May 7, 2013 – Tejon Ranch, CA – (BusinessWire) –  Robert A. Stine, President and CEO of Tejon Ranch Company, announced today that he plans to retire at the end of 2013.  He made the announcement at the Company’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting. Mr. Stine, whose 17 years at the helm of Tejon Ranch makes him the longest-tenured CEO in the Company’s history, will continue to serve on its Board of Directors.

After becoming aware of Mr. Stine’s intention to retire, the Board began to implement the Company’s succession plan, which it reviews and updates on an annual basis.  A Board committee, headed by independent director John Goolsby, was formed to lead the effort to locate Mr. Stine’s successor and has retained the services of an executive search firm to help identify qualified candidates, both internal and external.

“Bob Stine has established quite a legacy,” said Kent G. Snyder, chairman of the board of Tejon Ranch Company.  “In 1996, when he took over leadership of Tejon Ranch, the company was primarily focused on its ranching and farming operations.  In his 17 years at the Ranch, he has transformed Tejon into a truly diversified land development and agribusiness company committed to building long-term shareholder value.”

“The last 17 years have been the highlight of my career,” said Stine.  “It’s been a privilege and an honor to work on this California landmark and I’m proud of what we accomplished—creating a master plan for the entire Ranch; successfully entitling Tejon Mountain Village and the Tejon Ranch Commerce Center; seeing the growth in industrial and commercial development at the Commerce Center and its emergence as a prime retail destination, highlighted by the prospect of the forthcoming Outlets at Tejon Ranch; and negotiating California’s most significant private conservation agreement.  There are many more milestones I could list, but instead of looking back, it’s more important we look forward.  The future of Tejon Ranch is extraordinarily bright, but it’s time for me to move to the next chapter of my life and turn over the reins of the company to new leadership. My retirement from full time employment will allow my wife and me more time to be with our growing grandchildren and for travel.  I look forward to working with the new president, as a member of the board, and watching Tejon Ranch Company continue to grow.”

The Board will continue to review and interview prospective candidates with the intention of having a new president in place well before Mr. Stine retires.  It believes it is important, as noted in the succession plan, that there be an orderly transition in leadership.

 

Plan Allows for Development While Providing Protections to California Condor and 24 Other Species

Tejon Ranch, Calif. — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe joined Tejon Ranch Company President and CEO Robert A. Stine and representatives from other partner agencies and conservation advocates at the company’s headquarters today to formally announce the successful completion and Service approval of a Habitat Conservation Plan that will provide specific protections for 25 species, including the California condor, while permitting limited development and other land use activities on designated ranch lands.

 Fifteen years in the making, the Tehachapi Uplands Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (TUMSHCP) was prepared by Tejon Ranch Company and its partner, DMB Pacific Ventures, in cooperation with the Service. It will protect wildlife habitat and enhance species conservation on 141,866 acres of ranch lands and is the first such plan to focus primarily on conserving habitat and creating a study area for the iconic California condor.

Founded in 1843, Tejon Ranch is the largest contiguous expanse of private land in California and its 270,000 acres provides habitat to hundreds of plant and animal species.

 The Service’s approval of the plan provides a 50-year incidental take permit to the Tejon Ranch Company which will give the company certainty that it will be in compliance with the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) when it proceeds with various land-use and development activities. The Service’s permit does not authorize lethal take of a condor, nor does it allow take caused by hunting or mineral extraction.

 Of the 141, 866 acres covered by the Plan, more than 129,000 acres will be conserved in perpetuity. The conserved lands include a 37,100 acre ridge line area of the ranch historically and currently used by California condors that’s been designated as a Condor Study Area. Also included are a 5,553 acre mountain resort and other development in southern Kern County.

 “The Plan we celebrate today is the result of many people thinking big ideas about wildlife conservation,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. “It is a landmark plan with a landscape view of conservation, and helps ensure California condors, birds and other rare wildlife will remain a vital part of this landscape for years to come.”

 “The multiple year process was both a challenge and a journey for all parties involved, but it was a journey worth taking,” said Tejon Ranch Company President and CEO Robert A. Stine, “The end result is an incredible success story for the HCP process with the signing of this permit covering nearly 142,000 acres of incredible California landscape and protecting not only the California condor, but 24 additional species as well.”

In 2007, Tejon Ranch Company was the first private land owner in California to voluntarily ban the use of lead ammunition on its lands. The action took place in advance of state legislation in 2008 that banned the use of lead ammunition within the range of the California condor. In 2008, the company signed the Tejon Ranch Conservation and Land Use Agreement with Audubon California, the Endangered Habitats League, Natural Resources Defense Council, the Planning and Conservation League, and the Sierra Club to preserve up to 240,000 acres of ranch lands and create the non-profit Tejon Ranch Conservancy to manage the lands.

 “As one of its key participants, DMB Pacific Ventures believes that the Plan complements the objectives incorporated into the Tejon Ranch Conservation and Land Use Agreement – a collaborative agreement between the Ranch and the nation’s leading environmental advocates which conserved 90 percent of the 270,000-acre property,” said Eneas Kane, Managing Director and CEO of DMB Pacific Ventures. “We’re also proud of the working relationship that DMB Pacific Ventures has established with the Service on behalf of Tejon Ranch.”

 In addition to the California condor, the TUMSHCP provides protections for two other birds protected by the ESA: least Bell’s vireo and southwestern willow flycatcher. Another bird, the western yellow-billed cuckoo, is a candidate for ESA protection. A list of species covered under the TUMSHCP and other documents, including the Record of Decision are available at:  http://1.usa.gov/194uD9c .

TEJON RANCH, CA-Robert A. Stine will retire as president and CEO of the Tejon Ranch Co. at the end of this year. The announcement came today at the company’s annual shareholders meeting.

Tejon Ranch is a 270,000-acre working ranch and is the largest contiguous piece of private property in the state. It is located 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Bakersfield. Tejon Ranch Co. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the board anticipates having Stine’s replacement selected well before his anticipated departure date.

Stine oversaw the transformation of the sprawling Tejon Ranch during his 17 years there, taking a business that was largely a cattle grazing and farming company and developing it into a multi-pronged venture with stakes in industrial, retail, residential housing and agribusiness.

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