Rayonier Advanced Materials and Tembec Announce Clearance from Germany’s Federal Cartel Office

The increase in the Company's cost and expense structure has lagged inflation due to productivity gains and the focus on cost discipline. Our commitment to financial discipline is reinforced by the reductions in both gross and net debt, as well as by significant lengthening of our amortization profile (from 62 to 80 months). The leverage ratio remains at a healthy level (2.3x Net Debt/Adjusted EBITDA) and the total average debt cost remains competitive (4.4% p.a. in USD). The Adjusted EBITDA² of R$1.041/ton and strong Cash Generation¹ of R$795/ton were other metrics in which we outperformed the overall industry. The ROIC of 13.0% reflects the positive impact from pulp prices, as well as from cost and expense discipline and the margin recovery in the paper segment. Click Read More below for additional information.

High energy costs, rising postal tariffs and other inflationary factors are here to stay. In response to increased needs for affordable direct mail inkjet paper with high quality print results, Crown Van Gelder recently launched their extended portfolio of Crown Letsgo High Performance, with 140 and 180 gsm - 7 and 9 pt caliper - for stiff but lighter one piece mailers and direct mail cards. This extended range is commercially available in Europe and North America from January 2023. It will make the difference for many printers and their customers, to enable printed messaging to remain an important part of their marketing strategy. Inkjet printing is becoming a main stream method for every market segment needing print as a functional part for communication, promotion and visibility. More, but smaller orders, the need for personalization, fast response and acceptable cost are the main drivers. Inkjet treated and inkjet coated substrates will be a vital part of this growth, supporting vibrant print results, lower drying requirements (energy savings), reduced ink consumption and faster speed compared to non-treated or offset coated substrates. Contact your Midland sales professional for additional details on this product.

ND Paper is implementing a series of transformations at its Rumford Division to further expand into packaging grades. In its current configuration, the fully integrated Rumford Division operates three paper production lines, kraft and mechanical pulping assets, and a pulp dryer; its product mix is heavily weighted toward bleached grades serving printing and writing (P&W) markets. With the COVID-19 pandemic battering economic activity across the world, demand for P&W papers has plummeted; coated woodfree and coated mechanical papers – primary Rumford grades – are expected to decline 23.5% and 30.3% year-over-year, respectively, equivalent to over 1.4 million tons of output. To ensure a viable, profitable future for the Rumford Division, ND Paper will be transforming the mill to increase its product flexibility and shift further into packaging grades. Notable changes include: *Commissioning of an unbleached recycled pulp line to provide fiber flexibility to the R12 and R15 paper machines *Conversion of its R15 paper machine from P&W papers into lightweight, high strength kraft linerboard products *Expansion of R12 paper machine capability to include unbleached recycled bag and converting papers, in addition to its current offering of bleached and unbleached papers *Continued operation of the R9 pulp dryer, including expansion into unbleached softwood kraft market pulp *Permanent curtailment of mechanical pulping operations and R15 coating and supercalender assets