An example of one of our portfolio holdings which has, and continues to have, opportunities for self-help is Weyerhaeuser (NYSE:WY). Weyerhaeuser is one of the Fund’s largest holdings and, as stated above, was our most significant contributor to performance, with a total return of 26.8%, during the quarter. We added to the position during the quarter on weakness. We believe the company remains attractively priced given its high-quality assets and additional opportunities for longer-term growth.
Weyerhaeuser is a well-capitalized U.S.-based forest products company with timberland holdings, wood products used in homebuilding, and cellulose fibers used in absorbency products such as paper towels. The company had been negatively impacted by macro-related headwinds from a decline in demand from China and continued weak U.S. housing markets. CEO Doyle Simons, hired in 2013, responded with numerous measures. The company streamlined its operations by selling off its homebuilding business, bolstered its timberlands portfolio with the acquisition of Longview Timber, enacted cost cutting measures throughout the company, and initiated a significant, $1.5 billion share buyback program, which at the time accounted for nearly 10% of shares outstanding. During the quarter, the company completed its merger with Plum Creek Timber Company in a stock-for-stock transaction. Management estimates at least $100 million of annual savings from cost synergies. The merger increases Weyerhaeuser’s exposure to the U.S. South, a region which should benefit when the residential market recovers. In addition, Plum Creek brings with it a team that historically had been able to unlock higher-and-better-use values from its timberlands; we believe that additional opportunities to do so lie in Weyerhaeuser’s timberlands portfolio. Also, post-quarter end, Weyerhaeuser announced an agreement to sell its cellulose fibers pulp mills for $2.2 billion in cash. They plan on using a substantial portion of the after-tax proceeds from the sale to pay down debt.
From Third Avenue Management (Trades, Portfolio)'s ThirdAvenueValueFund second quarter commentary.
