximately 4 percent of expected total capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions and Real Estate).

ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP

We are involved in the environmental investigation or remediation of numerous sites, which we presently own or formerly owned. Of these sites, we may have the sole obligation to remediate or may share that obligation with one or more parties. In some instances several parties have joint and several obligations to remediate. Some sites are Superfund sites where we have been named as a potentially responsible party. Our liability with respect to these various sites ranges from insignificant to substantial. The amount of liability depends on the quantity, toxicity and nature of materials at the site and depends on the number and economic viability of the other responsible parties.

We spent approximately $10 million in 2007 and expect to spend approximately $10 million in 2008 on environmental remediation of these sites. It is our policy to accrue for environmental remediation costs when we determine it is probable that such an obligation exists and can reasonably estimate the amount of the obligation. We currently believe it is reasonably possible that our costs to remediate all the identified sites may exceed our current accruals of $27 million. The excess amounts required may be insignificant or could range, in the aggregate, up to approximately $37 million over several years. This estimate of the upper end of the range of reasonably possible additional costs is much less certain than the estimates we currently are using to determine how much to accrue. The estimate of the upper range also uses assumptions less favorable to us among the range of reasonably possible outcomes.

REGULATION OF AIR EMISSIONS IN THE U.S.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has promulgated regulations for air emissions from pulp and paper manufacturing facilities. These regulations cover hazardous air pollutants that require use of maximum achievable control technology (MACT) and controls for pollutants that contribute to smog and haze. Due to a recent D.C. Circuit Court decision, the U.S. EPA MACT standards for air emissions from industrial boilers and certain wood products emissions units were vacated. The U.S. EPA must promulgate new MACT standards for these sources. We anticipate that we might spend as much as $20 million over the next few years to comply with the MACT standards. We cannot currently quantify the amount of capital we will need in the future to comply with new regulations being developed by the U.S. EPA or Canadian environmental

 

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agencies because final rules have not been promulgated. However, at this time we anticipate that compliance with the new regulations will not result in capital expenditures in any year that are material in relation to our annual capital expenditures.

We recently adopted a goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40 percent by 2020 compared with our emissions in 2000, assuming a comparable portfolio and regulations. We intend to achieve this goal by increasing energy efficiency and by using systems that enable substitution of greenhouse gas-neutral, biomass fuels for high-priced fossil fuels. As each of our power and recovery boilers reaches its design life span over the next 14 years, we may replace the boiler with a state-of-the-art system. During 2007, we completed the divestment of our fine paper operations and related assets in the Domtar Transaction. The transaction removed several high greenhouse gas-emitting operations from the company’s portfolio of manufacturing. In accord with generally accepted, voluntary GHG accounting standards, we adjusted our baseline year 2000 values and subsequent year greenhouse gas inventory values to reflect these changes. We continue with our planned replacements of recovery and power boiler units in accord with our budgeted capital expenditure programs. These replacements will allow an increase in the amount of energy obtained from the biomass byproducts created in the pulping process. We also anticipate being able to reduce the purchase of electric power by up to 50 percent through improvements in energy efficiency and by increasing the use of combined heat and power technology.

In April 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that greenhouse gases are pollutants that can be subject to regulation under the U.S. Clean Air Act. As a result of this ruling, the U.S. EPA may regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Some U.S. state governments also have released policy proposals that indicate they may regulate GHG emissions in the future.

It is not yet known when and to what extent these U.S. federal and state policy activities may come into force or how any future federal and state greenhouse gas regulatory programs may relate to each other. A multistate and federal greenhouse gas emissions reduction trading system may be put in place in the future with potentially significant implications for U.S. businesses. We believe these measures have not had, and in 2008 will not have, a significant effect on Weyerhaeuser’s U.S. 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.

 

REGULATION OF AIR EMISSIONS IN CANADA

We also are actively participating in negotiations between the Forest Products Association of Canada and Natural Resources Canada to define industry obligations for complying with Canada’s national plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next several years. During 2007, we continued our work with international, national and regional policy makers in their efforts to develop technically sound and economically viable policies, practices and procedures for measuring, reporting and managing greenhouse gas emissions.

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, among other measures, to be put in place by 2010. 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. A Canadian emissions trading system may be put in place in the future with potentially significant implications for Canadian businesses. We believe these measures have not had, and in 2008 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.

POTENTIAL CHANGES IN POLLUTION REGULATION

The U.S. EPA has repealed the regulations promulgated in 2000 that would have required states to develop total maximum daily load (TMDL) allocations for pollutants in water bodies determined to be water-quality-impaired. However, states continue to promulgate TMDL requirements. The state TMDL requirements may set limits on pollutants that may be discharged to a body of water or set additional requirements, such as best management practices for nonpoint sources, including timberland operations, to reduce the amounts of pollutants. It is not possible to estimate the capital expenditures that may be required for the company to meet pollution allocations across the various proposed state TMDL programs until a specific TMDL is promulgated.

 

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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. If any of the events occurs, there is no guarantee what effect it 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 regarding:

 

 

our markets in the first quarter of 2008;

 

earnings and performance of our business segments during the first quarter of 2008;

 

demand and pricing for our products during the first quarter of 2008;

 

lower timber fee harvest volumes and higher costs in the west as well as fewer sales of nonstrategic timberlands during the first quarter of 2008;

 

losses from operations in Wood Products as a result of continuing poor market conditions;

 

increases in manufacturing costs in Cellulose Fibers businesses due to scheduled annual maintenance outages;

 

decline of packaging shipments;

 

increases in prices for OCC and wood chips;

 

reduced land sales in the first quarter of 2008;

 

higher energy costs;

 

effect of capital expenditures on our operations;

 

results of execution of our business strategies; and

 

new home sales and closings.

 

In addition, we also base our forward-looking statements on the expected effect of:

 

 

foreign exchange rates, primarily Canadian and the euro;

 

adverse litigation outcomes and the adequacy of reserves;

 

regulations;

 

changes in accounting principles;

 

contributions to pension plans;

 

projected benefit payments;

 

projected tax rates;

 

loss of tax credits; 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;

 

performance of our manufacturing operations including unexpected maintenance requirements;

 

successful execution of our internal performance plans 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, windstorms, pest infestations and other natural disasters;

 

transportation costs;

 

legal proceedings;

 

performance of pension fund investments and derivatives;

 

changes in accounting principles;

 

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.”

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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RISK FACTORS

We are subject to certain risks and events that, if one or more of them occur, could adversely affect our business, our financial condition and our results of operations and the trading price of our common stock.

You should consider the following risk factors, in addition to the other information presented in this report and the matters described in “Forward-Looking Statements,” as well as the other reports and registration statements we file from time to time with the SEC, in evaluating us, our business, and an investment in our securities.

The risks below are not the only risks we face. Additional risks not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may adversely affect our business.

 


RISKS RELATED TO OUR INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESS


CYCLICAL INDUSTRIES

The industries in which we operate are highly cyclical. Fluctuations in the prices of and the demand for our products could result in smaller profit margins and lower sales volumes.

Our businesses are highly cyclical. Historically, economic and market shifts, fluctuations in capacity and changes in foreign currency exchange rates and mortgage interest rates have created cyclical changes in prices, sales volume and margins for our products. The length and magnitude of industry cycles have varied over time and by product but generally reflect changes in macroeconomic conditions and levels of industry capacity.

Many of our products are commodities that are widely available from other producers. Because commodity products have few distinguishing properties from producer to producer, competition for these products is based primarily on price, which is determined by supply relative to demand.

The overall levels of demand for the products we manufacture and distribute, and consequently our sales and profitability, reflect fluctuations in levels of end-user demand, which depend in part on general macroeconomic conditions in North America and worldwide, and local economic conditions, and competition from substitute products.

Changes in the following are some of the factors that may adversely affect our businesses and the results of operations:

 

 

industrial, nondurable goods production;

 

consumer spending;

 

employment levels;

 

job growth;

 

population growth;

 

new home construction and repair and remodeling activity;

 

consumer confidence;

 

interest rates; and

 

currency exchange rates.

Industry supply of logs, pulp, paper, packaging and wood products also is subject to fluctuation, as changing industry conditions may cause producers to idle or permanently close individual machines or entire mills or to decrease harvesting levels. In addition, to avoid substantial cash costs in connection with idling or closing a mill, some producers choose to continue to operate at a loss, which could prolong weak prices due to oversupply. Oversupply also may result from producers introducing new capacity or increasing harvest levels in response to favorable short-term pricing trends.

Industry supply of pulp, paper and containerboard also are influenced by overseas production capacity, which has grown in recent years and is expected to continue to grow. While the weakness of the U.S. dollar has mitigated the levels of imports in recent years, imports of pulp, paper and containerboard from overseas may increase, resulting in lower prices.

Prices for our products are affected by many factors outside of our control, and we will have little influence over the timing and extent of price changes, which often are volatile. Because market conditions beyond our control determine the prices for our commodity products, the price for any one or more of these products may fall below our cash production costs, requiring us either to incur cash losses on product sales or cease production at one or more of our manufacturing facilities or curtail harvest levels. Our profitability with respect to these products depends on managing our costs, particularly raw material and energy costs, which represent significant components of our operating costs and can fluctuate based upon factors beyond our control, as described below. If the prices of or demand for our products declines, if our raw material or energy costs increase, or both, our sales and profitability could be materially and adversely affected.

SUBSTITUTION

Some of our products are vulnerable to declines in demand due to competing technologies or materials.

Our products may compete with nonfiber-based alternatives or with alternative products in certain market segments. For example, plastic packaging may be used as an alternative to our corrugated packaging business products; and plastic, wood/plastic or composite materials may be used by builders as alternatives to the products produced by our wood products businesses such as lumber, veneer, plywood and oriented strand. Changes in prices for oil, chemicals and wood-based

 

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fiber can change the competitive position of our products relative to available alternatives and could increase substitution of those products for our products. As the use of these alternatives grows, demand for our products may further decline.

CHANGES IN PRODUCT MIX OR PRICING

Our results of operation and financial condition could be materially adversely affected by changes in product mix or pricing.

Our results may be affected by a change in our sales mix. Our outlook assumes a certain volume and product mix of sales. If actual results vary from this projected volume and product mix of sales, our operations and our results could be negatively affected. Our outlook also assumes we will be successful in implementing previously announced price increases as well as future price increases. Delays in acceptance of price increases could negatively affect our results. Moreover, price discounting, if required to maintain our competitive position, could result in lower than anticipated price realizations.

INTENSE COMPETITION

We face intense competition in our markets, and the failure to compete effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We compete with North American and, for many of our product lines, global producers, some of which may have greater financial resources and lower production costs than we do. The principal basis for competition is selling price. Our ability to maintain satisfactory margins depends in large part on our ability to control our costs. Our industries are also particularly sensitive to other factors including innovation, design, quality and service, with varying emphasis on these factors depending on the product line. To the extent that one or more of our competitors become more successful with respect to any key competitive factor, our ability to attract and retain customers could be materially adversely affected. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete effectively and maintain current levels of sales and profitability. If we are unable to compete effectively, such failure could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

AVAILABILITY OF RAW MATERIALS AND ENERGY

Our business and operations could be materially adversely affected by changes in the cost or availability of raw materials and energy.

We rely heavily on certain raw materials (principally wood fiber and chemicals) and energy sources (principally natural gas, electricity, coal and fuel oil) in our manufacturing processes. Our ability to increase earnings has been, and will continue to be, affected by changes in the costs and availability of such raw materials and energy sources. We may not be able to fully offset the effects of higher raw material or energy costs through hedging arrangements, price increases, productivity improvements, or cost-reduction programs.

TRANSPORTATION

We depend on third parties for transportation services and increases in costs and the availability of transportation could materially adversely affect our business and operations.

Our business depends on the transportation of a large number of products, both domestically and internationally. We rely primarily on third parties for transportation of the products we manufacture and/or distribute as well as delivery of our raw materials. In particular, a significant portion of the goods we manufacture and raw materials we use are transported by railroad or trucks, which are highly regulated.

If any of our third-party transportation providers were to fail to deliver the goods we manufacture or distribute in a timely manner, we may be unable to sell those products at full value—or at all. Similarly, if any of these providers were to fail to deliver raw materials to us in a timely manner, we may be unable to manufacture our products in response to customer demand. In addition, if any of these third parties were to cease operations or cease doing business with us, we may be unable to replace them at reasonable cost.

Any failure of a third-party transportation provider to deliver raw materials or finished products in a timely manner could harm our reputation, negatively affect our customer relationships and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operation.

In addition, an increase in transportation rates or fuel surcharges could materially adversely affect our sales and profitability.

MATERIAL DISRUPTION OF MANUFACTURING

A material disruption at one of our manufacturing facilities could prevent us from meeting customer demand, reduce our sales or negatively affect our results of operation and financial condition.

Any of our manufacturing facilities, or any of our machines within an otherwise operational facility, could cease operations unexpectedly due to a number of events, including:

 

 

unscheduled maintenance outages;

 

prolonged power failures;

 

an equipment failure;

 

a chemical spill or release;

 

explosion of a boiler;

 

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the effect of a drought or reduced rainfall on its water supply;

 

labor difficulties;

 

disruptions in the transportation infrastructure, including roads, bridges, railroad tracks and tunnels;

 

fires, floods, windstorms, earthquakes, hurricanes or other catastrophes;

 

terrorism or threats of terrorism;

 

governmental regulations; and

 

other operational problems.

Any such downtime or facility damage could prevent us from meeting customer demand for our products and/or require us to make unplanned capital expenditures. If one of these machines or facilities were to incur significant downtime, our ability to meet our production targets and satisfy customer requirements could be impaired, resulting in lower sales and income.

CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS

Our operations require substantial capital.

Capital expenditures for expansion or replacement of existing facilities or equipment may be substantial. Although we maintain our production equipment with regular periodic and scheduled maintenance, we cannot assure you that key pieces of equipment in our various production processes will not need to be repaired or replaced and major equipment may need to be replaced periodically. The costs of repairing or replacing such equipment and the associated downtime of the affected production line could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Based on our current operations, we believe our cash flow from operations and other capital resources will be adequate to meet our operating needs, capital expenditures and other cash requirements for the foreseeable future. If for any reason we are unable to provide for our operating needs, capital expenditures and other cash requirements on economic terms, we could experience a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS

We could incur substantial costs as a result of compliance with, violations of or liabilities under applicable environmental laws and regulations.

We are subject to a wide range of general and industry-specific laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, including those governing:

 

 

air emissions;

 

wastewater discharges;

 

harvesting;

 

silvicultural activities;

 

the storage, management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes;

 

the cleanup of contaminated sites;

 

landfill operation and closure obligations;

 

forestry operations and endangered species habitat; and

 

health and safety matters.

In particular, the pulp and paper industry in the U.S. is subject to Cluster Rules and Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology Rules that further regulate effluent and air emissions. These laws and regulations will require us to obtain authorizations from and comply with the authorization requirements of the appropriate governmental authorities, which have considerable discretion over the terms and timing of permits.

We have incurred, and we expect to continue to incur, significant capital, operating and other expenditures complying with applicable environmental laws and regulations and as a result of remedial obligations. We also could incur substantial costs, such as civil or criminal fines, sanctions and enforcement actions (including orders limiting our operations or requiring corrective measures, installation of pollution control equipment or other remedial actions), cleanup and closure costs, and third-party claims for property damage and personal injury as a result of violations of, or liabilities under, environmental laws and regulations.

As the owner and operator of real estate, we may be liable under environmental laws for cleanup, closure and other damages resulting from the presence and release of hazardous substances on or from our properties or operations. The amount and timing of environmental expenditures is difficult to predict, and in some cases, our liability may exceed forecasted amounts or the value of the property itself. The discovery of additional contamination or the imposition of additional cleanup obligations at our sites or third-party sites may result in significant additional costs. Any material liability we incur could adversely affect our financial condition or preclude us from making capital expenditures that otherwise would benefit our business.

Enactment of new environmental laws or regulations or changes in existing laws or regulations, or the interpretation of these laws or regulations, might require significant expenditures.

 

Weyerhaeuser Company 2007 Annual Report and Form 10-K      25


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LE GAL PROCEEDINGS

We are a party to a number of legal proceedings, and adverse judgments in certain legal proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

The costs and other effects of pending litigation against us and related insurance recoveries cannot be determined with certainty. Although the disclosure in “Legal Proceedings” and Note 16 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” contains management’s current views, when possible, of the effect such litigation will have on our financial results, there can be no assurance that the outcome of such proceedings will be as expected.

For example, in 1999, the Equity Committee in the Paragon Trade Brands Inc. bankruptcy proceeding sued us for breach of warranties in agreements between us and Paragon relating to Paragon’s initial public stock offering. The bankruptcy court held us liable for breaches of warranty and imposed damages of approximately $470 million. The U.S. District Court overturned the decision and directed the Bankruptcy Court to enter judgment in favor of the Company, but the litigation claims representative has appealed the decision to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. We believe that we will prevail on the appeal and we have not established a reserve for this litigation because we believe that the requirements for establishing a reserve under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, [Accounting for Contingencies] (Statement 5) have not been met. However, it is possible in the future that there could be a charge for all or a portion of any damage award.

There also have been several lawsuits filed against us alleging that we violated U.S. antitrust laws. Several lawsuits have been filed since 2000 in U.S. District Court in Oregon alleging we had monopoly power or attempted to gain monopoly power for alder logs and finished alder lumber in the Pacific Northwest market (the Alder Cases). In 2006, a series of lawsuits against us and other manufacturers of oriented strand board (OSB) were consolidated into one case in the U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania on behalf of purchasers of OSB. The lawsuit alleges that the manufacturers conspired to fix and raise OSB prices and caused the purchasers of OSB to pay artificially inflated prices. In the event liability is found in an antitrust case, the damages proved at trial are trebled. Jury verdicts and damages imposed against us in two of the Alder Cases were vacated as a result of a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in our favor in one of the Alder Cases and we have settled three of these cases, but one case is still pending. In the OSB case, the U.S. District Court has issued a number of rulings approving class action status for various classes of direct and indirect purchasers for the period June 2002 through February 2006. We have not established a reserve for any of these cases and intend to contest these cases vigorously. We are not able to estimate the amount of charges, if any, that may be required in the future.

It is possible that there could be adverse judgments against us in some or all of these cases and that we could be required to take a charge for all or a portion of any damage award. Any such charge could materially and adversely affect our results of operations for the quarter or year in which we record it.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES

We will be affected by changes in currency exchange rates.

We have manufacturing operations in Canada, Mexico, Australia, Uruguay and Brazil, and we are also a large exporter and, as a result, are affected by changes in currency exchange rates, particularly the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the euro and the Canadian dollar.

EXPORT TAXES

We may be required to pay significant export taxes or countervailing and anti-dumping duties for exported products.

We may experience reduced revenues and margins on some of our businesses as a result of export taxes or countervailing and anti-dumping duty applications. For example, in 2001, a group of companies filed petitions with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission claiming that production of softwood lumber in Canada was being subsidized by Canada and that imports into the U.S. from Canada were being sold in U.S. markets at less than their fair value. We have softwood lumber facilities in Canada that export lumber into the U.S. We paid a total of $370 million in deposits for countervailing duty and anti-dumping tariffs from 2002 through 2006 related to those lumber exports. The U.S. and Canadian governments reached a settlement of the dispute in 2006. As a result of the settlement, we received a refund of $344 million in the fourth quarter of 2006. However, our Canadian softwood lumber facilities will have to pay an export tax when the price of lumber is at or below a threshold price. The export tax could be as high as 22.5 percent if a province exceeds its total allotted export share. Similar types of actions have been initiated from time to time against us and other U.S. producers of products such as paper, corrugated containerboard sheets or lumber by countries such as China, Korea and Mexico. It is possible that countervailing duty and antidumping tariffs, or similar types of tariffs could be imposed on us in the future. We may experience reduced revenues and margins in any business that is subject to such tariffs or to the terms of the settlements of such international disputes. These tariffs or settlement terms could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial results and financial condition, including facility closures or impairments of assets.

 

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CHANGES IN CREDIT RATINGS

Changes in credit ratings issued by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations could adversely affect our cost of financing and have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities.

Credit rating agencies rate our debt securities on factors that include our operating results, actions that we take, their view of the general outlook for our industry, and their view of the general outlook for the economy. Actions taken by the rating agencies can include maintaining, upgrading or downgrading the current rating, or placing the company on a watch list for possible future downgrading. Downgrading the credit rating of our debt securities or placing us on a watch list for possible future downgrading would likely increase our cost of financing and have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities.

NATURAL DISASTERS

Our business and operations could be adversely affected by weather, fire, infestation or natural disasters.

Our timberlands assets may be damaged by adverse weather, fires, pest infestation or other natural disasters. Because our manufacturing processes primarily use wood fiber, in many cases from our own timberlands, in the event of material damage to our timberlands, our operations could be disrupted or our production costs could be increased.

 


RISKS RELATED TO OWNERSHIP OF OUR COMMON STOCK


STOCK PRICE VOLATILITY

The price of our common stock may be volatile.

The market price of our common stock may be influenced by many factors, some of which are beyond our control, including those described above under “Risks Related to our Industries and Business” and the following:

 

 

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results or our competitors’ operating results;

 

announcements by us or our competitors of new products, capacity changes, significant contracts, acquisitions or strategic investments;

 

our growth rate and our competitors’ growth rates;

 

the financial market and general economic conditions;

 

changes in stock market analyst recommendations regarding us, our competitors or the forest products industry generally, or lack of analyst coverage of our common stock;

 

sales of our common stock by our executive officers, directors and significant stockholders or sales of substantial amounts of common stock; and

 

changes in accounting principles.

In addition, there has been significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of securities of companies operating in the forest products industry that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies.

Some companies that have had volatile market prices for their securities have had securities litigation brought against them. If litigation of this type is brought against us, it could result in substantial costs and would divert management’s attention and resources.

 


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 its 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.

 

Weyerhaeuser Company 2007 Annual Report and Form 10-K      27


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UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

There are no unresolved comments that were received from the SEC staff relating to our periodic or current reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

PROPERTIES

Details about our facilities, production capacities and locations is found in the Our Business — What We Do section of this report.

 

 

For details about our Timberlands properties, go to Our Business / What We Do / Timberlands / Where We Do It

 

For details about our Wood Products properties, go to Our Business / What We Do / Wood Products / Where We Do It

 

For details about our Cellulose Fibers properties, go to Our Business / What We Do / Cellulose Fibers / Where We Do It

 

For details about our Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling properties, go to Our Business / What We Do / Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling / Where We Do It

 

For details about our Real Estate properties, go to Our Business / What We Do / Real Estate / Where We Do It

Production capacities listed represent annual production volume under normal operating conditions and producing a normal product mix for each individual facility. Production capacities are based on a 52-week fiscal year and do not include any capacity for facilities that were sold or closed as of year-end 2007.

 

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

See Note 16: Legal Proceedings, Commitments and Contingencies of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of legal proceedings.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended December 30, 2007.

 

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PART II

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Our common stock trades on the following exchanges under the symbol WY:

 

 

New York Stock Exchange

 

Chicago Stock Exchange

Our exchangeable shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol WYL.

 

As of December 30, 2007, there were approximately 10,489 holders of record of our common shares and 1,037 holders of record of our exchangeable shares. Dividend-per-share data and the range of closing market prices for our common stock for each of the four quarters in 2007 and 2006 are included in Note 25 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

 

INFORMATION ABOUT SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER OUR EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

 

    

NUMBER OF

SECURITIES TO BE

ISSUED UPON

EXERCISE OF

OUTSTANDING

OPTIONS,
WARRANTS

AND RIGHTS

(A)

    

WEIGHTED

AVERAGE EXERCISE

PRICE OF

OUTSTANDING

OPTIONS, WARRANTS

AND RIGHTS

(B)

  

NUMBER OF

SECURITIES

REMAINING AVAILABLE

FOR FUTURE ISSUANCE

UNDER EQUITY

COMPENSATION PLANS

(EXCLUDING

SECURITIES REFLECTED

IN COLUMN (A))

(C)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders    10,531,145 (1)(2)    $66.52    8,825,888
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders    N/A      N/A    N/A
Total    10,531,145 (1)(2)    $66.52    8,825,888

(1)    Includes 569,684 performance share units at the maximum award level. Because there is no exercise price associated with performance share units, such share units are not included in the weighted average price calculation.

(2)    Includes 520,470 restricted stock units. Because there is no exercise price associated with restricted stock units, such stock units are not included in the weighted average price
calculation.

INFORMATION ABOUT COMMON STOCK REPURCHASES DURING 2007(1)

 

    

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)

Common Stock Repurchases During the First Quarter:                    
January 1 – February 4       N/A       6,999,400
February 5 – March 4       N/A       6,999,400
March 5 – April 1    140,000    $74.75    140,000    6,859,400

Total repurchases during first quarter

   140,000    $74.75    140,000    6,859,400
Common Stock Repurchases During the Second Quarter:                    
April 2 – May 6    150,000    $74.81    150,000    6,709,400
May 7 – June 3       N/A       6,709,400
June 4 – July 1       N/A       6,709,400

Total repurchases during second quarter

   150,000    $74.81    150,000    6,709,400
Common Stock Repurchases During the Third Quarter:                    
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   

Total common stock repurchases during 2007

   6,999,400    $67.55    6,999,400   

(1)    On October 21, 2005, we announced a stock repurchase program under which we were authorized by the Board of Directors to repurchase up to 18 million shares of our common stock. During 2007, we completed our stock repurchase program by purchasing 6,999,400 shares of common stock under the program for approximately $473 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.

 

Weyerhaeuser Company 2007 Annual Report and Form 10-K      29


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COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN

Weyerhaeuser Company, S&P 500 and Performance Peer Group

LOGO

 

PERFORMANCE GRAPH ASSUMPTIONS

 

 

Assumes $100 invested on December 31, 2002 in Weyerhaeuser common stock, the S&P 500 and Weyerhaeuser’s current performance peer group described below.

 

Total return assumes dividends are reinvested quarterly.

 

Measurement dates are the last trading day of the calendar year shown.

In 2006, we adopted a new peer group for performance comparisons. Recent consolidation in the forest products industry has decreased the number of our direct peers in the sector, and shareholders measure our performance against a broader set of peers. The Compensation Committee of the board of directors selected a broader-sized range of basic materials companies that typically have been used by shareholders as benchmarks for our performance. The performance peer group currently includes Alcoa, Alcan, Air Products & Chemicals, Ball Corp., Bowater, Celanese AG, Domtar Inc., Dow Chemical, DuPont, Eastman Chemical, International Paper, Smurfit-Stone, Louisiana-Pacific, MeadWestvaco, Monsanto, Nucor, Owens-Illinois, Phelps Dodge, Praxair, PPG Industries, Rohm & Haas, Temple-Inland and U.S. Steel.

 

 

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SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER-SHARE FIGURES

 

PER SHARE                                      
      2007     2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  
Basic earnings from continuing operations before effect of accounting changes   $ 0.23        4.35        3.88        5.32        1.93        0.89     
Basic earnings from discontinued operations(1)     3.37     (2.50 )   (0.88 )   0.13     (0.63 )   0.20  
Effect of accounting changes(2)                     (0.05 )    
Basic net earnings   $ 3.60     1.85     3.00     5.45     1.25     1.09  
Diluted earnings from continuing operations before effect of accounting changes   $ 0.23     4.33     3.86     5.30     1.93     0.89  
Diluted earnings from discontinued operations(1)     3.36     (2.49 )   (0.88 )   0.13     (0.63 )   0.20  
Effect of accounting changes(2)                     (0.05 )    
Diluted net earnings   $ 3.59     1.84     2.98     5.43     1.25     1.09  
Dividends paid   $ 2.40     2.20     1.90     1.60     1.60     1.60  
Shareholders’ interest (end of year)   $ 37.80     38.17     39.97     38.17     31.95     29.93  
FINANCIAL POSITION                                      
      2007     2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  
Total assets:(1)                                      

Weyerhaeuser

  $ 20,026        23,238        25,322        27,482        26,595        26,347     

Real Estate

    3,780     3,624     2,907     2,472     2,004     1,970  
Total   $ 23,806     26,862     28,229     29,954     28,599     28,317  
Long-term debt (net of current portion):(1)                                      

Weyerhaeuser:

                                     

Long-term debt

  $ 6,059     7,069     7,404     9,277     11,503     11,907  

Capital lease obligations

    2     44     64     86     3     1  
Total   $ 6,061     7,113     7,468     9,363     11,506     11,908  

Real Estate:

                                     

Long-term debt

  $ 775     606     851     853     870     745  
Shareholders’ interest(1)   $ 7,981     9,085     9,800     9,255     7,109     6,623  
Percent earned on average shareholders’ interest     9.3 %   4.8 %   7.7 %   15.7 %   4.0 %   3.6 %
OPERATING RESULTS                                      
      2007     2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  
Net sales and revenues:                                      

Weyerhaeuser

  $ 13,949        15,336        15,930        15,963        14,017        13,028     

Real Estate

    2,359     3,335     2,915     2,495     2,029     1,750  
Total   $ 16,308     18,671     18,845     18,458     16,046     14,778  
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before effect of accounting changes:                                      

Weyerhaeuser

  $ (78 )   613     491     876     183     (15 )

Real Estate

    129     451     458     376     245     211  

Subtotal

    51     1,064     949     1,252     428     196  
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations(1)     739     (611 )   (216 )   31     (140 )   45  
Effect of accounting changes(2)                     (11 )    
Net earnings   $ 790     453     733     1,283     277     241  
STATISTICS (UNAUDITED)                                      
      2007     2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  
Number of employees     37,857        46,737        49,887        53,646        55,162        56,787     
Number of shareholder accounts at year-end:                                      

Common

    10,489     11,471     12,151     12,819     13,726     14,551  

Exchangeable

    1,037     1,169     1,227     1,320     1,388     1,450  
Number of shares outstanding at year-end (thousands):                                      

Common

    209,546     236,020     243,138     240,360     220,201     218,950  

Exchangeable

    1,600     1,988     2,045     2,111     2,293     2,303  
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (thousands)   $ 219,305     244,931     244,447     235,453     221,595     220,927  

 

(1)

 

A summary of our discontinued operations is presented in Note 3: Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)

 

We adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, as of the beginning of 2003.

 

Weyerhaeuser Company 2007 Annual Report and Form 10-K      31


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

 


WHAT YOU WILL FIND IN THIS MD&A


Our MD&A includes the following major sections:

 

 

economic and market conditions affecting our operations;

 

financial performance summary;

 

results of our operations - consolidated and by segment;

 

liquidity and capital resources - where we discuss our cash flows;

 

off-balance sheet arrangements;

 

environmental matters, legal proceedings and other contingencies; and

 

accounting matters, where we discuss critical accounting policies and areas requiring judgments and estimates.

 


ECONOMIC AND MARKET CONDITIONS AFFECTING OUR OPERATIONS


A variety of market conditions in both the U.S. and global economies influenced demand and pricing for our products and affected our operating results in 2007. Those market conditions included the following:

 

 

The U.S. economy grew 2.2 percent in 2007.

 

The U.S. Federal Reserve took measures to lower short-term interest rates 0.4 percent over the course of 2007.

 

Single-family housing starts fell from 1.47 million units in 2006 to 1.04 million units in 2007.

 

The U.S. dollar continued its decline in value against the euro and Canadian dollar.

 

The global economy continued to grow at a healthy rate, primarily due to strong growth in Asia.

 

Increased containerboard capacity in Asia continued to result in increased exports of old corrugated containers (OCC) from the U.S.

 


HOW ECONOMIC AND MARKET CONDITIONS AFFECTED OUR OPERATIONS


Major effects that economic and market conditions had on our operations in 2007 included:

 

 

Consumption of softwood market pulp increased by an estimated 1 percent.

 

Shipments of packaging fell 1.2 percent despite 1.1 percent growth in nondurable goods production.

 

Sales of new and existing homes fell sharply in 2007 leading to further decline in single-family starts.

 

Consumption of lumber and structural panels fell due to lower levels of homebuilding and repair and remodeling.

 

In turn, lumber and oriented strand board (OSB) prices fell.

 

Log prices fell throughout the year, following declines in wood product prices.

FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR U.S. MARKET PULP PRODUCERS IN 2007

Market pulp prices rose 17 percent in 2007 due to:

 

 

Higher fiber costs in Europe and Canada;

 

Weaker U.S. dollar versus the euro and Canadian dollar; and

 

Strong demand for fluff pulp, especially in Asia.

INDUSTRY BOX SHIPMENTS DECREASED IN 2007

Industry shipments of boxes fell 1.2 percent in 2007. The containerboard industry’s operating rate was approximately 96 percent in 2007 but decreased slightly from an industry operating rate of 97 percent in 2006. The price of containerboard increased slightly due to the high operating rate and low inventories through the year.

HOME SALES AND SINGLE-FAMILY STARTS DECREASED

Tighter lending standards and high inventories of homes available for sale led to a sharp drop in new homes sales and single-family starts.

LUMBER, STRUCTURAL PANEL AND ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCT CONSUMPTION DECREASED IN 2007

 

 

As single-family home starts decreased further from the 2005 peak, demand for lumber, structural panels and engineered wood products decreased in 2007.

 

The decrease in demand for wood products has resulted in a decrease in product prices.

DOMESTIC LOG PRICES LAGGED THE DECLINE IN WOOD PRODUCTS PRICES IN 2007

 

 

Log prices typically follow product prices, but with a lag that varies by region. The lag for Southern log prices is longer than in the Western U.S. markets.

 

Domestic log prices in the Western U.S. decreased 9 percent in 2007 compared with 2006.

 

Demand for export logs and the weaker U.S. dollar contributed to higher prices for export logs compared with domestic sales.

 

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FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE SUMMARY


Net Sales and Revenues by Segment(1)

LOGO

Contributions to Earnings by Segment(1)

LOGO

 

Weyerhaeuser Company 2007 Annual Report and Form 10-K      33


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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


Our 2007 and 2005 results each include 52 weeks of operations while our 2006 results include 53 weeks of operations.

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

 

 

price realizations refer to net selling prices – this includes selling price plus freight minus normal sales deductions; and

 

contribution to earnings refers to:

  earnings before interest and income taxes for the Weyerhaeuser business segments; and
  earnings before income taxes for the Real Estate business segment. Interest that was previously capitalized to Real Estate assets that are sold is included in cost of products sold and is included in contribution to earnings for the Real Estate segment.

 

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Net sales and revenue and operating income numbers reported in our consolidated results do not include the activity of our discontinued operations, which currently include the:

 

 

Fine Paper operations (divested in March 2007);

 

Irish composite panel operations (sold in November 2006);

 

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

 

French composite panel operations (sold in December 2005); and

 

B.C. Coastal operations (sold in May 2005).

We report these activities and results as discontinued operations in our Consolidated Statement of Earnings; however, the results of these operations are included in the segment discussions that follow.

HOW WE DID IN 2007

Net Sales and Revenues, Operating Income, Earnings from Discontinued Operations and Net Earnings

 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER-SHARE FIGURES  
                       AMOUNT OF
CHANGE
 
     2007     2006     2005    

2007

vs.

2006

    2006
vs.
2005
 
Net sales and revenues    $ 16,308        $ 18,671        $ 18,845        $ (2,363 )       $ (174 )    
Operating income    $ 406     $ 1,814     $ 1,786     $ (1,408 )   $ 28  
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax    $ 739     $ (611 )   $ (216 )   $ 1,350     $ (395 )
Net earnings    $ 790     $ 453     $ 733     $ 337     $ (280 )
Net earnings per share, basic    $ 3.60     $ 1.85     $ 3.00     $ 1.75     $ (1.15 )
Net earnings per share, diluted    $ 3.59     $ 1.84     $ 2.98     $ 1.75     $ (1.14 )

 

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COMPARING 2007 WITH 2006

In 2007:

 

 

Net sales and revenues decreased $2.4 billion, or 13 percent.

 

Net earnings increased $337 million.

Net Sales and Revenues

Net sales and revenues decreased primarily due to continued deterioration of the U.S. housing market. Declines in residential homebuilding throughout the nation have resulted in lower demand for residential building products such as softwood lumber, plywood, OSB and engineered lumber. Sales of these products within our Wood Products segment, excluding those of discontinued operations, were $1.6 billion, or 28 percent, lower than 2006. These difficult market conditions also affected our Real Estate segment where net sales and revenues decreased $976 million, or 29 percent, from 2006.

The decreases in our Wood Products and Real Estate segments were partially offset by improved market conditions for core products in our Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling segment, which resulted in increased net sales and revenues of $256 million.

Net Earnings

Net earnings increased primarily due to several significant, but largely offsetting, factors.

Increases to pretax net earnings included:

 

 

a $719 million reduction in pretax charges for the impairment of goodwill – $30 million recognized in our Wood Products segment during 2007 compared with $749 million recognized in our Fine Paper business during 2006;

 

increased contributions of $327 million from improved price realizations for pulp in our Cellulose Fibers segment and from corrugated packaging in our Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling segment; and

 

a $594 million increase in pretax gains on dispositions.

 

  Pretax gains of $690 million recognized during 2007 included:

 

   

$606 million from the Domtar Transaction; and

   

$84 million from the disposition of property, operating facilities and our New Zealand investments.

 

  Pretax gains of $96 million recognized in 2006 included:

 

   

$51 million on the sale of our North American composite panel operations; and

   

$45 million on the sale of our Irish composite panel operations.

 

Reductions to pretax net earnings included:

 

 

a decrease of approximately $640 million earned on the sale of softwood lumber, structural panels, and engineered lumber products in our Wood Products segment – $510 million from lower price realizations and $130 million from lower volume;

 

decreased gross margins of $376 million on sales of single-family homes in our Real Estate segment;

 

a decrease of $450 million in pretax income related to legal matters – 2007 included income of $12 million compared with income of $462 million in 2006, which included a $344 million pretax refund of countervailing and anti-dumping deposits; and

 

increased pretax charges of $197 million for closures, restructuring and the impairment of operating assets and investments, primarily in the Wood Products and Real Estate segments.

In addition, income tax expense decreased $566 million. Pretax earnings from continuing operations were substantially lower in 2007 and the significant gain recognized on the U.S. portion of the Domtar Transaction was nontaxable.

COMPARING 2006 WITH 2005

In 2006:

 

 

Net sales and revenues decreased $174 million, or 1 percent.

 

Net earnings decreased $280 million, or 38 percent.

Net Sales and Revenues

Net sales and revenues decreased primarily due to lower demand for residential building products. Excluding discontinued operations, sales of softwood lumber, plywood and OSB within our Wood Products segment declined approximately $800 million due to the weakening U.S. housing market.

Offsetting the decreases within our Wood Products segment were the following:

 

 

Increases in both the number of single-family homes closed and average sales prices of single-family homes within our Real Estate segment resulted in a $265 million, or 10 percent, improvement in single-family revenues compared with 2005.

 

Improved market conditions for pulp and paper products within our Cellulose Fibers and Fine Paper segments and for packaging products within our Containerboard, Packaging and Recycling segment resulted in increased revenues of $228 million and $221 million, respectively, as compared with 2005.

 

Weyerhaeuser Company 2007 Annual Report and Form 10-K      35


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Net Earnings

Net earnings decreased primarily due to several significant, but largely offsetting, factors.

Reductions to net earnings included:

 

 

goodwill impairment charges of $749 million in our Fine Paper business in 2006;

 

a decrease of $600 million related to lower average price realizations for softwood lumber and structural panels;

 

decreased gross margins of $101 million on sales of single-family homes in our Real Estate segment; and

 

a $196 million reduction in pretax gains on dispositions.

 

  Pretax gains of $96 million recognized in 2006 included:

 

   

$51 million on the sale of our North American composite panel operations; and

   

$45 million on the sale of our Irish composite panel operations.

 

  Pretax gains of $292 million recognized during 2005 included:

 

   

$115 million on the sale of our investment in MAS Capital Management;

   

$63 million on the sale of the B.C. Coastal operations;

   

$57 million on the sale of our French composite panel operations; and

   

$57 million related to a deferred gain from previous timberland sales.

 

Increases to 2006 net earnings included:

 

a $581 million reduction in pretax charges for asset impairments and other charges associated with facility closure decisions made under our ongoing strategic review – pretax charges of $112 million were recognized in 2006 compared with pretax charges of $693 million recognized during 2005;

 

increased contributions of $412 million from improved price realizations for pulp, paper, liquid packaging, corrugated packaging and containerboard, net of higher manufacturing costs for these same products;

 

a pretax refund of $344 million in previously paid countervailing and anti-dumping deposits resulting from the settlement of the Canadian softwood lumber dispute;

 

pretax income of $95 million from the reversal of reserves for alder antitrust litigation; and

 

one-time tax benefits of $48 million related to a change in the Texas state income tax law, a reduction in the Canadian federal income tax rate and a deferred tax adjustment related to the Medicare Part D subsidy – compared with net one-time tax charges of $23 million in 2005. The 2005 items include a $44 million expense related to the accrual of taxes associated with the repatriation of foreign earnings and benefits of $21 million resulting from a change in the Ohio state and British Columbia income tax law.

 

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TIMBERLANDS

HOW WE DID IN 2007

We report sales volume and annual production data for our Timberlands business segment in Our Business/What We

Do/Timberlands. Here is a comparison of net sales and revenues to unaffiliated customers, intersegment sales, and contribution to earnings for the last three years:

Net Sales and Revenues and Contribution to Earnings for Timberlands

 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS  
AMOUNT OF CHANGE  
     2007     2006     2005     2007
vs.
2006
    2006
vs.
2005
 
Net sales and revenues to unaffiliated customers:                                         

Logs

   $ 659        $ 781        $ 761        $ (122 )       $ 20     

Other products

     251       235       286       16       (51 )
     $ 910     $ 1,016     $ 1,047     $ (106 )   $ (31 )
Intersegment sales    $ 1,328     $ 1,675     $ 1,794     $ (347 )   $ (119 )
Total    $ 2,238     $ 2,691     $ 2,841     $ (453 )   $ (150 )
Contribution to earnings    $ 634     $ 767     $ 784     $ (133 )   $ (17 )

COMPARING 2007 WITH 2006

In 2007:

 

 

Net log sales and revenues to unaffiliated customers decreased $122 million, or 16 percent.

 

Sales of other products to unaffiliated customers increased $16 million, or 7 percent.

 

Intersegment sales decreased $347 million, or 21 percent.

 

Contribution to earnings declined $133 million, or 17 percent.

Net Sales and Revenues – Unaffiliated Customers

Net sales and revenues to unaffiliated customers decreased due primarily to the following:

 

 

Log sales in the West decreased 6 percent in volume and 10 percent in average price realizations as both the domestic and export markets slowed due to the declining U.S. housing market as well as the Japanese housing market. The reduction in sales and revenues in the Western operations was $102 million.

 

Log sales volume in Canada dropped 35 percent, primarily due to having fewer operations in Canada following the Domtar Transaction. Even though average price realizations increased 3 percent, net sales in Canada decreased $19 million.

 

Sales of Canadian chips decreased as a result of fewer operations in Canada.

These decreases were partially offset by increases in the sales of nonstrategic timberlands in the U.S.

Intersegment Sales

The $347 million decrease in intersegment sales was primarily due to the following:

 

 

fewer mills in operation following the Domtar Transaction and several Canadian mill closures and curtailments;

 

lower U.S. mill usage due to the slower housing market; and

 

lower average log price realizations.

Contribution to Earnings

Contribution to earnings for the segment decreased $133 million, primarily due to the following:

 

 

lower price realizations and a change in the mix of log sales reduced earnings by $83 million;

 

higher operating costs, primarily for logging, trucking, handling and silviculture activities, reduced earnings by $41 million;

 

lower fee harvest volumes due to the long-term effects of hurricane Katrina, other storm events, and market downtime resulted in a $25 million reduction in earnings;

 

lower mineral and leasing income, primarily due to a change in the method of accounting for oil and gas revenues and revenues associated with leasing our timberlands for recreational use, resulted in an $18 million reduction in earnings; and

 

a charge for casualty losses resulting from a severe West coast wind and rain storm that occurred in December 2007 reduced earnings by $10 million.

These decreases were partially offset by the following:

 

 

a $27 pretax gain on the 2007 sale of a log export facility; and

 

a $17 million increase in earnings from the sale of nonstrategic timberlands.

COMPARING 2006 WITH 2005

In 2006:

 

 

Net log sales and revenues to unaffiliated customers increased $20 million, or 3 percent.

 

Sales of other products to unaffiliated customers decreased $51 million, or 18 percent.

 

Intersegment sales decreased $119 million, or 7 percent.

 

Contribution to earnings declined $17 million, or 2 percent.

 

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Net Sales and Revenues – Unaffiliated Customers

Net sales and revenues to unaffiliated customers decreased due primarily to the following:

 

 

Sales of nonstrategic timberlands decreased by $49 million in 2006. Over half of that decrease was due to the 2005 sale of leased lands in Georgia that was not repeated in 2006. The leased lands in Georgia represented the last parcel remaining from the 2004 sale of timberlands in Georgia.

 

Log sales from the B.C. Coastal operations, which were sold in May 2005, were $21 million in 2005.

These decreases were partially offset by increases in log sales in the U.S. and Canada of $32 million and $10 million, respectively. During 2006, average log price realizations increased 3 percent in the Western U.S., and 16 percent in Canada.

Intersegment Sales

The $119 million decrease in intersegment sales was primarily due to the following:

 

 

mill closures in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan during early 2006;

 

the sale of the B.C. Coastal operations in May 2005; and

 

declines in log sales from nonfee timber due to lower nonfee timber purchases during 2006 as compared with 2005.

Contribution to Earnings

 

Contribution to earnings decreased primarily due to the following:

 

 

the sale of the B.C. Coastal operations in May 2005, which contributed earnings of $16 million in 2005;

 

earnings on sales of nonstrategic timberlands, which decreased $7 million;

 

a decrease of $9 million in earnings related to changes in Canadian reforestation costs; and

 

cost increases of approximately $30 million due to higher fuel costs and hurricane salvage costs incurred during the first quarter of 2006.

 

These decreases were partially offset by a net increase of $43 million in earnings from the Southern and Western U.S. operations in 2006, which reflected the following:

 

 

improved price realizations and mix – these factors contributed $24 million, more than half of which was in Western export log prices;

 

a slightly higher level of fee harvest in 2006, which contributed an additional $8 million in earnings; and

 

recognition of a $12 million timber loss in 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina.

OUR OUTLOOK

We expect Timberlands earnings to be lower in the first quarter of 2008 compared with the fourth quarter of 2007.

 

 

The continued weakness in the housing market and the lower volumes and higher costs due to the December storm event are expected to result in both lower volumes and lower prices in the Western market.

 

There will be fewer sales of nonstrategic timberlands.

 

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WOOD PRODUCTS

HOW WE DID IN 2007

We report sales volume and annual production data for our Wood Products business segment in Our Business/What We Do/Wood Products. Here is a comparison of net sales and revenues and contribution (charge) to earnings for the last three years:

Net Sales and Revenues and Contribution (Charge) to Earnings for Wood Products

 

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS  
                      

AMOUNT OF CHANGE

 
     2007     2006     2005    

2007

vs.

2006

   

2006

vs.

2005

 
Net sales and revenues: