Edgar Filing: POTLATCH CORP

PCH.10K.2012

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K



(Mark One)	x	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
		For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012
	o	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
		For the transition period from to .

Commission File Number 1-32729

POTLATCH CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Delaware		82-0156045
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)
601 West 1st Ave., Suite 1600
Spokane, Washington		99201
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (509) 835-1500

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:



TITLE OF EACH CLASS		NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED
Common Stock		The Nasdaq Global Select Market
($1 par value)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. x Yes ¨ No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act ¨ Yes x No

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 for 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. x Yes ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). x Yes ¨ No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) ¨ Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). ¨ Yes x No

The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant at June 30, 2012, was approximately $1,288.2 million, based on the closing price of $31.94.

The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of January 31, 2013: 40,397,613 shares of Common Stock, par value $1 per share.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the definitive proxy statement expected to be filed on or about April 1, 2013, with the Commission in connection with the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders are incorporated by reference in Part III hereof.

POTLATCH CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Table of Contents



		PAGE NUMBER
PART I
ITEM 1.	Business	3
ITEM 1A.	Risk Factors	9
ITEM 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	18
ITEM 2.	Properties	18
ITEM 3.	Legal Proceedings	19
ITEM 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	19
PART II
ITEM 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	20
ITEM 6.	Selected Financial Data	21
ITEM 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	21
ITEM 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	21
ITEM 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	21
ITEM 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	22
ITEM 9A.	Controls and Procedures	22
ITEM 9B.	Other Information	22
PART III
ITEM 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	23
ITEM 11.	Executive Compensation	23
ITEM 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	23
ITEM 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	24
ITEM 14.	Principal Accounting Fees and Services	24
PART IV
ITEM 15.	Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules	25
SIGNATURES		26
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES		27
EXHIBIT INDEX		81

EXPLANATORY NOTE

For purposes of this report, any references to "the company,” “us,” “we,” and “our” include Potlatch Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This report contains, in addition to historical information, certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation, statements regarding timber inventory, increasing lumber demand and pricing in North America in 2013, increased North American housing starts and repair and remodel activity, increased lumber demand and higher lumber prices due to Asian demand, the mountain pine beetle, limited dealer inventories and a recovering manufacturing base, the expected positive effect on timber prices of increased lumber demand and higher lumber prices, expected increase in 2013 of Idaho sawlog prices, expectations that 2013 pulpwood pricing and Arkansas sawlog pricing will be comparable or lower than 2012, expected weak residuals markets in 2013, expected increase in logging costs, expected 2013 overall timber harvest of 3.8 million tons, estimated 2013 timber harvest in Idaho of 2.1 million tons, estimated 2013 timber harvest in Arkansas of 1.5 million tons, expected timber harvest level of 4.6 million tons annually in the next several years, expected shipments of lumber in 2013, expected sales of 110,000 to 120,000 acres of HBU property, 80,000 to 90,000 acres of rural real estate property and 10,000 to 20,000 acres of non-strategic timberland over the next 10 to 15 years, expected sale of 18,000 to 20,000 acres in 2013, with 60% of the acreage being rural real estate, 20% HBU and 20% non-strategic timberland, expected higher prices in 2013 for real estate, estimated average selling price per acre in 2013 of $1,400, expectations of basis of land sold in 2013, estimated number of transactions closing per quarter in 2013, expected improved operating results in the Wood Products segment and Resource segment as housing starts increase and lumber demand and prices improve, funding of our dividend distributions in 2013, compliance with REIT tax rules, FSC certification of our timberlands, expectations regarding premium prices for FSC-certified logs, realization of deferred tax assets, like-kind exchanges and tax consequences, expected 2013 tax provision, expected capital expenditures in 2013, expectations regarding funding of our pension plans in 2013, expected liquidity in 2013 to fund our operations, regular stockholder distributions, capital expenditures and debt service obligations, expected corporate general and administrative expenses in 2013, expected depreciation, depletion and amortizations in 2013 and related matters. Words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “will,” “intend,” “plan,” “target,” “project,” “believe,” “seek,” “schedule,” “estimate,” “could,” “can,” “may,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views regarding future events based on estimates and assumptions, and are therefore subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Our actual results of operations could differ materially from our historical results or those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained in this report. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the following:


•	changes in timber growth rates;


•	changes in silviculture;


•	timber cruising variables;


•	changes in state forest acts or best management practices;


•	changes in timber harvest levels on our lands;


•	changes in timber prices;


•	changes in timberland values;


•	changes in policy regarding governmental timber sales;


•	changes in the United States and international economies;


•	changes in the level of residential and commercial construction and remodeling activity;


•	changes in tariffs, quotas and trade agreements involving wood products;


•	changes in demand for our products;


•	changes in production and production capacity in the forest products industry;


•	competitive pricing pressures for our products;


•	unanticipated manufacturing disruptions;

2012 FORM 10-K / 1


•	changes in general and industry-specific environmental laws and regulations;


•	unforeseen environmental liabilities or expenditures;


•	weather conditions;


•	changes in raw material and other costs;


•	collectability of amounts owed by customers;


•	changes in federal and state tax laws;


•	the ability to satisfy complex rules in order to remain qualified as a REIT; and


•	changes in tax laws that could reduce the benefits associated with REIT status.

For a discussion of some of the factors that may affect our business, results and prospects, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”

Forward-looking statements contained in this report present our views only as of the date of this report. Except as required under applicable law, we do not intend to issue updates concerning any future revisions of our views to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report.

2 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

Part I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General

Potlatch Corporation is a real estate investment trust, or REIT, with approximately 1.42 million acres of timberlands in Arkansas, Idaho and Minnesota. We derive much of our income from investments in real estate, including the sale of standing timber. Through wholly owned taxable REIT subsidiaries, which we refer to collectively in this report as Potlatch TRS, we operate a real estate sales and development business and five wood products manufacturing facilities that produce lumber and plywood.

Our businesses are organized into three reportable operating segments: Resource; Real Estate; and Wood Products. Our Resource segment manages our timberlands to optimize revenue producing opportunities while adhering to our strict stewardship standards. Management activities include planting and harvesting trees and building and maintaining roads. The Resource segment also seeks to increase our revenues from non-timber resources such as hunting leases, recreation permits and leases, mineral rights leases, biomass production, carbon sequestration and other leasing opportunities. The business of our Real Estate segment consists primarily of the sale of selected non-core timberland real estate. The Real Estate segment engages in real estate subdivision and development activities through Potlatch TRS and also plays an active role in negotiations for all timberland acquisitions. Our Wood Products segment manufactures and markets lumber and plywood. Additional information regarding each of our three operating segments is included on pages 4-8. Information relating to the amounts of revenues, operating income and identifiable assets attributable to each of our operating segments for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is included in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements contained in this report.

We are focused on the ownership of timberland, which we view as a unique and attractive asset due to the renewable nature of timber resources and timber’s long-term history of price appreciation in excess of inflation. Our primary objectives include using our timberland investments to generate income and maximizing the long-term value of our assets. We pursue these objectives by adhering to the following strategies:

•

Managing our timberlands to improve their long-term sustainable yield. We manage our timberlands in a manner designed to optimize the balance among timber growth, prudent environmental management and current cash flow, in order to achieve increasing levels of sustainable yield over the long term. We may choose to harvest timber from time to time at levels above or below our then-current estimate of sustainability for various reasons, including improving the long-term productivity of certain timber stands or in response to market conditions. In addition, we focus on optimizing timber returns by continually improving productivity and yields through advanced silvicultural practices that take into account soil, climate and biological considerations.

•

Pursuing attractive dispositions and acquisitions. We actively pursue timberland dispositions and acquisitions that meet our financial and strategic criteria. Our disposition strategy focuses on opportunities to sell timberland that is more highly valued as real estate or where we believe pricing to be particularly attractive. The critical elements of our acquisition strategy generally include acquiring properties that complement our existing land base, are immediately cash flow accretive and have attractive timber or higher and better use, or HBU, values. We may acquire properties using proceeds from our timberland sales in order to defer taxes through like-kind exchange, or LKE, transactions.

•

Maximizing the value of our non-core timberland real estate. A significant portion of our acreage is more valuable for development or recreational purposes than for growing timber. We continually assess the potential uses of our lands to manage them proactively for the highest value. We have identified approximately 14% to 16% of our timberlands as having values that are potentially greater than timberland values.

•

Practicing sound environmental stewardship. We pursue a program of environmental stewardship and active involvement in federal, state and local policymaking to maximize our assets’ long-term value. We manage our timberlands in a manner consistent with the principles set forth by the Forest Stewardship Council, or FSC, and the International Standardization Organization, or ISO, which prescribe “best management practices,” with the intent that all of our timberlands will attain these certifications.

Potlatch Corporation, formerly known as Potlatch Holdings, Inc., was incorporated in Delaware in September 2005 to facilitate a restructuring to qualify for treatment as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. It is the successor to

2012 FORM 10-K / 3

the business of the original Potlatch Corporation, which was incorporated in Delaware in 1903, and which was merged into Potlatch Operating Company in connection with the restructuring.

Effective January 1, 2006, we restructured our operations to qualify for treatment as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, if we meet certain requirements we generally are not subject to federal and state corporate income taxes on our income from investments in real estate that we distribute to our stockholders, including the income derived from the sale of standing timber. We are, however, subject to corporate taxes on certain built-in gains (the excess of fair market value at January 1, 2006 over tax basis on that date) on sales of real property (other than timber) held by the REIT during the first ten years following our conversion to a REIT, except for sales occurring in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 modified the built-in gains provisions to exempt sales of real properties by a REIT in 2011, if five years of the recognition period had elapsed before January 1, 2011. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, enacted on January 2, 2013, extended the reduced five-year holding period for sales occurring in 2012 and 2013. If applicable, the built-in gains tax is eliminated or deferred if sale proceeds are reinvested in accordance with the like-kind exchange provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The built-in gains tax is not applicable to the sale of timber pursuant to a stumpage sale agreement or timber deed. We are required to pay federal corporate income taxes on income from our non-real estate investments, principally the operations of Potlatch TRS.

The REIT tax rules require that we derive most of our income, other than income generated by a taxable REIT subsidiary, from investments in real estate, which for us primarily consists of income from the sale of our standing timber. Accordingly, we restructured to create a new parent company that holds our timberlands through a REIT subsidiary and substantially all of our non-timberland assets, consisting primarily of our manufacturing facilities, assets used for the harvesting of timber and the sale of logs, and selected land parcels that we expect to be sold or developed for higher and better use purposes through Potlatch TRS. Our use of Potlatch TRS, which is taxed as a C corporation, enables us to continue to engage in these non-REIT qualifying businesses without violating the REIT requirements.

On December 16, 2008, we completed the tax-free spin-off of Clearwater Paper Corporation, or Clearwater Paper, which included our former pulp and paperboard and consumer products segments, as well as one of our former wood products operations.

Available Information

We make available on or through our website, www.potlatchcorp.com (under “Investor Resources – SEC Filings”), our periodic and current reports that we file with, or furnish to, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, at no charge as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file the information with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Information on our website is not part of this report. In addition, the reports and materials that we file with the SEC are available at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) and at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street N.E., Washington DC 20549. Interested parties may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

Resource Segment

Industry Background

The demand for timber depends primarily upon the markets for wood products, including lumber, panel products, paper and other pulp-based products. The end uses for timber vary widely, depending on species, size and quality. Historically, timber demand has experienced cyclical fluctuations, although sometimes at different times and rates within the markets for sawlogs and pulpwood. The demand for sawlogs, lumber and other manufactured wood products is significantly dependent upon the level of new residential construction and remodeling activity, which, in turn, is affected by general economic and demographic factors, including population growth, new household formations, interest rates for home mortgages and construction loans, and credit availability. Reductions in residential construction and remodeling activities are generally followed by declining lumber prices, which are usually followed by declining log prices within a fairly short period of time. The demand for pulpwood is dependent on the paper and pulp-based manufacturing industries, which are affected by domestic and international economic conditions, global population growth and other demographic factors, industry capacity and the value of the U.S. dollar in relation to foreign currencies. Locally, timber demand also fluctuates due to the expansion or closure of individual wood products and pulp-based manufacturing facilities.

Over the past two decades, timber supplies have tightened relative to demand. Particularly in the western United States, the supply of timber has been significantly affected by reductions in timber sales by the United States

4 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

government and by state governments. These reductions have been caused primarily by increasingly stringent environmental and endangered species laws and by a change in the emphasis of domestic governmental policy toward habitat preservation, conservation and recreation, and away from timber management. Because most timberlands in the southeastern United States are privately owned, changes in sales of publicly owned timber affect local timber supplies and prices in the Southeast less immediately than in the western United States and other regions with large proportions of public timber ownership. Timber supplies can fluctuate depending upon factors such as changes in weather conditions and harvest strategies of local forest products industry participants, as well as occasionally high timber salvage efforts due to storm damage, unusual pest infestations such as the mountain pine beetle, or fires. Local timber supplies also change in response to prevailing timber prices. Rising timber prices often lead to increased harvesting on private timberlands, including lands not previously made available for commercial timber operations. Currently, the supply of timber generally is adequate to meet demand.

Lumber demand in North America has started to improve and is expected to continue to increase due to improving housing starts and increased repair and remodel activity. Several other factors, including demand from Asia, the resource depletion caused by the mountain pine beetle, limited dealer inventories and a recovering manufacturing base, are also contributing to higher lumber prices. The increased demand and higher prices for lumber will in turn likely have a positive effect on timber prices.

Our Operations

Our Resource segment manages approximately 1.42 million acres of timberlands we own in two regions of the United States: the Northern region, consisting of our Idaho and Minnesota timberlands, with 1.01 million acres; and the Southern region, consisting of our Arkansas timberlands, with 0.41 million acres. As of year-end 2012, our estimated standing timber inventory is approximately 58.5 million tons. This estimate is derived using methods consistent with industry practice and is based on statistical methods and field sampling. Efforts are made to periodically update this estimate for growth, harvest, acquisitions and disposals. The estimated inventory volume includes timber from environmentally sensitive areas where the timberlands are managed in a manner consistent with best management practices, state forest practice acts and the FSC forest management standard.

Our timberlands include a wide diversity of softwood and hardwood species and are certified by the FSC. We are generally able to sell FSC-certified logs at premium prices. We own approximately 807,000 acres of timberlands in the northern and central portions of the state of Idaho that contain a variety of commercially viable softwood species, such as grand fir, Douglas fir, inland red cedar, ponderosa pine, western larch, Engelmann spruce and western white pine. We are the largest private landowner in Idaho. In Arkansas we own approximately 405,000 acres of timberlands. Primary species on these lands include southern yellow pine, red oak, white oak and other hardwoods. We own approximately 207,000 acres of timberlands in Minnesota, comprised primarily of aspen, pine and other mixed hardwoods.

In 2012, we made two timberland acquisitions in and around our existing ownership in Arkansas totaling approximately 9,300 acres. Both properties contain mature, harvestable timber, with one tract consisting of a large amount of high-value hardwoods and the other consisting primarily of larger pine sawlogs.

The primary business of the Resource segment is the management of our timberlands to optimize the value of all possible revenue producing opportunities while adhering to our strict stewardship standards. Management activities include planting and harvesting trees and building and maintaining roads. The segment also seeks to increase our revenues from non-timber resources such as from hunting leases, recreation permits and leases, mineral rights leases, biomass production, carbon sequestration and various other leasing opportunities.

Our strategic focus involves increasing harvest levels in ways that ensure long-term sustainability while maintaining high stewardship standards, increasing timber harvest levels in times of strong market demand and decreasing harvest levels in times of weak demand, and seeking accretive acquisitions that complement our existing timberland base.

Because timber is a renewable resource, our objective is to maximize cash flow over the long term by managing our timberlands on a sustainable yield basis, reflecting a balance between timber growth and harvesting. From time to time, however, we may choose, consistent with our environmental commitments, to harvest timber at levels above or below our estimate of sustainability for various reasons. To maximize our timberlands’ long-term value, we manage them intensively, based upon timber species and local growing conditions. Our harvest plans take into account changing market conditions, are designed to contribute to the growth of the remaining timber, and reflect our policy of environmental stewardship. We reforest our acreage in a timely fashion to enhance its long-term value. We employ silvicultural techniques to improve timber growth rates, including vegetation control, fertilization and

2012 FORM 10-K / 5

thinning. In deciding whether to implement any silvicultural practice, we analyze the associated costs and long-term benefits, with the goal of achieving an attractive return over time.

Our short-term and long-term harvest plans are critical factors in our long-term management process. Each year, we prepare a harvest plan designating the timber tracts and volumes to be harvested during that particular year. We also update our long-term harvest plan every three years. Each harvest plan reflects our analysis of the age, size and species distribution of our timber, as well as our expectations about harvest methods, growth rates, the volume of each species to be harvested, anticipated acquisitions and dispositions, thinning operations, regulatory constraints and other relevant information. Among other things, the optimal harvest cycles, or rotations, for timber vary by location and species and tend to change over time as a result of silvicultural advances, changes in the markets for different sizes and ages of timber and other factors. Since harvest plans are based on projections of weather, timber growth rates, regulatory constraints and other assumptions, many of which are beyond our control, there can be no assurance that we will be able to harvest the volumes projected or the specific timber stands designated in our harvest plans.

The aggregate estimated volume of current standing timber inventory is updated at least annually to reflect increases in merchantable timber due to reclassification of young growth to merchantable timber, the annual growth rates of merchantable timber and the acquisition of additional merchantable timber, and to reflect decreases due to timber harvests and land sales. Reproduction accounts are reviewed annually, and dollars and volumes are transferred from reproduction accounts to merchantable timber accounts on a reasonable and consistent basis. Volumes and the related accumulated costs are tracked and, as the timber is harvested, the cost is amortized to depletion. Total standing volume is estimated on an annual basis. Timber volumes are estimated from cruises of the timber tracts, which are completed on all of our timberlands on approximately a five to ten year cycle. Since the individual cruises collect field data at different times for specific sites, the growth model projects standing inventory from the cruise date to a common reporting date. Average annual growth rates for the merchantable inventory have historically been in the range of 2%-5%.

Detailed harvest information by region and product is presented in "Management's Discussion and Analysis, Results of Operations, Discussions of Business Segments." The following table presents a summary of our total 2012 fee timber harvest by region.

(In thousands)



	FEE TIMBER HARVESTED (TONS)
	SAWLOGS	PULPWOOD	TOTAL
Northern region	1,980	300	2,280
Southern region	587	691	1,278
Total	2,567	991	3,558

In 2012, the overall harvest from our timberlands was 3.6 million tons, compared to 4.1 million tons harvested in 2011. Based on our current projections that take into consideration such factors as market conditions, the ages of our timber stands and recent timberland sales and acquisitions, we expect the overall timber harvest from our lands in 2013 to total approximately 3.8 million tons. The incremental increase over 2012 will primarily result from harvests from the new timberland acquisitions in Arkansas. We anticipate increasing our harvests to approximately 4.6 million tons annually in the next several years, as market conditions continue to improve along with increased housing starts.

The volume and value of timber that can be harvested from our lands may be affected by natural disasters such as fire, insect infestation, disease, ice storms, hurricanes, wind storms, floods and other weather conditions and causes. We assume substantially all risk of loss to the standing timber we own from fire and other hazards, consistent with industry practice in the United States, because insuring for such losses is not practicable.

The Resource segment sells a portion of its logs at market prices to our wood products manufacturing facilities. Intra-company sales to our wood products manufacturing facilities in 2012 were approximately 24% of our total Resource segment revenues. The segment also sells sawlogs and pulpwood to a variety of forest products companies located near our timberlands. The segment’s customers range in size from small operators to multinational corporations. The segment competes with owners of timberlands that operate in areas near our timberlands, ranging from private owners of small tracts of land to some of the largest timberland companies in the United States. The segment competes principally on the basis of distance to market, price, log quality and customer service.

6 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

In 2012, approximately 32% of our Northern region’s volume and 31% of our Southern region’s volume was sold under log supply agreements. We expect approximately the same amount of volume to be sold under log supply agreements in 2013. In general, our log supply contracts require a specified volume of timber to be delivered to certain customer facilities at prices that are adjusted periodically to reflect market conditions. Prices in our Northern region contracts are adjusted periodically by species to prevailing market prices for logs, lumber, wood chips and other residuals. Prices in our Southern region contracts are adjusted every three months for pine and hardwood logs based on prevailing market prices for logs. Currently our log supply agreements are in place for two to three years.

We seek to manage harvest levels on our timberlands in a manner that assures long-term sustainability. We have been certified to be in compliance with the ISO 14001 standard with respect to our timberlands in Arkansas, Idaho and Minnesota. Our timberlands in Idaho and Arkansas were audited in 2012 by an independent third party for compliance with the ISO 14001 standard for environmental management systems. A field audit for Minnesota was not required during 2012. Our timberlands in Arkansas, Idaho and Minnesota were also audited in late 2012 by an independent third party for compliance with the FSC forest management standard. We have not yet received our final audit reports from the FSC, but anticipate continued certification under the FSC program for our timberlands. As a participant in these programs, we adhere to the collective principles of both organizations. These principles include commitments to sustainable forestry, responsible practices, forest health and productivity, and protection of special sites.

These certifications aid us in marketing our logs and wood products to customers who require that products they purchase for resale come from sustainably managed forests. Sales of FSC-certified products are generally at prices higher than average market prices for these products.

Our operations are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations, including those relating to the environment, endangered species, our forestry activities, and health and safety. Due to the significance of regulation to our business, we integrate wildlife, habitat and watershed management into our resource management practices. We also take an active approach to regulatory developments by participating in standard-setting where possible. We work cooperatively with regulators to create voluntary conservation plans that address environmental concerns while preserving our ability to operate our timberlands efficiently. Despite our active participation in governmental policymaking and regulatory standard-setting, there can be no assurance that endangered species, environmental and other laws will not restrict our operations or impose significant costs, damages, penalties and liabilities on us. In particular, we anticipate that endangered species and environmental laws will generally become increasingly stringent.

Real Estate Segment

The activities of our Real Estate segment consist primarily of the sale of selected non-core timberland real estate, which falls into three categories: HBU properties; rural real estate properties; and non-strategic properties. HBU properties have characteristics that provide development potential as a result of superior location or other attractive amenities. These properties tend to have a much higher value than timberlands. Rural real estate properties also have a higher value than timberlands, but do not have the same developmental potential as HBU properties. For example, these properties may be appropriate for hunting, conservation or secondary rural housing. Other non-strategic properties often have locational or operational disadvantages for us, and are typically on the fringe of our ownership areas. The Real Estate segment engages in real estate subdivision and development activities through Potlatch TRS and also plays an active role in negotiations for all timberland acquisitions.

We generally seek to acquire properties that complement our existing timberland base, are immediately cash flow accretive and have a blend of timber and real estate values. From time to time, we also take advantage of opportunities to sell timberland where we believe pricing to be particularly attractive, to match a sale with a purchase of more desirable property in order to defer taxes in an LKE transaction, or to meet various other financial or strategic objectives. Sales of conservation properties and conservation easements on our properties are also included in this segment. Results for the segment depend on the demand for our non-core timberlands, the types of properties sold, the basis of these properties and the timing of closings of property sales. Although large, one-time sales of non-strategic properties can cause results that are not comparable or predictable between periods, we have maintained a relatively consistent level of rural real estate and HBU sales.

A main focus of this segment is to continually assess the highest value use of our lands. In December 2006, we began an initial stratification assessment of all our land. We conduct similar stratification assessments periodically on our existing lands and as new lands are acquired. The following tools are used in assessing our lands:


•	electronic analysis, using geographic information systems;

2012 FORM 10-K / 7


•	on-the-ground analysis and verification of modeling assumptions; and


•	certain measured and ranked attributes, such as timber potential, recreational opportunities, accessibility, special features and population and demographic trends.

As a result of this continual assessment of our lands, we currently have identified 200,000 to 230,000 acres of non-core timberland real estate. This includes approximately 110,000 to 120,000 acres of HBU property, 80,000 to 90,000 acres of rural real estate property and 10,000 to 20,000 acres of non-strategic timberland. Sales of these lands are expected to occur over a 10-year period, with the goal of utilizing like-kind exchange transactions or other tax-advantaged methods when it is appropriate.

Wood Products Segment

Our Wood Products segment manufactures and markets lumber and plywood at five mills located in Arkansas, Idaho, Michigan and Minnesota. A description of the locations, annual capacity and production of these facilities is included under Item 2 of Part I of this report. The segment’s products are largely commodity products, which are sold through our sales offices to end users, retailers or wholesalers for nationwide distribution primarily for use in home building, industrial products and other construction activity.

Our share of the markets for lumber and plywood is not significant compared to the total United States markets for these products. We believe that competitiveness in this industry is largely based on individual mill efficiency and on the availability of competitively priced raw materials on a facility-by-facility basis, rather than the number of mills operated. This is due to the fact that it is generally not economical to transfer wood between or among facilities, which might permit a greater degree of specialization and operating efficiencies. Instead, each facility must utilize the raw materials that are available to it in a relatively limited geographic area. For these reasons, we believe we are able to compete effectively with companies that have a larger number of mills. We compete based on product quality, customer service and price.

Our manufacturing facilities can produce and sell FSC-certified products, a desirable “green” building product that generally commands premium pricing.

For our Wood Products operations, the principal raw material used is logs, which are obtained from our Resource segment or purchased on the open market. We generally do not maintain long-term supply contracts for a significant volume of timber. During 2012 and 2011, 36% and 37% of our log purchases, respectively, were obtained from our Resource segment.

Our Wood Products segment was adversely affected from 2008 through 2011 by the national decline in home building and remodeling and the resulting weak demand and lower prices for wood products. As the housing market started recovering in 2012, our Wood Products segment has been showing improvement. We actively managed output at our wood products manufacturing facilities to match supply with demand and minimize cash costs, which allowed us to continue operating as much as possible through the past several years.

Beginning in early 2012, we experienced stronger than anticipated demand and higher prices for manufactured wood products, and that continued through the remainder of the year. In response, we increased production and shipments. As housing starts are expected to increase, demand and prices should also improve, which will continue to positively impact the results from our Wood Products segment.

Seasonality

Log and pulpwood sales volumes in our Resource segment are typically lower in the first half of each year, as winter rains in the Southern region and spring thaw in the Northern region limit timber harvesting operations due to softened roadbeds and wet logging conditions that restrict access to logging sites. The third quarter is typically our Northern region's strongest production quarter. Real Estate dispositions and acquisitions can be adversely affected when access to any properties to be sold or considered for acquisition is limited due to adverse weather conditions. Demand for our wood products typically decreases in the winter months when construction activity is slower, and increases in the spring, summer and fall when construction activity is generally higher.

Geographic Areas

All of our timberlands, wood products manufacturing facilities and other real estate and assets are located within the continental United States. In 2012, 2011 and 2010, less than 2% of our revenues were derived from sales of manufactured wood products to Canada and Mexico, with the remainder of our revenues resulting from domestic sales.

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Environmental Regulation

We are subject to extensive federal and state environmental regulation of our wood products manufacturing facilities and timberlands, particularly with respect to air emissions, wastewater discharges, solid and hazardous waste management, site remediation, forestry operations, and threatened and endangered species. We are also subject to the requirements of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act and comparable state statutes relating to the health and safety of our employees. We maintain environmental and safety compliance programs and conduct regular internal and independent third-party audits of our facilities and timberlands to monitor compliance with these laws and regulations. Compliance with environmental regulations is a significant factor in our business and requires capital expenditures as well as additional operating costs.

We believe that our manufacturing facilities and timberland operations are currently in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations. We cannot be certain, however, that situations that may give rise to material environmental liabilities will not be discovered.

Enactment of new environmental laws or regulations, or changes in existing laws or regulations, particularly relating to air and water quality, or their enforcement, may require significant expenditures by us or may adversely affect our timberland management and harvesting activities.

Similarly, a number of species indigenous to our timberlands have been listed as threatened or endangered or have been proposed for one or the other status under the Endangered Species Act. As a result, our activities in or adjacent to the habitat of these species may be subject to restrictions on the harvesting of timber, reforestation activities and the construction and use of roads.

We expect legislative and regulatory developments in the area of climate change to address carbon dioxide emissions and renewable energy and fuel standards. It is unclear as of this date how any such developments will affect our business.

At this time, we believe that federal and state laws and regulations related to the protection of endangered species and air and water quality will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity. We anticipate, however, that increasingly strict laws and regulations relating to the environment, natural resources and forestry operations, as well as increased social concern over environmental issues, may result in additional restrictions on us leading to increased costs, additional capital expenditures and reduced operating flexibility.

Information regarding potentially material environmental proceedings is included in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements contained in this report, and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

Employees

As of December 31, 2012, we had approximately 875 employees. The workforce consisted of approximately 217 salaried, 615 hourly and 43 temporary or part-time employees. As of December 31, 2012, approximately 18% of the workforce was covered under one collective bargaining agreement, which expires in May 2016.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves a significant degree of risk. Our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity could be materially adversely affected by any of the following risks and, as a result, the trading price of our common stock could decline. The risks described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. In addition to the risk factors discussed below, investors should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties presented under the following caption, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Factors Influencing Our Results of Operations and Cash Flows,” and Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements contained in this report which are incorporated herein by reference.

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Business and Operating Risks

Our cash distributions are not guaranteed and may fluctuate, which could adversely affect our stock price.

Under the REIT rules, to remain qualified as a REIT, a REIT must distribute, within a certain period after the end of each year, 90% of its ordinary taxable income for such year. Our REIT income, however, consists primarily of net capital gains resulting from payments received under timber cutting contracts with Potlatch TRS and third parties, rather than ordinary taxable income. Therefore, unlike most REITs, we are not required to distribute material amounts of cash to remain qualified as a REIT. If, after giving effect to our distributions, we have not distributed an amount equal to 100% of our REIT ordinary taxable income and net capital gains income, then we would be required to pay tax on the undistributed portion of such taxable income at regular corporate tax rates and our stockholders would be required to include their proportionate share of any undistributed capital gain in income and would receive a credit or refund for their share of the tax paid by us.

Our board of directors, in its sole discretion, determines the actual amount of distributions to be made to stockholders based on consideration of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, our results of operations, cash flow and capital requirements, economic conditions in our industry and in the markets for our products, tax considerations, borrowing capacity, debt covenant restrictions, timber prices, harvest levels on our timberlands, market demand for timberlands, including timberland properties we have identified as potentially having a higher and better use, and future acquisitions and dispositions. For example, our board of Directors reduced our quarterly cash distributions to stockholders effective December 2011 as a result of our decision to reduce harvest levels in response to continued market weakness. For a description of debt covenants that could limit our ability to make distributions to stockholders in the future, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources.” Consequently, the level of future distributions to our stockholders may fluctuate, and any reduction in the distribution rate may adversely affect our stock price.

Our operating results and cash flows will be materially affected by the fluctuating nature of timber prices.

Our results of operations and cash flows will be materially affected by the fluctuating nature of timber prices. A variety of factors affect prices for timber, including factors affecting demand, such as changes in economic conditions, the level of domestic new construction and remodeling activity, foreign demand, interest rates, credit availability, population growth, weather conditions and pest infestation, as well as changes in timber supply and other factors. All of these factors can vary by region, timber type (sawlogs or pulpwood logs) and species.

Timber prices are also affected by changes in timber availability at the local, national and international level. Our timberland ownership is currently concentrated in Arkansas, Idaho and Minnesota. In Arkansas and Minnesota, most timberlands are privately owned. Historically, increases in timber prices have often resulted in substantial increases in harvesting on private timberlands, including lands not previously made available for commercial timber operations, causing a short-term increase in supply that has tended to moderate price increases. Decreases in timber prices have often resulted in lower harvest levels, causing short-term decreases in supply that have tended to moderate price decreases. In Idaho, where a greater proportion of timberland is government owned, any substantial increase in timber harvesting from government-owned land could significantly reduce timber prices, which would harm our results of operations. For more than 20 years, environmental concerns and other factors have limited timber sales by federal agencies, which historically had been major suppliers of timber to the U.S. forest products industry, particularly in the West. Any reversal of policy that substantially increases timber sales from government-owned land could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. On a local level, timber supplies can fluctuate depending upon factors such as changes in weather conditions and harvest strategies of local timberland owners, as well as occasionally high timber salvage efforts due to events such as unusual pest infestations or fires. Also, demand in other parts of the world may affect timber prices in the markets in which we compete. For example, during the past few years, demand from Asia has remained steady, and although we do not sell into the Asian markets, Asian demand has affected supply and demand in the markets in which we participate. A decrease in Asian demand may have a negative impact on lumber and timber prices in the markets in which we compete.

The cyclical nature of our business could adversely affect our results of operations.

The financial performance of our operations is affected by the cyclical nature of our business. The markets for timber, real estate and manufactured wood products are influenced by a variety of factors beyond our control. The

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demand for our timber and wood products is affected by the level of new residential construction activity and, to a lesser extent, home repair and remodeling activity, which are subject to fluctuations due to changes in economic conditions, interest rates, credit availability, population growth, weather conditions and other factors. The demand for logs is also affected by the demand for wood chips in the pulp and paper markets. The supply of timber and logs has historically increased during favorable pricing environments, which then causes downward pressure on prices. The demand for real estate can be affected by changes in factors such as interest rates, credit availability and economic conditions, as well as by the impact of federal, state and local land use and environmental protection laws. Historical prices for our wood products have been volatile, and we have limited direct influence over the timing and extent of price changes for our wood products.

We may be unable to harvest timber or we may elect to reduce harvest levels due to market conditions, either of which could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows.

Our timber harvest levels and sales may be limited due to weather conditions, timber growth cycles, restrictions on access, availability of contract loggers, and regulatory requirements associated with the protection of wildlife and water resources, as well as by other factors, including damage by fire, insect infestation, disease and natural disasters such as ice storms, wind storms, hurricanes and floods. Changes in global climate conditions could intensify one or more of these factors. Although damage from such natural causes usually is localized, affecting only a limited percentage of our timber, there can be no assurance that any damage affecting our timberlands will be limited. Our financial results and cash flows are dependent to a significant extent on our continued ability to harvest timber at adequate levels.

On a short-term basis, we may adjust our timber harvest levels in response to market conditions. For example, in 2011, in response to weak demand and low prices, we shifted a portion of our harvest from our Southern region to our Northern region to capture better pricing opportunities. In 2012, due to continuing poor market conditions and the resulting closure of a significant customer's mill in Arkansas, we reduced our overall timber harvest to 3.6 million tons from 4.1 million tons in 2011. We expect to continue harvesting at a level of approximately 3.8 million tons in 2013 while we wait for further improvement in log prices. We anticipate increasing harvest levels to approximately 4.6 million tons annually in the next several years, as market conditions continue to improve along with increasing housing starts. We also experience seasonally lower harvest activity during the winter and early spring due to weather conditions.

Longer term, our timber harvest levels will be affected by acquisitions of additional timberlands, such as the two Arkansas purchases in 2012, and sales of existing timberlands, such as the conservation sale of HBU properties in Minnesota in 2012, or timber deed sales. In addition to timberland acquisitions and sales, future timber harvest levels may be affected by changes in estimates of long-term sustainable yield because of silvicultural advances, natural disasters, fires and other hazards, regulatory constraints and other factors beyond our control.

We do not insure against losses of standing timber from any causes.

The volume and value of timber that can be harvested from our lands may be affected by natural disasters such as fire, insect infestation, disease, ice storms, wind storms, hurricanes, floods and other weather conditions and causes beyond our control. As is typical in the forest industry, we assume substantially all risk of loss to the standing timber we own from fire and other hazards because insuring for such losses is not practicable. Consequently, a reduction in our timber inventory could adversely affect our financial results and cash flows.

Changes in demand for our real estate and delays in the timing of real estate transactions may affect our revenues and operating results.

A number of factors, including availability of credit, a slowing of residential real estate development, population shifts and changes in demographics could reduce the demand for our real estate and negatively affect our results of operations. Changes in investor interest in purchasing timberlands could reduce our ability to execute sales of non-strategic timberlands and could also negatively affect our results of operations. In addition, changes in the interpretation or enforcement of current laws, or the enactment of new laws, regarding the use and development of real estate, or changes in the political composition of federal, state and local governmental bodies could lead to new or greater costs, delays and liabilities that could materially adversely affect our real estate business, profitability or financial condition.

In addition, there are inherent uncertainties in the timing of real estate transactions that could adversely affect our operating results in any particular quarter. The timing of real estate sales is a function of many factors, including the general state of the economy, demand in local real estate markets, the number of properties listed for sale, the

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seasonal nature of sales, the plans of adjacent landowners and our expectations of future price appreciation. Delays in the completion of transactions or the termination of potential transactions may be beyond our control. These events could adversely affect our operating results.

We may be unsuccessful in carrying out our acquisition strategy.

We have pursued, and intend to continue to pursue, acquisitions of strategic timberland properties. We compete with buyers that have substantially greater financial resources than we have for timberland and other real estate acquisition opportunities. We intend to finance acquisitions through cash from operations, borrowings under our credit facility, proceeds from equity or debt offerings, or proceeds from asset dispositions, or any combination thereof. In addition, it is uncertain whether any timberland acquisitions we make will perform in accordance with our expectations. The failure to identify and complete acquisitions of suitable timberland properties, our inability to finance future acquisitions on favorable terms or our inability to complete like-kind exchanges, could adversely affect our operating results and cash flows.

Our wood products are commodities that are widely available from other producers.

Because commodity products have few distinguishing properties from producer to producer, competition for these products is based primarily on price, which is determined by supply relative to demand and competition from substitute products. Prices for our products are affected by many factors outside of our control, and we have no influence over the timing and extent of price changes, which often are volatile. Our profitability with respect to these products depends, in part, on managing our costs, particularly raw material and energy costs, which represent significant components of our operating costs and can fluctuate based upon factors beyond our control.

Design value changes may affect the demand for southern yellow pine.

In January 2012, the American Lumber Standards Committee, or ALSC, adopted reduced design values for visually graded southern yellow pine 2x4 lumber, effective June 1, 2012, and in January 2013, the ALSC heard testimony related to a proposal to reduce design values for all other visually graded southern yellow pine lumber. It is anticipated that if the ALSC adopts reduced design values for other visually graded southern yellow pine lumber, it will provide a six-month transition period to support an orderly transition to new design values. Our Southern timberlands contain predominantly southern yellow pine, and we sell visually graded southern yellow pine lumber. At this time it is unknown what impact the decision will have on demand for southern yellow pine lumber. Implementation of the design value reductions could result in an increase in product substitution or species substitution and could adversely affect demand for visually graded southern yellow pine.

The forest products industry is highly competitive.

The markets for our wood products are highly competitive, and companies that have substantially greater financial resources than we do compete with us in each of our lines of business. Our wood products are subject to competition from wood products manufacturers in the United States, and to a lesser extent in Canada. After years of trade disputes over Canadian lumber imports, the United States and Canada signed an agreement, which has been extended to 2015, establishing a system of tiered taxes and volume restrictions relating to Canadian lumber imports to the United States. Notwithstanding the signing of this agreement, there can be no assurance that it will at all times, or at any time, effectively create a fair trade environment. The London Court of International Arbitration has twice ruled that Canada has violated the Softwood Lumber Agreement, or SLA. In addition, our wood products manufacturing facilities are relatively capital intensive, which leads to high fixed costs and generally results in continued production as long as prices are sufficient to cover variable costs. These conditions have contributed to substantial price competition, particularly during periods of reduced demand. Some of our wood products competitors may currently be lower-cost producers than we are, and accordingly these competitors may be less adversely affected than we are by price decreases. Wood products also are subject to significant competition from a variety of substitute products, including non-wood and engineered wood products. To the extent there is a significant increase in competitive pressure from substitute products or other domestic or foreign suppliers, our business could be adversely affected.

Our businesses are affected by transportation availability and costs.

Our business depends on the availability of logging contractors and providers of transportation of wood products, and is materially affected by the cost of these service providers. Therefore, increases in the cost of fuel could negatively impact our financial results by increasing the cost associated with logging activities and transportation services, and could also result in an overall reduction in the availability of these services.

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A material disruption at one of our manufacturing facilities could prevent us from meeting customer demand, reduce our sales or negatively affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Any of our manufacturing facilities, or any of our machines within an otherwise operational facility, could cease operations unexpectedly due to a number of events, including unscheduled maintenance outages, prolonged power failures, equipment failures, labor difficulties, disruptions in the transportation infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, railroad tracks and tunnels, fire, ice storms, floods, windstorms, hurricanes or other catastrophes, terrorism or threats of terrorism, governmental regulations and other operational problems.

Any such downtime or facility damage could prevent us from meeting customer demand for our products and/or require us to make unplanned capital expenditures. If one of these machines or facilities were to incur significant downtime, our ability to meet our production targets and satisfy customer requirements could be impaired, resulting in lower sales and income.

Our businesses are subject to extensive environmental laws and regulations.

Our operations are subject to a variety of federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding protection of the environment, including those relating to the protection of timberlands, endangered species, timber harvesting practices, recreation and aesthetics, protection and restoration of natural resources, air and water quality, and remedial standards for contaminated soil, sediments and groundwater. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in significant fines or penalties, as well as liabilities for remediation of contaminated sites, natural resource damages, or alleged personal injury or property damage claims.

Laws, regulations and related judicial decisions and administrative interpretations affecting our business are subject to change and new laws and regulations that may affect our business are frequently enacted. These changes may adversely affect our ability to harvest and sell timber and operate our manufacturing facilities and may adversely affect the ability of others to develop property we intend to sell for higher and better use purposes. Over time, the complexity and stringency of these laws and regulations have increased markedly and the enforcement of these laws and regulations has intensified. We believe that these laws and regulations will continue to become more restrictive and over time could adversely affect our operating results.

Regulatory restrictions on future harvesting activities may be significant. Federal, state and local laws and regulations, which are intended to protect threatened and endangered species, as well as waterways and wetlands, limit and may prevent timber harvesting, road building and other activities on our timberlands. For example, the Clean Water Act and comparable state laws, regulations and best management practices programs protect water quality. As a result, our resource management activities adjacent to rivers and streams as well as the point source discharges from our manufacturing facilities are subject to strict regulation. Most silvicultural activities are defined by regulation to be “non-point sources” and thus do not require federal permits from the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, but rather are subject to state regulation and best management practices programs. Recent litigation, however, has challenged this silvicultural exemption under the Clean Water Act, and in 2011 the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the EPA's silvicultural exemption. The United States Supreme Court heard an oral argument on the case in December 2012. In December 2012, just prior to the Supreme Court oral argument, the EPA issued a rule clarifying that logging and forest roads do not require mandatory permits for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activities. A lawsuit was filed in the Ninth Circuit in January 2013 challenging the EPA rule. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that our forest management activities will not be subject to increased regulation under the Clean Water Act in the future.

Similarly, the threatened and endangered species restrictions apply to activities that would adversely impact a protected species or significantly degrade its habitat. A number of species on our timberlands have been and in the future may be protected under these laws. If current or future regulations or their enforcement become more restrictive, the amount of our timberlands subject to harvest restrictions could increase.

We anticipate that increasingly strict laws and regulations relating to the environment, natural resources and forestry operations, as well as increased social concern over environmental issues, may result in additional restrictions on us leading to increased costs, additional capital expenditures and reduced operating flexibility.

Our manufacturing operations are subject to stringent environmental laws, regulations and permits covering air emissions, wastewater discharge, water usage, and waste handling and disposal that govern how we operate our facilities. These laws, regulations and permits, now and in the future, may restrict our current production and limit our ability to increase production, and impose significant costs on our operations with respect to environmental compliance. For example, in December 2012, the EPA issued new Major Source Boiler Maximum Achievable

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Control Technology, or Boiler MACT, rules that could require capital investments at our Wood Products manufacturing facilities. These rules are effective in early 2016. We are unable at this time to estimate the cost of compliance with these new rules because we are still in the process of reviewing the new rules as they apply to our wood products manufacturing facilities, however, the capital investments required to comply with the new rules could be significant. Overall, it is expected that environmental compliance costs will likely increase over time as environmental requirements become more stringent, and as the expectations of the communities in which we operate become more demanding.

Certain environmental laws, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, or CERCLA, impose strict, and under certain circumstances joint and several, liability on responsible parties, including current and former owners and operators of contaminated sites, for costs of investigation and remediation of contamination. They also impose liability for related damages to natural resources. We have in the past been identified by the EPA as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA at various locations, and we are currently identified as a potentially responsible party in connection with one of our properties. Additional information regarding this matter is included in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report, and that information is incorporated herein by reference. It is possible that other facilities we own or operate, or formerly owned or operated, or timberlands we now own or acquire, could also become subject to liabilities under these laws. The cost of investigation and remediation of contaminated properties could increase operating costs and adversely affect our financial results. Although we believe we have appropriate reserves recorded for the investigation and remediation of known matters, there can be no assurance that actual expenditures will not exceed our expectations, that reserves will not be increased, or that other unknown liabilities will not be discovered in the future.

Environmental groups and interested individuals may intervene in the regulatory processes in the locations where we own timberland and operate our wood products mills. Delays or restrictions on our operations due to the intervention of environmental groups or interested individuals could adversely affect our operating results. In addition to intervention in regulatory proceedings, interested parties may file or threaten to file lawsuits that seek to prevent us from obtaining permits, implementing capital improvements or pursuing operating plans or to require us to obtain permits before pursuing operating plans. Any lawsuit, or even a threatened lawsuit, could delay harvesting on our timberlands or impact our ability to operate or invest in our wood products mills.

Our defined benefit pension plans are currently underfunded.

As a result of the steep downturn in the stock market in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the resulting effects on long-term interest rates and discount rates, our defined benefit pension plans have been underfunded since December 31, 2008, as the projected benefit obligation exceeds the aggregate fair value of plan assets. As a result of the underfunding, we may be required to make contributions to our qualified pension plans. We contributed $21.6 million and $9.4 million, respectively, to our qualified defined benefit pension plans in 2012 and 2011. We funded the 2012 contribution by taking a loan against our company owned life insurance plan, or COLI, based on the cash surrender value that has accumulated in the plan over the years. We are not required to make contributions during 2013 to our qualified defined benefit plans. However, we will be making payments of approximately $1.8 million for our non-qualified pension plan.

The determination of pension plan expense and the requirements for funding our pension plans are based on a number of actuarial assumptions. Two critical assumptions are the expected rate of return on plan assets and the discount rate applied to pension plan obligations. Pension plan assets primarily consist of equity and fixed income investments, so fluctuations in actual equity market returns and changes in long-term interest rates may result in increased pension costs in future periods. Changes in assumptions regarding discount rates and expected rates of return on plan assets could also increase future pension costs. Changes in any of these factors may significantly impact future contribution requirements.

We depend on external sources of capital for future growth.

Our ability to finance growth is dependent to a significant degree on external sources of capital. Our ability to access such capital on favorable terms could be hampered by a number of factors, many of which are outside of our control, including a decline in general market conditions, decreased market liquidity, a downgrade to our public debt rating, increases in interest rates, an unfavorable market perception of our growth potential, a decrease in our current or estimated future earnings or a decrease in the market price of our common stock. In addition, our ability to access additional capital may also be limited by the terms of our existing indebtedness, which, among other things, restricts our incurrence of debt and the payment of dividend distributions. Any of these factors, individually or

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in combination, could prevent us from being able to obtain the capital we require on terms that are acceptable to us, and the failure to obtain necessary capital could materially adversely affect our future growth.

A strike or other work stoppage, or our inability to renew collective bargaining agreements on favorable terms, could adversely affect our financial results.

As of December 31, 2012, approximately 18% of our workforce was covered by one collective bargaining agreement, which expires in May 2016. While we believe our relations with our employees are satisfactory, we cannot assure you that we will be able to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement on favorable terms. If we are unable to negotiate an acceptable new agreement with the union upon expiration of the existing contract, we could experience a strike or work stoppage. Even if we are successful in negotiating a new agreement, the new agreement could call for higher wages or benefits paid to union members, which would increase our operating costs and could adversely affect our profitability. If our unionized workers were to engage in a strike or other work stoppage, or other non-unionized operations were to become unionized, we could experience a significant disruption of operations at our facilities or higher ongoing labor costs. A strike or other work stoppage in the facilities of any of our major customers or suppliers could also have similar effects on us.

Risks Related to Our Indebtedness

Our indebtedness could materially adversely affect our ability to generate sufficient cash to make distributions to stockholders and fulfill our debt obligations, our ability to react to changes in our business and our ability to incur additional indebtedness to fund future needs.

Our debt requires interest and principal payments. As of December 31, 2012, we had long-term debt of $357.6 million, including current installments on long-term debt of $8.4 million. Subject to the limits contained in our debt instruments, we may be able to incur additional debt from time to time to finance working capital, capital expenditures, investments or acquisitions, or for other purposes. If we do so, the risks related to our indebtedness could intensify.

Our indebtedness increases the possibility that we may be unable to generate cash sufficient to pay, when due, the principal of, interest on or other amounts due in respect of our indebtedness or to make distributions to our stockholders. Our indebtedness, combined with our other financial obligations and contractual commitments, could have important consequences for stockholders. For example, it could:


•	make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our indebtedness, and any failure to comply with the obligations under any of our debt instruments, including restrictive covenants, could result in an event of default under the agreements governing such indebtedness;


•	require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing funds available for distributions to stockholders, working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other purposes;


•	increase our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions, which could place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have relatively less indebtedness;


•	limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industries in which we operate; and


•	limit our ability to borrow additional funds, or to dispose of assets to raise funds, if needed, for distributions to stockholders, working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other corporate purposes.

Changes in credit ratings issued by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations could adversely affect our cost of financing and have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities.

Credit rating agencies rate our debt securities on factors that include our operating results, actions that we take, their view of the general outlook for our industry and their view of the general outlook for the economy. Actions taken by the rating agencies can include maintaining, upgrading or downgrading the current rating or placing the company on a watch list for possible future downgrading. Downgrading the credit rating of our debt securities or placing us on a watch list for possible future downgrading could limit our access to the credit markets, increase our cost of financing, and have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities.

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REIT and Tax-Related Risks

If we fail to remain qualified as a REIT, income from our timberlands will be subject to taxation at regular corporate rates and we will have reduced funds available for distribution to our stockholders.

Qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to our operations, including satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution, stockholder ownership and other requirements, on a continuing basis. Given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given that we will remain qualified as a REIT.

In addition, the rules dealing with federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, or Treasury. Changes to the tax laws affecting REITs or taxable REIT subsidiaries, which may have retroactive application, could adversely affect our stockholders or us. We cannot predict how changes in the tax laws might affect our stockholders or us. Accordingly, we cannot provide assurance that new legislation, Treasury regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions will not significantly affect our ability to remain qualified as a REIT, the federal income tax consequences of such qualification, the determination of the amount of REIT taxable income or the amount of tax paid by the TRS.

If in any taxable year we fail to remain qualified as a REIT:


•	we would not be allowed a deduction for distributions to stockholders in computing our taxable income; and


•	we would be subject to federal income tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates, including any applicable alternative minimum tax.

Any such corporate tax liability could be substantial and would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our stockholders, which in turn could have an adverse impact on the value of our common stock. In addition, we would be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which the qualification was lost, unless we are entitled to relief under certain statutory provisions. As a result, net income and the funds available for distribution to our stockholders could be reduced for up to five years, which would have an adverse impact on the value of our common stock.

Certain of our business activities are potentially subject to a prohibited transactions tax on 100% of our net income derived from such activities, which would reduce our cash flow and impair our ability to make distributions.

REITs are generally intended to be passive entities and can thus only engage in those activities permitted by the Internal Revenue Code, which for us generally include owning and managing a timberland portfolio, growing timber and selling standing timber.

Accordingly, the manufacture and sale of wood products, certain types of timberland sales, and the harvest and sale of logs are conducted through Potlatch TRS because such activities generate non-qualifying REIT income and could constitute “prohibited transactions” if such activities were engaged in directly by the REIT. In general, prohibited transactions are defined by the Internal Revenue Code to be sales or other dispositions of property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business.

By conducting our business in this manner, we believe we will satisfy the REIT requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and thus avoid the 100% tax that could be imposed if a REIT were to conduct a prohibited transaction. We may not always be successful, however, in limiting such activities to Potlatch TRS. Therefore, we could be subject to the 100% prohibited transactions tax if such instances were to occur, which would adversely affect our cash flow and impair our ability to make quarterly distributions.

Our REIT structure may limit our ability to invest in our non-REIT qualifying operations.

Our use of Potlatch TRS enables us to continue to engage in non-REIT qualifying business activities consisting primarily of our manufacturing facilities, assets used for the harvesting of timber and the sale of logs, and selected land parcels that we expect to be sold or developed for higher and better use purposes. However, under the Internal Revenue Code, no more than 25% of the value of the assets of a REIT may be represented by securities of our taxable REIT subsidiaries. This may limit our ability to make investments in our wood products manufacturing operations or in other non-REIT qualifying operations.

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Our ability to fund distributions and service our indebtedness using cash generated through our taxable REIT subsidiary may be limited.

The rules with which we must comply to maintain our status as a REIT limit our ability to use dividends from Potlatch TRS for the payment of stockholder distributions and to service our indebtedness. In particular, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year as a REIT must be derived from sales of our standing timber and other types of real estate income. No more than 25% of our gross income may consist of dividends from Potlatch TRS and other non-qualifying types of income. This requirement may limit our ability to receive dividends from Potlatch TRS and may impact our ability to fund distributions to stockholders and service the REIT's indebtedness using cash from Potlatch TRS.

We may not be able to complete desired like-kind exchange transactions for property we sell.

We sometimes seek to match sales and acquisitions of properties, which allows us to use Internal Revenue Code section 1031 like-kind exchange tax-deferred treatment. The matching of sales and purchases provides us with significant tax benefits, primarily the deferral of any gain on the property sold until the ultimate disposition or harvest of the replacement property. While we may attempt to complete like-kind exchanges when it is appropriate, it is unlikely that we will be able to do so in all instances due to various factors, including the lack of availability of suitable replacement property on acceptable terms and the inability to complete a qualifying like-kind exchange transaction within the time frames required by the Internal Revenue Code. The inability to obtain like-kind exchange treatment could result in the payment of taxes with respect to REIT property sold in 2014 and 2015, and a corresponding reduction in income and cash available for distribution to stockholders.

We may not be able to realize our deferred tax assets.

We may not have sufficient future taxable income to realize all our deferred tax assets. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends on the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which our temporary differences are deductible as governed by the tax code. The amount of our deferred tax assets could be reduced in the near term if future taxable income does not materialize and/or management is unable to implement one or more strategies that it has identified to generate taxable income. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements contained in this report for additional information about our deferred tax assets.

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock

The price of our common stock may be volatile.

The market price of our common stock may be influenced by many factors, some of which are beyond our control, including those described above under “Business and Operating Risks” and the following: actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results or our competitors’ operating results, announcements by us or our competitors of capacity changes, acquisitions or strategic investments, our growth rate and our competitors’ growth rates, the financial markets and general economic conditions, changes in stock market analyst recommendations regarding us, our competitors or the forest products industry generally, or lack of analyst coverage of our common stock, failure to pay cash dividends or the amount of cash dividends paid, sales of our common stock by our executive officers, directors and significant stockholders or sales of substantial amounts of common stock, and changes in accounting principles.

In addition, there has been significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of securities of companies operating in the forest products industry that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies.

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and of Delaware law may make it difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our board of directors and may discourage hostile take over attempts that some of our stockholders may consider to be beneficial.

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control if our board of directors determines that such changes in control are not in the best interest of us and our stockholders. The provisions in our certificate or incorporation and bylaws include, among other things, the following:


•	a classified board of directors with three-year staggered terms;

2012 FORM 10-K / 17


•	the ability of our board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock and to determine the price and other terms, including preferences and voting rights, of those shares without stockholder approval;


•	stockholder action can only be taken at a special or regular meeting and not by written consent and stockholders cannot call a special meeting except upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting;


•	advance notice procedures for nominating candidates to our board of directors or presenting matters at stockholder meetings;


•	removal of directors only for cause;


•	allowing only our board of directors to fill vacancies on our board of directors;


•	in order to facilitate the preservation of our status as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, a prohibition on any single stockholder, or any group of affiliated stockholders, from beneficially owning more than 9.8% of our outstanding common or preferred stock, unless our board waives or modifies this ownership limitation;


•	unless approved by the vote of at least 80% of our outstanding shares, we may not engage in business combinations, including mergers, dispositions of assets, certain issuances of shares of stock and other specified transactions, with a person owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of the voting power of our outstanding common stock; and


•	supermajority voting requirements to amend our bylaws and certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation.

While these provisions have the effect of encouraging persons seeking to acquire control of our company to negotiate with our board of directors, they could enable the board of directors to hinder or frustrate a transaction that stockholders might believe to be in their best interests and, in that case, may prevent or discourage attempts to remove and replace incumbent directors. We are also subject to Delaware laws that could have similar effects. One of these laws prohibits us from engaging in a business combination with a significant stockholder unless specific conditions are met.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

18 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

For information regarding our timberlands, see the discussion under the heading “Resource Segment” on pages 3-6 of this report. Our principal wood products manufacturing facilities at December 31, 2012, which are all owned by us, together with their respective 2012 capacities and actual production, are as follows:



	CAPACITY^1,2	PRODUCTION²
WOOD PRODUCTS
Sawmills:
Warren, Arkansas	177 mmbf	184 mmbf
St. Maries, Idaho	161 mmbf	166 mmbf
Gwinn, Michigan	170 mmbf	173 mmbf
Bemidji, Minnesota	119 mmbf	123 mmbf
Plywood Mill³:
St. Maries, Idaho	145 mmsf	164 mmsf

Capacity represents the proven annual production capabilities of the facility under normal operating conditions and producing a normal product mix. Normal operating conditions are based on the configuration, efficiency and the number of shifts worked at each individual facility. In general, the definition includes two shifts for five days (two 40-hour shifts) per week at each facility, which is consistent with industry-wide recognized measures. Production can exceed capacity due to efficiency gains and overtime.


²	mmbf stands for million board feet; mmsf stands for million square feet.


³	3/8 inch panel thickness basis.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Other than the environmental proceedings described in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report, which information is incorporated herein by reference, we believe there is no pending or threatened litigation that would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, operations or liquidity.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

2012 FORM 10-K / 19

Part II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER

MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Our common stock trades on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, or NASDAQ. The quarterly high and low sales price per share of our common stock, as reported by the NASDAQ UTP Trade Data Feed, as well as our quarterly cash distribution payments per share for 2012 and 2011, were as follows:



	2012						2011
QUARTER	HIGH		LOW		CASH DISTRIBUTIONS		HIGH		LOW		CASH DISTRIBUTIONS
1st	$	34.45	$	29.73	$	0.31	$	40.36	$	32.53	$	0.51
2nd	32.13		28.02		0.31		40.93		32.73		0.51
3rd	38.49		31.12		0.31		37.30		28.01		0.51
4th	39.21		36.65		0.31		35.48		29.32		0.31

There were approximately 1,244 stockholders of record at January 31, 2013.

Reference is made to the discussion under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources,” of (i) the covenants in our bank credit facility and term loan and the indenture governing our senior notes with which we must comply in order to make cash distributions and (ii) the REIT tax rules, which under certain circumstances may restrict our ability to receive dividends from Potlatch TRS, our taxable REIT subsidiary.

There are currently no authorized repurchase programs in effect under which we may repurchase shares.

See Item 12 of Part III of this report for a tabular summary of shares authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans, which information is incorporated herein by this reference.

20 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

Company Stock Price Performance

The following graph and table show a five-year comparison of cumulative total stockholder returns for the company, the NAREIT Equity Index, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index and a group of six companies that we refer to as our Peer Group for the period ended December 31, 2012. The total stockholder return assumes $100 invested at December 31, 2007, with quarterly reinvestment of all dividends.



	12/31/2008		12/31/2009		12/31/2010		12/31/2011		12/31/2012
Potlatch Corporation	$	73	$	96	$	104	$	105	$	137
NAREIT Equity Index	62		80		102		110		130
S&P 500 Composite	63		80		92		94		109
2012 Peer Group¹	60		77		85		88		121


¹	Our Peer Group companies are Deltic Timber Corp., Plum Creek Timber Co., Inc., Rayonier Inc., St. Joe Co., Universal Forest Products Inc. and Weyerhaeuser Co.

ITEMS 6, 7, 7A and 8.

The information called for by Items 6, 7, 7A and 8, inclusive, of Part II of this form is contained in the following sections of this report at the pages indicated below:



		PAGE NUMBER

ITEM 6	Selected Financial Data	28
ITEM 7	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	29
ITEM 7A	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	42
ITEM 8	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	44

2012 FORM 10-K / 21

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING

AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We conducted an evaluation (pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act), under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2012. These disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports that are filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms. Our disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that this information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on the evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2012.

Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management, with the participation of our CEO and CFO, assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control-Integrated Framework.

Based on our assessment, management believes that, as of December 31, 2012, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report included on page 78.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the latest fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

22 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

Part III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Certain of the information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the information appearing under the headings “Corporate Governance,” “Board of Directors” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management – Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” from our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission on or about April 1, 2013.

Our Corporate Conduct and Ethics Code, which is applicable to all directors, officers and employees, can be found on our website at www.potlatchcorp.com. We post any amendments to or waivers from our Corporate Conduct and Ethics Code on our website.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

Information as of February 15, 2013, and for at least the past five years concerning our executive officers is as follows:

Michael J. Covey (age 55), has served as President and Chief Executive Officer, and a director of the company, since February 2006, and has served as Chairman of the Board of the company since January 2007.

Eric J. Cremers (age 49), has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since March 2012 and as Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer from July 2007 to March 2012.

Terry L. Carter (age 64), has served as Controller and Treasurer since January 2009 and as Controller from September 1989 to January 2009.

William R. DeReu (age 46), has served as Vice President, Real Estate and Lake States Resource since February 2012 and as Vice President, Real Estate from May 2006 to February 2012.

Lorrie D. Scott (age 58), has served as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since July 2010. Prior to July 2010, she was employed by Weyerhaeuser Realty Investors, Inc., and served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel from October 2007 to July 2010.

Thomas J. Temple (age 56), has served as Vice President, Wood Products and Arkansas Resource since February 2012, as Vice President, Wood Products from January 2009 to February 2012, and as Vice President from November 2008 to January 2009. Prior to November 2008, he was employed by Canadian Forest Products, Ltd., an integrated forest products company, and served as Vice President of International Sales and Panel Marketing from April 2004 to November 2007.

The term of office of the officers of the company expires at the annual meeting of our board, and each officer holds office until the officer’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until the earlier of the officer’s death, resignation, retirement, removal by the board or as otherwise provided in our bylaws.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information set forth under the headings “Report of the Executive Compensation Personnel Policies Committee” and “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission on or about April 1, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND

MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Information regarding any person or group known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of our common stock as well as the security ownership of management set forth under the heading “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission on or about April 1, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference.

2012 FORM 10-K / 23

The following table provides certain information as of December 31, 2012, with respect to our equity compensation plans:



PLAN CATEGORY	NUMBER OF SECURITIES TO BE ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF OUTSTANDING OPTIONS, WARRANTS OR RIGHTS¹	WEIGHTED AVERAGE EXERCISE PRICE OF OUTSTANDING OPTIONS, WARRANTS OR RIGHTS²		NUMBER OF SECURITIES REMAINING AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders	613,408	$	27.46	334,765
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders	—		—	—
Total	613,408	$	27.46	334,765


¹	Includes 474,051 performance shares and 55,530 restricted stock units, or RSUs, which are the maximum number of shares that can be awarded under the performance share and RSU programs, not including future dividend equivalents.


²	Performance shares and RSUs do not have exercise prices and are therefore not included in the weighted average exercise price calculation.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR

INDEPENDENCE

The information required by this item regarding certain relationships and related transactions is included under the heading “Transactions with Related Persons” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission on or about April 1, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information required by this item regarding director independence is included under the heading “Board of Directors” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission on or about April 1, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by this item regarding principal accounting fees and services is included under the heading “Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm in 2012 and 2011” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission on or about April 1, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.

24 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

Part IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

Consolidated Financial Statements

Our consolidated financial statements are listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules on page 27 of this report.

Financial Statement Schedules

Our financial statement schedules are listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules on page 27 of this report.

Exhibits

Exhibits are listed in the Exhibit Index on pages 80-83 of this report.

2012 FORM 10-K / 25

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.



POTLATCH CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By	/S/ MICHAEL J. COVEY
	Michael J. Covey
	Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: February 15, 2013

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below on February 15, 2013, by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities indicated.



BY	/S/ MICHAEL J. COVEY	Director, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
	Michael J. Covey

BY	/S/ ERIC J. CREMERS	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
	Eric J. Cremers

BY	/S/ TERRY L. CARTER	Controller and Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer)
	Terry L. Carter	Controller and Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer)

	*	Director
	Boh A. Dickey

	*	Director
	William L. Driscoll

	*	Director
	Ruth Ann M. Gillis

	*	Director
	Jerome C. Knoll

	*	Director
	John S. Moody

	*	Director
	Lawrence S. Peiros

	*	Director
	Gregory L. Quesnel



*By	/S/ LORRIE D. SCOTT
	Lorrie D. Scott
	(Attorney-in-fact)

26 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

POTLATCH CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules

The following documents are filed as part of this report:



	PAGE NUMBER
Selected Financial Data	28

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	29

Consolidated Financial Statements:
Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010	44
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010	45
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2012 and 2011	46
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010	47
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010	49
Summary of Principal Accounting Policies	50
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	55
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	78

Schedules:
II. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	80
All other schedules are omitted because they are not required, not applicable or the required information is given in the consolidated financial statements.

2012 FORM 10-K / 27

POTLATCH CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Selected Financial Data

(Dollars in thousands – except per-share amounts)



	2012		2011		2010		2009		2008
Revenues	$	525,134	$	497,421	$	539,447	$	476,169	$	439,957
Income from continuing operations	42,594		40,266		40,275		81,431		72,937
Net income	42,594		40,266		40,394		77,328		52,637
Working capital	74,510		57,242		95,762		63,225		(91,367		)
Current ratio	2.2 to 1		1.7 to 1		2.5 to 1		2.1 to 1		0.7 to 1
Long-term debt (including current portion)	$	357,576	$	366,403	$	368,496	$	368,431	$	321,337
Stockholders’ equity	138,643		142,138		204,439		229,790		198,234
Long-term debt to stockholders’ equity ratio	2.6 to 1		2.6 to 1		1.8 to 1		1.6 to 1		1.6 to 1
Capital expenditures:¹
Property, plant and equipment	$	5,636	$	5,338	$	5,215	$	4,317	$	10,345
Timber and timberlands, net	23,552		11,548		9,786		11,380		53,734
Total capital expenditures	29,188		16,886		15,001		15,697		64,079
Total assets	718,897		746,220		781,711		823,565		938,321
Net income per share from continuing operations:
Basic	$	1.06	$	1.00	$	1.01	$	2.05	$	1.85
Diluted	1.05		1.00		1.00		2.04		1.83
Net income per share:
Basic	$	1.06	$	1.00	$	1.01	$	1.94	$	1.33
Diluted	1.05		1.00		1.00		1.93		1.32
Weighted-average shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic	40,333		40,159		39,971		39,763		39,474
Diluted	40,553		40,383		40,219		39,974		39,803
Distributions/Dividends per share²	$	1.24	$	1.84	$	2.04	$	2.04	$	2.04


¹	Not included in additions to timber and timberlands for 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008 are non-cash transactions totaling $0.6 million, $0.3 million, $0, $0.2 million and $40.8 million, respectively, for the purchase of timberlands.


²	In addition to the amount shown in the table for 2008, we also made a distribution of the common stock of Clearwater Paper Corporation on December 16, 2008, at the rate of one share of Clearwater Paper common stock for every 3.5 shares of Potlatch common stock held by stockholders of record on December 9, 2008.

28 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

The U.S. housing market remained weak going into the beginning of 2012, with only slight improvements in housing starts expected through the year. However, economic conditions improved considerably, resulting in significantly better results than what we expected for 2012. We generated $42.6 million of net income during 2012, slightly above that of 2011. In our Resource segment, results reflect the impact of our decision to reduce harvest levels in 2012. Our total harvest volume was 3.6 million tons in 2012 compared to 4.1 million tons in 2011. Operating income for our Resource segment was $49.5 million in 2012 compared to $59.8 million in 2011. Operating income for our Real Estate segment totaled $28.1 million in 2012 compared to $31.4 million in 2011 as fewer acres were sold in 2012. Our Wood Products segment was impacted the most positively from the improved economic conditions, with operating income of $45.5 million in 2012 compared to $7.3 million in 2011. Average lumber prices and total shipment volumes increased 15% and 8%, respectively, in 2012 over 2011. We ended the year with $80.1 million of cash and short-term investments on our balance sheet.

We expect the economy to continue to expand as the housing market improves, which should positively impact our operating results, particularly in our Resource and Wood Products segments. U.S. lumber demand increased in 2012 and is expected to increase again in 2013. Lumber prices are trending higher and we expect 2013 prices to remain higher than in 2012. In our Resource segment, the improvement in lumber prices is working its way into higher sawlog prices. As a result, we are modestly increasing our harvest level in 2013 to 3.8 million tons. Our expectations for our Real Estate segment are slightly lower compared to 2012, with no large non-strategic land sales expected. However, we expect a consistent level of rural real estate and HBU sales at slightly higher prices.

Factors Influencing Our Results of Operations and Cash Flows

The operating results of our Resource, Real Estate and Wood Products business segments have been and will continue to be influenced by a variety of factors, including the cyclical nature of the forest products industry, changes in timber prices and in harvest levels from our timberlands, competition, timberland valuations, demand for our non-strategic timberland for higher and better use purposes, the efficiency and level of capacity utilization of our wood products manufacturing operations, changes in our principal expenses such as log costs, asset dispositions or acquisitions, and other factors.

Cyclical Forest Products Markets. The operating results of our timber, real estate and wood products manufacturing operations are cyclical. Historical prices for our wood products have been volatile, and we, like other manufacturers in the forest products industry, have limited direct influence over the timing and extent of price changes for our products. Wood products pricing and demand affects timber pricing and demand. The demand for our wood products is affected by the level of new residential construction activity, commercial and industrial demand, and, to a lesser extent, home repair and remodeling activity, which are subject to fluctuations due to changes in economic conditions, interest rates, population growth, weather conditions and other factors. The profitability of our Wood Products segment depends largely on our ability to operate our facilities efficiently and at or near full capacity. Our operating results can be adversely affected if market demand does not justify operating at these levels or if our operations are inefficient or suffer significant interruption for any reason.

One of the most significant expenses of our Wood Products segment is the cost of sawlogs to supply our manufacturing facilities. The cost of logs that supply our mills has at times fluctuated greatly as a result of the factors discussed above affecting the price of our timber. Selling prices of our manufactured wood products have not always increased in response to log price increases, nor have log prices always decreased in conjunction with declining wood products prices. On occasion, the results of operations of our wood products business have been, and may in the future be, adversely affected if we are unable to pass cost increases through to our customers.

The forest products industry in general and the wood products business in particular has been adversely affected since 2008 by the national decline in home building and the resulting weak demand and lower prices for wood products. As we experienced in 2012, lumber demand in North America has started to improve and is expected to continue to increase due to improving housing starts and increased repair and remodel activity.

2012 FORM 10-K / 29

Fluctuating Timber Prices. Our results of operations and cash flows will be materially affected by the fluctuating nature of timber prices. A variety of factors affect prices for timber, including factors impacting demand, such as changes in wood products and pulpwood pricing and demand, which are affected by economic conditions, construction activity levels, interest rates, credit availability, population growth and weather conditions. All of these factors can vary by region and by timber type, such as sawlogs or pulpwood logs.

Timber prices are also affected by changes in timber supply at the local and national level. Our timberland ownership is currently concentrated in Arkansas, Idaho and Minnesota. In Arkansas and Minnesota, most timberlands are privately owned. Historically, increases in timber prices have often resulted in substantial increases in harvesting on private timberlands, including lands not previously made available for commercial timber operations, causing a short-term increase in supply that has tended to moderate price increases. Decreases in timber prices have often resulted in less harvesting activity, causing short-term decreases in supply that have tended to moderate price decreases. In Idaho, where a greater proportion of timberland is government owned, any substantial increase in timber harvesting from government-owned lands could significantly reduce timber prices, which would harm our results of operations. For more than twenty years, environmental concerns and other factors have limited timber sales by federal agencies, which historically had been major suppliers of timber to the United States forest products industry, particularly in the West. Any reversal of policy that substantially increases timber sales from government-owned land could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. On a local level, timber supplies can fluctuate depending upon factors such as changes in weather conditions and in the harvest strategies of local forest products industry participants, as well as occasionally high timber salvage efforts due to events such as storm damage, unusual pest infestations or fires.

Lumber demand in North America has started to improve and is expected to continue to increase due to improving housing starts and increased repair and remodel activity. Several other factors, including demand from Asia, the resource depletion caused by the mountain pine beetle, limited dealer inventories and a recovering manufacturing base, are also all contributing to higher lumber prices. The increased demand and higher prices for lumber will in turn likely have a positive effect on timber prices. In general, when pricing trends improve we increase our future harvest levels, and when pricing trends decline we decrease our harvest levels.

Harvest Levels. Changes in harvest levels on our timberlands also may have a significant impact on our results of operations. Over the long term, we manage our timberlands on a sustainable yield basis to achieve a balance between timber growth and timber harvests. From time to time, however, we may choose, consistent with our environmental commitments, to harvest timber at levels above or below our estimate of sustainability for various reasons.

On a short-term basis, we may adjust our timber harvest levels in response to market conditions. For example, in 2011, in response to weak demand and low prices, we shifted a portion of our harvest from our Southern region to our Northern region to capture better pricing opportunities. In 2012, due to continuing poor market conditions, we reduced the overall timber harvest from our lands to 3.6 million tons from 4.1 million tons in 2011. Based on our current projections that take into consideration such factors as market conditions, the ages of our timber stands and recent timberland sales and acquisitions, we expect the overall timber harvest from our lands in 2013 to total approximately 3.8 million tons. The incremental increase over 2012 is primarily related to harvests from the new timberland acquisitions in Arkansas made in 2012. We anticipate increasing our harvests to approximately 4.6 million tons annually in the next several years, as market conditions continue to improve along with increased housing starts.

We also experience seasonally lower harvest activity during the winter and early spring due to weather conditions. Longer term, our timber harvest levels will be affected by acquisitions of additional timberlands and sales of existing timberlands or timber deed sales. In addition to timberland acquisitions and sales, future timber harvest levels may be affected by changes in estimates of long-term sustainable yield because of silvicultural advances, natural disasters, fires and other hazards, regulatory constraints and other factors beyond our control.

Competition. The markets for our timber and wood products are highly competitive, and companies that have substantially greater financial resources than we do compete with us in each of our lines of business. Logs and other fiber from our timberlands, as well as our wood products, are subject to competition primarily from timberland owners and wood products manufacturers in North America.

Demand for Real Estate. A number of factors, including availability of credit, rising interest rates, a slowing of real estate development, changes in population growth patterns and changes in demographics could reduce the demand for our timberland as a real estate asset. In addition, changes in the interpretation or enforcement of current laws, or the enactment of new laws, regarding the use and development of real estate or changes in the

30 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

political composition of governmental bodies could lead to new or greater costs, delays and liabilities that could materially adversely affect our real estate business. The timing of real estate sales is a function of many factors, including the general state of the economy, demand in local real estate markets, the number of properties listed for sale, the seasonal nature of sales, the plans of adjacent landowners and our expectations of future price appreciation. Delays in the completion of transactions or the termination of potential transactions may be beyond our control. These events could adversely affect our operating results.

Interest in our rural real estate and HBU properties remained high in 2012. The number of rural real estate acres sold increased in 2012 over 2011, and the price per acre sold remained fairly comparable. The number of HBU acres and the price per acre sold increased in 2012 over 2011. We expect a consistent level of both types of sales in 2013.

Acquisitions and Dispositions. In addition to sales of timberlands as rural real estate or for HBU purposes, our business strategy also includes the disposition of non-strategic timberlands or timber deed sales when we desire to create financial flexibility and we believe pricing to be particularly attractive. Changes in investor interest in purchasing timberlands could reduce our ability to execute sales of non-strategic timberlands and could negatively affect our results of operations. We do not expect any large sales of non-strategic timberland in 2013, however, we expect continued smaller sales of our non-strategic properties.

As a result of our REIT conversion, we are better able to compete for acquisitions of timberlands against other entities that use tax-efficient structures. It is uncertain whether any timberland acquisitions we make will perform in accordance with our expectations. We anticipate financing acquisitions through cash from operations, borrowings under our credit facility or proceeds from equity or debt offerings. Our inability to finance future acquisitions on favorable terms or the failure of any acquisition to perform as we expect could harm our results of operations. We continually assess possible acquisition opportunities as they arise in the marketplace.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require management to make estimates that affect the amounts of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities reported. The following are critical accounting matters which are both very important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and which require some of management’s most difficult, subjective and complex judgments. The accounting for these matters involves forming estimates based on current facts, circumstances and assumptions which, in management’s judgment, could change in a manner that would materially affect management’s future estimates with respect to such matters and, accordingly, could cause our future reported financial condition and results of operations to differ materially from financial results reported based on management’s current estimates. Changes in these estimates are recorded periodically based on updated information. Our critical accounting policies are discussed below.

Timber and timberlands. Timber and timberlands are recorded at cost, net of depletion. Expenditures for reforestation, including all costs related to stand establishment, such as site preparation, costs of seeds or seedlings and tree planting, are capitalized. Expenditures for forest management, consisting of regularly recurring items necessary to the ownership and administration of our timber and timberlands, are accounted for as current operating expense. Our depletion is determined based on costs capitalized and the related current estimated recoverable timber volume. Recoverable volume does not include anticipated future growth, nor are anticipated future costs considered.

There are currently no authoritative accounting rules relating to costs to be capitalized in the timber and timberlands category. We have used relevant portions of current accounting rules, industry practices and our judgment in determining costs to be capitalized or expensed. Alternate interpretations and judgments could significantly affect the amounts capitalized. Additionally, models and observations used to estimate the current recoverable timber volume on our lands are subject to judgments that could significantly affect volume estimates.

Following are examples of factors that add to the complexity of the assumptions we make regarding capitalized or expensed costs:


•	harvest cycles can vary by geographic region and by species of timber;


•	weather patterns can affect annual harvest levels;


•	environmental regulations and restrictions may limit our ability to harvest certain timberlands;


•	changes in harvest plans may occur;

2012 FORM 10-K / 31


•	scientific advancements regarding seedlings and timber growing technology may affect future harvests;


•	land sales and acquisitions affect volumes available for harvest; and


•	major forest fire events or pest infestations can significantly affect future harvest levels.

Different assumptions for either the cost or volume estimates, or both, could have a significant effect upon amounts reported in our statements of operations and financial condition. Because of the number of variables involved and the interrelationship between the variables, sensitivity analysis of individual variables is not practical.

Long-lived assets. A significant portion of our total assets are invested in our timber and timberlands and our wood products manufacturing facilities. The cyclical patterns of our businesses cause cash flows to fluctuate by varying degrees from period to period. As a result, long-lived assets are a material component of our financial position with the potential for material change in valuation if assets are determined to be impaired.

Our long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, as measured by its undiscounted estimated future cash flows. We use our operational budgets to estimate future cash flows. Budgets are inherently uncertain estimates of future performance due to the fact that all inputs, including revenues, costs and capital spending, are subject to frequent change for many different reasons, including the reasons previously described above under “Factors Influencing our Results of Operations and Cash Flows.” Because of the number of variables involved, the interrelationship between the variables and the long-term nature of the impairment measurement, sensitivity analysis of individual variables is not practical. Budget estimates are adjusted periodically to reflect changing business conditions, and operations are reviewed, as appropriate, for impairment using the most current data available.

Income taxes. We believe it is more likely than not that we will have sufficient future taxable income to realize our deferred tax assets. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends on the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which temporary differences are deductible. In making this assessment, we consider the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities (including the impact of available carryforward periods), projected taxable income and tax planning strategies. In order to fully realize the deferred tax assets, we will need to generate future taxable income before the expiration of the deferred tax assets as specified by the Internal Revenue Code or applicable state statutes. Based on projected taxable income for Potlatch TRS, over the periods for which the deferred tax assets are deductible, as well as certain tax planning strategies that management has undertaken and expects to have the ability to undertake in the future, we believe that it is more likely than not that we will realize the benefits of these deductible differences and carryforwards, net of the existing valuation allowances at December 31, 2012. The amount of the deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced and management is unable to implement one or more of the tax planning strategies that it has identified.

Environmental liabilities. We record accruals for estimated environmental liabilities when such contingencies are probable and reasonably estimable. These estimates reflect assumptions and judgments as to the probable nature, magnitude and timing of required investigation, remediation and monitoring activities. In making these estimates, we consider, among other things, the activities we have conducted at any particular site, information obtained through consultation with applicable regulatory authorities and third parties, and our historical experience at other sites that are judged to be comparable. We must also consider the likelihood of changes in governmental regulations, advancements in environmental technologies and changing legal standards regarding liability. Due to the numerous uncertainties and variables associated with these assumptions and judgments, and changes in governmental regulations and environmental technologies, our accruals are subject to substantial uncertainties, and our actual costs could be materially more or less than the estimated amounts.

Pension and postretirement employee benefits. The determination of pension plan expense and the requirements for funding our pension plans are based on a number of actuarial assumptions. Two critical assumptions are the discount rate applied to pension plan obligations and the expected rate of return on plan assets. For other postretirement employee benefit, or OPEB, obligations related to certain health care and life insurance benefits provided to qualified retired employees, critical assumptions in determining OPEB expense are the discount rate applied to benefit obligations and the assumed health care cost trend rates used in the calculation of benefit obligations.

Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements includes information on the components of pension and OPEB expense and the underlying actuarial assumptions used to calculate periodic expense for the three years ended December 31, 2012, as well as the funded status of our pension plans and OPEB obligations as of December 31, 2012 and 2011.

32 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

The discount rate used in the determination of pension and OPEB benefit obligations in 2012, 2011 and 2010 was calculated using hypothetical bond portfolios consisting of “AA” or better rated securities that match the expected monthly benefit payments under our pension plans and OPEB obligations. The portfolios were well-diversified over corporate industrial, corporate financial, municipal, federal and foreign government issuers. At December 31, 2012, we calculated pension obligations using a 4.15% discount rate. We used a discount rate of 4.95% and 5.65% at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. To determine the expected long-term rate of return on pension assets, we employ a process that analyzes historical long-term returns for various investment categories, as measured by appropriate indices. These indices are weighted based upon the extent to which plan assets are invested in the particular categories in arriving at our determination of a composite expected return. The expected long-term rates of return on pension plan assets was 8.0% for the year ended December 31, 2012, and 8.5% for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Net periodic pension plan cost in 2012 was $12.6 million. An increase in the discount rate or the rate of expected return on plan assets, all other assumptions remaining the same, would decrease pension plan cost, and conversely, a decrease in either of these measures would increase plan costs. As an indication of the sensitivity that pension expense has to the discount rate assumption for the year ending December 31, 2013, a 25 basis point decrease in the discount rate would increase annual plan cost by approximately $0.7 million. A 25 basis point decrease in the assumption for the expected return on plan assets would increase annual plan cost by approximately $0.8 million. The actual rates of return on plan assets may vary significantly from the assumption used because of unanticipated changes in financial markets.

Effective January 1, 2011, we closed our defined benefit pension plans to any new salaried and hourly non-represented entrants. In connection with these closures, additional company 401(k) contributions are made for employees hired after that date.

For our OPEB obligations, the net periodic benefit for 2012 was $3.6 million. The discount rate used to calculate OPEB obligations, which was determined using the same methodology we used for our pension plans, was 3.70%, 4.85% and 5.40% at December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The assumed health care cost trend rate used to calculate OPEB obligations as of December 31, 2012 was 0% for our salaried and non-represented plans and a certain group of participants over age 65 in our hourly plan; 7.7% for our Arkansas participants covered by a collective bargaining agreement, grading ratably to an assumption of 5.0% in 2082; and 7.7% for a certain group of participants under age 65 in our hourly plan, grading ratably to an assumption of 5.0% in 2082.

A 1% increase in the health care cost trend rate assumption would have affected our OPEB obligation (liability) by approximately $0.6 million, as reported in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements. The actual rates of health care cost increases may vary significantly from the assumption used because of unanticipated changes in health care costs.

Periodic pension and OPEB expense are included in “Cost of goods sold” and “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The expense is allocated to all business segments. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, liabilities are recorded for underfunded plans. The funded status of a benefit plan is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the benefit obligation. For underfunded plans, the estimated liability to be payable in the next twelve months is recorded as a current liability, with the remaining portion recorded as long-term. See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

Components of Revenues and Expenses

Revenues. Revenues consist of sales of logs, standing timber, real estate and wood products, net of discounts, returns and allowances and any sales taxes collected. Sales taxes, when collected, are recorded as a current liability until remitted to the appropriate governmental entities and presented net within revenues.

Cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold consists of depreciation of manufacturing assets, depletion, cost basis of real estate sold and amortization, plus materials, labor and other operating expenses. Materials, labor and other operating expenses consist primarily of the cost of raw materials, including wood fiber, energy and chemicals, personnel costs, repair and maintenance expenses, and freight associated with customer shipments.

Selling, general and administrative expense. Selling, general and administrative expense primarily consists of compensation and associated costs for sales and administrative personnel, as well as depreciation and amortization of assets used in administrative functions.

Interest expense, net. Net interest expense is the interest paid on our outstanding debt, offset by interest income from any short-term investments. This category also includes amortization of debt issuance costs and the net changes in fair value of our interest rate swap derivatives and associated hedged items.

2012 FORM 10-K / 33

Results of Operations

As of December 31, 2012, our business is organized into three reporting segments: Resource, Real Estate and Wood Products. Sales between segments are recorded as intersegment revenues based on prevailing market prices. Because of the role of the Resource segment in supplying our Wood Products segment with a portion of its wood fiber needs, intersegment revenues can represent a significant portion of the Resource segment’s total revenues. Our other segments generally do not generate intersegment revenues.

In the period-to-period discussion of our results of operations below, when we discuss our consolidated revenues, contributions by each of the segments to our revenues are reported after elimination of intersegment revenues. In the “Discussion of Business Segments” sections below, each segment’s revenues are presented before elimination of intersegment revenues.

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011

The following table sets forth year-to-year changes in items included in our Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.



(Dollars in thousands)	YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
	2012			2011			INCREASE (DECREASE)
Revenues	$	525,134		$	497,421		$	27,713
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold	390,666			382,252			8,414
Selling, general and administrative expenses	49,419			40,549			8,870
Environmental remediation charge	—			1,200			(1,200		)
Asset impairment charge	107			1,180			(1,073		)
	440,192			425,181			15,011
Operating income	84,942			72,240			12,702
Interest expense, net	(25,539		)	(27,829		)	(2,290		)
Income before income taxes	59,403			44,411			14,992
Income tax provision	(16,809		)	(4,145		)	12,664
Net income	$	42,594		$	40,266		$	2,328

Revenues. Revenues increased $27.7 million, or 6%, in 2012 compared to 2011, due to increased revenues from the Wood Products segment, partially offset by decreased revenues from the Resource and Real Estate segments. A more detailed discussion of revenues follows in “Discussion of Business Segments.”

Cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold increased $8.4 million, or 2%, in 2012 over 2011, primarily due to the increased cost of logs consumed, customer freight, and wages and benefits that resulted from increased production and operating hours at our wood products manufacturing facilities, partially offset by reduced logging and hauling costs from our Resource segment due to the harvest deferral and lower basis of acres sold by our Real Estate segment.

Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $8.9 million, or 22%, in 2012 over 2011, primarily due to higher pension expense related to our legacy plans and increased compensation expenses and mark to market adjustments related to deferred compensation plans.

Environmental remediation charge. In 2011, we recorded a pre-tax charge of $1.2 million to reflect increased remediation cost estimates associated with estimated liabilities related to our Avery Landing site in Idaho.

Asset impairment charge. In 2012, we recorded a $0.1 million charge related to write-downs of two of our real estate development projects. In 2011, we recorded a charge of $1.2 million as a result of a change in the intended use of a warehouse.

Interest expense, net. Net interest expense decreased $2.3 million in 2012 from 2011 due to the maturity and redemption of $21.7 million of debt and the lower interest rates associated with our interest rate swaps, combined with a $1.2 million non-cash charge in 2011 for deferred costs related to the reduction in our previous bank credit facility.

34 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

Income tax provision. The income tax provision for 2012 was due to pre-tax income for Potlatch TRS. The income tax provision for 2011 was due to pre-tax income for Potlatch TRS and a $0.9 million valuation allowance related to a state net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards.

DISCUSSION OF BUSINESS SEGMENTS



(Dollars in thousands)	YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
	2012		2011		INCREASE (DECREASE)
Segment Revenues:
Resource	$	207,846	$	226,969	$	(19,123	)
Real Estate	38,238		50,029		(11,791		)
Wood Products	329,404		271,580		57,824
Total segment revenues, before eliminations	$	575,488	$	548,578	$	26,910
Operating income:
Resource	$	49,543	$	59,792	$	(10,249	)
Real Estate	28,056		31,384		(3,328		)
Wood Products	45,456		7,267		38,189
Total segment operating income, before eliminations and adjustments and corporate items	$	123,055	$	98,443	$	24,612

Resource Segment. Revenues for the segment decreased $19.1 million, or 8%, in 2012 from 2011, due to our planned harvest deferral, primarily in Arkansas, partially offset by higher sales prices, primarily in Idaho, due to improving market conditions. Total harvest volume decreased 14% in 2012 from 2011, accounting for a negative $31.2 million of the revenue variance, partially offset by a positive pricing variance of $12.3 million.

The following table summarizes our harvest levels for the years ended December 31:



(Volume in tons)		2012	2011
Northern region
	Sawlog	1,946,138	2,034,465
	Pulpwood	299,934	360,391
	Stumpage	34,049	41,008
	Total	2,280,121	2,435,864

Southern region
	Sawlog	586,658	875,933
	Pulpwood	691,411	812,577
	Stumpage	—	15,006
	Total	1,278,069	1,703,516

Total harvest volume		3,558,190	4,139,380

In our Northern region, sawlog volume decreased 4% due to the harvest deferral. Sawlog prices increased 3% as a result of strengthening demand for cedar and mixed sawlogs, partially offset by a change in product mix that contained less cedar. Northern pulpwood volume decreased 17% as a result of reduced pulpwood production in Idaho in 2012 due to lower prices, and pulp and paper mill curtailments and closures in the Lake States in 2012. Pulpwood prices increased 4% in 2012 over 2011 due to very low prices in the first half of 2011.

In our Southern region, sawlog volume decreased 33% in 2012 from 2011 due to the harvest deferral, and prices decreased 1%. Southern pulpwood volume decreased 15% in 2012 from 2011 due to the harvest deferral in 2012, combined with increased production of pulpwood in 2011 resulting from pine plantation thinnings and favorable weather conditions in the latter part of 2011. Pulpwood prices increased 6% in 2012 over 2011 due to stronger demand due to decreased pine availability and a shift in product mix to higher-priced hardwoods.

2012 FORM 10-K / 35

Expenses for the segment decreased $8.9 million, or 5%, in 2012 from 2011, primarily due to decreased logging and hauling costs and lower depletion as a result of the reduced harvest volume, partially offset by higher per-unit logging and hauling expenses, increased forest management costs due to catching up on deferred road maintenance, pre-commercial thinning and replanting, and increased commercial thinning. Operating income for our Resource segment decreased $10.2 million, or 17%, in 2012 from 2011.

Real Estate Segment. Revenues decreased $11.8 million, expenses decreased $8.5 million and operating income decreased $3.3 million in 2012 compared to 2011, all primarily due to the sale of fewer acres of land in 2012.

The following table summarizes our real estate sales for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011:



	2012			2011
	ACRES SOLD	AVERAGE PRICE/ACRE		ACRES SOLD	AVERAGE PRICE/ACRE
HBU	7,080	$	2,969	2,592	$	2,054
Rural real estate	11,724	1,218		9,851	1,259
Non-strategic timberland	4,140	711		24,015	1,345
Total	22,944			36,458

Wood Products Segment. Revenues for the segment increased $57.8 million, or 21%, in 2012 over 2011, due to improved market conditions. Lumber prices and volumes increased 15% and 8%, respectively, in 2012 over 2011. Expenses for the segment increased $19.6 million, or 7%, in 2012 over 2011. The cost of logs consumed, customer freight, and wages and benefits all increased as a result of increased production and operating hours. We recognized a negative $0.9 million charge to income related to our lumber hedge in 2012 compared to a benefit of $4.5 million in 2011. The Wood Products segment reported operating income of $45.5 million in 2012 compared to $7.3 million in 2011.

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010

The following table sets forth year-to-year changes in items included in our Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.



(Dollars in thousands)	YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
	2011			2010			INCREASE (DECREASE)
Revenues	$	497,421		$	539,447		$	(42,026	)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold	382,252			423,353			(41,101		)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	40,549			39,347			1,202
Environmental remediation charge	1,200			4,096			(2,896		)
Asset impairment charge	1,180			—			1,180
	425,181			466,796			(41,615		)
Operating income	72,240			72,651			(411		)
Interest expense, net	(27,829		)	(27,780		)	49
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	44,411			44,871			(460		)
Income tax provision	(4,145		)	(4,596		)	(451		)
Income from continuing operations	40,266			40,275			(9		)
Discontinued operations, net	—			119			(119		)
Net income	$	40,266		$	40,394		$	(128	)

Revenues. Revenues decreased $42.0 million, or 8%, in 2011 compared to 2010, primarily due to decreased revenues from the Real Estate segment as a result of larger sales of non-strategic timberlands in 2010 than in 2011. A more detailed discussion of revenues follows in “Discussion of Business Segments.”

36 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

Cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold decreased $41.1 million, or 10%, in 2011 from 2010, primarily due to the lower basis of real estate sold in 2011 compared to 2010 and the positive variance of our lumber hedge in 2011 compared to 2010. These decreases were partially offset by higher logging and hauling expenses from the Resource segment, primarily as a result of higher diesel fuel costs, and increased log costs at our wood products manufacturing facilities.

Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1.2 million, or 3%, in 2011 over 2010, primarily due to higher compensation-related expenses in 2011 attributable mainly to our deferred compensation and incentive plans.

Environmental remediation charge. In 2010, we recorded a pre-tax charge of $4.1 million associated with estimated liabilities related to our Avery Landing site. In 2011, we recorded an additional pre-tax charge of $1.2 million to reflect increased remediation cost estimates, for a total accrual of $6.0 million at December, 31, 2011.

Asset impairment charge. In 2011, we recorded a pre-tax asset impairment charge of $1.2 million as a result of a change in the intended use of a warehouse.

Interest expense, net. Net interest expense increased less than $0.1 million in 2011 over 2010, primarily due to a $1.2 million non-cash charge for deferred costs related to the reduction in our bank credit facility, offset by a reduction in interest expense associated with our interest rate swaps and the $5.0 million medium-term note redemption and maturity in January 2011.

Income tax provision. The income tax provision for 2011 was due to pre-tax income for Potlatch TRS and a $0.9 million valuation allowance related to a state net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The income tax provision for 2010 was due to the pre-tax income for Potlatch TRS, a charge of $1.4 million related to deferred taxes associated with our retiree health care liabilities and a charge of $0.3 million with respect to built-in gain taxes attributable to the sale of REIT properties, partially offset by recognition of a tax benefit of $2.1 million from an adjustment of deferred tax liabilities.

Discontinued operations. Results from discontinued operations in 2010 primarily relate to the sale of the Prescott lumber mill in November 2010, which resulted in a pre-tax gain on disposal of $0.9 million, partially offset by other Prescott expenses of $0.6 million.

DISCUSSION OF BUSINESS SEGMENTS



(Dollars in thousands)	YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
	2011		2010		INCREASE (DECREASE)
Segment Revenues:
Resource	$	226,969	$	225,834	$	1,135
Real Estate	50,029		85,226		(35,197		)
Wood Products	271,580		273,887		(2,307		)
Total segment revenues, before eliminations	$	548,578	$	584,947	$	(36,369	)
Operating income:
Resource	$	59,792	$	62,107	$	(2,315	)
Real Estate	31,384		30,425		959
Wood Products	7,267		7,140		127
Total segment operating income, before eliminations and adjustments and corporate items	$	98,443	$	99,672	$	(1,229	)

Resource Segment. Revenues for the segment increased $1.1 million in 2011 over 2010, primarily due to strong demand in Idaho that kept harvest levels and prices in our Northern region slightly higher than in 2010, partially offset by reduced harvest levels and prices in our Southern region compared to 2010. Due to the decreased demand and prices in our Southern region, we shifted a portion of our planned harvest to our Northern region in order to capture better pricing opportunities. In total, higher prices accounted for approximately $4.0 million of the revenue variance, partially offset by a negative $2.3 million variance in other revenues, primarily from biomass revenues in 2010 that did not recur in 2011, and a negative $0.6 million variance due to sales volumes. We harvested 4.1 million tons in 2011 compared to 4.2 million tons in 2010.

2012 FORM 10-K / 37

The following table summarizes our harvest levels for the years ended December 31:



(Volume in tons)		2011	2010
Northern region
	Sawlog	2,034,465	1,993,445
	Pulpwood	360,391	358,502
	Stumpage	41,008	42,820
	Total	2,435,864	2,394,767

Southern region
	Sawlog	875,933	1,048,742
	Pulpwood	812,577	707,596
	Stumpage	15,006	—
	Total	1,703,516	1,756,338

Total harvest volume		4,139,380	4,151,105

In our Northern region, sawlog sales volumes and prices increased 2% and 8%, respectively. The increased volumes resulted from increased demand and the shift in the harvest between regions to capture pricing opportunities. Sawlog prices increased due to a general strengthening in demand for mixed sawlogs, partially offset by slightly weaker demand for cedar. Northern pulpwood sales volumes and prices increased 1% and 9%, respectively, due to increased demand and a shortage of residual chips in the Pacific Northwest. The pulpwood market in Idaho declined during 2010 due to a region-wide reduction in demand as a result of other companies’ closures of two large pulp manufacturing facilities in the Pacific Northwest in early 2010.

In our Southern region, sawlog sales volumes and prices decreased 16% and 7%, respectively, in 2011 from 2010, both primarily due to a general lack of demand throughout 2011, which led us to shift harvest volumes between regions, and the closure of a major customer's facility late in 2011. Southern pulpwood sales volumes increased 15% in 2011 over 2010, while prices decreased 15%. The increased volumes resulted from pine plantation thinnings, but an overabundance of fiber availability had a negative impact on prices.

Expenses for the segment increased $3.4 million, or 2%, in 2011 over 2010, primarily due to higher logging and hauling expense primarily associated with higher diesel fuel costs, partially offset by decreased depletion due to the sale of Wisconsin properties in 2010. Operating income for our Resource segment decreased $2.3 million, or 4%, in 2011 from 2010.

Real Estate Segment. Revenues decreased $35.2 million, expenses decreased $36.2 million and operating income increased $1.0 million in 2011 compared to 2010, all primarily due to the sale of fewer acres of lower basis timberlands in Idaho in 2011 compared to the sale of a greater number of acres of higher basis timberlands in Wisconsin in 2010. The Idaho timberland sold in 2011 was owned for a longer time and thus had a lower basis than the Wisconsin timberland sold in 2010 that was purchased in 2007.

The following table summarizes our real estate sales for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:



	2011			2010
	ACRES SOLD	AVERAGE PRICE/ACRE		ACRES SOLD	AVERAGE PRICE/ACRE
HBU	2,592	$	2,054	2,967	$	2,007
Rural real estate	9,851	1,259		7,796	1,182
Non-strategic timberland	24,015	1,345		93,974	745
Total	36,458			104,737

Wood Products Segment. Revenues for the segment decreased $2.3 million in 2011 from 2010, primarily due to lower sales volumes at fairly comparable overall average prices between the years. Expenses for the segment decreased $2.5 million, or 1%, in 2011 from 2010. The decreased expenses were primarily the result of the $4.5 million benefit of the lumber hedge in 2011 compared to the negative $2.9 million unrealized mark to market adjustment in 2010, partially offset by increased log and freight costs in 2011. Also included in the 2010 results is a

38 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

pre-tax loss of $1.8 million from the sale of the railroad we operated in Idaho. The Wood Products segment reported operating income of $7.3 million in 2011 compared to $7.1 million in 2010.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At December 31, 2012, our financial position included long-term debt of $357.6 million, including current installments on long-term debt of $8.4 million. Long-term debt at December 31, 2011 was $366.4 million, including current installments on long-term debt of $21.7 million. Stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2012, was $138.6 million compared to the December 31, 2011 balance of $142.1 million. Distributions to common stockholders in 2012 totaled $50.0 million, compared to $73.9 million in 2011. The ratio of long-term debt to stockholders’ equity was 2.6 to 1 at both December 31, 2012 and 2011.

Working capital totaled $74.5 million at December 31, 2012, compared to $57.2 million at December 31, 2011. The significant changes in the components of working capital are as follows:


•	Cash and short-term investments combined increased $9.3 million primarily due to cash provided by operating activities, partially offset by negative cash flows from financing and investing activities.


•	The current portion of long-term debt decreased $13.2 million due to the maturity and redemption of $16.5 million of medium-term notes in January and February 2012 and a $5.2 million revenue bond in April 2012, partially offset by the scheduled maturity of $8.4 million of bonds in August 2013.


•	Receivables decreased $2.9 million primarily due to decreased trade receivables.


•	Other current assets decreased $2.1 million due to a lower basis of real estate held for sale.

Scheduled payments due on long-term debt during each of the five years subsequent to December 31, 2012, are as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)



2013	$	8,413
2014	21,000
2015	22,500
2016	5,000
2017	11,000

Cash Flows Summary

The following table presents information regarding our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010.



(Dollars in thousands)	Years Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
Cash flows from continuing operations:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	79,981		$	77,425		$	126,115
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities	(8,647		)	4,503			(45,476		)
Net cash used for financing activities	(62,168		)	(79,702		)	(79,580		)
Cash provided by continuing operations	9,166			2,226			1,059
Cash provided by discontinued operations	—			—			3,002
Change in cash	9,166			2,226			4,061
Balance at beginning of year	7,819			5,593			1,532
Balance at end of year	$	16,985		$	7,819		$	5,593

Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations in 2012 totaled $80.0 million, compared to $77.4 million in 2011 and $126.1 million in 2010. The variance between 2012 and 2011 was primarily due to increased net income and the use of net operating loss carryforwards, partially offset by the $21.6 million contribution to our qualified pension plans in 2012. The variance between 2011 and 2010 was primarily related to the reduced proceeds from real estate sold in 2011 and the $9.4 million contribution to our qualified pension plans.

2012 FORM 10-K / 39

Net cash used for investing activities from continuing operations was $8.6 million in 2012. Net cash provided by investing activities from continuing operations was $4.5 million in 2011. Net cash used for investing activities from continuing operations was $45.5 million in 2010. In 2012, we used $29.2 million for capital expenditures, which was partially offset by the $21.8 million we borrowed against our COLI plan to fund our 2012 pension contributions. In 2011, the decrease in short-term investments of $22.3 million was partially offset by $16.9 million used for capital expenditures. In 2010, we increased short-term investments by $31.7 million and used $15.0 million for capital expenditures.

Our authorized capital spending budget for 2013 totals $24.4 million. Our capital spending is primarily related to reforestation expenditures, logging road construction, smaller high-return discretionary projects and routine general replacement projects for our wood products manufacturing facilities.

Net cash used for financing totaled $62.2 million in 2012, $79.7 million in 2011 and $79.6 million in 2010. Net cash used for financing in 2012 was primarily attributable to paying our quarterly cash distributions to stockholders, which totaled $50.0 million in 2012, and the maturity and redemption of $21.7 million of debt, partially offset by the issuance of $12.0 million of term loans. Net cash used for financing in 2011 was primarily attributable to paying our quarterly cash distributions to stockholders, which totaled $73.9 million in 2011, and the maturity and redemption of $5.0 million of medium-term notes. Net cash used for financing in 2010 was primarily attributable to paying our quarterly cash distributions to stockholders, which totaled $81.6 million in 2010.

Cash provided by discontinued operations totaled $3.0 million in 2010, primarily reflecting the net proceeds from the sale of the Prescott mill assets in November 2010.

On December 11, 2012, we entered into a new unsecured bank credit facility with an expiration date of December 11, 2017, which superseded our previous secured bank credit facility with an expiration date of December 8, 2013. Concurrent with our entry into this new credit agreement, all of the mortgages on our timberlands and other liens and security interests securing the previous credit agreement, our 6.95% Debentures and our Medium-Term Notes were released.

This new credit agreement provides for a revolving line of credit of up to $250 million, including a $40 million subfacility for letters of credit and a $15 million subfacility for swing line loans. Usage under either or both subfacilities reduces availability under the revolving line of credit. Subject to certain conditions and agreement of the lenders, the bank credit facility may be increased by up to an additional $100 million. As of December 31, 2012, there were no borrowings outstanding under the revolving line of credit, and approximately $1.9 million of the letter of credit subfacility was being used to support several outstanding letters of credit. Available borrowing capacity at December 31, 2012 was $248.1 million.

We may use the funds borrowed under the credit agreement, among other things, to refinance existing indebtedness, fund working capital needs and capital expenditures, and for other general corporate purposes, including acquisitions.

The agreement governing our bank credit facility contains certain covenants that limit our ability and that of our subsidiaries to create liens, merge or consolidate, dispose of assets, incur indebtedness and guarantees, repurchase or redeem capital stock and indebtedness, make certain investments or acquisitions, enter into certain transactions with affiliates or change the nature of our business. The bank credit facility also contains financial maintenance covenants establishing a minimum interest coverage ratio, a minimum timberland coverage ratio and a maximum leverage ratio. We will be permitted to pay distributions to our stockholders under the terms of the bank credit facility so long as we remain in pro forma compliance with the financial maintenance covenants.

The table below sets forth the financial covenants in the bank credit facility and our status with respect to these covenants as of December 31, 2012:



	COVENANT REQUIREMENT	ACTUAL RATIO AT DECEMBER 31, 2012
Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio	3.00 to 1.00	4.64 to 1.00
Minimum Timberland Coverage Ratio	3.00 to 1.00	5.39 to 1.00
Maximum Leverage Ratio	5.00 to 1.00 *	3.03 to 1.00

* Commencing January 1, 2015, the Maximum Leverage Ratio will decrease to 4.50 to 1.00.

The Interest Coverage Ratio is our twelve months ended EBITDDA divided by interest expense for the same period. EBITDDA, as we define it, is earnings from continuing operations adjusted for interest expense, provision/benefit for income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization, the basis of real estate sold and non-cash equity compensation expense.

40 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

The Timberland Coverage Ratio is the value of our timberlands divided by our total funded indebtedness. Our total funded indebtedness consists of our long-term debt, including the current installments on long-term debt, plus the total amount outstanding under the letter of credit subfacility.

The Leverage Ratio is our total funded indebtedness divided by our twelve months ended EBITDDA. Both the total funded indebtedness and EBITDDA are computed as mentioned in the other financial covenants.

On December 18, 2012, we entered into a $12 million term loan to fund two timberland acquisitions. The term loan consists of two $6 million tranches, with rates of 2.95% on the 2017 maturity and 3.70% on the 2020 maturity. The term loan contains the same covenants and restrictions as those in the new credit agreement.

In 2009, we sold $150 million aggregate principal amount of 7.5% senior notes. The terms of the notes limit our ability and the ability of any subsidiary guarantors to borrow money, pay dividends, redeem or repurchase capital stock, enter into sale and leaseback transactions, and create liens. With respect to the limitation on dividends and the repurchase of our capital stock, these restricted payments are permitted as follows:


•	We may use 100% of our Funds Available for Distribution, or FAD, for the period January 1, 2010 through the end of the quarter preceding the payment date, less cumulative restricted payments previously made from FAD during that period, to make restricted payments. Our cumulative FAD less our dividends paid was $30.8 million at December 31, 2012.


•	If our cumulative FAD, less cumulative restricted payments previously made from FAD, is insufficient to cover a restricted payment, then we are permitted to make payments from a basket amount, which was approximately $90.1 million at December 31, 2012.

•

If our cumulative FAD less our aggregate restricted payments made from FAD is insufficient to cover a restricted payment and we have depleted the basket, we may still make a restricted payment, so long as, after giving effect to the payment, our ratio of indebtedness to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization and basis of real estate sold, or EBITDDA, from continuing operations for the preceding four full fiscal quarters does not exceed 4.25 to 1.00.

FAD, as defined in the indenture governing the senior notes, is earnings from continuing operations, plus depreciation, depletion and amortization, plus basis of real estate sold, and minus capital expenditures. For purposes of this definition, capital expenditures exclude all expenditures relating to direct or indirect timberland purchases in excess of $5 million.

We believe that our cash and short-term investments on hand, cash flows from operations and available borrowings under our bank credit facility will be sufficient to fund our operations, regular stockholder distributions, capital expenditures and debt service obligations for the next twelve months. We cannot assure, however, that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that we will be in compliance with the financial covenants in our bank credit facility so that future borrowings thereunder will be available to us. Thus, our ability to fund our operations and stockholder distributions will be dependent upon our future financial performance, which will be affected by general economic, competitive and other factors, including those discussed above under the heading “Factors Influencing our Results of Operations and Cash Flows,” many of which are beyond our control.

Based on our outlook for 2013 and taking into account planned harvest activities, we expect to fund a majority of our 2013 annual cash distributions from cash and short-term investments on hand at December 31, 2012, and by using the cash flows from our REIT-qualifying timberland operations. The rules with which we must comply to maintain our status as a REIT limit our ability to use dividends from Potlatch TRS for the payment of stockholder distributions. In particular, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year as a REIT must be derived from sales of our standing timber and other types of real estate income. No more than 25% of our gross income may consist of dividends from Potlatch TRS and other non-qualifying types of income. This requirement may limit our ability to receive dividends from Potlatch TRS and may impact our ability to fund distributions to stockholders using cash flows from Potlatch TRS.

Our ability to fund distributions through bank borrowings is subject to our continued compliance with debt covenants, as well as the availability of borrowing capacity under our lending arrangements. If our operations do not generate sufficient cash flows and we are unable to borrow, we may be required to reduce our quarterly distributions. In addition, even if cash available for distribution from our REIT operations is sufficient on an annual basis to fund the entire distribution to stockholders, we anticipate that it may be necessary to utilize some short-term borrowing to fully fund distributions in the first half of each year as a result of lower harvest activity during winter and early spring. Significant decreases in timber prices, reduced harvests or other factors that have a material adverse effect on the cash flows from our REIT operations could result in our inability to maintain our current distribution rate.

2012 FORM 10-K / 41

The major debt rating agencies routinely evaluate our debt and our access to capital, and our cost of borrowing can increase or decrease depending on our credit rating. In January 2013, Standard & Poor's affirmed our corporate BB credit rating, with a stable outlook. In August 2012, Moody’s affirmed our corporate and debt ratings of Ba1, with a stable outlook.

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2012. Portions of the amounts shown are reflected in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, as required by generally accepted accounting principles. See the footnotes following the table for information regarding the amounts presented and for references to relevant consolidated financial statement notes that include a detailed discussion of the item.



	PAYMENTS DUE BY PERIOD
(Dollars in thousands)	TOTAL		WITHIN 1 YEAR		1-3 YEARS		3-5 YEARS		MORE THAN 5 YEARS
Long-term debt¹	$	356,748	$	8,413	$	43,500	$	16,000	$	288,835
Interest on long-term debt	184,264		23,623		44,725		40,598		75,318
Operating leases²	10,710		3,332		5,288		1,970		120
Purchase obligations³	21,697		7,966		10,385		3,346		—
Other obligations⁴	197,878		45,177		29,598		47,290		75,813
Total	$	771,297	$	88,511	$	133,496	$	109,204	$	440,086


¹	See Note 9, “Debt,” in the notes to consolidated financial statements.


²	See Note 14, “Commitments and Contingencies,” in the notes to consolidated financial statements.


³	Purchase obligations consist primarily of accounts payable, the purchase of raw materials, contracts for timber cutting and contracts with electricity providers.

⁴

Included in other obligations are payments under qualified pension plans and for other postretirement employee benefit obligations. Payments under qualified pension plans are based on estimated minimum required contributions for years 1-5. Payments for other postretirement employee benefit obligations are based on expected future benefit payments as disclosed in Note 13, “Savings Plans, Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Employee Benefits,” in the notes to consolidated financial statements for years 1-5.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We currently are not a party to off-balance sheet arrangements that would require disclosure under this section.

Distributions to Shareholders

The following table summarizes the historical tax characteristics of distributions to shareholders for the years ended December 31:



(Amounts per share)	2012		2011		2010
Qualified distributions	$	—	$	—	$	—
Capital gain distributions	0.71		0.83		1.54
Non-taxable return of capital	0.53		1.01		0.50
Total distributions	$	1.24	$	1.84	$	2.04

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Our exposure to market risks on financial instruments includes interest rate risk on our short-term investments, bank credit facility and interest rate swap agreements. All market risk sensitive instruments were entered into for purposes other than trading purposes.

42 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

commensurate with low-risk instruments. We do not attempt to hedge our exposure to interest rate risk for our short-term investments.

The interest rates applied to borrowings under our bank credit facility adjust often and therefore react quickly to any movement in the general trend of market interest rates. We do not attempt to mitigate the effects of short-term interest rate fluctuations on our bank credit facility borrowings through the use of derivative financial instruments. There were no outstanding borrowings at December 31, 2012.

All of our long-term debt is fixed rate and therefore changes in market interest rates do not expose us to interest rate risk for these financial instruments. However, we entered into interest rate swap agreements, effective July 1, 2010, on $68.25 million of fixed rate debt securities, or approximately 19% of our long-term debt. As of December 31, 2012, we had six separate interest rate swaps with notional amounts totaling $46.75 million. The swaps convert interest payments with fixed rates ranging between 6.95% and 8.89% to a three-month LIBOR plus a spread between 4.738% and 6.518%. The interest rate swaps terminate at various dates between December 2015 and February 2018. See Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information about our interest rate swaps.

We occasionally enter into lumber hedging contracts to mitigate commodity price risk related to sales by the Wood Products segment. These contracts normally cash settle at various dates throughout the length of the contracts. There were no lumber hedges outstanding at December 31, 2012. See Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information about our lumber hedges.

Quantitative Information about Market Risks

(Dollars in thousands)



	EXPECTED MATURITY DATE
	2013			2014			2015			2016			2017			THEREAFTER			TOTAL
Long-term debt:
Fixed rate	$	8,413		$	21,000		$	22,500		$	5,000		$	11,000		$	288,835		$	356,748
Average interest rate	7.5		%	7.1		%	7.0		%	8.8		%	5.6		%	6.9		%	7.2		%
Fair value at 12/31/12																			$	379,048

Our debt includes fixed rate and variable rate obligations as of December 31, 2012. We are not subject to interest rate risk on the fixed rate obligations. We are subject to interest rate risk on the interest rate swap agreements. A hypothetical increase or decrease of 50 and 100 basis points, or BPS, related to our interest rate swap agreements would have the following effects on fair value:

(Dollars in thousands)



	LONG-TERM DEBT PRINCIPAL AMOUNT		INTEREST RATE SWAP AGREEMENTS - FAIR VALUE
			Current		+50 BPS		+100 BPS		-50 BPS		-100 BPS
Maturing in:
2013	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
2014	—		—		—		—		—		—
2015	22,500		1,121		804		493		1,432		1,438
2016	5,000		267		192		119		341		344
2017	5,000		396		287		181		507		559
2018	14,250		1,273		913		563		1,641		1,915
Total	$	46,750	$	3,057	$	2,196	$	1,356	$	3,921	$	4,256

2012 FORM 10-K / 43

POTLATCH CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)



	FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
	2012			2011			2010
Revenues	$	525,134		$	497,421		$	539,447
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold	390,666			382,252			423,353
Selling, general and administrative expenses	49,419			40,549			39,347
Environmental remediation charge	—			1,200			4,096
Asset impairment charge	107			1,180			—
	440,192			425,181			466,796
Operating income	84,942			72,240			72,651
Interest expense, net	(25,539		)	(27,829		)	(27,780		)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	59,403			44,411			44,871
Income tax provision	(16,809		)	(4,145		)	(4,596		)
Income from continuing operations	42,594			40,266			40,275
Discontinued operations, net	—			—			119
Net income	$	42,594		$	40,266		$	40,394

Net income per share:
Basic	$	1.06		$	1.00		$	1.01
Diluted	1.05			1.00			1.00

The accompanying notes and summary of principal accounting policies are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

44 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

POTLATCH CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(Dollars in thousands)



	FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
	2012			2011			2010
Net income	$	42,594		$	40,266		$	40,394
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement employee benefits (OPEB):
Net gain (loss) arising during the period, net of tax of $(5,968), $(21,960) and $5,132	(9,334		)	(34,347		)	8,027
Prior service (cost) credit arising during the period, net of tax of $2,159, $2,264 and $(279)	3,273			3,541			(436		)
Amortization of actuarial loss included in net periodic cost, net of tax of $7,208, $5,414 and $4,994	11,275			8,469			7,811
Amortization of prior service credit included in net periodic cost, net of tax of $(3,343), $(3,062) and $(3,001)	(5,230		)	(4,790		)	(4,695		)
Recognition of deferred taxes related to actuarial gain on OPEB obligations	—			—			3,015
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(16		)	(27,127		)	13,722
Comprehensive income	$	42,578		$	13,139		$	54,116

The accompanying notes and summary of principal accounting policies are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

2012 FORM 10-K / 45

POTLATCH CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)



	AT DECEMBER 31
	2012			2011
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash	$	16,985		$	7,819
Short-term investments	63,077			62,989
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $450	10,668			13,533
Inventories	28,928			28,603
Deferred tax assets	10,507			11,909
Other assets	7,932			9,998
Total current assets	138,097			134,851
Property, plant and equipment, net	58,050			61,453
Timber and timberlands, net	464,467			459,687
Deferred tax assets	43,292			57,924
Other assets	14,991			32,305
	$	718,897		$	746,220
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current installments on long-term debt	$	8,413		$	21,661
Current liability for pensions and other postretirement employee benefits	6,888			8,172
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	48,286			47,776
Total current liabilities	63,587			77,609
Long-term debt	349,163			344,742
Liability for pensions and other postretirement employee benefits	145,047			163,116
Other long-term obligations	22,457			18,615
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, Authorized 4,000,000 shares, no shares issued	—			—
Common stock, $1 par value, Authorized 100,000,000 shares, Issued 40,389,180 and 40,202,170 shares	40,389			40,202
Additional paid-in capital	333,348			329,206
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(94,196		)	(86,388		)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax of $(91,834) and $(91,891)	(140,898		)	(140,882		)
Total stockholders’ equity	138,643			142,138
	$	718,897		$	746,220

The accompanying notes and summary of principal accounting policies are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

46 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

POTLATCH CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Dollars in thousands)



	FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
	2012			2011			2010
CASH FLOWS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Net income	$	42,594		$	40,266		$	40,394
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net operating cash flows from continuing operations:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	26,247			29,092			31,204
Basis of real estate sold	5,048			10,219			48,670
Change in deferred taxes	15,992			4,218			5,427
Loss (gain) on disposition of property, plant and equipment	(8		)	(131		)	1,078
Employee benefit plans	4,317			(2,181		)	(6,241		)
Equity-based compensation expense	4,067			4,404			3,952
Asset impairment charge	107			1,180			—
Gain from discontinued operations	—			—			(119		)
Proceeds from land sales deposited with a like-kind exchange intermediary	—			—			(341		)
Income tax benefit related to stock issued in conjunction with stock compensation plans	525			—			—
Other, net	1,478			365			42
Funding of qualified pension plans	(21,630		)	(9,400		)	—
Decrease (increase) in receivables	2,865			7,745			(3,117		)
Increase in inventories	(325		)	(4,228		)	(385		)
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other assets	(1,459		)	(8		)	455
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	163			(4,116		)	5,096
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations	79,981			77,425			126,115
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING
Decrease (increase) in short-term investments	(88		)	22,260			(31,743		)
Proceeds from company owned life insurance (COLI) loan	21,751			—			—
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(5,636		)	(5,338		)	(5,215		)
Additions to timber and timberlands	(23,552		)	(11,548		)	(9,786		)
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment	71			224			3,075
Other, net	(1,193		)	(1,095		)	(1,807		)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operations	(8,647		)	4,503			(45,476		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING
Distributions to common stockholders	(50,041		)	(73,921		)	(81,578		)
Repayment of long-term debt	(21,662		)	(5,011		)	(11		)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	12,000			—			—
Issuance of common stock	1,075			1,430			2,156
Change in book overdrafts	462			157			2,178
Deferred financing costs	(2,148		)	(698		)	(249		)
Employee tax withholdings on vested performance share awards	(1,714		)	(1,641		)	(2,075		)
Other, net	(140		)	(18		)	(1		)
Net cash used for financing activities from continuing operations	(62,168		)	(79,702		)	(79,580		)
Cash from continuing operations	9,166			2,226			1,059
Cash flows provided by discontinued operations	—			—			3,002
Increase in cash	9,166			2,226			4,061
Balance at beginning of year	7,819			5,593			1,532
Balance at end of year	$	16,985		$	7,819		$	5,593

2012 FORM 10-K / 47



SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash paid (received) during the year for:
Interest, net of amount capitalized	$	23,884	$	25,241		$	26,135
Income taxes, net	53		(5,984		)	255
Non-cash investing activity:
Additions to timber and timberlands	586		341			—

The accompanying notes and summary of principal accounting policies are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Certain 2011 and 2010 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2012 presentation.

48 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

POTLATCH CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(Dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)



	Common Stock Issued			Additional Paid-In Capital			Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Total Stockholders’ Equity
	Shares	Amount		Additional Paid-In Capital			Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Total Stockholders’ Equity
Balance, December 31, 2009	39,826,784	$	39,827	$	328,989		$	(11,549	)	$	(127,477	)	$	229,790
Exercise of stock options and stock awards	107,296	107		2,049			—			—			2,156
Performance share and restricted stock unit awards	98,507	99		1,778			—			—			1,877
Net income	—	—		—			40,394			—			40,394
Pension plans and OPEB obligations	—	—		—			—			13,722			13,722
Transfer of assets from REIT to subsidiary	—	—		(1,922		)	—			—			(1,922		)
Common distributions, $2.04 per share	—	—		—			(81,578		)	—			(81,578		)
Balance, December 31, 2010	40,032,587	$	40,033	$	330,894		$	(52,733	)	$	(113,755	)	$	204,439
Exercise of stock options and stock awards	77,446	77		1,261			—			—			1,338
Performance share and restricted stock unit awards	92,137	92		2,744			—			—			2,836
Net income	—	—		—			40,266			—			40,266
Pension plans and OPEB obligations	—	—		—			—			(27,127		)	(27,127		)
Transfer of assets from REIT to subsidiary	—	—		(5,693		)	—			—			(5,693		)
Common distributions, $1.84 per share	—	—		—			(73,921		)	—			(73,921		)
Balance, December 31, 2011	40,202,170	$	40,202	$	329,206		$	(86,388	)	$	(140,882	)	$	142,138
Exercise of stock options and stock awards	60,857	61		1,031			—			—			1,092
Performance share and restricted stock unit awards	126,153	126		3,096			(361		)	—			2,861
Net income	—	—		—			42,594			—			42,594
Pension plans and OPEB obligations	—	—		—			—			(16		)	(16		)
Transfer of assets from REIT to subsidiary	—	—		15			—			—			15
Common distributions, $1.24 per share	—	—		—			(50,041		)	—			(50,041		)
Balance, December 31, 2012	40,389,180	$	40,389	$	333,348		$	(94,196	)	$	(140,898	)	$	138,643

The accompanying notes and summary of principal accounting policies are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

2012 FORM 10-K / 49

POTLATCH CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Summary of Principal Accounting Policies

CONSOLIDATION

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Potlatch Corporation and its subsidiaries after elimination of significant intercompany transactions and accounts. There are no significant unconsolidated subsidiaries.

We are primarily engaged in activities associated with timberland management, including the sale of timber, the management of our approximately 1.42 million acres of timberlands and the purchase and sale of timberlands. We are also engaged in the manufacture and sale of wood products. Our timberlands and all of our wood products facilities are located within the continental United States. The primary market for our products is the United States. As discussed in Note 1, we converted to a Real Estate Investment Trust, or REIT, effective January 1, 2006.

SIGNIFICANT ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which we refer to in this report as U.S. GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Significant estimates are described in further detail in this Summary of Principal Accounting Policies and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Significant estimates include timber volumes, pension and postretirement obligation assumptions, environmental liabilities, fair value of derivative instruments and assumptions utilized for asset and disposal group impairment tests.

EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION

At December 31, 2012, we had three stock incentive plans under which performance share grants, restricted stock unit, or RSU, grants and stock options were outstanding. All of these plans have received shareholder approval. We were originally authorized to issue up to 1.7 million shares, 1.4 million shares and 1.6 million shares under our 1995 Stock Incentive Plan, 2000 Stock Incentive Plan and 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, respectively. At December 31, 2012, no shares were available for future use under the 1995 and 2000 Stock Incentive Plans, while approximately 335,000 shares were authorized for future use under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan. We issue new shares of common stock to settle stock option exercises and performance share and RSU awards.

Our outside directors are granted an annual award of common stock units that are credited to an account established on behalf of each director. These accounts are then credited with additional common stock units equal in value to the distributions that are paid on the same amount of common stock. Upon separation from service as a director, the common stock units held by the director in his or her stock unit account will be converted to cash based upon the then market price of the common stock and paid to the director.

Our outside directors and certain employees can elect to defer compensation in the form of common stock units. We record compensation expense or income during each reporting period based on the amount of compensation deferred during the period and the increase or decrease in the value of our common stock. See Note 15 for additional information related to our equity-based compensation plans.

INVENTORIES

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The last-in, first-out method is used to determine cost of logs, lumber and plywood for most of our operations. The average cost method is used to determine cost of all other inventories. Expenses associated with idle capacity or other curtailments of production are reflected in cost of goods sold in the periods incurred.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment are valued at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of buildings, equipment and other depreciable assets is determined using the straight-line method of depreciation. Estimated useful lives range from 30 to 40 years for buildings and structures and 2 to 25 years for equipment.

50 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

Major improvements and replacements of property are capitalized. Maintenance, repairs, and minor improvements and replacements are expensed. Upon retirement or other disposition of property, applicable cost and accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed from the accounts. Any gains or losses are included in earnings.

TIMBER AND TIMBERLANDS

Timber and timberlands are valued at cost less accumulated depletion and amortization. For fee timber, the capitalized cost includes costs related to stand establishment, such as site preparation, including all costs of preparing the land for planting, cost of seeds or seedlings, tree planting, including labor, materials, depreciation of company-owned equipment and the cost of contract services. Upon completion of planting activities and field inspection to assure the planting operation was successful, a plantation will be considered “established.” Subsequent expenditures made to maintain the integrity or enhance the growth of an established plantation or stand are expensed. Post-establishment expenses include release spray treatments, pest control activities, thinning operations and fertilization. Expenditures for forest management consist of regularly recurring items necessary for ownership and administration of timber producing property such as fire protection, property taxes and insurance, silviculture costs incurred subsequent to stand establishment, cruising (physical inventory), property maintenance and salaries, supplies, travel, record-keeping and other normal recurring administrative personnel costs. These expenditures are accounted for as current operating expenses. Timberland purchased on the open market is capitalized and the cost is allocated to the relative values of the component items as appraised, such as timberland, merchantable sawlogs, merchantable pulpwood, reproduction (young growth not merchantable), logging roads and other land improvements. The capitalized cost includes purchase price, title search and title recording, transfer taxes and fees, timber cruises, appraisals and running of boundary lines.

Depletion represents the amount charged to expense for logs cut from fee timber. Generally, rates at which timber is depleted are calculated annually for each of our Resource regions by dividing the beginning of year balance of the timber accounts by the forest inventory volume, after inventory updates for growth projection adjustments, new timber cruises, land purchases in existing operating regions and sales and harvested volume.

Logging roads on our land are presumed to become a part of our road system unless it is known at the time of construction that the road will be abandoned. Therefore, the base cost of the road, such as the clearing, grading, and ditching, is not amortized and remains a capitalized item until abandonment or other disposition, while other portions of the initial cost, such as bridges, culverts and gravel surfacing are amortized over their useful lives, which range from 10 to 20 years. Costs associated with temporary logging roads that will not become part of our road system are expensed as incurred.

Since timber and timberlands are generally considered to be long-term productive assets, we classify these expenditures as investing activities in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Depletion associated with timber and timberlands and amortization associated with logging roads are non-cash adjustments to net income in the operating activities section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

REAL ESTATE SALES

Sales of non-core timberland are considered to be part of our normal operations. We therefore recognize revenue and costs associated with real estate sold in our Consolidated Statements of Income. Certain cash receipts and payments associated with real estate have aspects of more than one class of cash flows. For example, cash generated from real estate sales is included as an operating activity in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and is adjusted for the basis of real estate sold. Acquisitions of timberlands, however, are reported as investing activities in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

2012 FORM 10-K / 51

LIKE-KIND EXCHANGES AND RESTRICTED CASH

In order to acquire and sell assets, primarily timberlands, in a tax efficient manner, we sometimes enter into like-kind exchange, or LKE, tax-deferred transactions. There are two main types of LKE transactions: forward transactions, in which property is sold and the proceeds are reinvested by acquiring similar property; and reverse

transactions, in which property is acquired and similar property is subsequently sold by us. Both forward and reverse transactions must be completed within prescribed time periods under Internal Revenue Code section 1031.

We use a qualified intermediary to facilitate LKE transactions. Proceeds from forward transactions are held by the intermediary and are classified as restricted cash, within non-current other assets, because the funds must be reinvested in similar properties. If the acquisition of suitable LKE properties is not completed within 180 days of the sale of the company-owned property, the proceeds are distributed to us by the intermediary and are reclassified as available cash and applicable income taxes are determined. In the case of reverse transactions in which we have not yet completed LKE sales of company-owned land to match with property purchased on our behalf by the intermediary, the amount associated with the property purchased on our behalf but not yet matched with LKE sales is classified as a non-current asset and included in “Timber and timberlands, net” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and as “Additions to timber and timberlands” in the investing activities section of our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. In the case of forward transactions, amounts from sales of company-owned land deposited with the intermediary that are not yet matched with LKE property purchased are included as restricted cash in non-current “Other assets” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and as “Proceeds from land sales deposited with a like-kind exchange intermediary” in the operating activities section of our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 modified the built-in gains provisions to exempt sales of real properties by a REIT in 2011, if five years of the recognition period had elapsed before January 1, 2011, and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, enacted on January 2, 2013, extended the reduced five-year holding period for sales occurring in 2012 and 2013. Consequently, we do not expect to utilize like-kind exchanges in 2013. If applicable, the built-in gains tax is eliminated or deferred if sale proceeds are reinvested in accordance with the like-kind exchange provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

LONG-LIVED ASSETS

Under ASC Topic 410-20, we must recognize a liability and an asset equal to the fair value of our legal obligation to perform asset retirement activities that are conditional on a future event if the amount can be reasonably estimated. Our primary obligations relate to asbestos located within our manufacturing facilities and a landfill site. We have recorded assets and corresponding liabilities that are not material to our financial position or results of operations. We have also identified situations that would have likely resulted in the recognition of additional asset retirement obligations, except for an inability to reasonably estimate the fair value of the liability at this time. Most of these situations relate to asbestos located within our manufacturing facilities where a settlement date or range of settlement dates cannot be specified, so we are unable at this time to apply present value calculations to appropriately value an obligation. We review these obligations annually, and any additional obligations recognized in the future as more information becomes available are not expected to have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

INCOME TAXES

The income tax provision or benefit is based on income or losses reported in the consolidated financial statements. Deferred income taxes are recorded under the asset and liability method for the temporary differences between reported income and taxable income using current tax laws and rates.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

We recognize revenue from the sale of timber when legal ownership and the risk of loss transfers to the buyer and the quantity sold is determinable. The company sells timber under delivered log agreements as well as through sales of standing timber, or stumpage. For delivered sales, revenue, which includes amounts billed for shipping and

52 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

handling (logging and hauling of timber), is recognized when the log is delivered to the customer. Stumpage is sold using pay-as-cut, timber deed or lump-sum sale agreements. Under a pay-as-cut sales contract, the purchaser acquires the right to harvest specified timber on a tract, at an agreed upon price per unit. The sale and any related advances are recognized as revenue as the purchaser harvests the timber on the tract. Under a timber deed sale, the buyer agrees to purchase and harvest specified timber on a tract of land over the term of the contract, the risk of loss and title to the trees transfer to the buyer when the contract is signed and the buyer pays the full purchase price when the contract is signed. Revenue from a timber deed sale is recognized when the contract is signed. Under a lump-sum sale, the parties agree to a purchase price for all the timber available for harvest on a tract of land. Generally the purchase price is paid when the contract is signed. Title to the timber and risk of loss transfers to the buyer as the timber is harvested. Therefore, revenue under a lump-sum sale is recognized over the term of the contract based on the timber harvested compared to the total estimated timber available to be harvested. An adjustment may be required to the extent the actual timber harvested is different than the estimate of timber available.

Substantially all of our real estate sales are considered cash sales, as we receive the entire consideration in cash at closing. Also at closing, all risks and rewards of ownership are transferred to the buyer, and we do not have a substantial continuing involvement in any of our properties after sales are consummated. We recognize revenue under the full accrual method for cash sales of real estate when the sale is consummated (i.e., at closing). Sales of properties that qualify for LKE tax-deferred treatment involve a third party intermediary that receives proceeds related to the property sold and holds the proceeds for reinvestment in like kind property. The proceeds are recorded as revenue when the third party intermediary receives them.

We recognize revenue from the sale of manufactured wood products and residual by-products when there is persuasive evidence of a sales agreement, the price to the customer is fixed and determinable, collection is reasonably assured, and title and the risk of loss passes to the customer. Shipping terms generally indicate when title and the risk of loss have passed. Revenue is recognized at shipment for sales when shipping terms are FOB (free on board) shipping point. For sales where shipping terms are FOB destination, revenue is recognized when the goods are received by the customer. Shipping terms for wood products and related by-products depend upon the sales agreement with the customer.

Revenue is recognized net of any sales taxes collected. Sales taxes, when collected, are recorded as a current liability and remitted to the appropriate governmental entities.

SHIPPING AND HANDLING COSTS

Costs for shipping and handling of manufactured goods are included in cost of goods sold in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

ENVIRONMENTAL

As part of our corporate policy, we have an ongoing process to monitor, report on and comply with environmental requirements. We record accruals for estimated environmental liabilities when such contingencies are probable and reasonably estimable. These estimates reflect assumptions and judgments, the specific nature of which varies in light of the particular facts and circumstances surrounding each environmental liability. These estimates typically reflect assumptions and judgments as to the probable nature, magnitude and timing of required investigation, remediation and monitoring activities and the probable cost of these activities, and in some cases reflect assumptions and judgments as to the obligation or willingness and ability of third parties to bear a proportionate or allocated share of the cost of these activities. Due to the numerous uncertainties and variables associated with these assumptions and judgments, and the effects of changes in governmental regulation and environmental technologies, both the precision and reliability of the resulting estimates of the related liabilities are subject to substantial uncertainties, and our actual costs could be materially more or less than the estimated amounts. We regularly monitor our estimated exposure to environmental liabilities and, as additional information becomes known, our estimates may change significantly. Our estimates of our environmental liabilities do not reflect potential future recoveries from insurance carriers except to the extent that recovery may from time to time be deemed probable as a result of a carrier’s agreement to payment terms. In those instances in which our estimated exposure reflects actual or anticipated cost-sharing arrangements with third parties, we do not believe that we will be exposed to additional material liability as a result of non-performance by such third parties. We have accrued for specific environmental remediation costs that we have determined are probable and reasonably estimable, and currently we are not aware of any other material environmental liabilities. Fees for professional services associated with environmental and legal issues are expensed as incurred.

2012 FORM 10-K / 53

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income, that expands disclosures for items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income, or AOCI. For items reclassified out of AOCI and into net income in their entirety, disclosure of the effect of the reclassification on each affected net income line item on the face of the statement of income or in the footnotes is required. For AOCI reclassification items that are not reclassified in their entirety into net income, a cross reference to other required U.S. GAAP disclosures is required. ASU No. 2013-02 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2012. This guidance will be adopted in the first quarter of 2013, consistent with the effective date.

54 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

POTLATCH CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 1. REIT CONVERSION

Effective January 1, 2006, we restructured our operations to qualify for treatment as a Real Estate Investment Trust, or REIT, for federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, we generally are not subject to federal corporate income taxes on our income from investments in real estate that we distribute to our stockholders, including the income derived from the sale of standing timber. The REIT tax rules require that we derive most of our income, other than income generated by a taxable REIT subsidiary, from investments in real estate, which for us primarily consists of income from the sale of our standing timber. Accordingly, we restructured to create a new parent company that holds our timberlands through a REIT subsidiary and substantially all of our non-timberland assets, consisting primarily of our manufacturing facilities, assets used for the harvesting of timber and the sale of logs, and selected land parcels that we expect to be sold or developed for higher and better use purposes through wholly owned taxable REIT subsidiaries, which we refer to collectively in this report as Potlatch TRS. Our use of Potlatch TRS, which is taxed as a C corporation, enables us to continue to engage in these non-REIT qualifying businesses without violating the REIT requirements.

NOTE 2. EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table reconciles the number of shares used in calculating the basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31:



(Dollars in thousands, except per-share amounts)	2012		2011		2010
Net income	$	42,594	$	40,266	$	40,394

Basic weighted-average shares outstanding	40,333,333		40,159,141		39,971,073
Incremental shares due to:
Stock options	15,520		45,232		81,942
Performance shares	134,079		146,157		132,455
Restricted stock units	70,217		32,455		33,859
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	40,553,149		40,382,985		40,219,329

Basic net income per share	$	1.06	$	1.00	$	1.01
Diluted net income per share	$	1.05	$	1.00	$	1.00

Anti-dilutive shares excluded from the calculation:
Performance shares	—		77,767		—
Restricted stock units	315		1,500		5,750
Total anti-dilutive shares excluded from the calculation	315		79,267		5,750

NOTE 3. SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

Our short-term investments consist of diversified depository accounts, money market funds and variable rate demand obligations, all of which have very short maturity periods and therefore earn an interest rate commensurate with low-risk instruments. We classify our short-term investments as "available for sale" and there is no significant difference between cost and fair value. We do not attempt to hedge our exposure to interest rate risk for our short-term investments. All short-term investments of REIT funds are made in compliance with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to qualifying REIT investments.

2012 FORM 10-K / 55

NOTE 4. INVENTORIES

(Dollars in thousands)



	2012		2011
Logs	$	12,493	$	12,400
Lumber and other manufactured wood products	11,761		12,002
Materials and supplies	4,674		4,201
	$	28,928	$	28,603
Valued at lower of cost or market:
Last-in, first-out basis	$	14,636	$	18,717
Average cost basis	14,292		9,886
	$	28,928	$	28,603

If the last-in, first-out inventory had been priced at lower of current average cost or market, the values would have been approximately $10.6 million, $9.7 million, and $8.5 million higher at December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively. Reductions in quantities of LIFO inventories valued at higher costs prevailing in prior years decreased net income by $1.2 million in 2012 and $0.8 million in both 2011 and 2010.

NOTE 5. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

(Dollars in thousands)



	2012			2011
Land and land improvements	$	16,448		$	16,076
Buildings and structures	32,908			32,418
Machinery and equipment	165,369			168,538
Construction in progress	3,188			1,367
	217,913			218,399
Less: accumulated depreciation	(159,863		)	(156,946		)
Total property, plant and equipment	$	58,050		$	61,453

Depreciation charged against operating income totaled $8.8 million in 2012 and $9.8 million in both 2011 and 2010.

NOTE 6. TIMBER AND TIMBERLANDS

(Dollars in thousands)



	2012		2011
Timber and timberlands	$	394,913	$	400,874
Deposits on timberlands	7,871		—
Logging roads	61,683		58,813
	$	464,467	$	459,687

Depletion from company-owned lands totaled $12.9 million, $14.1 million and $17.2 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Amortization of logging roads totaled $2.6 million in 2012 and $2.4 million in both 2011 and 2010.

In 2012, we made two timberland acquisitions in and around our existing ownership in Arkansas. One acquisition was 2,981 acres for approximately $3.9 million, and the other was 6,304 acres for approximately $7.9 million. The deposits on timberland balance of $7.9 million at December 31, 2012 is related to amounts associated with the Arkansas timberland purchased on our behalf by a qualified LKE intermediary.

Payments due under timber cutting contracts total $1.6 million, $4.1 million, $6.3 million and $3.3 million in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively.

56 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

NOTE 7. OTHER ASSETS

(Dollars in thousands)



Current Other Assets:	2012		2011
Basis of real estate held for sale	$	5,871	$	7,433
Deferred charges	1,066		1,437
Prepaid expenses	995		1,128
	$	7,932	$	9,998
Noncurrent Other Assets:
Deferred charges	$	6,837	$	4,535
Derivative asset associated with interest rate swaps	2,952		2,409
Noncurrent investments	1,754		22,043
Developed land held for sale	1,733		3,229
Long term note receivable	1,592		—
Other	123		89
	$	14,991	$	32,305

The decrease in Noncurrent Other Assets - Noncurrent investments was due to borrowing against our company owned life insurance, or COLI, plan, based on the cash surrender value that had accumulated over the years, to make a pension contribution. Deferred charges primarily consist of deferred financing costs, which are being amortized over the life of the associated debt. The noncurrent deferred charges increased due to charges related to establishing the new credit agreement.

NOTE 8. INCOME TAXES

As a REIT, if we meet certain requirements, we generally are not subject to federal and state corporate income taxes on our income from investments in real estate that we distribute to our shareholders. We are, however, subject to corporate taxes on built-in gains (the excess of fair market value at January 1, 2006 over tax basis on that date) with respect to the REIT’s sale of any real property owned at such date within the first ten years following our conversion to a REIT, except for sales that occur in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 modified the built-in gains provisions to exempt sales of real properties by a REIT in 2011, if five years of the recognition period had elapsed before January 1, 2011 and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, enacted on January 2, 2013, extended the reduced five-year holding period for sales occurring in 2012 and 2013. If applicable, the built-in gains tax is eliminated or deferred if sale proceeds are reinvested in accordance with the like-kind exchange provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The sale of timber pursuant to a stumpage sale agreement or timber deed is not subject to built-in gains tax. We are required to pay federal and state corporate income taxes on earnings of our Potlatch TRS operations, principally comprised of our wood products manufacturing operations and certain real estate investments held for development and resale.

Due to the varying tax treatments of our activities, such as REIT operations, built-in gains taxes applicable to property sales, like-kind exchanges and TRS activities, our effective tax rate and amount of taxes paid may vary significantly from year to year.

The income tax provision allocated to continuing operations is comprised of the following for the years ended December 31:

(Dollars in thousands)



	2012		2011			2010
Current	$	292	$	(73	)	$	(930	)
Deferred	8,197		4,990			(10,619		)
Benefit of net operating loss carryforwards	8,320		(772		)	16,145
Income tax provision	$	16,809	$	4,145		$	4,596

2012 FORM 10-K / 57

The income tax provision allocated to continuing operations differs from the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 35% to income before income taxes due to the following for the years ended December 31:

(Dollars in thousands)



	2012			2011			2010
Computed “expected” tax expense	$	20,791		$	15,544		$	15,705
REIT income not subject to federal income tax	(5,241		)	(11,739		)	(9,481		)
State net operating loss and tax credit valuation allowances	—			897			286
State and local taxes, net of federal income tax	1,615			54			311
Adjustment of REIT deferred taxes	—			—			(2,100		)
Deferred tax adjustment—Retiree Health Care Act	—			—			1,441
All other items	(356		)	(611		)	(1,566		)
Income tax provision	$	16,809		$	4,145		$	4,596
Effective tax rate	28.3		%	9.3		%	10.2		%

The effective rate for 2012 differs from 2011 due to the impact of increased operating income earned by Potlatch TRS. The effective rate for 2011 differs from 2010 due to the impact of the operating income earned by Potlatch TRS and a valuation allowance related to a state net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards recorded in 2011.

In association with our REIT conversion in 2006, we estimated the amount of REIT property that may be sold within the next ten years and retained a deferred tax liability at REIT conversion on the book-to-tax difference of approximately $3.0 million. This estimate is periodically reviewed. As a result of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, which modified the built-in gains provisions for 2011, and our expected disposal of REIT property through 2015, we reversed $2.1 million of this deferred tax liability in 2010.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Reconciliation Act of 2010, was enacted in March 2010 and included a change in the deductibility of drug expenses reimbursed under the Medicare Part D retiree drug subsidy program beginning after 2012. As a result of this legislation, deferred taxes associated with our retiree health care liabilities based on prior law were required to be adjusted, resulting in a net charge to earnings of approximately $1.4 million in 2010.

Our accounts receivable balances included insignificant amounts of anticipated federal and state refunds at both December 31, 2012 and 2011.

58 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

The tax effects of significant temporary differences creating deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31 were:

(Dollars in thousands)



	2012			2011
Deferred tax assets:
Pensions	$	38,986		$	41,380
Postretirement employee benefits	20,293			25,642
Nondeductible accruals	3,841			4,296
Inventories	3,126			3,459
Incentive compensation	2,843			2,560
Tax credits	2,678			2,994
Employee benefits	1,795			1,695
Net operating loss carryforwards	1,346			9,202
Other	124			152
Total deferred tax assets	75,032			91,380
Valuation allowance	(2,867		)	(2,816		)
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance	$	72,165		$	88,564
Deferred tax liabilities:
Timber and timberlands	$	(6,006	)	$	(6,142	)
Property, plant and equipment	(12,360		)	(12,589		)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(18,366		)	(18,731		)
Net deferred tax assets	$	53,799		$	69,833

Net deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of:

(Dollars in thousands)



	2012			2011
Current deferred tax assets	$	10,507		$	11,909
Noncurrent deferred tax assets	61,658			76,655
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities	(18,366		)	(18,731		)
Net noncurrent deferred tax assets	43,292			57,924
Net deferred tax assets	$	53,799		$	69,833

A valuation allowance has been recognized for certain state net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards due to uncertainty of sufficient taxable income prior to expiration of available carryover periods. The valuation allowance increased $0.1 million, $0.9 million and $0.3 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. State net operating losses expire over the next 1 to 20 years and the tax credits expire over the next 14 years.

With the exception of the valuation allowances discussed above, we believe it is more likely than not that we will have sufficient future taxable income to realize our deferred tax assets. In making this determination, we consider whether it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends on the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which temporary differences are deductible. We consider the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities (including the impact of available carryforward periods), projected taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. In order to fully realize the deferred tax assets, we will need to generate future taxable income before the expiration of the deferred tax assets governed by the tax code. Based on projected taxable income for Potlatch TRS, over the periods for which the deferred tax assets are deductible, as well as certain tax planning strategies that management has undertaken and expects to have the ability to undertake in the future, we believe that it is more likely than not that we will realize the benefits of these deductible differences, net of the existing valuation allowances at December 31, 2012. The amount of the deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced and management is unable to implement one or more of the tax planning strategies that it has identified.

2012 FORM 10-K / 59

The following table summarizes the tax years subject to examination by major taxing jurisdictions:



Jurisdiction	Years
Federal	2008	-	2012
Arkansas	2009	-	2012
Michigan	2008	-	2012
Minnesota	2008	-	2012
Idaho	2009	-	2012

We reviewed our tax positions at December 31, 2012, and determined that no uncertain tax positions were taken during 2012, and that no new information was available at that time that would require derecognition of previously taken positions.

We reflect accrued interest related to tax obligations, as well as penalties, in our provision for income taxes. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, we recognized a net benefit of approximately $0, $0 and $0.2 million, respectively, related to interest and penalties in our tax provision. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, we had insignificant amounts accrued for the payment of interest related to tax obligations and accrued as a receivable for interest with respect to open tax refunds.

NOTE 9. DEBT

(Dollars in thousands)



	2012		2011
Revenue bonds, fixed rate 5.9% to 7.75%, due 2014 through 2026	$	144,627	$	149,745
7.5% Senior Notes, due 2019	148,241		147,984
Debentures, 6.95%, due 2015	22,493		22,490
Medium-term notes, fixed rate 8.75% to 8.89%, due 2016 through 2022	27,250		43,750
Term loans, fixed rate 2.95% due 2017 and 3.70% due 2020	12,000		—
Interest rate swaps	2,952		2,409
Other notes	13		25
	357,576		366,403
Less current installments on long-term debt	8,413		21,661
Long-term debt	$	349,163	$	344,742

In 2012, $16.5 million of medium-term notes and $5.2 million of revenue bonds matured and were redeemed. In 2011, $5.0 million of medium-term notes matured and were redeemed.

On December 11, 2012, we entered into a new unsecured credit agreement that superseded our previous secured credit agreement. This new bank credit facility, which expires on December 11, 2017, provides for a revolving line of credit of up to $250 million, including a $40 million subfacility for letters of credit and a $15 million subfacility for swing line loans. Usage under either or both subfacilities reduces availability under the revolving line of credit. Subject to certain conditions and agreement of the lenders, the bank credit facility may be increased by up to an additional $100 million. As of December 31, 2012, there were no borrowings outstanding under the revolving line of credit, and approximately $1.9 million of the letter of credit subfacility was being used to support several outstanding letters of credit. Available borrowing capacity at December 31, 2012 was $248.1 million.

Pricing is set according to the type of borrowing. Eurodollar Rate Loans are issued at a rate equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate, while Base Rate Loans are issued at a rate equal to the Base Rate, which is a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1.00%, (b) the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate that would then be applicable to a new Eurodollar Rate Loan with a one month Interest Period plus 1.00%, and (c) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate.” The interest rates we pay for borrowings under either type of loan include an additional Applicable Rate, which can range from 1.25% to 2.50% for Eurodollar loans and from 0.25% to 1.50% for Base Rate loans, depending on the current Leverage Ratio, as defined below. As of December 31, 2012, we were able to borrow under the bank credit facility with the additional applicable rate of 2.00% for Eurodollar Rate Loans and 1.00% for Base Rate Loans, with commitment fees of 0.3% on the unused balance of the bank credit facility.

60 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

The bank credit facility contains financial maintenance covenants establishing a minimum interest coverage ratio, a minimum timberland coverage ratio and a maximum leverage ratio. We will be permitted to pay distributions to our stockholders under the terms of the bank credit facility so long as we remain in pro forma compliance with the financial maintenance covenants.

The table below sets forth the financial covenants in the bank credit facility and our status with respect to these covenants as of December 31, 2012:



	COVENANT REQUIREMENT			ACTUAL AT DECEMBER 31, 2012
Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio	3.00	to	1.00	4.64	to	1.00
Minimum Timberland Coverage Ratio	3.00	to	1.00	5.39	to	1.00
Maximum Leverage Ratio	5.00	to	1.00 *	3.03	to	1.00

* Commencing January 1, 2015, the Maximum Leverage Ratio will decrease to 4.50 to 1.00.

On November 3, 2009, we sold $150 million aggregate principal amount of 7.5% senior notes. The terms of the notes limit our ability and the ability of any subsidiary guarantors to borrow money, pay dividends, redeem or repurchase capital stock, enter into sale and leaseback transactions, and create liens. With respect to the limitation on dividends and the repurchase of our capital stock, these restricted payments are permitted as follows:


•	We may use 100% of our Funds Available for Distribution, or FAD, for the period January 1, 2010 through the end of the quarter preceding the payment date, less cumulative restricted payments previously made from FAD during that period, to make restricted payments. Our cumulative FAD less our dividends paid was $30.8 million at December 31, 2012.


•	If our cumulative FAD, less cumulative restricted payments previously made from FAD, is insufficient to cover a restricted payment, then we are permitted to make payments from a basket amount, which was approximately $90.1 million at December 31, 2012.

•

Scheduled payments due on long-term debt during each of the five years subsequent to December 31, 2012, are as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)



2013	$	8,413
2014	21,000
2015	22,500
2016	5,000
2017	11,000

2012 FORM 10-K / 61

NOTE 10. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES

(Dollars in thousands)



	2012		2011
Wages, salaries and employee benefits	$	14,992	$	13,361
Trade accounts payable	6,389		4,784
Taxes other than income taxes	6,363		7,004
Environmental remediation	4,250		6,000
Interest	4,250		4,551
Book overdrafts	4,085		3,623
Logging related expenses	3,456		3,788
Freight	426		1,035
Other	4,075		3,630
	$	48,286	$	47,776

NOTE 11. OTHER LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS

(Dollars in thousands)



	2012		2011
Employee benefits and related liabilities	$	15,215	$	13,140
Other	7,242		5,475
	$	22,457	$	18,615

NOTE 12. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND CONCENTRATIONS OF RISK

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Estimated fair values of our financial instruments are as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)



	2012				2011
	CARRYING AMOUNT		FAIR VALUE		CARRYING AMOUNT		FAIR VALUE
Cash and short-term investments (Level 1)	$	80,062	$	80,062	$	70,808	$	70,808
Net derivative asset related to interest rate swaps (Level 2)	2,952		2,952		2,409		2,409
Derivative asset related to lumber swap (Level 2)	—		—		480		480
Long-term debt (including current installments on long-term debt and fair value adjustments related to fair value swaps) (Level 2)	357,576		379,048		366,403		373,791

A framework has been established for measuring fair value, which provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below.


Level 1	Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.


Level 2	Inputs to the valuation methodology include:


•	Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;


•	Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;


•	Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and

62 / POTLATCH CORPORATION


•	Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observed for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.


Level 3	Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

The asset's or liability's fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

For cash and short-term investments, the carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. The fair value of the interest rate swaps has been determined based upon quoted market prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets. The fair value of the non-designated lumber swap has been determined primarily from observable data by correlation and other means. The fair value of our long-term debt is estimated based upon the quoted market prices for the same or similar debt issues. For long-term debt for which there is no quoted market price, fair value is estimated based on average market prices for comparable liquid revenue bonds.

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

We record all derivatives on our balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether we have elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting, and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Hedge accounting generally provides for the matching of the timing of gain or loss recognition on the hedging instrument with the recognition of the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that is attributable to the hedged risk in a fair value hedge.

We formally document all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as the risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions.

FAIR VALUE HEDGES OF INTEREST RATE RISK

As of December 31, 2012, we had six separate interest rate swaps with notional amounts totaling $46.75 million associated with our $22.5 million debentures and $24.25 million of our medium-term notes. The swaps convert interest payments with fixed rates ranging between 6.95% and 8.89% to a variable rate of 3-month LIBOR plus a spread between 4.738% and 6.518%. The interest rate swaps terminate at various dates between December 2015 and February 2018.

NON-DESIGNATED LUMBER SWAP

Derivatives not designated as hedges are not speculative and are used to manage our exposure to interest rate movements, commodity price movements or other identified risks, but do not meet the strict hedge accounting requirements. In February 2012, we entered into two commodity swap contracts for a total of 22,500 mbf (thousand board feet) of southern yellow pine, which settled during the second quarter of 2012. In September 2011, we entered into two commodity swap contracts for 31,200 mbf of southern yellow pine with an effective date of November 1, 2011 and a termination date of February 29, 2012. In October 2010, we entered into a commodity swap contract for 14,300 mbf of southern yellow pine, which settled in the first quarter of 2011. Changes in the fair value of derivatives not designated in hedging relationships are recorded directly in net income. As of December 31, 2012 there were no outstanding lumber swap contracts.

2012 FORM 10-K / 63

The fair values of derivative instruments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31 are as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)



	DERIVATIVE ASSETS
		2012		2011
	BALANCE SHEET LOCATION	FAIR VALUE		FAIR VALUE
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate contracts	Other assets (non-current)	$	2,952	$	2,409
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments		$	2,952	$	2,409
Derivative not designated as hedging instruments:
Lumber contracts	Other assets (current)	$	—	$	480
Total derivative not designated as hedging instruments		$	—	$	480

There were no derivatives recored as liabilities as of December 31, 2012 or 2011.

The effect of derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)



	LOCATION OF GAIN (LOSS) RECOGNIZED IN INCOME	AMOUNT OF GAIN (LOSS) RECOGNIZED IN INCOME
		2012			2011		2010
Derivatives designated in fair value hedging relationships:
Interest rate contracts
Realized gain on hedging instrument¹	Interest expense	$	868		$	1,027	$	481
Net gain recognized in income from fair value hedges		$	868		$	1,027	$	481

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Lumber contracts
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative	Cost of goods sold	$	(480	)	$	3,356	$	(2,876	)
Realized gain (loss) on derivative	Cost of goods sold	(396		)	1,164		—
Net gain (loss) recognized in income from derivatives not designated as hedging instruments		$	(876	)	$	4,520	$	(2,876	)


¹	Realized gain on hedging instrument consists of net cash settlements and interest accruals on the interest rate swaps during the period.

No net unrealized gain or loss associated with the interest rate swaps was recognized in income for any of the periods presented because we recognized no hedge ineffectiveness.

CONCENTRATION RISK

For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, no customers accounted for 10% or more of our revenues.

64 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

NOTE 13. SAVINGS PLANS, PENSION PLANS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Substantially all of our employees are eligible to participate in 401(k) savings plans and are covered by noncontributory defined benefit pension plans. In 2012, 2011 and 2010, we made matching 401(k) contributions on behalf of employees of $1.6 million, $1.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively. Effective January 1, 2011, we closed our defined benefit pension plans to any new salaried and hourly non-represented entrants. In connection with these closures, additional company 401(k) contributions are made for employees hired after that date.

We also provide benefits under company-sponsored defined benefit retiree health care plans, which cover certain salaried and hourly employees. Most of the retiree health care plans require retiree contributions and contain other cost-sharing features.

We recognized the underfunded status of our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement employee benefit obligations on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2012 and 2011. We recognized the changes in that funded status, in the year in which changes occurred, through our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

We use a December 31 measurement date for our benefit plans and obligations. The change in benefit obligation, change in plan assets and funded status for company-sponsored benefit plans and obligations are as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)



	PENSION BENEFIT PLANS						OTHER POSTRETIREMENT EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	418,251		$	395,086		$	65,195		$	72,619
Service cost	5,238			4,456			284			446
Interest cost	19,986			21,325			2,478			3,486
Plan amendments	510			—			(6,045		)	(5,805		)
Actuarial loss (gain)	38,329			27,916			(4,878		)	(913		)
Medicare Part D subsidies received	—			—			—			741
Benefits paid	(36,779		)	(30,532		)	(5,001		)	(5,379		)
Benefit obligation at end of year	445,535			418,251			52,033			65,195
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	312,158			329,064			—			—
Actual return on plan assets	46,905			2,500			—			—
Employer contribution	23,349			11,126			—			—
Benefits paid	(36,779		)	(30,532		)	—			—
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	345,633			312,158			—			—
Funded status at end of year	$	(99,902	)	$	(106,093	)	$	(52,033	)	$	(65,195	)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets:
Current liabilities	$	(1,775	)	$	(1,712	)	$	(5,113	)	$	(6,460	)
Noncurrent liabilities	(98,127		)	(104,381		)	(46,920		)	(58,735		)
Net amount recognized	$	(99,902	)	$	(106,093	)	$	(52,033	)	$	(65,195	)

Amounts recognized (pre-tax) in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of:

(Dollars in thousands)



	PENSION BENEFIT PLANS				OTHER POSTRETIREMENT EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
	2012		2011		2012			2011
Net loss	$	261,359	$	256,536	$	37,788		$	45,793
Prior service cost (credit)	3,670		3,929		(66,983		)	(70,384		)
Net amount recognized	$	265,029	$	260,465	$	(29,195	)	$	(24,591	)

2012 FORM 10-K / 65

The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $438.6 million and $412.3 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Information as of December 31 for our pension plans, all of which had accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets, was as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)



	2012		2011
Projected benefit obligation	$	445,535	$	418,251
Accumulated benefit obligation	438,597		412,322
Fair value of plan assets	345,633		312,158

Pre-tax components of net periodic cost (benefit) recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Income were as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)



	PENSION BENEFIT PLANS									OTHER POSTRETIREMENT EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
	2012			2011			2010			2012			2011			2010
Service cost	$	5,238		$	4,456		$	4,633		$	284		$	446		$	415
Interest cost	19,986			21,325			21,649			2,478			3,486			3,972
Expected return on plan assets	(28,755		)	(31,804		)	(33,133		)	—			—			—
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	770			684			875			(9,446		)	(8,536		)	(8,891		)
Amortization of actuarial loss	15,356			9,916			8,174			3,127			3,967			4,631
Net periodic cost (benefit)	$	12,595		$	4,577		$	2,198		$	(3,557	)	$	(637	)	$	127

Other amounts recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income were as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)



	PENSION BENEFIT PLANS									OTHER POSTRETIREMENT EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
	2012			2011			2010			2012			2011			2010
Net loss (gain)	$	20,180		$	57,220		$	(6,682	)	$	(4,878	)	$	(913	)	$	(6,477	)
Prior service cost (credit)	510			—			—			(5,942		)	(5,805		)	715
Amortization of prior service (cost) credit	(770		)	(684		)	(875		)	9,343			8,536			8,571
Amortization of actuarial loss	(15,356		)	(9,916		)	(8,174		)	(3,127		)	(3,967		)	(4,631		)
Total recognized in other comprehensive loss (income)	$	4,564		$	46,620		$	(15,731	)	$	(4,604	)	$	(2,149	)	$	(1,822	)
Total recognized in net periodic cost (benefit) and other comprehensive loss (income)	$	17,159		$	51,197		$	(13,533	)	$	(8,161	)	$	(2,786	)	$	(1,695	)
Pre-tax net periodic benefit cost (benefit)	$	12,595		$	4,577		$	2,198		$	(3,557	)	$	(637	)	$	127

The estimated net loss and prior service cost for the defined benefit pension plans that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year are $19.8 million and $0.8 million, respectively. The estimated net loss and prior service credit for OPEB obligations that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit over the next fiscal year are $3.3 million and $9.7 million, respectively.

66 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

Weighted average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation as of December 31 were:



	PENSION BENEFIT PLANS						OTHER POSTRETIREMENT EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
	2012		2011		2010		2012		2011		2010
Discount rate	4.15	%	4.95	%	5.65	%	3.70	%	4.85	%	5.40	%
Rate of salaried compensation increase	3.50		3.50		4.00		—		—		—

Weighted average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit (cost) for the years ended December 31 were:



	PENSION BENEFIT PLANS						OTHER POSTRETIREMENT EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
	2012		2011		2010		2012		2011		2010
Discount rate	4.95	%	5.65	%	5.65	%	4.85	%	5.40	%	5.65	%
Expected return on plan assets	8.00		8.50		8.50		—		—		—
Rate of salaried compensation increase	3.50		4.00		4.00		—		—		—

The discount rate used in the determination of pension and OPEB benefit obligations in 2012 and 2011 was calculated using hypothetical bond portfolios consisting of “AA” or better rated securities that match the expected monthly benefit payments under our pension plans and OPEB obligations. The portfolios were well-diversified over corporate industrial, corporate financial, municipal, federal and foreign government issuers.

The expected return on plan assets assumption is based upon an analysis of historical long-term returns for various investment categories, as measured by appropriate indices. These indices are weighted based upon the extent to which plan assets are invested in the particular categories in arriving at our determination of a composite expected return.

The assumed health care cost trend rate used to calculate OPEB obligations as of December 31, 2012 was 7.7% for a certain group of participants under age 65 in our hourly plan and our Arkansas participants covered by a collective bargaining agreement, grading ratably to an assumption of 5.0% in 2082. The level of subsidy is frozen for our salaried and non-represented plans and a certain group of participants over age 65 in our hourly plan, so that all future increments in health care costs are borne by the retirees.

A one percentage point change in the health care cost trend rates would have the following effects:

(Dollars in thousands)



	1% INCREASE		1% DECREASE
Effect on 2012 total service and interest cost components	$	49	$	(44	)
Effect on OPEB obligations as of December 31, 2012	569		(522		)

The weighted average asset allocations of the pension benefit plans’ assets at December 31 by asset category are as follows:



	PENSION BENEFIT PLANS				OTHER POSTRETIREMENT EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
ASSET CATEGORY	2012		2011		2012		2011
Domestic equity securities	22	%	21	%	—		—
Debt securities	36		41		—		—
Global/international equity securities	28		24		—		—
Other	14		14		—		—
Total	100	%	100	%	—	%	—	%

We utilize formal investment policy guidelines for our company-sponsored pension plans. These guidelines are periodically reviewed by the board of directors. The board of directors has delegated its authority to management to insure that the investment policy and guidelines are adhered to and the investment objectives are met.

The general policy states that plan assets will be invested to seek the greatest return consistent with the fiduciary character of the pension funds and to allow the plans to meet the need for timely pension benefit payments. The specific investment guidelines stipulate that management will maintain adequate liquidity for meeting expected

2012 FORM 10-K / 67

benefit payments by reviewing, on a timely basis, contribution and benefit payment levels and appropriately revise long-term and short-term asset allocations. Management takes reasonable and prudent steps to preserve the value of pension fund assets and to avoid the risk of large losses. Major steps taken to provide this protection include:


•	Assets are diversified among various asset classes, such as domestic equities, global equities, fixed income, convertible securities and liquid reserves. The long-term asset allocation ranges are as follows:



Domestic and global equities	15	%	-	48%
Fixed income and convertible securities	37	%	-	80%
Hedge funds	5	%	-	15%

The ranges are more heavily weighted toward equities since the liabilities of the pension plans are long-term in nature and equities historically have significantly outperformed other asset classes over long periods of time. Periodic reviews of allocations within these ranges are made to determine what adjustments should be made based on changing economic and market conditions and specific liquidity requirements.


•	Assets are managed by professional investment managers and may be invested in separately managed accounts or commingled funds. Assets are diversified by selecting different investment managers for each asset class and by limiting assets under each manager to no more than 25% of the total pension fund.


•	Assets are not invested in Potlatch stock.

The investment guidelines also provide that the individual investment managers are expected to achieve a reasonable rate of return over a market cycle. Emphasis will be placed on long-term performance versus short-term market aberrations. Factors to be considered in determining reasonable rates of return include performance achieved by a diverse cross section of other investment managers, performance of commonly used benchmarks (e.g., S&P 500 Index, Shearson Lehman Government/Corporate Intermediate Index, Morgan Stanley World Index, Merrill Lynch Investment Grade Convertibles Index, Russell Value Index), actuarial assumptions for return on plan investments and specific performance guidelines given to individual investment managers.

68 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2012:

(Dollars in thousands)



ASSET CATEGORY	QUOTED PRICES IN ACTIVE MARKETS FOR IDENTICAL ASSETS (LEVEL 1)			SIGNIFICANT OBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 2)		SIGNIFICANT UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 3)		TOTAL
Cash and equivalents	$	2,085		$	—	$	—	$	2,085
Equity securities:
U.S. large cap¹	35,099			—		—		35,099
U.S. small/mid cap²	21,516			—		—		21,516
International companies	9,400			—		—		9,400
Mutual funds³	124,453			—		—		124,453
Collective investments:
U.S. small/mid cap⁴	—			19,803		—		19,803
Developed markets⁵	—			47,916		—		47,916
Emerging markets⁶	—			40,983		—		40,983
Hedge funds⁷	—			—		45,693		45,693
Securities pledged to creditors:
Money market⁸	—			1,499		—		1,499
Mortgage-backed securities⁹	—			1,992		—		1,992
Subtotal	192,553			112,193		45,693		350,439
Payable held under securities lending agreements¹⁰	(4,806		)	—		—		(4,806		)
Total	$	187,747		$	112,193	$	45,693	$	345,633


¹	These are managed investments in US large cap equities that track Russell 1000 Value strategy.


²	These are managed investments in US small/mid cap equities that track Russell 2500 Growth strategy.


³	The mutual funds were 50% invested in high-quality intermediate and long-term investment grade securities and 50% invested in a diversified portfolio of fixed-income instruments of varying maturities, which may be represented by forwards or derivatives such as options, futures contracts or swap agreements and debt securities.


⁴	These are managed investments in US small/mid cap equities that track Russell 2500 Value strategy.


⁵	These collective investments are invested in equity funds of developed markets outside of the US & Canada, that track the MSCI EAFE.


⁶	These collective investments are invested in equity funds of emerging markets outside of the US & Canada, that track the MSCI Emerging Markets.


⁷	The hedge funds are 53% invested in long/short and event-driven equity, 11% invested in long and short credit, 14% in relative value, 5% invested in fixed income relative value, 4% invested in distressed debt, with the remaining 13% in other investments.


⁸	The money market holdings are invested in the Mount Vernon Securities Lending Trust Prime Portfolio.


⁹	The mortgage-backed securities are maintained in the U.S. Bank Illiquid Securities Liquidating Trust.


¹⁰	This category represents a payable under the securities lending agreements.

2012 FORM 10-K / 69

Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2011:

(Dollars in thousands)



ASSET CATEGORY	QUOTED PRICES IN ACTIVE MARKETS FOR IDENTICAL ASSETS (LEVEL 1)			SIGNIFICANT OBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 2)		SIGNIFICANT UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 3)		TOTAL
Cash and equivalents	$	4,102		$	—	$	—	$	4,102
Equity securities:
U.S. large cap¹	30,173			—		—		30,173
U.S. small/mid cap²	18,343			—		—		18,343
International companies	6,925			—		—		6,925
Mutual funds³	127,657			—		—		127,657
Collective investments:
U.S. small/mid cap⁴	—			15,788		—		15,788
Developed markets⁵	—			34,166		—		34,166
Emerging markets⁶	—			33,863		—		33,863
Hedge funds⁷	—			—		42,940		42,940
Securities pledged to creditors:
Money market⁸	—			4,728		—		4,728
Mortgage-backed securities⁹	—			1,941		—		1,941
Subtotal	187,200			90,486		42,940		320,626
Payable held under securities lending agreements¹⁰	(8,468		)	—		—		(8,468		)
Total	$	178,732		$	90,486	$	42,940	$	312,158


¹	These are managed investments in US large cap equities that track Russell 1000 Value strategy.


²	These are managed investments in US small/mid cap equities that track Russell 2500 Growth strategy.


³	The mutual funds were 50% invested in high-quality intermediate and long-term investment grade securities and 50% invested in a diversified portfolio of fixed-income instruments of varying maturities, which may be represented by forwards or derivatives such as options, futures contracts or swap agreements and debt securities.


⁴	These are managed investments in US small/mid cap equities that track Russell 2500 Value strategy.


⁵	These collective investments are invested in equity funds of developed markets outside of the US & Canada, that track the MSCI EAFE.


⁶	These collective investments are invested in equity funds of emerging markets outside of the US & Canada, that track the MSCI Emerging Markets.


⁷	The hedge funds are 52% invested in long/short and event-driven equity, 13% invested in long and short credit, 11% in relative value, 6% invested in distressed debt, with the remaining 18% in other investments.


⁸	The money market holdings are invested in the Mount Vernon Securities Lending Trust Prime Portfolio.


⁹	The mortgage-backed securities are maintained in the U.S. Bank Illiquid Securities Liquidating Trust.


¹⁰	This category represents a payable under the securities lending agreements.

The following table sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of the plans’ Level 3 assets for the years ended December 31:

(Dollars in thousands)



	Hedge Funds
	2012		2011
Balance, beginning of year	$	42,940	$	44,201
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net	—		—
Unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at the reporting date	2,753		(1,261		)
Balance, end of year	$	45,693	$	42,940

70 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

Refer to Note 12 for discussion of the framework for measuring fair value.

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value:

•

Corporate common and preferred stocks are valued at quoted market prices reported on the major securities markets, and are classified in Level 1. Investments in registered investment company funds for which market quotations are generally readily available are valued at the last reported sale price, official closing price or publicly available net asset value, or NAV, (or its equivalent) on the primary market or exchange on which they are traded, and are classified in Level 1.

•

Investments in common and collective trust funds, hedge funds and liquidating trusts that maintain investments in mortgage-backed securities, are generally valued based on their respective NAV (or its equivalent), as a practical expedient to estimate fair value due to the absence of readily available market prices. Investments that may be fully redeemed at NAV in the near-term are generally classified in Level 2. Investments in funds that may not be fully redeemed at NAV in the near-term are generally classified in Level 3.

At December 31, 2012, ten active investment managers managed substantially all of the pension funds, each of whom had responsibility for managing a specific portion of these assets. Plan assets were diversified among the various asset classes within the allocation ranges established by our investment policy.

Our company-sponsored pension plans were underfunded at December 31, 2012 and 2011. In 2011, we made contributions of $5.0 million to our qualified salaried pension plan and $4.4 million to our qualified non-represented pension plan, with $5.8 million being discretionary funding. In 2012, we borrowed against our COLI plan, based on the cash surrender value that had accumulated over the years, to make a $21.6 million pension contribution. We contributed $9.3 million to our qualified salaried pension plan, $6.8 million to our qualified hourly plan and $5.5 million to our qualified non-represented pension plan, with $11.9 million being discretionary funding. We are not required to make contributions during 2013 to our qualified defined benefit plans. We estimate payments of approximately $1.8 million to our non-qualified pension plan. Payments made for OPEB obligations represent benefit costs incurred during the year by eligible participants.

Estimated future benefit payments, which reflect expected future service are as follows for the years indicated:

(Dollars in thousands)



	PENSION BENEFIT PLANS		OTHER POSTRETIREMENT EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
2013	$	29,802	$	5,113
2014		29,595		4,929
2015		29,442		4,835
2016		29,284		4,699
2017		29,086		4,490
2018 – 2022		144,389		18,865

NOTE 14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

We have operating leases covering office space, equipment, land and vehicles expiring at various dates through 2028. As leases expire, it can be expected that, in the normal course of business, certain leases will be renewed or replaced.

2012 FORM 10-K / 71

As of December 31, 2012, the future minimum rental payments required under our operating leases are as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)



2013	$	3,332
2014	2,881
2015	2,407
2016	1,403
2017	567
2018 and thereafter	120
Total	$	10,710

Operating lease expense was $3.1 million, $2.4 million and $2.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

In January 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, notified us that we are a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, or CERCLA, and the Clean Water Act for clean-up of a site known as Avery Landing in northern Idaho. We own a portion of the land at the Avery Landing site, which we acquired in 1980 from the Milwaukee Railroad. The land we own at the site and adjacent properties were contaminated with petroleum as a result of the Milwaukee Railroad’s operations at the site prior to 1980. We entered into a consent order with the EPA in August 2008 to conduct an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis, or EE/CA, study to determine the best means of addressing the contamination at the site. In January 2010, we submitted our draft EE/CA report to the EPA outlining various alternatives for addressing the contamination at the entire site. Ultimately, the EPA published a draft EE/CA report on January 26, 2011 for public comment. The EPA’s report focused on a limited number of remedial alternatives which range in cost from approximately $7.9 million to $10.5 million. The public comment period closed March 11, 2011. On July 5, 2011, the EPA issued an Action Memorandum for the Avery Landing Site selecting contaminant extraction and off-site disposal as the remedial alternative at an estimated cost of approximately $9.5 million. On April 12, 2012, the EPA issued a unilateral administrative order requiring us to remediate the portion of the Avery Landing site that we own. On May 23, 2012, we signed a consent order with the EPA pursuant to which the EPA agreed to suspend the unilateral administrative order and we agreed to provide $1.75 million in funding for EPA cleanup on a portion of our property (including the adjacent riverbank owned by the Idaho Department of Lands). The EPA may lift the suspension of the unilateral order at any time. As of December 31, 2012, after payment of the $1.75 million to the EPA, we have accrued $4.25 million for this matter based upon the estimated cost of remediating the remainder of our property. We believe it is reasonably possible, based on currently available information and analysis, that remediation costs for Avery Landing may exceed our reserves by up to $3.4 million. That estimate is the upper end of the range of reasonably possible additional costs and is much less certain than the estimates on which our accruals currently are based. We have reserved all of our rights to seek reimbursement for the costs of remediation from all parties potentially responsible.

We believe there is no pending or threatened litigation that would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, operations or liquidity.

72 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

NOTE 15. EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS

The following table details our compensation expense and the related income tax benefit as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

(Dollars in thousands)



	2012		2011		2010
Employee equity-based compensation expense:
Performance shares	$	3,440	$	3,821	$	3,368
Restricted stock units	627		583		584
Total employee equity-based compensation expense	$	4,067	$	4,404	$	3,952

Director deferred compensation expense	$	2,008	$	619	$	946

Actual tax benefit realized for tax deductions from equity-based plans	$	525	$	—	$	—

PERFORMANCE SHARES

Performance share awards granted under the stock incentive plans have a three-year performance period and shares are issued at the end of the period if the performance measure is met. The performance measure is based on the percentile ranking of our total shareholder return relative to the total shareholder return performance of both a selected peer group of companies and a larger group of indexed companies over the three-year performance period. The number of shares actually issued, as a percentage of the amount subject to the performance share award, could range from 0% to 200%. Performance share awards granted under our stock incentive plans do not have voting rights unless and until shares are issued upon settlement. If shares are issued at the end of the three-year performance measurement period, the recipients will receive distribution equivalents in the form of additional shares at the time of payment equal to the distributions that would have been paid on the shares earned had the recipients owned the shares during the three-year period. Therefore, the shares are not considered participating securities.

A Monte Carlo simulation method is used to estimate the stock prices of Potlatch and the selected peer companies at the end of the three-year performance period. The expected volatility of each company’s stock price and covariance of returns among the peer companies are key assumptions within the Monte Carlo simulation. Historical volatility over a term similar to the performance period is considered a reasonable proxy for forecasted volatility. Likewise, because the returns of Potlatch and the peer group companies are correlated, the covariance, a measure of how two variables tend to move together, is calculated over a historical term similar to the performance period and applied in the simulations. The simulations use the stock prices of Potlatch and the peer group of companies as of the award date as a starting point. Multiple simulations are generated, resulting in share prices and total shareholder return values for Potlatch and the peer group of companies. For each simulation, the total shareholder return of Potlatch is ranked against that of the peer group of companies. The future value of the performance share unit is calculated based on a multiplier for the percentile ranking and then discounted to present value. The discount rate is the risk-free rate as of the award date for a term consistent with the performance period. Awards are also credited with dividend equivalents at the end of the performance period, and as a result, award values are not adjusted for dividends.

The following table presents the key inputs used in calculating the fair value of the performance share awards in 2012, 2011 and 2010, and the resulting fair values:



	2012			2011			2010
Shares granted	85,028			77,767			81,162
Stock price as of valuation date	$	31.11		$	39.10		$	31.88
Risk-free rate	0.40		%	1.26		%	1.29		%
Fair value of a performance share	$	34.24		$	55.84		$	45.30

2012 FORM 10-K / 73

The following table summarizes outstanding performance share awards as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, and changes during those years:

(Dollars in thousands – except per-share amounts)



	2012					2011					2010
	SHARES			WEIGHTED AVG. GRANT DATE FAIR VALUE		SHARES			WEIGHTED AVG. GRANT DATE FAIR VALUE		SHARES			WEIGHTED AVG. GRANT DATE FAIR VALUE
Unvested shares outstanding at January 1	154,594				$50.54	184,601				$38.45	171,595				$40.04
Granted	85,028			34.24		77,767			55.84		81,162			45.30
Vested	(76,812		)	45.30		(103,960		)	33.32		(57,291		)	52.75
Forfeited	(2,596		)	44.99		(3,814		)	42.77		(10,865		)	39.24
Unvested shares outstanding at December 31	160,214			44.50		154,594			50.54		184,601			38.45
Total grant date fair value of share awards vested during the year	$	3,480				$	3,464				$	3,022
Aggregate intrinsic value of unvested share awards at December 31	$	6,019				$	4,747				$	5,752

As of December 31, 2012, there was $3.3 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested performance share awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.5 years.

RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

Our 2005 Stock Incentive Plan also allows for awards to be issued in the form of RSU grants. During 2012, 2011 and 2010, certain officers and other select employees of the company were granted RSU awards that will accrue distribution equivalents based on distributions paid during the RSU vesting period. The distribution equivalents will be converted into additional RSUs that will vest in the same manner as the underlying RSUs to which they relate, therefore the shares are not considered participating securities. The terms of the awards state that the RSUs will vest in a given time period of one to three years, and the terms of certain awards follow a vesting schedule within the given time period.

A summary of the status of outstanding RSU awards as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, and changes during these years is presented below:



	2012					2011					2010
	SHARES			WEIGHTED AVERAGE GRANT DATE FAIR VALUE		SHARES			WEIGHTED AVERAGE GRANT DATE FAIR VALUE		SHARES			WEIGHTED AVERAGE GRANT DATE FAIR VALUE
Unvested shares outstanding at January 1	36,359				$35.60	41,715				$29.37	41,559				$32.57
Granted	20,225			31.53		18,053			38.57		21,559			33.17
Vested	(14,861		)	32.41		(21,510		)	26.26		(16,639		)	42.23
Forfeited	(1,504		)	33.36		(1,899		)	32.78		(4,764		)	29.56
Unvested shares outstanding at December 31	40,219			34.82		36,359			35.60		41,715			29.37
Total grant date fair value of RSU awards vested during the year (in thousands)	$	482				$	565				$	703
Aggregate intrinsic value of unvested RSU awards at December 31 (in thousands)	$	1,575				$	1,131				$	1,395

As of December 31, 2012, there was $0.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding RSU awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.0 years.

74 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

STOCK OPTIONS

All outstanding stock options were granted with an exercise price equal to the market price on the date of grant, were fully exercisable after two years and expire not later than 10 years from the date of grant. No new stock options were granted in 2012, 2011 or 2010.

A summary of the status of outstanding stock options as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 and changes during those years is presented below:



	2012					2011					2010
	SHARES			WEIGHTED AVG. EXERCISE PRICE		SHARES			WEIGHTED AVG. EXERCISE PRICE		SHARES			WEIGHTED AVG. EXERCISE PRICE
Outstanding at January 1	144,684				$23.34	222,130				$21.64	329,426				$21.14
Shares exercised	(60,857		)	17.66		(77,446		)	18.47		(107,296		)	20.10
Outstanding and exercisable at December 31	83,827			27.46		144,684			23.34		222,130			21.64
Total intrinsic value of options exercised during the year (in thousands)	$	938				$	1,496				$	1,609

There were no unvested stock options outstanding during 2012, 2011 or 2010.

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2012:



	OPTIONS OUTSTANDING AND EXERCISABLE
RANGE OF OPTION PRICES	NUMBER OUTSTANDING AT 12/31/12	WEIGHTED AVERAGE REMAINING CONTRACTUAL LIFE	WEIGHTED AVERAGE OPTION PRICE		AGGREGATE INTRINSIC VALUE (IN THOUSANDS)
$19.2569	24,882	0.92 years	$	19.26
$30.9204	58,945	1.92 years	30.92
$19.2569 to $30.9204	83,827	1.62 years	27.46		$	980

Cash received from stock option exercises for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $1.1 million, $1.4 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

NOTE 16. SEGMENT INFORMATION

As of December 31, 2012, our businesses are organized into three reportable operating segments: Resource; Real Estate; and Wood Products. Our Resource segment manages our timberlands to optimize revenue producing opportunities while adhering to our strict stewardship standards. Management activities include planting and harvesting trees and building and maintaining roads. The Resource segment also seeks to increase our revenues from non-timber resources such as from hunting leases, recreation permits and leases, mineral rights leases, biomass production, carbon sequestration, and various other leasing opportunities. The activities of our Real Estate segment consist primarily of the sale of selected non-core timberland real estate. The Real Estate segment engages in real estate subdivision and development activities through Potlatch TRS and also plays an active role in negotiations for all timberland acquisitions. Our Wood Products segment manufactures and markets lumber and plywood.

The reporting segments follow the same accounting policies used for our consolidated financial statements, as described in the summary of principal accounting policies, with the exception of the valuation of inventories. All segment inventories are reported using the average cost method, while the LIFO reserve is recorded at the corporate level. Management evaluates a segment’s performance based upon profit or loss from operations before income taxes. Intersegment revenues are recorded based on prevailing market prices.

2012 FORM 10-K / 75

The following table presents business segment information for each of the past three years. Corporate information is included to reconcile segment data to the consolidated financial statements.

(Dollars in thousands)



	2012			2011			2010
Segment Revenues:
Resource	$	207,846		$	226,969		$	225,834
Real Estate	38,238			50,029			85,226
Wood Products	329,404			271,580			273,887
	575,488			548,578			584,947
Elimination of intersegment revenues - Resource¹	(50,354		)	(51,157		)	(45,500		)
Total consolidated revenues	$	525,134		$	497,421		$	539,447
Operating Income:
Resource	$	49,543		$	59,792		$	62,107
Real Estate	28,056			31,384			30,425
Wood Products	45,456			7,267			7,140
Eliminations and adjustments	(1,061		)	2,410			1,900
	121,994			100,853			101,572
Corporate	(62,591		)	(56,442		)	(56,701		)
Income from continuing operations before taxes	$	59,403		$	44,411		$	44,871
Depreciation, depletion and amortization:²
Resource	$	16,446		$	17,420		$	20,481
Real Estate	36			28			—
Wood Products	6,538			7,829			8,188
	23,020			25,277			28,669
Corporate	3,227			3,815			2,535
Total depreciation, depletion and amortization	$	26,247		$	29,092		$	31,204
Basis of real estate sold:
Real Estate	$	5,413		$	13,500		$	48,670
Elimination and adjustments	(365		)	(3,281		)	—
Total basis of real estate sold	$	5,048		$	10,219		$	48,670
Assets:
Resource and Real Estate³	$	477,271		$	476,483		$	495,780
Wood Products	100,190			102,957			98,987
	577,461			579,440			594,767
Corporate	141,436			166,780			186,944
Total consolidated assets	$	718,897		$	746,220		$	781,711
Capital Expenditures:
Resource and Real Estate⁴	$	23,916		$	12,003		$	11,534
Wood Products	4,427			4,050			1,896
	28,343			16,053			13,430
Corporate	845			833			1,571
Total capital expenditures	$	29,188		$	16,886		$	15,001


¹	Intersegment revenues for 2010-2012, which were based on prevailing market prices, consisted of logs sold by our Resource segment to the Wood Products segment.


²	Excludes $0.1 million and $1.2 million asset impairment charges in 2012 and 2011, respectively.


³	Assets are shown on a combined basis for the Resource and Real Estate segments, as we do not produce such internal information separately for those segments.

76 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

⁴Capital expenditures are shown on a combined basis for the Resource and Real Estate segments, as we do not produce such internal information separately for those segments. Capital expenditures for the Resource and Real Estate segments include capitalized reforestation costs, logging road construction, additions to timber and timberlands, additions to equipment and deposits on timberlands for reverse LKE transactions. Not included in additions to timber and timberlands for 2012, 2011 and 2010 are non-cash transactions totaling $0.6 million, $0.3 million and $0, respectively, for the purchase of timberlands.

All of our wood products facilities and all other assets are located within the continental United States. However, we also sell and ship products to Canada and Mexico. Geographic information regarding our revenues is summarized as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)



	2012		2011		2010
United States	$	516,466	$	490,409	$	532,862
Canada	5,180		4,646		5,959
Mexico	3,488		2,366		626
Total consolidated revenues	$	525,134	$	497,421	$	539,447

NOTE 17. ASSET IMPAIRMENT CHARGES

In 2012, we recorded a pre-tax asset impairment charge of $0.1 million related to write-downs of two of our real estate development projects. In 2011, we recorded a pre-tax asset impairment charge of $1.2 million as a result of a change in the intended use of a warehouse. Both charges are reflected in the operating results of our Real Estate segment and included in costs and expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

NOTE 18. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

In May 2008, our lumber mill in Prescott, Arkansas was permanently shut down due to poor market conditions. The mill was sold in November 2010, which resulted in a $0.9 million pre-tax gain.

NOTE 19. FINANCIAL RESULTS BY QUARTER (UNAUDITED)

(Dollars in thousands – except per-share amounts)



	THREE MONTHS ENDED
	MARCH 31				JUNE 30				SEPTEMBER 30				DECEMBER 31
	2012		2011		2012		2011		2012		2011		2012		2011
Revenues	$	112,384	$	122,233	$	117,540	$	112,370	$	151,911	$	152,891	$	143,299	$	109,927
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold	88,975		93,148		88,688		85,906		109,806		108,420		103,197		94,778
Selling, general and administrative expenses	10,890		11,927		11,762		8,704		13,342		7,837		13,425		12,081
Environmental remediation charge	—		—		—		—		—		—		—		1,200
Asset impairment charge	—		—		—		—		—		1,180		107		—
	99,865		105,075		100,450		94,610		123,148		117,437		116,729		108,059
Operating income	12,519		17,158		17,090		17,760		28,763		35,454		26,570		1,868
Net income (loss)	$	5,051	$	7,696	$	5,080	$	8,449	$	18,599	$	25,599	$	13,864	$	(1,478	)
Net income (loss) per share¹
Basic	$	0.13	$	0.19	$	0.13	$	0.21	$	0.46	$	0.64	$	0.34	$	(0.04	)
Diluted	0.13		0.19		0.13		0.21		0.46		0.63		0.34		(0.04		)


¹	Per-share amounts are computed independently for each of the quarters presented. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly per-share amounts may not equal the total computed for the year.

2012 FORM 10-K / 77

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Potlatch Corporation:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Potlatch Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows and stockholders' equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2012. In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we also have audited the financial statement schedule listed in Item 15. These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Potlatch Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended December 31, 2012, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Potlatch Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated February 15, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Portland, Oregon

February 15, 2013

78 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Potlatch Corporation:

We have audited Potlatch Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Potlatch Corporation's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, Potlatch Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Potlatch Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows and stockholders' equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2012, and our report dated February 15, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Portland, Oregon

February 15, 2013

2012 FORM 10-K / 79

PART IV

ITEM 15.

Schedule II

POTLATCH CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012, 2011 AND 2010

(Dollars in thousands)



DESCRIPTION	BALANCE AT BEGINNING OF YEAR		CHARGED TO COSTS AND EXPENSES		DEDUCTIONS¹			BALANCE AT END OF YEAR
Allowance for doubtful accounts:
Year ended December 31, 2012	$	450	$	70	$	(70	)	$	450
Year ended December 31, 2011	$	460	$	159	$	(169	)	$	450
Year ended December 31, 2010	$	1,670	$	54	$	(1,264	)	$	460


¹	Accounts written off, net of recoveries.

80 / POTLATCH CORPORATION

POTLATCH CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Exhibit Index




EXHIBIT NUMBER	DESCRIPTION

(2)(f)*	Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated December 15, 2008, between the Registrant and Clearwater Paper Corporation, filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on December 18, 2008.

(3)(a)*	Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, effective February 3, 2006, filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on February 6, 2006.

(3)(b)*	Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended through February 18, 2009, filed as Exhibit (3)(b) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on February 20, 2009.

(4)	See Exhibits (3)(a) and (3)(b). The Registrant also undertakes to furnish to the Commission, upon request, any instrument defining the rights of holders of long-term debt.

(4)(a)*	Indenture, dated as of November 3, 2009, between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on November 9, 2009.

(4)(a)(i)*	Form of 7 1/2% Senior Notes due 2019 (included as Exhibit A to the Indenture filed as Exhibit 4(a)).

(4)(a)(ii)*	Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 3, 2009, between the Registrant and the parties named therein, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on November 9, 2009.

(4)(b)	Indenture, dated as of December 18, 1995, between Potlatch Corporation, a Delaware corporation and the Registrant's former parent corporation (“Original Potlatch”) (on February 3, 2006, Original Potlatch merged with and into Potlatch Operating Company, a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant, the Registrant then changed its name to “Potlatch Corporation” and became the new, publicly traded parent corporation) and U.S. Bank, National Association (as successor to First Trust of California, National Association), as trustee, executed in connection with the 6.95% Debentures due 2015.

(4)(b)(i)	Form of 6.95% Debentures due 2015.

(4)(c)*	Indenture, dated as of November 27, 1990, between Original Potlatch and Deutsche Bank National Trust Company (successor in interest to Bankers Trust Company of California, National Association), as trustee, filed as Exhibit (4)(a) to the Original Potlatch Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000. (SEC File No. 001-05313)

(4)(c)(i)*	Officer’s Certificate, dated January 24, 1991, filed as Exhibit (4)(a)(i) to the Original Potlatch Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000. (SEC File No. 001-05313)

(4)(c)(ii)*	Officer’s Certificate, dated December 12, 1991, filed as Exhibit (4)(a)(i) to the Original Potlatch Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996. (SEC File No. 001-05313)

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(10)(a)1*	Potlatch Corporation Management Performance Award Plan, as amended effective December 2, 2004, filed as Exhibit (10)(a) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Original Potlatch for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. (SEC File No. 001-05313).

(10)(a)(i)1*	Amendment to Potlatch Corporation Management Performance Award Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on December 11, 2008.

(10)(b)1*	Potlatch Corporation Severance Program for Executive Employees, filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on December 11, 2008.

(10)(c)1*	Potlatch Corporation 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, adopted December 2, 1999, as amended effective December 29, 2005, filed as Exhibit (10)(c) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Original Potlatch on January 5, 2006, and as amended September 16, 2006, filed as Exhibit (10)(c) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on September 21, 2006.

(10)(c)(ii)1*	Form of employee Stock Option agreement for the Potlatch Corporation 2000 Stock Incentive Plan together with the Addendum thereto as used for options granted in December 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, filed as Exhibit (10)(c)(i) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Original Potlatch for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 (“2001 Form 10-K”) (SEC File No. 1-5313).

(10)(c)(iii)1*	Form of outside director Stock Option agreement for the Potlatch Corporation 2000 Stock Incentive Plan together with the Addendum thereto as used for options granted in December 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003, filed as Exhibit (10)(c)(ii) to the 2001 Form 10-K (SEC File No. 1-5313).

(10)(d)1*	Potlatch Corporation Salaried Employees’ Supplemental Benefit Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 1989, and as amended through May 24, 2005, filed as Exhibit (10)(d) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by Original Potlatch for the quarter ended June 30, 2005.

(10)(d)(i)1*	Amendment, effective as of January 1, 1998, to Plan described in Exhibit (10)(d), filed as Exhibit (10)(d)(i) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Original Potlatch for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 (SEC File No. 1-5313).

(10)(d)(ii)1*	Amendment, effective as of December 5, 2008, to Plan described in Exhibit (10)(d), filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on December 11, 2008.

(10)(g)1*	Potlatch Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, as amended through May 24, 2005, filed as Exhibit (10)(g) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by Original Potlatch for the quarter ended June 30, 2005.

(10)(h)1*	Potlatch Corporation Benefits Protection Trust Agreement, filed as Exhibit (10(h) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Registrant for the year ended December 31, 2008 (the “2008 Form 10-K”).

(10)(i)(i)1*	Compensation of Outside Directors, effective as of January 1, 2008, filed as Exhibit (10)(i)(i) to the 2008 Form 10-K.

(10)(j)1*	Form of Indemnification Agreement with each director of the Registrant and with each executive officer of the Registrant, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on September 23, 2009.

(10)(n)1*	Potlatch Corporation 1995 Stock Incentive Plan, adopted December 7, 1995, as amended effective December 29, 2005, filed as Exhibit (10)(n) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Original Potlatch on January 5, 2006.

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(10)(n)(vi)1*	Form of employee Stock Option Agreement for the Potlatch Corporation 1995 Stock Incentive Plan together with the Addendum thereto as used for options granted in December 2002, filed as Exhibit (10)(n)(vi) to the 2004 Form 10-K (SEC File No. 1-5313).

(10)(r)1*	Potlatch Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated May 19, 2006, filed as Exhibit (10)(r) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by the Registrant for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, and as further amended and restated effective September 16, 2006, filed as Exhibit (10)(e) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on September 21, 2006.

(10)(r)(i)1*	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (2005 Stock Incentive Plan), as amended and restated May 19, 2006, to be used for restricted stock unit awards to be granted subsequent to May 19, 2006, filed as Exhibit (10)(r)(i) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by the Registrant for the quarter ended June 30, 2006.

(10)(r)(ii)1*	Form of Performance Share Agreement (2005 Stock Incentive Plan), as amended and restated May 19, 2006, to be used for performance share awards to be granted subsequent to May 19, 2006, filed as Exhibit (10)(r)(ii) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by the Registrant for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, and as further amended on January 17, 2007, filed as Exhibit (10)(r)(ii) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on January 19, 2007.

(10)(r)(iv)1*	Potlatch Corporation Management Performance Award Plan II, as amended through February 20, 2008, filed as Exhibit (10)(r)(iv) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on February 26, 2008.

(10)(r)(v)1*	Amendment to Potlatch Corporation Management Performance Award Plan II, effective June 1, 2008, filed as Exhibit (10)(r)(v) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on May 21, 2008.

(10)(s)1*	Potlatch Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors II, filed as Exhibit (10)(s) to the 2008 Form 10-K.

(10)(t)1*	Potlatch Corporation Salaried Supplemental Benefit Plan II, filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on December 11, 2008.

(10)(w)(i)1*	Potlatch Corporation Annual Incentive Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on December 11, 2008.

(10)(w)(ii)1	Amendment dated December 19, 2011 to Potlatch Corporation Annual Incentive Plan.

(10)(x)1*	Potlatch Corporation Management Deferred Compensation Plan, effective June 1, 2008, amended and restated as of May 1, 2009, filed as Exhibit 10.(x) on Form 10-K filed by the Registrant on February 18, 2010.

(10)(aa)*	Employee Matters Agreement, dated December 15, 2008, between the Registrant and Clearwater Paper Corporation, filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on December 18, 2008.

(10)(bb)*	Tax Sharing Agreement, dated December 15, 2008, among the Registrant, Potlatch Forest Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant, Potlatch Land & Lumber, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant, and Clearwater Paper Corporation, filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on December 18, 2008.

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(10)(cc)*	Credit Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2012, among the Registrant and its wholly owned subsidiaries, as borrowers, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer, the Guarantors from time to time party thereto and the Lenders from time to time party thereto, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on December 12, 2012.

(10)(dd)	Credit Agreement, dated December 18, 2012, by and among the Registrant and Potlatch Forest Holdings, Inc., as borrowers, Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA as administrative agent, the Guarantors from time to time party thereto and the Lenders from time to time party thereto.

(12)	Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

(21)	Potlatch Corporation Subsidiaries.

(23)	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

(24)	Powers of Attorney.

(31)	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications.

(32)	Furnished statements of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer under 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

101	The following financial information from Potlatch Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed on February 15, 2013, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, (iii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2012 and 2011, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and (vii) Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts.


*	Incorporated by reference.


¹	Management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.

84 / POTLATCH CORPORATION