G-P Throws Wrinkle Into Drama

Answer Soon

Willamette was scheduled to make a decision on the Weyerhaeuser offer after its board reconvened last month. The company still left an open door to a possible deal with Georgia-Pacific, which may or may not be viewed as leverage.

The first per-share bid for Willamette, of $48, was tendered by Weyerhaeuser in November of 2000 and was soon raised to $50 a share. This most recent increase will likely trigger intense negotiations between the companies, but Weyerhaeuser appears to have the upper hand on a couple of fronts: