Seattle, Washington, USA, 27 August 2008 -- Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. (NYSE: PCL) today announced it will form a joint venture with The Campbell Group LLC that will allow Plum Creek to capture the value of approximately 454,000 acres of investment-grade Southern timberlands. The transaction values these timberlands at USD 783 million, or approximately USD 1725 per acre.

Plum Creek will contribute the timberlands to the joint venture and an investment fund sponsored by Campbell Group will contribute USD 783 million in cash. Campbell Group, a timber investment management organization based in Portland, Oregon, will manage the joint venture lands for continued timber production. The timberlands are located in six states, including Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.

“This transaction highlights the value of our Southern timberlands and is both earnings and cash flow accretive for Plum Creek. The formation of this joint venture allows Plum Creek to immediately capture substantially all of the value of these timberlands and to maintain an ongoing interest in their continuing cash flow and potential for growth,” said Rick Holley, president and chief executive officer of Plum Creek.

John Gilleland, president of Campbell Group, said, “On behalf of our investors, we are extremely pleased to enter into this joint venture with Plum Creek. The 454,000 acres are strategically located in well-established log markets and provide for management efficiencies with the Campbell Group’s nearly 2 million acres of Southern timberland assets currently under management. We look forward to continuing to manage these lands responsibly and under the requirements of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard."

Under the terms of the agreement, Plum Creek will receive a USD 705 million preferred interest in the joint venture. The preferred interest establishes the economic returns with respect to 90% of Plum Creek’s investment. Additionally, Plum Creek will receive a USD 78 million common interest, representing the balance of its investment.

Separately, Plum Creek will receive cash of USD 783 million through a loan from the joint venture.

Campbell Group’s investors will receive a common interest in the joint venture, representing approximately 91% of the joint venture’s common equity.

The joint venture’s results will include income from timber operations and interest income from its loan to Plum Creek. The joint venture will make periodic distributions of cash from operations to both partners in accordance with their ownership interests.

“Capital allocation remains Plum Creek’s most important task. We expect to utilize half of the proceeds from this transaction to retire existing debt. The remaining proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including continued repurchase of the company’s stock,” concluded Holley.

The agreement is expected to become effective during the fourth quarter of 2008.

Further terms of the joint venture agreement are set forth in the agreements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Supporting information providing additional details for this transaction is available in the “Investors” information section of Plum Creek’s Web site at www.plumcreek.com.

Goldman, Sachs & Co. served as financial advisor and Heller Ehrman LLP served as legal advisor to Plum Creek. Morrison & Foerster LLP and Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt served as legal advisors to The Campbell Group in connection with the joint venture.

Plum Creek is the largest and most geographically diverse private landowner in the nation with approximately 8 million acres of timberlands in major timber producing regions of the United States and 10 wood products manufacturing facilities in the Northwest.

The Campbell Group, LLC (www.campbellgroup.com) is a full-service timberland investment management company headquartered in Portland, Oregon. The company is focused on investing in and managing high quality, investment grade forestland on behalf of institutional investors to produce superior risk-adjusted returns. Campbell Group currently manages approximately 2.4 million acres of investment grade timberlands in 13 states.