** Shares of U.S. timber company PotlatchDeltic PCH.O rise nearly 5% to $43.74 premarket
** Rayonier RYN.N shares down 2.4% at $25.27 premarket
** PCH and RYN to combine in an all-stock deal valued at $8.2 bln, including $1.1 billion of net debt, the companies say
** RYN CEO Mark McHugh to lead the combined company post merger - companies
** PotlatchDeltic shareholders expect to receive 1.7339 shares of Rayonier for each share of PotlatchDeltic
** The transaction is expected to close in late first quarter or early second quarter of 2026
** As of last close, PCH up 6% and RYN down ~1% YTD
(Reporting by Dharna Bafna in Bengaluru)
((Dharna.bafna@thomsonreuters.com))