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Exhibit (a)(2)(i)
[Willamette Industries, Inc. letterhead]
December 5, 2000
To Fellow Shareholders:
On November 29, 2000, Weyerhaeuser Company, through its wholly owned
subsidiary, Company Holdings, Inc., commenced an unsolicited tender offer for
all outstanding shares of common stock of Willamette Industries, Inc. at $48
per share in cash.
The Board of Directors held a special meeting on December 1, 2000, at which
management and the Board's legal and financial advisors preliminarily discussed
with the Board the material terms and provisions of Weyerhaeuser's offer. The
Board of Directors determined to meet at a later date to formally consider the
Weyerhaeuser offer.
The Board urges you not to take any action with respect to the Weyerhaeuser
offer until the Board makes its recommendation, which will be contained in a
subsequent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, a copy of which
will be mailed to you. The Board expects to inform you of its recommendation
the week of December 11, 2000.
At the December 1, 2000 meeting, the Board also took action to defer the
distribution of the rights issued pursuant to Willamette's Shareholder Rights
Plan as a result of the commencement of the Weyerhaeuser offer.
Additional information with respect to Weyerhaeuser's tender offer and other
relevant matters is contained in the attached Solicitation/Recommendation
Statement. We urge you to read it carefully and in its entirety.
Shareholders having questions regarding the Solicitation/Recommendation
Statement are urged to contact MacKenzie Partners, Inc. at (800) 322-2885
(toll-free) or at (212) 929-5500 (collect).
We appreciate your continued interest in and support of the Company.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Sincerely,
William Swindells
Chairman of the Board
Duane C. McDougall
Chief Executive Officer
