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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________________________

FORM 10-Q
_______________________________


x  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period
ended September 30, 2004

OR

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

Commission File No.:   1-13573-01
     1-13573

INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC
FIBER FINANCE CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE 91-1217136
DELAWARE 91-1851612
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
   
6400 Highway 66
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
97601
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:    541-884-2240


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 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.

Yes x                  No o

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

Yes  o                 No x

 


 
 
FORM 10-Q
 
 
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
PART
I
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FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)
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Part
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PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS)
(UNAUDITED)

 

       
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
       

 
       
2004
2003
 
       
       
 
Revenues     $  3,569       $  4,746  
Cost of timber harvested        (2,774 )       (3,267 )
Depletion, depreciation and road amortization        (1,198 )       (1,977 )
Cost of timber and property sales        (26 )       (55 )
 
   
 
         Gross loss       (429 )       (553 )
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses        (1,525 )       (1,623 )
Equity in net loss of affiliate        (5,239 )       (4,618 )
 
   
 
         Operating loss        (7,193 )       (6,794 )
 
Interest expense        (5,414 )        (5,414 ) 
Amortization of deferred financing fees        (169 )        (169 ) 
Other income, net        219         32  
 
   
 
 
         Net loss      $  (12,557 )      $  (12,345 ) 
 
   
 
 
 
See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements 



1


 


PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS)
(UNAUDITED)

 

       
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
       

 
       
2004
2003
 
       
       
 
Revenues (including $345 (2004) and $8,300 (2003) to affiliates)     $  22,648       $  26,304  
Cost of timber harvested        (7,294 )       (9,839 )
Depletion, depreciation and road amortization        (7,200 )       (8,298 )
Cost of timber and property sales        (9,970 )       (9,169 )
 
   
 
         Gross loss       (1,816 )       (1,002 )
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses        (5,745 )       (4,662 )
Equity in net loss of affiliate        (14,513 )       (12,467 )
 
   
 
         Operating loss        (22,074 )       (18,131 )
 
Interest expense        (16,214 )        (16,198 ) 
Amortization of deferred financing fees        (506 )        (507 ) 
Other income, net        287         106  
 
   
 
 
         Net loss      $  (38,507 )      $  (34,730 ) 
 
   
 
 
 
See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements 

2


PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 
(IN THOUSANDS)
         
September 30,
December 31,
 
         
2004
2003
 
 
   
 
         
(Unaudited)
*
 
ASSETS               
Current assets:               
     Cash and cash equivalents    $   325     $   1,447  
     Accounts receivable      539         530  
     Other receivables      597         332  
     Notes receivable      105         103  
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets              220  
 
   
 
               Total current assets      1,566         2,632  
 
Timber and timberlands, net      112,260         129,002  
Investment in affiliates      18,901         33,414  
Property, plant and equipment, net      810         833  
Notes receivable, less current portion      10         10  
Restricted cash      155         154  
Deferred financing fees, net      2,117         2,623  
 
   
 
 
               Total assets    $   135,819     $   168,668  
 
   
 
 
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS' DEFICIENCY              
Current liabilities:               
     Accounts payable      777         525  
     Accrued liabilities      2,644         511  
     Accrued bond interest      8,136         2,830  
     Customer deposit      3,032         5,000  
     Payable to managing member and affiliates      219         284  
 
   
 
               Total current liabilities      14,808         9,150  
 
   
 
 
Long-term debt      225,000         225,000  
 
   
 
 
Members' deficiency               
     Managing member's interest      (1,063 )        (674 ) 
     Nonmanaging members' interest      (102,926 )        (64,808 ) 
 
   
 
               Total members' deficiency      (103,989 )        (65,482 ) 
 
   
 
 
               Total liabilities and members' deficiency    $   135,819     $   168,668  
 
   
 
           
*      Derived from audited Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2003

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

3


     INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)
(UNAUDITED)

     
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
     
 
       
2004
       
2003
 
       
       
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:                 
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities      $ (362 )      $ 328  
 
   
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:                 
         Timber, timberlands and road additions        (740 )        (1,752 ) 
         Sale (purchase) of property, plant and equipment - net        (20 )        26  
 
   
 
Net cash used in investing activities        (760 )        (1,726 ) 
 
   
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:                 
         Capital contribution                1,238  
 
   
 
Net cash used in financing activities                1,238  
 
   
 
 
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents        (1,122 )        (160 ) 
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period        1,447         965  
 
   
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period      $ 325       $ 805  

 
 
 
Noncash activities:                 
         Contribution of timberlands for investment in affiliate      $       $ 11,572  
 
Supplemental cash flow information:                 
         Cash paid for interest expense      $ 10,908       $ 10,829  
 
 
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements 

4


    INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except as otherwise indicated)

1.  Business and Basis of Presentation

Business

          The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Inland Fiber Group, LLC ("IFG"), a Delaware limited liability company, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Fiber Finance Corp. ("Finance Corp."), collectively referred to hereafter as the Company. Finance Corp. serves as the co-obligor for IFG's 9-5/8% Senior Notes due 2007 (the "Notes"). Finance Corp. has nominal assets and does not conduct operations. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

          The primary activities of the Company are the growing of trees and the sale of logs and standing timber to third party wood processors and the sale of excess land. The Company's timber is located principally in Oregon, east of the Cascade Range. Logs harvested from the timberlands are sold to unaffiliated domestic conversion facilities. These logs are processed for sale as lumber, plywood and other wood products, primarily for use in new residential home construction, home remodeling and repair and general industrial applications.

          Prior to July 2003, Pacific Fiber Company, LP, a master limited partnership (the "MLP") (formerly U.S. Timberlands Company, L.P.), owned a 99% non-managing member interest in the Company. The MLP was formed on June 27, 1997 to acquire and own substantially all of the equity interests in the Company. Timber Resource Services, LLC (formerly known as U.S. Timberlands Services Company, LLC, the "Manager") manages the business of the Company and owns a 1% non-voting membership interest in the Company.

          On October 17, 2002, the MLP announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by an acquisition company formed by a group led by senior management (the "Privatization Transaction"). The group beneficially owned 36.4% of the combined outstanding limited partnership units of the MLP consisting of 16% of the common units and 98% of the subordinated units. The definitive agreement contemplated a cash tender offer for 100% of the outstanding common limited partnership units not already owned by the acquiring entity or its affiliates for $3.00 per unit in cash, followed by a merger of the acquisition company with and into the MLP, pursuant to which each common limited partnership unit not already owned by the acquiring entity or its affiliates would be converted into the right to receive $3.00 per unit in cash. The tender offer commenced on November 19, 2002 and was completed on March 6, 2003. In connection with the tender offer, approximately 71% of the MLP's common units were tendered. The remaining common units held by non-affiliates not purchased in the tender offer were converted into the right to receive $3.00 per common unit in the merger which was completed on June 26, 2003.

          Subsequent to the Privatization Transaction, the 99% interest in the Company held by the MLP was transferred in a series of transactions to a newly-formed limited liability company, IFG Holdings, LLC. IFG Holdings, LLC is wholly owned by American Forest Resources, LLC ("AFR") (formerly known as US Timberlands Yakima, LLC), in which the Company holds a preferred equity interest. As part of this reorganization of the ownership structure of the

 

5


 

     INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(In thousands, except as otherwise indicated)

Company, a Board of Directors was elected for the Company to supervise its operations and a new management arrangement was established under which the Manager, whose interest was converted into a 1% non-voting interest in the Company, provides comprehensive timber management services to the Company pursuant to a fee-based management agreement.

          As a result of the Privatization Transaction described above, the Company is an indirect 99% owned subsidiary of AFR.

Basis of Presentation

          These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information and footnotes required in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted from these statements. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared on a consistent basis with and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Company's 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Operating results for the quarter and nine month period ended September 30, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other period. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the information for such periods.

          The accompanying condensed consolidated statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. In December 2003, the trustee under the indenture (the "Indenture") governing the Company's $225,000 of 9-5/8% Senior Notes, which mature in 2007 commenced litigation against the Company and others alleging, among other matters, that the Company has violated certain covenants contained in the Indenture. The Company has denied all of the allegations and made a motion to dismiss the complaint. In May 2004, the Company received a Notice of Default from the trustee covering certain of the allegations in the complaint. The Defendants responded to the Notice of Default denying the existence of any defaults. On July 29, 2004, the Court of Chancery dismissed the action, without prejudice, based on its determination that the trustee under the Indenture lacked standing under the terms of the Indenture to bring an action against the Defendants since the requisite notice of default and opportunity to cure had not been provided to the Company prior to the time the action was commenced. The trustee was granted 30 days to file an amended complaint and on August 27, 2004, the trustee filed its second amended complaint. On October 8, 2004, the trustee filed a motion for partial summary judgment. On October 15, 2004, the Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the second amended complaint. A hearing on both motions is scheduled for November 18, 2004. The Company and its legal counsel believe the litigation and the Notice of Default to be without merit and intend to vigorously defend the litigation.

          In the event the trustee prevails in the litigation, the Trustee will have the right to demand repayment and accelerate the maturity of the notes. If such event occurs, and the Company is unable to effect an amendment or a restructuring of the notes, the Company's ability to continue as a going concern would be in substantial doubt. The consolidated financial statements do not

 

6


INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(In thousands, except as otherwise indicated)

include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. (See Note 5 for a further discussion of the litigation).

2. Timber and Timberlands

          Timber and Timberlands consisted of the following:

            September 30,        December 31, 
            2004        2003 
 
 
                   Timber and logging roads      $ 274,172      $ 281,367 
                   Timberlands        17,099        19,269 
                   Seed orchard and nursery stock        1,275        1,451 
 
 
            292,546        302,087 
                   Less accumulated depletion and road amortization        180,286        173,085 
 
 
          $ 112,260      $ 129,002 
 
 

3. Investment in Affiliate


          Since October 1999, the Company has owned a redeemable preferred membership interest ("Preferred LLC Interest") in AFR, an affiliate accounted for under the equity method. As described in Note 1 to the Financial Statements, in 2003 the Company became an indirect subsidiary of AFR as a result of a series of transactions culminating in the contribution to a subsidiary of AFR of the 99% non-managing member's interest in the Company previously owned by the MLP.

          The following summarized unaudited financial information for AFR is presented on an AFR standalone basis without consolidation of the Company's results of operations to avoid duplication, which would otherwise occur. The results of AFR presented below reflect purchase accounting relating to the Privatization Transaction for periods subsequent to March 6, 2003.

        Three Months Ended         Three Months Ended         Nine Months Ended         Nine Months Ended  
        September 30         September 30         September 30         September 30  
        2004         2003         2004         2003  
 
   
   
   
 
 
Net sales   
$ 
2,666
$ 
4,398
$ 
7,407
$ 
8,514
 
Gross profit        64         84         633         (146 ) 
Loss before equity                                 
in the Company's Loss        (2,932 )        (2,484 )        (8,053 )        (7,472 ) 
Equity in Company's Loss (1)        (9,625 )        (9,861 )        (30,454 )        (23,274 ) 
Net loss        (12,557 )        (12,345 )        (38,507 )        (30,746 ) 

(1)      Reflects (a) charges of $2,307, $2,146, $6,447 and $5,006, respectively related to the amortization of $43,287 excess of cost over deficiency in net assets attributable to 63.6% acquired interest and (b) benefit of $3,984 representing share of the Company's net loss for 2003 attributable to 63.6% acquired interest, prior to acquisition.
 

7

 


 

     INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(In thousands, except as otherwise indicated)

4. Unit-based Compensation Plans

          Prior to the Privatization Transaction, the MLP had a Unit Option Plan, which permitted the grant of unit options to employees and directors of the Company who perform services for the Company covering 857,749 Common Units. As permitted under SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure, which was issued in December 2002 and amended SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, the Company has elected to follow the intrinsic value method in accounting for its stock-based employee compensation arrangements as defined by Accounting Principles Board Opinion ("APB") No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees", and related interpretations. There would have been no effect on net loss for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 to stock-based employee compensation.

          In connection with the Privatization Transaction described in Note 1, each outstanding unit option granted under the Unit Option Plan was converted into an option to receive, upon exercise, including payment of the exercise price, the $3.00 per unit merger consideration. Because the exercise price for each option was greater than the merger consideration, the Company does not expect any options to be exercised in the future.

5. Litigation

          On December 19, 2003, an action was brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County by the trustee under the Indenture against the Company, Finance Corp., the Manager, American Forest Resources, LLC, Cascade Resource Holdings Group, LLC, and all of the directors of the Manager as of January 1, 2003 (collectively, the "Defendants"). The complaint alleges that the Company violated the provisions of the Indenture by transferring certain assets to its affiliates, the directors of the Company violated their fiduciary duty to the Company and that the transfers of the assets were fraudulent conveyances and subject to rescission. The trustee seeks a declaration that the Company has violated the terms of the Indenture, an injunction against the transfer of additional assets out of the ordinary course of business, damages and the imposition of a constructive trust on the assets transferred by the Company to its affiliates. In January 2004, the plaintiff's motion to schedule a preliminary injunction hearing with respect to further transfers to affiliates and for expedited discovery was denied. In connection with the denial of the plaintiff's motion, the Company agreed that, through the earlier of December 31, 2004 and the resolution of the lawsuit, it would provide at least thirty days' notice before entering into any transfer of assets to affiliates, other than payment of management fees. Discovery began in January 2004 and is ongoing. On February 6, 2004, the Defendants filed a motion to dismiss. On March 26, 2004 a motion to stay discovery pending the outcome of the Defendant's motion to dismiss was denied. In May 2004, a hearing was held with respect to Defendants' motion to dismiss.  On May 17, 2004, the Company received a Notice of Default from the Trustee covering certain of the allegations in the complaint. The Defendants responded to the Notice of Default denying the existence of any defaults. On July 29, 2004, the Court of Chancery dismissed the action without prejudice, based on its determination that the trustee under the Indenture lacked standing under the terms of the Indenture to bring an action

8


 

      INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(In thousands, except as otherwise indicated)

 

against the Defendants because the requisite notice of default and opportunity to cure had not been provided to the Company prior to the time the action was commenced. The Trustee was granted 30 days to file an amended complaint and on August 27, 2004, the Trustee filed its second amended complaint. On October 8, 2004, the Trustee filed a motion for partial summary judgment. On October 15, 2004, the Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the second amended complaint. A hearing on both motions is scheduled for November 18, 2004. The Company and its legal counsel believe the litigation and the Notice of Default to be without merit and intend to vigorously defend the litigation.

6. Long Term Debt

          The Company's long term debt consists of $225,000 of 9-5/8 % Senior Notes (the "Notes") due 2007, which were issued jointly and severally by the Company and Fiber Finance Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (collectively, the "Issuers"). The Issuers serve as co-obligors of the Notes. The Notes represent unsecured general obligations of the Issuers and bear interest at 9-5/8% payable semiannually in arrears on May 15 and November 15, and mature on November 15, 2007 unless previously redeemed. The Notes are redeemable at the option of the Issuers in whole or in part at predetermined redemption prices plus accrued interest to the redemption date.

          The Notes contain certain restrictive covenants, including limiting the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to make cash distributions, incur additional indebtedness, sell assets or harvest timber in excess of certain limitations. Under certain restrictive covenants, during 2003 and 2002, the Company was and presently is prohibited from making distributions to its members. Although the Company believes it was and is in compliance with the covenants contained in the Notes, the trustee under the indenture has alleged that the Company has violated certain covenants and has commenced litigation and also issued a notice of default, alleging issues already covered in its complaint as described in Note 5. On July 29, 2004, the Court of Chancery dismissed the action without prejudice, based on its determination that the trustee under the Indenture lacked standing under the terms of the Indenture to bring an action against the Defendants because the requisite notice of default and opportunity to cure had not been provided to the Company prior to the time the action was commenced. The trustee was granted 30 days to file an amended complaint. On August 27, 2004, the Trustee filed its second amended complaint. A hearing on the Defendants' motion to dismiss the second amended complaint and the Trustee's motion for partial summary judgment is scheduled for November 18, 2004. The Company and its legal counsel believe the litigation and the Notice of Default to be without merit and intend to vigorously defend the litigation.

7. Management Agreement

          Effective September 1, 2003, the Company entered into a new management agreement with the Manager. The management agreement replaced the prior arrangement under which the Company reimbursed the Manager for expenses incurred on the Company's behalf. The management agreement provides for an annual fee of 2% of the agreed upon valuation of total timber and timberland assets under management, payable monthly. In addition, the Company established its own Board of Directors to supervise the management of the Company.

9


 

      INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (concluded)
(In thousands, except as otherwise indicated)

8. Subsequent Events

          On October 22, 2004, the Company sold approximately 72,951 acres of timberland containing approximately 120 MMBF of merchantable timber and realized gross proceeds of approximately $18.2 million. With this sale, the Company has exceeded the "Adjusted Asset Sales Amount" as defined in the Indenture governing the Company's $225 million of 9.625% Senior Notes due 2007 by an estimated $1.5 million. As required by the Indenture, the Company has set this amount aside in a restricted account and will use the funds to invest in additional assets over the next 270 days and, to the extent any such funds are not so used prior to the expiration of that period (or not committed to be so used within 30 days of the expiration of such period) such unused amount shall be designated as "Excess Sale Proceeds." When Excess Sale Proceeds exceed $10.0 million, the Company is required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes with the Excess Sale Proceeds.

 

10


     INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward-Looking Statements

          Certain information contained in this report may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although the Company believes that expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such risks, trends and uncertainties include the highly cyclical nature of the forest products industry, general economic conditions, competition, price conditions or trends for the Company's products, the possibility that timber supply could increase if governmental, environmental or endangered species policies change, and limitations on the Company's ability to harvest its timber due to adverse natural conditions or increased governmental restrictions. These and other risks are described in the Company's other reports and registration statements, which are available from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Application of Critical Accounting Policies

          Certain accounting policies have a significant impact on amounts reported in the financial statements. A summary of those significant accounting policies can be found in Note 1 to the Company's financial statements included in the Company's 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company has not adopted any significant new accounting policies during the nine months ended September 30, 2004.

          Among the significant judgments made by management in the preparation of the Company's financial statements are the determination of the allowance for doubtful accounts and the rates of depletion applicable to the Company's merchantable timber. These determinations are made periodically in the ordinary course of accounting.

Overview

          The Company's principal operations consist of growing and harvesting timber and selling logs, standing timber and related by-products to third party wood processors and related party purchasers as well as the sale of excess timberland. These logs and by-products are processed for sale as lumber, molding products, doors, mill work, commodity, specialty and overlaid plywood products, laminated veneer lumber, engineered wood I-beams, particleboard, hardboard, paper and other wood products. These products are used in residential, commercial and industrial construction, home remodeling and repair, general industrial applications and a variety of paper products. The results of the Company's operations and its ability to pay distributions to its members depend upon a number of factors, many of which are beyond its control. These factors include general economic and industry conditions, domestic and export prices, supply and demand for timber logs, seasonality, government regulations affecting the manner in which timber may be harvested, and competition from other supplying regions and substitute products. The Company is currently not permitted to make any distributions to members (see Financial Condition and Liquidity).

11


 

INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

 

 

Seasonality

          The Company's log and standing timber sales volumes are generally at their lowest levels in the first and second quarters of each year. In the first quarter, heavy snowfalls in higher elevations prevent access to many areas of the Company's timberlands. This limited access, along with spring break-up conditions (when warming weather thaws and softens roadbeds) in March or April, restricts logging operations to lower elevations and areas with rockier soil types. As a result of these constraints, the Company's sales volumes are typically at their lowest in the first quarter, improving in the second quarter and at their highest during the third and fourth quarters. Most customers in the region react to this seasonality by carrying sufficiently high log inventories at the end of the calendar year to carry them to the second quarter of the following year.

Current Market Conditions

          Third quarter 2004 prices for finished wood products (e.g. lumber plywood and engineered wood products) remained consistent with pricing in the 2004 second quarter. Plywood prices remained strong as a result of the additional demand driven by the storm activity in the southern United States. Lumber prices leveled off and stopped increasing.

          Delivered log prices for Douglas Fir increased slightly during the quarter. This increase in price was due mainly to an increase in log size. Prices for veneer logs remained constant. Larger Ponderosa Pine saw log prices increased during the third quarter of 2004 and exceeded second quarter 2004 prices. Cedar prices remained constant with second quarter 2004 pricing.

 

12


 

     INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Results of Operations

          Selected operating statistics for the Company:

    SalesVolume (MBF)      Price Realization (MBF) 
 
Timber 
Timber 
 Period 
 Logs 
Stumpage 
Deeds 
Logs 
Stumpage
Deeds 
 
2004                                     
Three Months Ended September 30             7,369    —    872    $    332    $    —    $    215 
Three Months Ended June 30             8,775    —    26,915    $    318    $    —    $    102 
Three Months Ended March 31             6,932    —    1,249    $    317    $    —    $    158 
 
 
2003                                     
Three Months Ended September 30         12,833    —    1,104    $    306    $    -    $    135 
Three Months Ended June 30         14,314    —    10,869    $    320    $    -    $    136 
Three Months Ended March 31         17,098    —    2,886    $    313    $    -    $    236 

Quarter Ended September 30, 2004 Compared to Quarter Ended September 30, 2003

Revenues

          Revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 were $3.6 million, a decrease of $1.1 million or 23% from revenues of $4.7 million for the same period in 2003. The decrease in revenues during the third quarter of 2004 was caused by lower log sales of $1.5 million offset by higher chip and by-product sales of $0.2 million.

          Timber deed sales for the third quarter of 2004 were $0.2 million on volume of 0.9 million board feet ("MMBF"), an increase of $0.1 million as compared to the same period in 2003, when timber deed sales were $0.1 million on 1.1 MMBF. The average timber deed price was $215 per thousand board feet ("MBF") during the third quarter of 2004, as compared to $135 per MBF for the same period in 2003.

          Log sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 were $2.4 million on volume of 7.4 MMBF, a decrease of $1.5 million as compared to the same period in 2003 when log sales were $3.9 million on 12.8 MMBF. The average sales price was $332 per MBF for the third quarter of 2004, as compared to an average $306 per MBF for the same period in 2003.

          In addition, property sales for the third quarter of 2004 were $0.1 million, as compared to $0.0 million for the same period in 2003.

Gross Profit

          The Company had a gross loss of $0.4 million in the third quarter of 2004 as compared to a gross loss of $0.6 million for the same period in 2003. As a percentage of sales, the gross loss was 12% in both the 2003 and 2004 quarters.

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     INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

          Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $0.1 million from $1.6 million in the third quarter of 2003 to $1.5 million in the third quarter of 2004. The decrease was attributable to overall lower costs offset by increased management company fees of $0.7 million.

Equity in Net Loss of Affiliate

          Equity in net loss of affiliate was $5.2 million for the third quarter of 2004. This amount reflects the Company's share of the net loss of an affiliate (AFR) accounted for under the equity method. This compares to equity in net loss of affiliate of $4.6 million in the third quarter of 2003.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003

Revenues

          Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 were $22.6 million, a decrease of $3.7 million or 14% from revenues of $26.3 million for the same period in 2003. The decrease in revenues during the first nine months of 2004 was caused by lower log sales of $6.5 million offset by increased sales of timber deeds, timberlands, and by-product.

          Timber deed sales for the first nine months of 2004 were $3.1 million on volume of 29.0 MMBF, a decrease of $5.8 million as compared to the same period in 2003, when timber deed sales were $8.9 million on 48.4 MMBF. The average timber deed price was $108 per MBF during the first nine months of 2004, as compared to $156 per MBF for the same period in 2003.

          Log sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 were $7.4 million on volume of 23.1 MMBF, a decrease of $6.5 million as compared to the same period in 2003 when log sales were $13.9 million on 44.2 MMBF. The average sales price was $322 per MBF for the first nine months of 2004, as compared to an average $313 per MBF for the same period in 2003. The increase in log prices reflects a general increase in the market.

          In addition, property sales for the 2004 first nine months were $9.9 million, as compared to $8.9 million for the same period in 2003.

Gross Profit

          The Company had a gross loss of $1.8 million in the first nine months of 2004 as compared to a gross loss of $1.0 million for the same period in 2003. As a percentage of sales, the gross loss was 8% as compared to a gross loss percentage of 4% in the first nine months of 2003. The gross loss percentage in 2004 was adversely impacted compared to 2003 by higher timberland sales, silviculture, and by-product costs, offset by lower logging and logging depletion costs.

 

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     INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

          Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $1.0 million from $4.7 million in the first nine months of 2003 to $5.7 million in the first nine months of 2004. The increase was attributable to increased management company fees of $2.7 million and increased legal fees of $0.9 million offset by overall lower costs.

Equity in Net Loss of Affiliate

          Equity in net loss of affiliate was $14.5 million for the first nine months of 2004. This amount reflects the Company's share of the net loss of an affiliate (AFR) accounted for under the equity method. This compares to equity in net loss of affiliate of $12.5 million in the first nine months of 2003.

Financial Condition and Liquidity

Operating Activities

          Cash flows used in operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2004 were $0.4 million, as compared to cash provided by operating activities of $0.3 million during the same period in 2003. The $0.7 million decrease is primarily due to the Company's decrease in sales revenue in comparison to the same period in 2003.

Investing Activities

          Cash flows used in investing activities were $0.8 million during the first nine months of 2004 and $1.7 million during the first nine months of 2003. The difference of $0.9 million is primarily attributable to a timber deed purchase in May 2003 of $0.8 million.

Financing Activities

          The agreement governing the Company's 9-5/8% Senior Notes due 2007 (the "Notes") contains restrictive covenants, including limitations on harvest levels, land sales, cash distributions and the amount of future indebtedness. Under the Notes, the Company's average annual adjusted harvest volume over any period of four consecutive years cannot exceed a volume of approximately 147 MMBF as adjusted for timberland sales and purchases. The Notes also limit one-year harvest levels and average annual harvest levels for consecutive two-and-three year periods. As of September 30, 2004, the Company was in compliance with the covenants contained in the Notes. As of September 30, 2004, the Company was not permitted to make any distributions, as it had not exceeded the requisite Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio within the Restricted Payments provisions of the Notes.

          Through the first nine months of 2004, the Company funded its investing activities and met its cash requirements for debt service from operations and cash on hand.

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INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

          Cash required to meet the Company's debt service will be significant. To meet its working capital requirements, the Company for the past several years has been selling logs and making timber sales at a rate in excess of the Manager's estimate of the current annual board footage growth on the Company's timberlands. The debt service and, prior to April 2001, quarterly cash distributions have been funded from operations and borrowings. Given projected volumes for sales of logs and timber, estimated current board footage growth on the timberlands and the harvest restrictions in the Notes, unless prices improve, costs are reduced, new markets are developed or the Company makes accretive acquisitions, the Company's ability in the future to make distributions will be adversely affected. On May 10, 2001 the Company announced an indefinite suspension of distributions. The Company continues to evaluate means to improve cash flows, including the factors mentioned above. There can be no assurance that prices will improve or that the Company will be able to take any of these actions and it is unlikely prices will improve or any of these actions will take effect within a short-term horizon. The Company will continue to look to log and timber deed sales as well as the sale of excess timberlands, and short-term advances from an affiliated lender, to meet its short-term cash needs and meet debt service.

          On December 19, 2003, an action was brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County by the trustee under the Indenture against the Company, Finance Corp., the Manager, American Forest Resources, LLC, Cascade Resource Holdings Group, LLC, and all of the directors of the Manager as of January 1, 2003 (collectively, the "Defendants"). The complaint alleges that the Company violated the provisions of the Indenture by transferring certain assets to its affiliates, the directors of the Company violated their fiduciary duty to the Company and that the transfers of the assets were fraudulent conveyances and subject to rescission. The trustee seeks a declaration that the Company has violated the terms of the Indenture, an injunction against the transfer of additional assets out of the ordinary course of business, damages and the imposition of a constructive trust on the assets transferred by the Company to its affiliates. In January 2004, the plaintiff's motion to schedule a preliminary injunction hearing with respect to further transfers to affiliates and for expedited discovery was denied. In connection with the denial of the plaintiff's motion, the Company agreed that, through the earlier of December 31, 2004 and the resolution of the lawsuit, it would provide at least thirty days' notice before entering into any transfer of assets to affiliates, other than payment of management fees. Discovery began in January 2004 and is ongoing. On February 6, 2004, the Defendants filed a motion to dismiss. On March 26, 2004 a motion to stay discovery pending the outcome of the Defendant's motion to dismiss was denied. In May 2004, a hearing was held with respect to defendants' motion to dismiss On May 17, 2004, the Company received a Notice of Default from the Trustee covering certain of the allegations in the complaint. The Defendants responded to the Notice of Default denying the existence of any defaults. On July 29, 2004, the Court of Chancery dismissed the action, without prejudice, based on its determination that the trustee under the Indenture lacked standing under the terms of the Indenture to bring an action against the Defendants because the requisite notice of default and opportunity to cure had not been provided to the Company at the time the action was commenced. The trustee was granted 30 days to file an amended complain and on August 27, 2004, the Trustee filed its second amended complaint. On October 8, 2004, the Trustee filed a motion for partial summary judgment. On October 15, 2004, the Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the second amended complaint. A hearing on both motions is scheduled for November 18, 2004. The Company and its legal counsel believe the litigation and the Notice of Default to be without merit and intend to vigorously defend the litigation.

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INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

  Not applicable.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

          The Company's management maintains an adequate system of disclosure controls and procedures to promote the timely identification and reporting of material, relevant information. The Company's President and Chief Executive Officer and its Vice President and Chief Financial Officer meet regularly with members of senior management of the Manager to discuss significant transactions and events affecting the Company's operations and consider whether topics discussed represent information that should be disclosed under the rules of the SEC. The Company established a Board of Directors in July 2003 and it includes an Audit Committee. The Audit Committee reviews all reports on Form 10-Q and 10-K prior to their filing. The Audit Committee is responsible for hiring the Company's external auditors and meets with those auditors.

          The Company's President and Chief Executive Officer and its Vice President and Chief Financial Officer are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures. They have designed such controls to ensure that others make all material information known to them within the organization.

          As of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, the Company's principal executive officer and principal financial officer completed an evaluation of the disclosure controls and procedures and has determined them to be functioning properly and effectively. They did not discover any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses within the controls and procedures that required modifications. Since the completion of that evaluation, there have been no significant changes in internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect internal control over financial reporting.


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

          On June 21, 2002, the Company was notified that it was named in a lawsuit filed in State Court in Oregon as a codefendant seeking medical expenses and up to $12.0 million in damages for injuries sustained by the minor child of an employee of the Manager while riding on equipment owned by the Manager. At the time, liability insurance was in place, however, the insurance underwriter has since gone bankrupt and coverage is limited and is being administered by the Oregon Guarantee Insurance Association. Effective April 5, 2004 this case was dismissed with prejudice.

          On December 19, 2003, an action was brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County by the trustee under the Indenture against the Company,

 

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INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY


Finance Corp., the Manager, American Forest Resources, LLC, Cascade Resource Holdings Group, LLC, and all of the directors of the Manager as of January 1, 2003 (collectively, the "Defendants"). The complaint alleges that the Company violated the provisions of the Indenture by transferring certain assets to its affiliates, the directors of the Company violated their fiduciary duty to the Company and that the transfers of the assets were fraudulent conveyances and subject to rescission. The trustee seeks a declaration that the Company has violated the terms of the Indenture, an injunction against the transfer of additional assets out of the ordinary course of business, damages and the imposition of a constructive trust on the assets transferred by the Company to its affiliates. In January 2004, the plaintiff's motion to schedule a preliminary injunction hearing with respect to further transfers to affiliates and for expedited discovery was denied. In connection with the denial of the plaintiff's motion, the Company agreed that, through the earlier of December 31, 2004 and the resolution of the lawsuit, it would provide at least thirty days' notice before entering into any transfer of assets to affiliates, other than payment of management fees. Discovery began in January 2004 and is ongoing. On February 6, 2004, the Defendants filed a motion to dismiss. In May 2004, a hearing was held with respect to defendants' motion to dismiss. On March 26, 2004 a motion to stay discovery pending the outcome of the Defendant's motion to dismiss was denied. On May 17, 2004, the Company received a Notice of Default from the Trustee covering certain of the allegations in the complaint. The Defendants responded to the Notice of Default denying the existence of any defaults. On July 29, 2004, the Court of Chancery dismissed the action without prejudice, based on its determination that the trustee under the Indenture lacked standing under the terms of the Indenture to bring an action against the Defendants because the requisite notice of default and opportunity to cure had not been provided to the Company at the time the action was commenced. The Trustee was granted 30 days to file an amended complaint. and on August 27, 2004, the Trustee filed its second amended complaint. On October 8, 2004, the Trustee filed a motion for partial summary judgment. On October 15, 2004, the Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the second amended complaint. A hearing on both motions is scheduled for November 18, 2004. The Company and its legal counsel believe the litigation and the Notice of Default to be without merit and intend to vigorously defend the litigation. 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

          As noted above in Part II, Item 1, the trustee under the Indenture has alleged that the Company is in default under the Indenture as a result of its violation of certain provisions of the Notes.


ITEMS 2, 4, AND 5 OF PART II

          Are not applicable and have been omitted.

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     INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

ITEM 6.    EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)      Exhibits
 
  31.1      Certification of CEO Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
 
  31.2      Certification of CFO Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
 
  32.1      Sarbanes-Oxley Certification of CEO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  32.2      Sarbanes-Oxley Certification of CFO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
(b)      Reports on Form 8-K
 
  None.

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SIGNATURES

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date:    November 14, 2004    INLAND FIBER GROUP, LLC 
       
By: 
  /s/ Thomas C. Ludlow 

            Thomas C. Ludlow 
            Vice President and Treasurer 
            (Principal Financial Officer) 

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