Gorman Group Purchases Princeton, B.C. Sawmill
Weyerhaeuser has announced it has reached an agreement to sell its lumber mill in Princeton, British Columbia, to the Gorman Group, owners of Gorman Bros. Lumber Ltd., a family-owned wood products manufacturer headquartered in West Kelowna, B.C. The purchase price is approximately $120 million CAD in cash, which includes Weyerhaeuser’s manufacturing facility, all associated timber license assets in British Columbia and the value of working capital, which will be subject to customary purchase price adjustments at closing.
Weyerhaeuser and Gorman Group have a long-standing relationship in Canada. Gorman Bros. Lumber is currently the Princeton mill’s largest customer, and Gorman Group has operated in Canada for more than 75 years, with offices and facilities in B.C. and Washington state.
“Weyerhaeuser’s Princeton operation will be a natural fit with the Gorman Group,” says Nick Arkle, CEO, Gorman Group. “We’ve had a strong connection to the Princeton operation for many years, and we know firsthand the skill, commitment and quality that define its team. We’re delighted to welcome this mill and its people into the Gorman Group family, as this move will strengthen our company, support the sustainability of good jobs in our communities and help us continue developing the world-class wood products we’re known for. This really will be a case of the whole being stronger than the sum of its parts. We’re looking forward to working together with First Nations, governments, communities and all our employees to make this a B.C. success story.”
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory review, with the sale of the mill expected to be completed in third quarter 2025, and the forest tenures to follow over the ensuing months. Weyerhaeuser expects to recognize a gain on the sale and incur a tax liability of approximately $15 million CAD. Weyerhaeuser’s other operations in Canada will not be affected by this transaction, and the company will continue to operate the Princeton mill independently of the Gorman Group until the transaction closes.
Latest News
B.C. Sawmill Study Makes Surprise Finding On Using Moisture To Prevent Explosions
The smallest-sized wet wood dust is just as explosive as dry wood dust from B.C. sawmills, according to a report prepared by FPInnovations for the provincial sawmill sector. The surprise finding — which raises questions…
Wood Science 101: Where Does Lumber Come From?
One of the more interesting phenomena of today’s world is the insulation we have from the source of our sustenance, or raw materials. Many modern folk would have a hard time explaining where the natural…
U.S. Homebuilders Face High Lumber Prices
Total housing starts rose 35% year-over-year in the first quarter of this year, according to data from Deloitte. Single-family home construction contributed 500,000 jobs to the economy year-over-year in July, implying a thriving builder market.…
J.D. Irving Sawmills Division Invests To Open Maine Sawmill, Creating 60 Jobs
J.D. Irving, Limited Sawmills Division announced today that it will invest $30 million in a new state-of-the-art softwood sawmill at Ashland (Nashville Plantation), Maine. During the construction phase, the new facility will employ up to…
Find Us On Social
Newsletter
The monthly Timber Processing Industry Newsletter reaches over 4,000 mill owners and supervisors.
Subscribe/Renew
Timber Processing is delivered 10 times per year to subscribers who represent sawmill ownership, management and supervisory personnel and corporate executives. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.
Advertise
Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative.