RYAM Announces Strong Third Quarter 2024 Results

Net sales for the third quarter of $401 million, up $32 million from prior year quarter

Loss from continuing operations for the third quarter of $33 million, a decline of $6 million from prior year quarter, inclusive of a non-cash asset impairment of $25 million and indefinite suspension charges of $7 million

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations for the third quarter of $51 million, up $27 million from prior year quarter

Total debt of $773 million; Net Secured Debt of $622 million with a covenant net secured leverage ratio of 2.8 times

2024 Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $205 million to $215 million, including impact from fire in Jesup plant

2024 Adjusted Free Cash Flow guidance increased to $115 million to $125 million

Successfully raised $700 million of secured term loan financing to refinance capital structure

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (the “Company”) reported results for its third quarter ended September 28, 2024.

“RYAM delivered another solid quarter of financial results as we continued to improve our product mix and manage operating costs. Demand for cellulose specialties has remained solid supporting the improved product mix and margins. We also generated $99 million of Adjusted Free Cash Flow, which supported a $37 million reduction of net secured debt in the quarter. As a result, we reduced our net secured leverage ratio to 2.8 times covenant EBITDA,” stated De Lyle Bloomquist, President and CEO of RYAM.

“With three quarters of strong financial results, we were on track to meet or exceed the $215 million high end of our EBITDA guidance for 2024. On October 11, we had an isolated fire at our largest plant in Jesup, Georgia, which we estimate will impact earnings by approximately $10 million and will require $3 million of maintenance capital in 2024. Our emergency response teams, along with local fire departments, did a great job managing the initial incident, while the whole team did a fantastic job getting the facility up and running in less than two weeks without any injuries to employees, contractors or the community. Despite the fire’s impact to EBITDA, we are reiterating our 2024 Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $205 million to $215 million and have increased our Free Cash Flow guidance to $115 million to $125 million.

“On the strength of 2024 earnings and a positive outlook for 2025, we refinanced the aggregate principal amounts of both our $453 million senior secured notes due in 2026 and our $246 million secured term loan due in 2027 with a new $700 million secured term loan due in 2029. We also extended our ABL credit facility for five years. These refinancings provide us with the flexibility and runway to continue to execute our long-term strategy to capture value from the core cellulose specialties business and grow the biomaterials business. In September, we announced price increases of up to 10 percent for our cellulose specialties products. With this announced price increase, along with more favorable supply and demand dynamics for our specialties products, we expect to realize higher pricing and improved margins for our core cellulose specialties business in 2025. Additionally, we expect to make a significant announcement in the coming quarter on the green capital that will help finance our biomaterials strategy,” concluded Mr. Bloomquist.

Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

The Company reported a net loss of $33 million, or $(0.49) per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 28, 2024, compared to a net loss of $25 million, or $(0.39) per diluted share, for the prior year quarter. Loss from continuing operations for the quarter ended September 28, 2024 was $33 million, or $(0.49) per diluted share, compared to a loss from continuing operations of $27 million, or $(0.41) per diluted share, for the prior year quarter.

The Company operates in three business segments: High Purity Cellulose, Paperboard and High-Yield Pulp.

High Purity Cellulose

Net sales for the third quarter increased $33 million, or 11 percent, compared to the same prior year quarter. Included in the current and prior year quarters were $26 million and $28 million, respectively, of other sales primarily from bio-based energy and lignosulfonates. Total sales prices increased 13 percent due to a higher mix of cellulose specialties and included 2 percent and 5 percent increases in cellulose specialties and commodity prices, respectively. Total sales volumes were nearly flat as a 32 percent increase in cellulose specialties volumes was offset by a 24 percent decrease in commodity volumes. The cellulose specialties sales volumes increase includes additional volumes sold to customers affected by the indefinite suspension of Temiscaming HPC operations that began in the third quarter, the closure of a competitor’s plant in late 2023, the easing of prior year customer destocking and a continued uptick in ethers sales volumes. The decrease in commodity sales volumes was primarily driven by a higher mix of cellulose specialties production and the indefinite suspension of Temiscaming HPC operations.

Net sales for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 was nearly flat compared to the same prior year period. Included in the current and prior year nine-month periods were $72 million and $73 million, respectively, of other sales primarily from bio-based energy and lignosulfonates. Total sales prices increased 5 percent due to a 1 percent increase in cellulose specialties prices that was partially offset by a 3 percent decrease in commodity prices. Despite a cellulose specialties sales volumes increase of 10 percent, total sales volumes decreased 5 percent driven by a 19 percent decrease in commodity volumes. Increased cellulose specialties sales volumes resulting from the additional volumes sold ahead of the suspension of Temiscaming HPC operations, the closure of a competitor’s plant in late 2023, the easing of prior year customer destocking and an uptick in ethers sales volumes were partially offset by the one-time favorable impact from a change in customer contract terms in the prior year first quarter. The decrease in commodity sales volumes was primarily driven by a higher mix of cellulose specialties production and the indefinite suspension of Temiscaming HPC operations.

Operating results for the quarter and nine months ended September 28, 2024 were nearly flat and improved $38 million, respectively, compared to the same prior year periods despite one-time charges of $7 million and $14 million, respectively, related to the indefinite suspension of Temiscaming HPC operations and an associated $25 million non-cash asset impairment. Results also included $4 million of Temiscaming HPC continuing custodial site costs. The quarter results were driven by the higher cellulose specialties sales prices and volumes and lower key input costs, offset by the indefinite suspension charges, asset impairment, custodial site costs and lower commodity sales volumes. The increase in operating income in the nine-month period was driven by the higher cellulose specialties sales prices and volumes, lower key input and logistics costs and the recognition of $5 million in Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) benefit claims deferred since 2021. Partially offsetting these increases were the indefinite suspension charges, asset impairment, custodial site costs, the lower commodity sales prices and volumes, the impact of the timing of planned maintenance outages compared to the prior year, the prior year recognition of a $3 million benefit from payroll tax credit carryforwards that is not expected to repeat and $11 million of energy cost benefits from sales of excess emission allowances recognized in the prior year, the current year sales of which are expected in the fourth quarter.

Compared to the second quarter of 2024, net sales decreased $7 million as cellulose specialties sales prices were nearly flat and commodity sales prices decreased 3 percent. Total sales volumes decreased 3 percent, driven by a 1 percent decrease in cellulose specialties volumes and a 6 percent decrease in commodity volumes due to the indefinite suspension of operations in Temiscaming. Operating results declined $36 million primarily due to the third-quarter asset impairment, the decreases in sales prices and volumes, the impact of the timing of planned maintenance outages compared to last quarter and the second-quarter CEWS benefit. Third quarter results also included $4 million of continuing custodial site costs. Partially offsetting these declines were lower logistics costs.

Paperboard

Net sales for the third quarter decreased $2 million, or 4 percent, compared to the same prior year quarter. Net sales for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 increased $4 million, or 2 percent, compared to the same period year period. Sales volumes were nearly flat and increased 11 percent during the quarter and nine-month periods, respectively, with the increase driven by the easing of prior year customer destocking in the current year. Sales prices decreased 4 percent and 8 percent, respectively, driven by mix and increased competitive activity from European imports.

Operating income for the quarter and nine months ended September 28, 2024 decreased $6 million and $2 million, respectively, compared to the same prior year periods. The quarter decrease was driven by the lower sales prices and higher purchased pulp costs. The nine-month decrease was driven by the lower sales prices and the impact of the planned maintenance outage in the prior year, partially offset by the higher sales volumes, lower purchased pulp costs and the recognition of $2 million in CEWS benefit claims deferred since 2021.

Compared to the second quarter of 2024, operating income decreased $5 million driven by an 11 percent decrease in sales volumes, due to decreased demand, higher purchased pulp costs and the second-quarter CEWS benefit, partially offset by a 1 percent increase in sales prices.

High-Yield Pulp

Net sales for the third quarter increased $3 million, or 12 percent, compared to the same prior year quarter driven by a 14 percent increase in sales prices, partially offset by a 3 percent decrease in sales volumes driven by timing of shipments. Net sales for the nine months ended September 28, 2024 decreased $16 million, or 14 percent, compared to the same prior year period driven by 11 percent and 6 percent decreases in sales prices and volumes, respectively, due to market supply dynamics in China, lower demand and timing of shipments.

Operating results for the quarter and nine months ended September 28, 2024 improved $6 million and decreased $2 million, respectively, compared to the same prior year periods. The improvement in the quarter results was driven by the higher sales prices and higher productivity, partially offset by the lower sales volumes. The decline in the nine-month results was driven by the lower sales prices and volumes, partially offset by lower logistics, chemicals and wood costs, higher productivity and the recognition of $2 million in CEWS benefit claims deferred since 2021.

Compared to the second quarter of 2024, operating income decreased $1 million driven by to 3 percent and 16 percent decreases in sales prices and volumes, respectively, and the second-quarter CEWS benefit, partially offset by higher productivity.

Corporate

Operating loss for the quarter and nine months ended September 28, 2024 increased $3 million and $2 million, respectively, compared to the same prior year periods. The increase in the quarter loss was driven by unfavorable foreign exchange rates in the current period compared to favorable rates in the prior period and higher environmental and variable compensation expense. The increase in the nine-month period loss was driven by higher costs related to the Company’s ERP transformation project, variable and other compensation and discounting and financing fees, partially offset by favorable foreign exchange rates in the current period compared to unfavorable rates in the prior period.

Compared to the second quarter of 2024, the operating loss increased $3 million driven by unfavorable foreign exchange rates in the current quarter compared to favorable rates in the second quarter and higher discounting and financing fees and environmental expense.

Non-Operating Income & Expense

Interest expense for the quarter and nine months ended September 28, 2024 was nearly flat and increased $10 million, respectively, compared to the same prior year periods. The increase in the nine-month period was driven by an increase in the average effective interest rate on debt, partially offset by a decrease in the average outstanding principal balance. Total debt increased $24 million from September 30, 2023 to September 28, 2024, as the Company secured $26 million of green capital to further its biomaterials strategy.

Interest income for the quarter and nine months ended September 28, 2024 decreased $2 million and $3 million, respectively, compared to the same prior year periods driven by the prior year timing of the receipt of the 2027 Term Loan proceeds and their subsequent use in the repayment of senior notes.

Unfavorable foreign exchange rates during the quarter ended September 28, 2024 compared to favorable rates in the same prior year quarter resulted in a net unfavorable impact of $1 million. The net impact when comparing the current and prior year nine-month periods was favorable but immaterial.

Also included in “other income, net” in the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was a $1 million net loss on debt extinguishment. Additionally, a $2 million gain on a passive land sale and a $2 million pension settlement loss were recorded during the prior year nine-month period.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate on the loss from continuing operations for the quarter and nine months ended September 28, 2024 was a benefit of 13 percent and 19 percent, respectively. The 2024 effective tax rate differed from the federal statutory rate of 21 percent primarily due to changes in the valuation allowance on disallowed interest deductions, the release of certain tax reserves, different statutory tax rates in foreign jurisdictions, U.S. tax credits, excess deficit on vested stock compensation and return-to-accrual adjustments.

The effective tax rate on the loss from continuing operations for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was a benefit of 17 percent and 22 percent, respectively. The 2023 effective tax rates differed from the federal statutory rate of 21 percent primarily due to disallowed interest deductions in the U.S. and nondeductible executive compensation, offset by U.S. tax credits, return-to-accrual adjustments related to previously filed tax returns, changes in the valuation allowance on disallowed interest deductions and interest received on overpayments of tax from prior years. The effective tax rate for the nine-month period was also impacted by an excess tax benefit on vested stock compensation.

Discontinued Operations

During the nine months ended September 28, 2024, the Company recorded pre-tax income from discontinued operations of $5 million related to CEWS benefit claims deferred since 2021 and a pre-tax loss of $1 million on the sale of its softwood lumber duty refund rights.

During the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the USDOC completed its administrative review of duties applied to Canada softwood lumber exports to the U.S. during 2021 and reduced rates applicable to the Company, for which the Company recorded a pre-tax gain of $2 million. Also during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company incurred a $2 million pre-tax loss related to the settlement of a claim pursuant to the representations and warranties in the asset purchase agreement.

Cash Flows & Liquidity

The Company generated operating cash flows of $149 million during the nine months ended September 28, 2024, driven by proceeds of $39 million for the sale of its softwood lumber duty refund rights and net tax refunds of $20 million, partially offset by cash outflows from working capital and payments of interest on long-term debt.

The Company used $80 million in investing activities during the nine months ended September 28, 2024 related to net capital expenditures, which included $30 million of strategic capital spending focused on the investment in the 2G bioethanol plant in Tartas.

The Company had $10 million of net cash outflows from financing activities during the nine months ended September 28, 2024 primarily for the net repayment of long-term debt and Term Loan financing fees paid in the first quarter.

In October 2024, the Company raised $700 million in aggregate principal amount of secured term loan financing and received net proceeds of $683 million after original issue discount, which will be used in the fourth quarter, together with cash on hand, to redeem the respective $453 million and $246 million outstanding principal balances of the 2026 Notes and 2027 Term Loan and pay fees and expenses related to the transaction. The 2029 Term Loan matures in October 2029, bears interest at an annual rate equal to three-month Term SOFR plus an initial spread of 7 percent and requires quarterly principal payments of $1.75 million. The initial spread may fluctuate by one half percent based on the Company’s net secured leverage ratio. The Company may voluntarily make prepayments at any time, subject to customary breakage costs and, if within the first three anniversaries of closing, an additional premium. The agreement governing the 2029 Term Loan contains various customary covenants, including the requirement to maintain a specified consolidated net secured leverage ratio, based on covenant EBITDA.

In conjunction with the successful refinancing of its capital structure, the Company secured commitments for a five-year $175 million ABL credit facility that better aligns with its current portfolio. The facility is initially priced at Term SOFR plus a spread of 2 percent. As of the end of the quarter, there were no outstanding borrowings on the existing ABL Credit Facility and $35 million in letters of credit issued.

In September 2024, the Company repurchased $12 million principal of its 2026 Notes through open-market transactions for $12 million cash.

The Company ended the third quarter with $281 million of global liquidity, including $136 million of cash, borrowing capacity under the ABL Credit Facility of $135 million and $10 million of availability under the France factoring facility.

As of September 28, 2024, the Company’s consolidated net secured leverage ratio was 2.8 times covenant EBITDA.

Business Outlook

In October 2023, the Company announced that it is exploring the potential sale of its Paperboard and High-Yield Pulp assets located at its Temiscaming site. The Company remains committed to pursuing a sale of these assets at a fair price.

In July 2024, the Company indefinitely suspended operations at its Temiscaming HPC plant. This plan is expected to mitigate high capital needs and operating losses related to exposure to commodity viscose products and improve the Company’s consolidated free cash flow; however, future operational loss reductions will be partially offset by continuing custodial site expenses. In connection with the suspension of operations, the Company has incurred one-time operating charges, including mothballing and severance and other employee costs, of $14 million and a $25 million non-cash asset impairment. Potential remaining one-time charges to be incurred in the fourth quarter are estimated at $2 million to $3 million. For 2024, the suspension of the Temiscaming HPC plant is expected to be positive to Adjusted EBITDA. Free cash flow is expected to increase by $30 million to $35 million in 2024 as lower capital expenditures and benefits from the monetization of working capital are expected to more than offset the one-time and other cash costs associated with the suspension of operations.

In October 2024, an isolated fire occurred at the Company’s Jesup plant during planned maintenance activity. There were no injuries to employees or contractors and no risk to the surrounding community. The plant’s C line operations resumed within two days and the A and B lines’ operations resumed within a two-week period. While the Company continues to assess the financial impact of the incident, the unfavorable impact to EBITDA in 2024 is expected to approximate $10 million, with an additional required $3 million of maintenance capital. Additional capital expenditures will be required over the next couple of years to complete repairs. The Company carries insurance for property and business interruption loss with a $15 million combined deductible.

The Company expects to generate $205 million to $215 million of Adjusted EBITDA in 2024 with $115 million to $125 million of Adjusted Free Cash Flow, including passive asset sales but excluding any operating asset sales.

The following market assessment represents the Company’s current outlook of its business segments’ future performance.

High Purity Cellulose

Average sales prices for cellulose specialties in 2024 are expected to increase by a low single-digit percentage as compared to average sales prices in 2023 as the Company continues to prioritize value over volume. Sales volumes for cellulose specialties are expected to increase compared to 2023 driven by increased volumes from the closure of a competitor’s plant, a modest increase in ethers demand and additional volume sold to customers affected by the indefinite suspension of Temiscaming HPC operations, partially offset by a one-time favorable impact from a change in customer contract terms in the prior year first quarter, customer destocking in the acetate markets and reduced sales related to the fire in Jesup. Demand for RYAM’s commodity products remains steady. Sales prices for fluff products are expected to decline by a high single-digit percentage compared to 2023, while sales volumes are projected to increase by nearly 30 percent year over year. For non-fluff commodities, average sales prices are expected to rise by a mid-single-digit percentage over 2023 levels, though sales volumes are expected to decrease nearly 50 percent compared to 2023 levels, aligned with strategic initiatives to reduce exposure to non-fluff commodities. Pricing for all commodity HPC products is forecasted to soften slightly in Q4, with volumes seeing a modest increase sequentially. Costs are expected to be lower in 2024 driven by lower key input and logistics costs, improved productivity and the suspension of operations at the Temiscaming HPC plant, partially offset by increased costs due to the timing of maintenance projects, net custodial site expenses related to the suspension and recovery costs related to the Jesup fire. The Company’s bioethanol facility in Tartas, France became operational in the first quarter of 2024 and is expected to deliver approximately $3 million to $4 million of EBITDA in 2024, growing to $8 million to $10 million beginning in 2025. EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2024 is expected to be lower than the third quarter of 2024 due to the anticipated net custodial site expenses at the Temiscaming site, Jesup fire repair costs and the impact of the fire on sales and costs.

Looking forward to 2025, the Company announced price increases of up to 10 percent for its cellulose specialties products, as contracts allow, and expects higher margins for cellulose specialties in the coming year. The Company expects to continue reducing its exposure to non-fluff commodities in 2025.

Paperboard

Paperboard prices are expected to decrease in the fourth quarter while sales volumes are expected to increase. Raw material prices are expected to increase compared to the third quarter. Overall, the Company expects a decline in EBITDA from this segment in the coming quarters as market pressure continues with new competitive supply coming online in 2025.

High-Yield Pulp

High-Yield Pulp prices are expected to decline in the fourth quarter, while sales volumes are expected to increase significantly due to timing of shipments. Overall, the Company expects to incur a loss in EBITDA from this segment in the coming quarter due to the decline in sales prices. Current pricing is expected to remain low in the coming quarters.

Corporate

Corporate costs are expected to decrease in the fourth quarter subject to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.

Biomaterials Strategy

The Company continues to invest in new products to provide both increased end market diversity and incremental profitability. These new products will target the growing green energy and renewable product markets. Current projects include:

• The Company’s bioethanol facility in Tartas, France is operating to available feedstock and represents a significant milestone towards the Company’s goal of generating $42 million of annual EBITDA from all of RYAM’s future biomaterial products in 2027.
• The Company has submitted notice of its GRAS (generally recognized as safe) self-certification for a prebiotics product to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and continues to move forward with plans for a bioethanol facility in Fernandina.
• The Company’s involvement in AGE (Altamaha Green Energy), a company that aims to utilize renewable forestry waste and other biomass generally discarded as waste to generate sustainable electricity for the state of Georgia. While still in the development phase, the project achieved a significant milestone when AGE was recently awarded a Purchase Power Agreement to sell electricity to Georgia Power Company. Additional information regarding the progress of this project will be shared in 2025.

The Company is also advancing various other projects and expects to secure financing for many of these projects in the coming quarter.

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About RYAM

RYAM is a global leader of cellulose-based technologies, including high purity cellulose specialties, a natural polymer commonly used in the production of filters, food, pharmaceuticals and other industrial applications. The Company also manufactures products for paper and packaging markets. With manufacturing operations in the U.S., Canada and France, RYAM generated an estimated $1.6 billion of revenue in 2023. More information is available at www.RYAM.com.

Contact:

Ryan Houck – Media Contact – (904) 357-9134

Source: Rayonier Advanced Materials, Inc.