Fletcher Challenge Forests To Partition Its Business; Joint CEOs Appointed
Auckland, 24 March 2003 – Fletcher Challenge Forests today announced that it will partition out its forest ownership
activities from its added value processing, marketing, distribution and forest management activities.
The Company Chairman, Sir Dryden Spring, said the move flows from the statement of strategic direction announced last
year, which was to:
Run the business efficiently to world’s best standards; Invest in high margin added value processing and distribution;
Reduce investment in trees where appropriate value can be achieved; and Return surplus capital to shareholders.
Under these strategies, the Company intends to further reduce the capital employed in its forests by sourcing
substantial external investment into its forest estates. The recent sale of cutting rights to UBS is an important first
step in this strategy.
Capital released by these activities will be returned to shareholders.
Sir Dryden said “The announcement today that the Company’s forest estate will be partitioned is the logical next step in
ensuring that the Company is structured in a manner which assists our objective of introducing new investors into the
ownership of our forest estate. This will allow the Company to increase its focus on improving the margin at the
value-added processing, marketing and distribution segments of the value chain. It is a very clear statement to the
market and to shareholders that the Board of Fletcher Challenge Forests is committed to intensifying the focus of the
Company on those points in the forest products value chain where the greatest returns can be achieved for the dollars
invested. It is also a clear statement that the Company is committed to achieving a value from its forest estate that is
well in excess of the value currently ascribed to it in the Fletcher Challenge Forests share price today.
Sir Dryden said while the specific details of the new structure are still under consideration, the matter is proceeding
with urgency. Macquarie New Zealand Limited has been appointed as advisors in the restructuring process.
The Fletcher Challenge Forests Chairman said the strategy will see the Company evolve into a different forestry business
where the focus will be on access and supply, rather than necessarily ownership of the forest resource. We already have
an existing business dealing in third-party supply and trading and this activity will become significantly more
important. The Company will continue to develop the internationally recognised skill and experience of its forestry
staff, and will utilise this capability in appropriate management and contractual arrangements.
Investment will also be focused on added value processing, marketing and the Company’s successful global distribution
activities.
Sir Dryden said the restructuring of a company of the size and complexity of Fletcher Challenge Forests will be a
demanding process, and will require leadership from people who have both the necessary skills and depth of knowledge of
the Company and its people. The nature of the Company will also change. For these reasons, and after careful
consideration, the Board has adopted a new senior executive structure to lead this phase of the Company’s development,
and has appointed two of our very senior executives as Joint Chief Executive Officers, upon the retirement of Terry
McFadgen at the end of the month.
John Dell (currently Chief Financial Officer) and Ian Boyd (currently Chief Operating Officer) will be appointed Joint
Chief Executive Officers of Fletcher Challenge Forests. Under the new structure John Dell will assume responsibility for
corporate strategy, restructuring initiatives and Group financial performance, in addition to his responsibilities as
Chief Financial Officer. Ian Boyd will take responsibility for all the Company’s operational activities, growth
strategies and external commercial relationships. Both will report directly to the Board. These appointments will become
effective from 1 April 2003.
Sir Dryden said the appointments are logical and essential to provide established leadership through a restructuring
phase.
“John and Ian have exceptional skills and in depth knowledge of the operational and financial aspects of the Company and
its essential external and internal relationships. They will provide the essential focus and drive the new strategy and
the emerging new Company.”
Sir Dryden also paid tribute to retiring Chief Executive Officer, Terry McFadgen.