The heirs to a handful of U.S. lumber barons stand to cash in handsomely in the near future, as investment banks predict Canada’s largest forest products companies will expand south of the border by targeting privately owned timberlands and sawmills. …Canada’s largest companies, including B.C.-based West Fraser, Canfor and Interfor are flush with cash and on the hunt. …After a series of deals over the past year, analysts say the obvious deals involving publicly traded companies have played out and buyers are turning their attention to privately owned lumber businesses in the Southern and Northwestern US, some of which are in their seventh generation of family ownership. …Analysts predict the next wave of takeovers will focus on smaller lumber businesses that would qualify as relatively low risk, tuck-in acquisitions. …Why? Recent deals show… diffuse family ownership, declining dividend income and significant future costs – will likely prompt more descendants of lumber barons to cash out when Canadian buyers come calling. [to access the full story a Globe and Mail subscription may be required]