RYAM Announces Third Quarter 2023 Results

Updates 2023 EBITDA and Raises Free Cash Flow Guidance

• Loss from continuing operations for the third quarter of $27 million, down $45 million from prior year quarter
• Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations for the third quarter of $24 million
• Year-to-date cash provided by operating activities of $82 million; total debt of $749 million
• Adjusted Free Cash Flow year-to-date generation of $27 million; Net Debt of $743 million
• Updates 2023 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to approximately $150 million
• Raises 2023 Adjusted Free Cash Flow guidance to $65 million to $75 million with additional deleveraging from potential sale of passive assets

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (NYSE:RYAM) (the “Company”) reported a net loss of $25 million, or $(0.39) per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, compared to net income of $30 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, for the prior year quarter. Loss from continuing operations for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 was $27 million, or $(0.41) per diluted share, compared to income from continuing operations of $18 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the prior year quarter.

“Results for the third quarter reflected continued weak demand across many of our product categories. We are responding by reducing costs and taking opportunistic downtime across all segments. As previously announced, we have taken downtime at our High-Yield Pulp facility in the third and fourth quarters and expect to take downtime in Paperboard and at the High Purity Cellulose plant in Tartas in the fourth quarter,” said De Lyle W. Bloomquist, RYAM’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Consequently, we are revising down our 2023 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to approximately $150 million while raising our free cash flow guidance to $65 to $75 million. The decline in year-to-date free cash flow in the quarter was primarily driven by planned increases in working capital. As we finish the year, we expect working capital to benefit free cash flow. Additionally, we are reviewing options to monetize passive assets to drive further net debt reduction.”

“Beyond the short-term challenges, we are optimistic about the future of RYAM. Our non-viscose and paper pulp businesses are expected to generate over $250 million in EBITDA before corporate charges this year. The recent closure of a competitor’s plant is expected to yield a favorable mix shift for RYAM, thus adding to these strong results in the relatively near term. Additionally, we are in the process of consolidating the vast majority of our commodity viscose production into the Temiscaming High Purity Cellulose plant, which is home to our lowest variable cost line. We have also begun the process of a potential sale of the Paperboard and High-Yield Pulp assets. If successful, proceeds will be used to accelerate debt repayment and reduce fixed charges ahead of our 2026 debt maturities. Lastly, we are continuing with our investments to grow our Biomaterials businesses, which will provide faster growth with greater customer and end market diversification. Overall, these actions are expected to provide more stable and consistent earnings for the Company,” concluded Mr. Bloomquist.

Third Quarter 2023 Operating Results from Continuing Operations

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

Net sales was comprised of the following for the periods presented:

	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
(in millions)	September 30, 2023	July 1, 2023	September 24, 2022	September 30, 2023	September 24, 2022
High Purity Cellulose	$292	$300	$369	$966	$952
Paperboard	57	48	66	164	183
High-Yield Pulp	25	44	40	111	102
Eliminations	(5)	(7)	(9)	(20)	(20)
Net sales	$369	$385	$466	$1,221	$1,217

Operating results were comprised of the following for the periods presented:

	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
(in millions)	September 30, 2023	July 1, 2023	September 24, 2022	September 30, 2023	September 24, 2022
High Purity Cellulose	$(6)	$ —	$22	$7	$21
Paperboard	13	6	12	29	28
High-Yield Pulp	(6)	1	6	2	4
Corporate	(15)	(14)	(11)	(42)	(43)
Operating income (loss)	$(14)	$(7)	$29	$(4)	10

High Purity Cellulose

Net sales for the third quarter decreased $77 million, or 21 percent, to $292 million compared to the same prior year quarter. Included in the current and prior year quarters were $28 million and $33 million, respectively, of other sales primarily from bio-based energy and lignosulfonates. Sales prices decreased 13 percent during the current quarter, driven by a 22 percent decrease in commodity products prices, partially offset by a 6 percent increase in cellulose specialties prices. Total sales volumes decreased 10 percent during the current quarter, driven by a 36 percent decrease in cellulose specialties volumes, partially offset by a 37 percent increase in commodity products volumes. Sales volumes for cellulose specialties were negatively impacted by significant customer destocking and market-driven demand declines, particularly in construction markets.

Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased $14 million, or 1 percent, to $966 million compared to the same prior year period. Included in the current and prior year nine-month periods were $73 million and $84 million, respectively, of other sales primarily from bio-based energy and lignosulfonates. Sales prices decreased 4 percent during the current period, driven by an 8 percent decrease in commodity products prices, partially offset by a 12 percent increase in cellulose specialties prices. Total sales volumes increased 7 percent during the current period, driven by a 57 percent increase in commodity products volumes, partially offset by a 21 percent decrease in cellulose specialties volumes. Sales volumes for cellulose specialties were negatively impacted by significant customer destocking and market-driven demand declines, particularly in construction markets.

Operating income for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2023 decreased $28 million and $14 million, respectively, compared to the same prior year periods. The current quarter decrease was driven by the lower cellulose specialties sales volumes and commodity products sales prices, partially offset by the higher cellulose specialties sales prices and commodity products sales volumes and decreased input, logistics and maintenance costs. The year-to-date decrease was driven by the lower cellulose specialties sales volumes and commodity products sales prices, higher labor costs due to inflation and the impact of the extended maintenance outage in the prior year, partially offset by the higher cellulose specialties sales prices and commodity products sales volumes and decreased input and logistics costs.

Compared to the second quarter of 2023, operating loss increased $6 million. Total sales prices decreased 7 percent, driven by a 3 percent decrease in cellulose specialties prices, due to sales mix, and a 7 percent decrease in commodity products prices. Total sales volumes increased 1 percent, driven by an 8 percent increase in commodity products volumes, partially offset by a 6 percent decrease in cellulose specialties volumes that was due to market-driven demand declines. Higher costs related to the impact of second quarter maintenance outages were partially offset by lower input costs. The second quarter also included $5 million of sales of excess emission allowances related to the Company’s operations in Tartas, France.

Paperboard

Net sales for the third quarter decreased $9 million, or 14 percent, to $57 million compared to the same prior year quarter, driven by 8 percent and 5 percent decreases in sales prices, due to product mix, and sales volumes, due to market-driven demand declines, respectively. Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 decreased $19 million, or 10 percent, to $164 million compared to the same prior year period, driven by a 13 percent decrease in sales volumes due to customer destocking in the first half of 2023, partially offset by a 4 percent increase in sales prices, driven by continued demand for sustainable packaging.

Operating income for both the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased $1 million compared to the same prior year periods. The current quarter increase was driven by lower purchased pulp costs that were largely offset by the lower sales prices and sales volumes. In the year-to-date period, the higher sales prices and lower purchased pulp and maintenance costs were largely offset by the lower sales volumes.

Compared to the second quarter of 2023, operating income increased $7 million, driven by a 22 percent increase in sales volumes and lower purchased pulp costs, partially offset by a 3 percent decrease in sales prices.

High-Yield Pulp

Net sales for the third quarter decreased $15 million, or 38 percent, to $25 million compared to the same prior year quarter, driven by 31 percent and 13 percent decreases in sales prices and sales volumes, respectively, due to lower demand and opportunistic downtime taken in response to market conditions. Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased $9 million, or 9 percent, to $111 million compared to the same prior year period, driven by 1 percent and 9 percent increases in sales prices and sales volumes, respectively, due to stronger demand and easing logistics constraints.

Operating results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2023 declined $12 million and $2 million, respectively, compared to the same prior year periods. The current quarter decline was driven by the lower sales prices and sales volumes. In the year-to-date period, the higher sales prices and sales volumes were more than offset by increased wood costs and higher labor costs due to inflation.

Compared to the second quarter of 2023, operating results declined $7 million, driven by 23 percent and 35 percent decreases in sales prices and sales volumes, respectively, due to lower demand and opportunistic downtime taken in response to market conditions, partially offset by lower logistics, maintenance and input costs.

Corporate

Operating loss for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased $4 million and decreased $1 million, respectively, compared to the same prior year periods. The current quarter increase was driven by less favorable foreign exchange rates in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter. In the year-to-date period, lower stock compensation and severance costs were largely offset by unfavorable foreign exchange rates in the current year as compared to favorable rates in the prior year. Compared to the second quarter of 2023, the operating loss increased $1 million.

Non-Operating Income & Expense

Interest expense increased $5 million and $3 million during the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, compared to the same prior year periods, driven by an increase in the average interest rate on debt, partially offset by a decrease in the average outstanding balance of debt. Debt principal outstanding decreased $109 million from September 24, 2022 to September 30, 2023.

Interest income increased $2 million and $3 million during the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, compared to the same prior year periods, primarily due to the timing of the receipt of the 2027 Term Loan proceeds and their subsequent use in the repayment of the 2024 Notes.

Also included in non-operating other income in the quarter ended September 30, 2023 was a $1 million net loss on debt extinguishment. Included in the current nine-month period was a $2 million gain on a passive land sale and a pension settlement loss of $2 million.

Included in non-operating other income in the nine months ended September 24, 2022 was a $5 million net gain associated with the GreenFirst common shares received in connection with the sale of the Company’s lumber and newsprint assets.

Income Taxes

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.

The effective tax rate on the income from continuing operations for the quarter ended September 24, 2022 was a benefit of 11 percent. The effective tax rate on the loss from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 24, 2022 was an expense of 13 percent. The most significant item creating a difference between the 2022 effective tax rates and the statutory rate of 21 percent were changes in the valuation allowance on disallowed interest deductions in the U.S.

Discontinued Operations

During the third quarter of 2023, the USDOC completed its fourth administrative review of duties applied to Canada softwood lumber exports to the U.S. during 2021 and reduced applicable rates to a combined 8.05 percent. In connection with this development, the Company recorded a pre-tax gain of $2 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company also incurred a $2 million loss related to the settlement of a claim pursuant to the representations and warranties in the asset purchase agreement.

During the third quarter of 2022, the USDOC completed its third administrative review of duties applied during 2020 and reduced applicable rates to a combined 8.6 percent, for which the Company recorded a pre-tax gain of $16 million. Cumulative through September 30, 2023, the Company has recorded total gains of $40 million related to the USDOC administrative reviews, which are included as a long-term receivable within “other assets” in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Cash Flows & Liquidity

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company generated operating cash flows of $82 million, which were driven by increased cash inflows from working capital, partially offset by payments on deferred energy liabilities associated with Tartas plant operations.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company used $95 million in its investing activities related to net capital expenditures, which included $40 million of strategic capital spending focused on enhancing reliability and cost efficiency.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company used $112 million in its financing activities primarily for the redemption of its 2024 senior notes and repayment of borrowings under its credit facility and other long-term debt, the payment of issuance costs related to new term loan financing and the repurchase of common stock to satisfy tax withholding requirements related to the issuance of stock under Company incentive stock plans. These outflows were partially offset by the net proceeds received from the new term loan financing and borrowings under the credit facility.

The Company ended the quarter with $147 million of global liquidity, including $27 million of cash, borrowing capacity under the ABL Credit Facility of $112 million and $8 million of availability under the factoring facility in France.

In the third quarter of 2023, the Company secured term loan financing of $250 million and received net proceeds of $243 million after original issue discount. The net proceeds, together with cash on hand of $89 million, were used to redeem the $318 million outstanding principal balance and accrued interest of its senior unsecured notes due 2024 and pay issuance costs of $10 million that will be amortized over the term of the loan. The term loan matures in July 2027 and bears interest at an annual rate equal to three-month Term SOFR plus 8.00 percent.

Market Assessment

In October 2023, the Company announced that it engaged a financial advisor to explore the potential sale of its Paperboard and High-Yield Pulp assets located at its Temiscaming site. This strategic move is aligned with the Company’s commitment to enhancing its operational and financial performance, optimizing its portfolio to align with its long-term growth strategy and providing flexibility to pay down debt and reduce leverage.

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

High Purity Cellulose

Average sales prices for cellulose specialties in 2023 are expected to be in the high single-digit percent higher than average 2022 sales prices, while sales volumes are expected to decrease from prior year due to softness in sales orders driven principally by significant customer destocking and market-driven demand declines. Market demand for commodity products remains resilient with fluff and viscose prices bottoming in the third quarter and a slight uptick expected in the fourth quarter. Commodity sales volumes are expected to continue to increase through the end of 2023. The prices for certain inputs have come off the 2022 highs but are expected to remain significantly elevated versus pre-COVID pandemic levels. The Company expects to take downtime at its Tartas facility at the end of 2023 due to market conditions and to improve working capital.

The Company recently began plans towards a realignment of its High Purity Cellulose assets to optimize production mix, including a consolidation of its commodity products production into the Temiscaming plant. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of this realignment on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Paperboard

Paperboard prices are expected to rebound slightly in the fourth quarter, remaining elevated from 2022 levels, while sales volumes are expected to improve in the second half of the year as customer inventories return to more normal levels. Raw material prices are expected to increase slightly as purchased pulp prices are forecast to increase in the fourth quarter. The Company expects to take downtime in the coming quarter due to market conditions and to improve working capital.

High-Yield Pulp

High-yield pulp prices have declined due to soft demand and new paper pulp capacity ramping up. Prices are expected to decline overall in 2023 despite an expected uptick in the fourth quarter, in line with industry forecasts for the global paper pulp market. The Company expects to take downtime in the coming quarter due to market conditions and to improve working capital.

2023 Guidance

Overall, loss from continuing operations is expected to be approximately $45 million, with Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $150 million for 2023. The Company expects to spend approximately $85 million on custodial capital expenditures and approximately $35 million on discretionary strategic capital expenditures, net of financing. Strategic capital may be modulated as necessary to support Adjusted Free Cash Flow. The Company is targeting $85 to $95 million of benefit from working capital to support Adjusted Free Cash Flow for the year. Overall, the Company expects to generate $65 to $75 million of Adjusted Free Cash Flow in 2023.

A Sustainable Future

The Company’s portfolio is aligned with sustainability drivers in the European Green Deal for the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) and the second generation (2G) bio-fuel that is noncompetitive to human food supply. The Company’s 2G bioethanol facility at its Tartas, France plant is near completion and is anticipated to be operational in the first quarter of 2024. The total estimated cost of the project is approximately $40 million, with $22 million to be spent in 2023. The Company plans to utilize $28 million of low-cost green loans to help fund the project, including $10 million already borrowed, and $4 million in grants. The project is expected to provide $8 million to $10 million of annual incremental EBITDA, depending on current exchange rates, beginning in 2025.

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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 employs approximately 2,500 people and generated $1.7 billion of revenues in 2022. More information is available at www.RYAM.com.

Contact:

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

Source: Rayonier Advanced Materials, Inc.