On the Market: Simpson Lumber

There have been whispers and emails about changes afoot at Tacoma's Simpson Lumber Company for a while now - word of the sale of one or more Simpson Lumber properties. It appears that there's more than a little truth in the rumors: Simpson Lumber Company is up for sale.

This comes just six months after Simpson announced the sale of its Tacoma Kraft business and assets to Georgia-based RockTenn in March. Simpson Lumber is based in Tacoma, with a mill in the Tide Flats, two other mills in Washington, and a couple more back east.

What has been confirmed, according to an article today from The News Tribune, is that Simpson is exploring its options for the sale of the Simpson Lumber business. Simpson Door is not being considered for sale at this point. Employees got warning of a sale earlier this month, along with a promise that the mills will continue to operate - at least until a sale is finalized.

What we don't know is what a timeline for a sale could look like, or who might be interested in buying the lumber company. According to the TNT, Simpson is keeping its options open - they could sell one or more of the individual mills, or the company as a whole. Or they could decide to hold onto the company.

If you listen to the buzz of the rumor mill, you hear that Sierra Pacific might be interested in taking over at least Tacoma operations. You also hear that the Port of Tacoma might have an interest in the Tacoma location for the property it sits on, which (rumor has it) would mean the demolition of the Tacoma mill for other Port operations... but these are all speculation at this point.

Also unknown is what the future holds for the mills in Tacoma and elsewhere and the several hundred employees of Simpson Lumber.