Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	1. Basis of Presentation RYAM is a global leader of specialty cellulose materials with a broad offering of high purity cellulose specialties, a natural polymer used in the production of a variety of specialty chemical products, including liquid crystal displays, filters, textiles and performance additives for pharmaceutical, food and other industrial applications. The Company’s specialized assets are also used to produce biofuels, bioelectricity and other biomaterials such as bioethanol and tall oils. The Company also produces a unique, lightweight multi-ply paperboard product, which is used for production in the commercial printing, lottery ticket and high-end packaging sectors, and a bulky, high-yield pulp product that is used by paperboard producers, as well as in traditional printing, writing and specialty paper manufacturing. The unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of the Company have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. In the opinion of management, these consolidated financial statements and notes reflect all adjustments, including all normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the periods presented. These statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and supplementary data included in the Company’s 2023 Form 10-K. As a result of the sale of its lumber and newsprint assets in August 2021, the Company presents the historical results for those operations, and any subsequent directly associated impacts, as discontinued operations. Unless otherwise stated, information in these notes to consolidated financial statements relates to continuing operations. See Note 3—Discontinued Operations for further information on the sale. Recent Accounting Developments Change in Accounting Policy On January 1, 2024, the Company changed the method of valuation of its finished goods, work-in-process and raw materials inventories from first-in first-out to average cost. The Company believes the average cost method is preferable because it provides better matching of revenue and expense trends and is a better reflection of periodic income from operations. This change was not retrospectively applied to prior periods presented, as the overall effect of the change is not deemed material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Altamaha Green Energy Joint Venture The Company is involved with AGE, under a preliminary joint venture agreement with Beasley Green Power, LLC. AGE aims to construct a biomass boiler and turbine to produce and sell green electricity to Georgia Power Company. AGE is not engaged in any other operating activities and since formation it has only been focused on developing feasibility studies for this project and handling related administrative matters. AGE expenses to date have been shared evenly by RYAM and Beasley and have not been material for the Company for any of the periods presented. The amounts expensed by the Company have been recorded as general and administrative expenses. Once the project evolves from the development stage and the current joint venture agreement between the Company and Beasley is amended to reflect the appropriate terms, the Company will evaluate the accounting and disclosure implications. Accounting Pronouncements There have been no new or recently adopted accounting pronouncements impacting the Company’s consolidated interim financial statements. The Company continues to evaluate the impacts of ASU 2023-05 “Business Combinations—Joint Venture Formations (Subtopic 805-60): Recognition and Initial Measurement,” ASU 2023-07 “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” and ASU 2023-09 “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” as previously disclosed in its 2023 Form 10-K. Subsequent Events Debt Issuance and Redemption 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 estimated fees and expenses related to the transaction of approximately $30 million. 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. If net secured leverage is below 2.5 times covenant EBITDA, the spread decreases to 6.5 percent. If net secured leverage exceeds 3.5 times covenant EBITDA, the spread increases to 7.5 percent. 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. For the first 18 months, prepayment of the loan is subject to a make-whole premium. For the following six months, prepayment is subject to a 2 percent premium. In the third year, prepayment is subject to a 1 percent premium. After 3 years, the loan is prepayable at par. The Company will also have the ability to make prepayment using the proceeds from the sale of its Paperboard and High-Yield Pulp businesses at a 2 percent premium during the first year, a 1 percent premium in year two, and par in year three. The Company will be required to maintain a consolidated net secured leverage ratio, based on covenant EBITDA, as follows: •5.00 to 1.00 for the fourth quarter of 2024 through fiscal year 2025; •4.75 to 1.00 for fiscal year 2026; and •4.50 to 1.00 for each fiscal year thereafter. The agreement governing the 2029 Term Loan contains various other customary covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries, as defined by the term loan agreement, to take certain specified actions, subject to certain exceptions, including: incurring debt or liens, making investments, entering into mergers, consolidations, and acquisitions, paying dividends and making other restricted payments. Additionally, the 2029 Term Loan contains customary affirmative covenants and customary events of default (subject, in certain cases, to customary grace or cure periods), including, without limitation, late payment, breach of covenant, bankruptcy, judgment and defaults under certain other indebtedness and changes in control. In conjunction with the above refinancing, the Company secured commitments for a five-year $175 million ABL credit facility. The facility is initially priced at Term SOFR plus a spread of 2 percent. The Company expects to record a net loss on debt extinguishment in the fourth quarter of approximately $19 million related to these transactions, driven by the write off of deferred financing costs of the 2026 Notes, 2027 Term Loan and ABL Credit Facility. Jesup Plant Fire 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.

RYAM is a global leader of specialty cellulose materials with a broad offering of high purity cellulose specialties, a natural polymer used in the production of a variety of specialty chemical products, including liquid crystal displays, filters, textiles and performance additives for pharmaceutical, food and other industrial applications. The Company’s specialized assets are also used to produce biofuels, bioelectricity and other biomaterials such as bioethanol and tall oils. The Company also produces a unique, lightweight multi-ply paperboard product, which is used for production in the commercial printing, lottery ticket and high-end packaging sectors, and a bulky, high-yield pulp product that is used by paperboard producers, as well as in traditional printing, writing and specialty paper manufacturing.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of the Company have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. In the opinion of management, these consolidated financial statements and notes reflect all adjustments, including all normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the periods presented. These statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and supplementary data included in the Company’s 2023 Form 10-K.

As a result of the sale of its lumber and newsprint assets in August 2021, the Company presents the historical results for those operations, and any subsequent directly associated impacts, as discontinued operations. Unless otherwise stated, information in these notes to consolidated financial statements relates to continuing operations. See Note 3—Discontinued Operations for further information on the sale.

On January 1, 2024, the Company changed the method of valuation of its finished goods, work-in-process and raw materials inventories from first-in first-out to average cost. The Company believes the average cost method is preferable because it provides better matching of revenue and expense trends and is a better reflection of periodic income from operations. This change was not retrospectively applied to prior periods presented, as the overall effect of the change is not deemed material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The Company is involved with AGE, under a preliminary joint venture agreement with Beasley Green Power, LLC. AGE aims to construct a biomass boiler and turbine to produce and sell green electricity to Georgia Power Company. AGE is not engaged in any other operating activities and since formation it has only been focused on developing feasibility studies for this project and handling related administrative matters. AGE expenses to date have been shared evenly by RYAM and Beasley and have not been material for the Company for any of the periods presented. The amounts expensed by the Company have been recorded as general and administrative expenses. Once the project evolves from the development stage and the current joint venture agreement between the Company and Beasley is amended to reflect the appropriate terms, the Company will evaluate the accounting and disclosure implications.

There have been no new or recently adopted accounting pronouncements impacting the Company’s consolidated interim financial statements. The Company continues to evaluate the impacts of ASU 2023-05 “Business Combinations—Joint Venture Formations (Subtopic 805-60): Recognition and Initial Measurement,” ASU 2023-07 “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” and ASU 2023-09 “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” as previously disclosed in its 2023 Form 10-K.

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 estimated fees and expenses related to the transaction of approximately $30 million.

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. If net secured leverage is below 2.5 times covenant EBITDA, the spread decreases to 6.5 percent. If net secured leverage exceeds 3.5 times covenant EBITDA, the spread increases to 7.5 percent.

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. For the first 18 months, prepayment of the loan is subject to a make-whole premium. For the following six months, prepayment is subject to a 2 percent premium. In the third year, prepayment is subject to a 1 percent premium. After 3 years, the loan is prepayable at par. The Company will also have the ability to make prepayment using the proceeds from the sale of its Paperboard and High-Yield Pulp businesses at a 2 percent premium during the first year, a 1 percent premium in year two, and par in year three.

The agreement governing the 2029 Term Loan contains various other customary covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries, as defined by the term loan agreement, to take certain specified actions, subject to certain exceptions, including: incurring debt or liens, making investments, entering into mergers, consolidations, and acquisitions, paying dividends and making other restricted payments. Additionally, the 2029 Term Loan contains customary affirmative covenants and customary events of default (subject, in certain cases, to customary grace or cure periods), including, without limitation, late payment, breach of covenant, bankruptcy, judgment and defaults under certain other indebtedness and changes in control.

In conjunction with the above refinancing, the Company secured commitments for a five-year $175 million ABL credit facility. The facility is initially priced at Term SOFR plus a spread of 2 percent.

The Company expects to record a net loss on debt extinguishment in the fourth quarter of approximately $19 million related to these transactions, driven by the write off of deferred financing costs of the 2026 Notes, 2027 Term Loan and ABL Credit Facility.

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.