Replies to post #3401 on Investing in Timber

[abnrgrrvn]

Thank you for your inquiry, A1

TATF contacted me about the potential damage; they organized the clear cutting and coordinated the proceeds distribution from the purchaser.

Same with the other 2-'96 teak tree owners that I know personally.

Believe the same was done with a significant # of other tree owners on, at least, el Capital farm and maybe 1-2 other farms.

Sorry, I do not have specifics about other tree owners as TATF holds that information in confidence.

It is a bit difficult to determine the $/cu.m. that was received as some of our '96 teak trees had been thinned once; some twice.

Also, I do not believe "I am a special case," I think this was a special situation where TATF indicated it was in our best interest to have the '96 teak clear cut.

If the trees were not going to continue to mature, as all our other holdings, I was personally convinced this was the 100% correct course of action.

All our other holdings continue to mature and we are hopeful the prices will continue to escalate--that is in all tree owner's best interest, I belive.

[belmontx]

Since abner doesn't care to reveal the details of his "distribution", let me help.

From my list of information-sharers only one correspondent has reported being notified by TATF of the rain damage to his trees. He ultimately received slightly less than two/thirds of his original purchase price for 100 '96 teak trees; after culls and lost trees he was paid for the wood from 41 and was given 2K in return for his ownership papers for all the original 100. He has not viewed the site so has no way of knowing how accurate the report was.

At any rate, two thirds as a refund in exchange for ownership is way better than the nothing it seems everybody else has been getting for their unaffected trees (although this amount is 1/10th of the advertised value after 16 years).

If anyone else ever receives this offer, jump on it. Sixty-fjve cents on the dollar for TATF trees bought ten years ago and thought to be a sour investment turns out to be a godsend for those who never thought they would ever see a penny back from their purchase price.

belmontx