Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. announced that, effective July 2, 2024, it will suspend operations at its Temiscaming High Purity Cellulose (HPC) plant for an indefinite period. As previously communicated, the Company remains committed to operating its assets profitably. Given current market conditions and high capital and fixed costs associated with the HPC plant, this decision will help mitigate the plant's ongoing operating losses and improve the Company's consolidated free cash flow.

Today's announcement is aligned with the Company's focus on improving its balance sheet, leverage position and overall financial performance toward execution of its long-term growth strategy. The suspension, which will be carried out in a safe and environmentally sound manner, will result in a reduction of RYAM's annual global HPC production. The Temiscaming HPC facility has an annual production capacity of approximately 150,000 metric tons, with roughly 30% historically dedicated to specialty cellulose materials.

The Company will be working directly with its customers to support their specialty cellulose needs in both the short- and long-term. This announcement will result in approximately 275 layoffs. This decision does not affect RYAM's paperboard and high-yield pulp plants located adjacent to the Temiscaming HPC plant.

These two plants, which are part of an ongoing sales process announced last October, remain competitive and will continue to operate at full capacity.