NEW YORK, Dec. 27, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP has filed a class action lawsuit against Rayonier, Inc. ("Rayonier" or the "Company") (NYSE:RYN) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, and docketed under 14-cv-1395, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased Rayonier securities between February 28, 2014 and November 7, 2014, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act").
If you are a shareholder who purchased Rayonier securities during the Class Period, you have until January 12, 2015 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, x237. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.
Rayonier, Inc. engages in the sale and development of real estate and timberland management, as well as in the production and sale of cellulose fibers in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia. The company operates in four segments: Timber, Real Estate, Performance Fibers, and Wood Products.
The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Rayonier's financial statements overstated its estimated merchantable timber inventory volumes by including timber in specially designated parcels located in restricted, environmentally sensitive or economically inaccessible areas; (2) the inclusion of this timber was incorrect, inconsistent with Rayonier's historical definition of merchantable timber inventory, and a significant change from prior years; (3) Rayonier's financial statements understated depletion expense in cost of goods sold by approximately $2.0 million in each of the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2014, and June 30, 2014, which resulted in a corresponding overstatement of income from continuing operations of $1.9 million and $2.0 million, respectively, in those periods; (4) there was a material weakness in Rayonier's internal controls related to financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, March 31, 2014, and June 30, 2014; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, Rayonier's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
On November 10, 2014, before the market opened for trading, the Company issued a press release and filed a Form 8-K with the SEC, reporting third quarter results and announcing a restatement of prior issued financial statements, which contained material errors.
On this news, shares of Rayonier fell $5.08 or almost 15%, on unusually heavy volume, to close at $28.82 on November 10, 2014.
The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and San Diego, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 70 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.