RAYONIER INC

13. INVENTORY

As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, our inventory consisted entirely of finished goods, as follows:

(a)Represents the cost of HBU real estate (including capitalized development investments) expected to be sold as well as the cost of HBU real estate deferred until post-closing obligations are satisfied. See Note 12 — Higher And Better Use Timberlands and Real Estate Development Investments for additional information.

(b)Represents the basis in New Zealand carbon units intended to be sold in the next 12 months.

14. OTHER OPERATING EXPENSE, NET

Other operating expense, net consisted of the following:

15. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

We hadone qualified non-contributory defined benefit pension plan covering a portion of our employees and an unfunded plan that provides benefits in excess of amounts allowable under current tax law in the qualified plans. We closed enrollment in the pension plans to salaried employees hired after December 31, 2005. Effective December 31, 2016, we froze benefits for all employees participating in the pension plan. In lieu of the pension plan, we provide those employees with an enhanced 401(k) plan match similar to what is currently provided to employees hired after December 31, 2005. Employee benefit plan liabilities are calculated using actuarial estimates and management assumptions. These estimates are based on historical information, along with certain assumptions about future events. Changes in assumptions, as well as changes in actual experience, could cause the estimates to change.

DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN

In December 2022, the Rayonier Board of Directors authorized the termination of its Defined Benefit Plan. Affected participants were notified of the termination and provided with alternative distribution options. The Defined Benefit Plan was terminated on February 28, 2023. During the fourth quarter of 2023, lump sum distributions were made to participants who elected that option. The remaining plan liabilities were settled in March 2024 through the purchase of annuity contracts from a third-party insurance provider. In connection with the plan’s termination, we made a cash contribution of $2.7 million to fully fund the plan. Additionally, a pre-tax non-cash pension settlement charge of $5.7 million was recognized as a component of AOCI due to actuarial losses.

UNFUNDED PLAN

In July 2023, the Rayonier Board of Directors authorized the termination of the unfunded plan and distribution of all benefits in accordance with Section 409A ofthe Internal Revenue Code. The unfunded plan was terminated on July 31, 2023, and settled in the third quarter of 2024 with lump sum cash payments of $1.2 million. A pre-tax non-cash pension settlement charge related to the actuarial losses was recognized as a component of AOCI. See Note 17 — Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income for additional information.

The net pension and postretirement benefit costs (credits) that have been recorded are shown in the following tables:

(a)Prior to remeasurement of the Defined Benefit Plan due to the pension settlement, the weighted-average expected long-term rate of return on plan assets used in computing 2024 net periodic benefit cost for benefits was 5.0%.

16. INCOME TAXES

Rayonier is a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code and therefore generally does not pay U.S. federal or state income tax. As of September 30, 2024, Rayonier owns a 98.7% interest in the Operating Partnership and conducts substantially all of its timberland operations through the Operating Partnership. The taxable income or loss generated by the Operating Partnership is passed through and reported to its unit holders (including the Company) on a Schedule K-1 for inclusion in each unitholder’s income tax return.

Certain operations, including log trading and certain real estate activities, such as the entitlement, development and sale of HBU properties, are conducted through our TRS. The TRS subsidiaries are subject to United States federal and state corporate income tax. The New Zealand timber operations are conducted by the New Zealand subsidiary, which is subject to corporate-level tax at 28% in New Zealand and is treated as a partnership for U.S. income tax purposes.

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

The Company’s tax expense is principally related to corporate-level tax in New Zealand and non-resident withholding tax on repatriation of earnings from New Zealand. The following table contains the income tax (expense) benefit recognized on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (Loss):

(a)The nine months ended September 30, 2024 includes a $1.2 million income tax benefit related to the pension settlement.

ANNUAL EFFECTIVE TAX RATE

The Company’s effective tax rate after discrete items is below the 21.0% U.S. statutory rate due to tax benefits associated with being a REIT. The following table contains the Company’s annualized effective tax rate after discrete items:

17. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The following table summarizes the changes in AOCI by component for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and the year ended December 31, 2023. All amounts are presented net of tax and exclude portions attributable to noncontrolling interests.

(a)The nine months ended September 30, 2024 includes $5.3 million of other comprehensive income related to interest rate products. The year ended December 31, 2023 included $10.3 million of other comprehensive income related to interest rate products. See Note 7 — Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities for additional information.

(b)This component of other comprehensive income is included in the computation of net periodic pension and post-retirement costs. The nine months ended September 30, 2024 includes a pension settlement charge of $4.6 million, net of tax of $1.2 million. The year ended December 31, 2023 includes a $2.0 million pension settlement charge. See Note 15 — Employee Benefit Plans for additional information.

The following table presents details of the amounts reclassified in their entirety from AOCI to net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023: